December 16, 2005
Source: The Japan Times
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20051216b1.htm
On December 16, 2005 The Japan Times reported, "More than 91 million people are expected to visit shrines and temples during the first three days of 2006 if the weather is good during the holiday season, the National Police Agency said Thursday. The NPA estimates 91.64 million people nationwide will visit Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples during the first three days of the new year, up 1.98 million from this year, while 4.29 million people will visit resorts, up 420,000. The figures were drawn from data provided by operators of religious and resort facilities. The NPA expects bigger crowds than this year because the weather is likely to be good."