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Japanese people go to shrines to pray for the happiness of the new year on New Year's Day.
This visit is called "Hatsumoude" or "Hatsumode".
They throw coins into an offertory box.
5(=pronounced as "go") yen coins has a meaning "good luck of meeting new people" since "goen" means "chance of meeting" in Japanese language.
So people who are looking for partners usually throw 5 yen coins.
There's a rope hanging from the ceiling which has a bell stuck to the upper end of the rope.
People pull it to ring the bell after they throw coins, and they clap hands 2-3 times and join palms together and close eyes for minutes to pray.
This action is not special for New Year's Day.
We usually do this whenever we see an offertory box in shrines and temples.

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In ancient time, Miko was a virgin who served God.
At that time various services were conducted to calm God.
Miko was the one who conducted them.
Miko's role was to be the body God descended to, and Miko spoke for the God.
Nowadays Miko is a woman who works for a shrine.
Miko sometimes dances at divine ceremonies.
There also are many Miko girls who work temporarily at shrine as part-time job.
They especially work there when shrines are quite busy like New Year's Day.
People visit shrines on New Year's Day to pray for happiness of the new year.
Many goods like charms are sold there, and part-time Miko usually works as a cashier.
They're in traditional costume and look very cute.

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