A record 88.75 million people visited major Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples across Japan on the first three days of the 21st century to pray for good fortune, the National Police Agency said Friday.
The total, the highest since tallies were first taken in 1974, represented an increase of 640,000 from last year's record, the NPA said.
The number of people who visited major sightseeing and leisure spots totaled an all-time high of about 5.85 million, up about 540,000 from a year ago, the agency said.
The increase is attributed to the low turnout of people last year due to fears of the Y2K millennium bug, the NPA said.
Tokyo's Meiji Shrine retained its position as the country's most popular shrine with 3.26 million visitors, though the number was down by 60,000 from last year.
Shinshoji Temple in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, was second with 2.89 million, followed by Heigenji Temple, popularly known as Kawasaki Daishi Temple, in Kawasaki, with 2.85 million, Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Shrine with 2.55 million and Sumiyoshi Shrine in Osaka Prefecture with 2.43 million, the NPA said.
Of the top five, Fushimi Inari Shrine, which held a ceremony to welcome the 21st century, had an increase of 50,000 people, but the other four saw a drop in the number of visitors during the period, the agency said.
Meanwhile, among the major sightseeing and leisure spots, Tokyo Disneyland in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, remained the most popular attraction, with 280,000 visitors, up 40,000 from last year.
Next was the New Year's millennium event in Kyoto with 159,000 people, followed by Cape Inubo in Chiba Prefecture, which drew 150,000.
During the yearend and New Year's holidays from Dec. 29 to Wednesday, some 21,990 climbers visited popular mountain spots, up 446 from last year.
Twenty-eight climbers were involved in alpine accidents, with three killed or missing and 13 injured.