Experiencing Japanese Tradition and Food: Omiyamairi and Okuizome at Meiji Shrine

Late this summer, our family celebrated both the Omiyamairi (shrine visit for newborns) and Okuizome (first feeding ceremony) at the serene Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. Normally, these traditions are separate, but we decided to combine them—because why not have a double celebration?

Ambitious scheduling, yes. The baby? Calm. The adults? Questionable. 😅 Omiyamairi is the baby’s first shrine visit, usually around one month old.

with Our newborn at Meiji Shrine

Omiyamairi a moment to express gratitude for a safe birth and to pray for the child’s healthy future — a simple act of thanks and hope.

Okuizome comes around 100 days after birth, a symbolic “first meal” wishing the baby a life without food troubles.

No real eating, of course — just a gentle pretend-taste of sea bream and the little tooth-hardening stone.

A dramatic ritual for someone who can’t even hold their head up yet.

One of the most emotional parts for me was the kimono.

The silk kimono was hand-sewn by one of my relatives.

It’s the very same kimono I wore 42 years ago.

My mom kept it safe for decades — folded with the kind of careful devotion only mothers seem to understand.

Seeing my baby wrapped in that handmade silk felt like time quietly looping back, one gentle stitch at a time.

At home, we pulled out my own Omiyamairi photo — slightly faded, perfectly retro — and paired it with today’s version.

Three generations linked by one handmade kimono, two traditions full of meaning, and a whole lot of family love❤️