Japanese New Year, also called Shogatsu or Oshogatsu is a public holiday and celebrated on January 1. It is considered one of the most important holidays and yearly festivals in Japan.
There are a lot of things to do during the New Year holiday. As I have planned to do something for this wonderful holiday season, I hereby express what I know about Japanese New Year celebration.
You will know how do Japanese celebrate it and other related customs we follow to have a great memorable day.
This article surly helps you to understand Japanese New Yea traditions, its facts, history, traditions, cultural impacts, recipes and useful travel guides.
In my opinion, you should come to Japan to celebrate your New Year holidays.
Here in Japan, you can enjoy your time watching the sunrise in the very early morning.
It is one of the most memorable things you will ever do here because Japan is known as the land of the rising sun.
Japanese New Year – Time & Date
Unlike Chinese, Korean or Vietnamese New Year, Japanese celebrate their New Year on January 1. Most businesses close from December 30 to January 3, and families generally gather to spend the days together.
History says, until 1873, during the Meiji Era (1868-1912), celebration of the Japanese New Year was based on the Chinese lunar calendar.
The first day of January became the official New Year’s Day since five years after the Meiji Restoration.
As Japan adopted the Gregorian calendar instead of the lunar calendar, a great chance has been created, especially for you who do not permanently reside in Japan. What’s the chance?
The chance is that you can celebrate the Japanese New Year right at end of the Christmas holiday.
In fact, your Christmas holiday is a quite long comparing to other holidays that could make your Japan trip even unforgettable. Are not you going to visit Japan for celebrating New Year?
December 30 to January 3
Japanese New Year is coming in a few days later. What are you going to do? I already have made my mind up what I will be doing during this holiday season. I just simply can hint you one thing that I am going to have a great holiday season, no doubt about that.
However, as the holiday season usually begins here on the December 30th (lasts till January 3), many people who work and study in big cities go back to their home towns to celebrate New Year with their friends and families.
As part of winter holiday, Japanese schools are closed for two days before and after New Year.
December 31 – New Year’s Eve is Important!
December 31st is a very important day for the people of Japan.
I know what everybody does on the New Year’s Eve, some of you will have party outside, some go for a night concert, some stay at home switching the TV and wait for time to celebrate New Year countdown, while others form a group and have an outdoor night picnic party together and etc.
The thing I do is – I first make a choice based on the situation on that day. If my parents want me to stay with them on 31st night then I stay with them, there is no exception!
If it does not happen then I go out with friends and see fireworks. Let’s take a look at the things we do on the December 31st night.
Have you ever heard of NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen? It is commonly known as Kohaku (Red and white song battle) on New Year’s Eve. It’s a singing contest by two teams.
Eating Soba Noodles
There are some old customs that Japanese follow on New Year’s Eve, and eating toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles) is just one of those that you have to admire.
If you want to learn about soba noodle recipe then you should learn it before New Year’s Eve. In fact, this custom was originated in the Edo period (1603-1868).
Japanese people usually have it as part of dinner or evening snack. Soba noodles symbolize longevity and good fortune.
You, don’t eat it past midnight, if you have it at that time then you are supposed to bring your own bad luck. It is one of the customs Japanese believe in as well.
Ringing Bells at Night
Japanese people also visit shrine and temple around midnight on 31st night.
The bells of every temple in Japan are being rung for 108 times in total to get rid of the 108 worldly desires that cause suffering for us. In my life, I had only one chance to ring the bells.
It was back in 2010, I felt myself lucky and very happy for doing that. In fact, some Japanese temples allow public to ring the bells they have, so you may get a chance!
Just keep praying for getting a golden opportunity!
The New Custom That Is Being Popular
In this 21st century watching the music show “Kohaku uta gassen” on New Year’s Eve has been a highly popular modern custom in Japan.
It is very entertaining watching Enka and J-pop singers’ performances! Most of the people wait when the show would begin.
This is an annual holiday special TV program produced by NHK where popular musical artists from the year split into two teams. The winning team is decided by the judges and audience vote.
This year it will be held without an audience for the first time due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Everyone enjoys watching singers’ performances as they dance and sing at the same time! This sounds a very entertaining!
In addition, many young teenage guys get out of the houses and celebrate the night doing the things they mostly like.
The First Sunrise of the New Year in Japan (Hatsuhinode)
In Japan, the first sunrise of the New Year (Hatsuhinode) is believed to be a very special day.
In general, people find a nice spot where they can stare at on the east side to view the first sunrise of the first day of the year.
Many people prefer to go the beaches; some people choose mountaintops for praying to the first sunrise. Mount Takao in Tokyo is one of the best places for viewing the first sunrise in Japan on New Year’s Day.
It would be great watching the first sunrise from the top of the Mount Fuji if people were allowed to do so but certainly you can’t do that.
The Mount Fuji weather would never let you achieve this. In fact, winter is not the perfect time for climbing Mount Fuji. For more info, please read this article.
What do we pray to the sun? What do you think of this?
Surly, we pray to the sun for having a good year, being healthy and strong and most of all for having a peaceful environment that is filled with happiness and harmony.
This popular custom has been carried out by the Japanese until now since the Meiji Era (1868-1912).
Hatsumode – Visiting and Praying at the Temples/Shrines
What is Hatsumode? The word Hatsumode refers to visit the first shrine or temple of the Japanese New Year. It does not mean you have to visit temple or shrine only on January 1st but also 2nd and January 3rd.
It is a tradition to visit them in order to pray for having a good year, health and families’ happiness.
If you want to have a real festive atmosphere, eat some street foods, buy lucky charms and dispose the last year lucky charms. Don’t worry; they will be replaced by the new ones for sure!
While visiting the shrines and temples people usually greet with each other even when you know them slightly. Saying Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu (Happy New Year) one can show his or her friendly attitude towards others.
This is a common thing; I guess you do it on the first day of the year. Many men and women wear traditional colorful kimono on the day they visit a temple or shrine.
Best Temples and Shrines for Hatsumode
So, what do you think about this ritual? As a foreign tourist, would you like to visit at least one Buddhist temple and Shrine during Hatsumode? If so, I highly recommend you to visit Meiji Jingu Shrine, located in Harajuku, Tokyo.
In my opinion, the best time to go to Meiji jingu shrine for this year new is at midnight. I always prefer to go there at that time during new year, though one can visit Meiji Shrine in the very early morning as well.
Approximately, a million visitors over the first few days of the New Year visit this famous Shrine. It is said to be the best place for praying a New Year’s visit to a Shinto Shrine.
Meiji jungu shrine in new year at midnight is just awesome place to behold! Have a look at the photo shown below!
You also can visit some other popular hatsumode spots in Tokyo they are: Sensoji Temple, Sojiji Temple (Nishiarai Daishi Shrine), and Kawasaki Daishi.
To avoid the crowds, some people prefer visiting the shrines and temples on January 2nd and 3rd. Before you pray at shrines and temples, make sure to purify your hands and mouth.
Throw a coin into the offering box, bow twice, clap twice, make a prayer and bow when finished. This is the right way to pray!
After your prayer, you can purchase an amulet or Ema (wooden plate). You can write down your wishes on a wooden plate at Shrines or Temples. Hopefully your wishes would come true. They cost between 500 and 1000 yen per unit.
If you are planning to celebrate New Year in Kyoto then I recommend you to visit Kyoto’s best Shinto shrines for Hatsumode, they are: Yasaka-jinja Shrine (Center point for New Year’s Festivities in Kyoto), Heian-jinga Shrine, and Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine.
On the other hand, Kamakura’s Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine is a very famous spot for praying on the first day of the year.
Omikuji
Omikuji is a fortune telling paper slip, mostly found at many Buddhist temples and Shinto Shrines.
Buying omikuji during hatsumode is a tradition, no doubt about that. You can give it a try to see what fortune you have for the New Year.
These slips are written in Japanese but lately, you can find English, Korean and Chinese ones! They contain predictions such as “good luck” or “bad luck” and so on.
Like other visitors you are supposed to tie an omikuji slip around a tree’s branch as a result bad fortune can be prevented and good fortune will come true.
In addition, you can also buy omamori (good luck charms). It is believed that omamori provide various forms of luck or protection.
Otoshidama
Giving money to Children on New Year’s Day is called Otoshidama. It is a popular Japanese New Year custom originated in the Edo Period.
In fact children have a great opportunity to get rich. With the money they can buy whatever they want to desire to have.
Usually, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and relatives are supposed to give otoshidama to children. The average amount depends on the children’s age and is handed out in small decorated envelopes called Pochibukuro.
Traditional Japanese Dishes for the New Year
To tell you the truth, Japanese do have various types of dishes to try. You certainly would like to have them when I explain them to you clearly.
As various dishes are served during shogatsu, my mother gets busy making all these delicious foods.
There is a special meal called Osechi Ryori, usually prepared before at the end of the year and eaten on the New Year.
Various types of foods such as sea foods, sliced vegetables, boiled beans and other dishes are preserved. They are packed in layers of lacquered boxes, called jubako.
The reason for using boxes is that dishes could be preserved well and could be served without any hassle. They will not get mixed up with other dishes.
Each and every dish symbolize good wish like wealth, happiness, god health, abundant harvest, long life, longevity and fertility.
Otoso is an alcoholic drink that is served with osechi. It is kind of a herbal medicine and is produced from Japanese rice wine. It is said that drinking otoso prevents us to stay away from evil spirit. Usually, we drink it before eating colorful osechi dishes.
Ozoni (Zoni) is a special recipe served during the first day of the New Year. It is a delicious Japanese soup with Mochi (rice cake) and mostly eaten in the early morning on New Year’s Day. Eat it and hope for a good year!
Nengajo
Nengajo are Japanese New Year greetings cards. There is a custom of sending postcard (nengajo) to friends and relatives here in Japan.
It is similar to Christmas card, though nengajo is bit different than a usual Christmas card you send to your friends.
Children wait for reading nengajo in the early morning on January 1. You can rely on Japanese post office; it assures you that your receiver will get the nengajo on time, yeah exactly on January 1.
Japanese New Year Decoration Ideas
You will be highly impressed seeing the Japanese New Year decorations at home and outside.
Japanese shops and stores are decorated with traditional style decor ideas such as, with ornaments made of pine, plum trees and bamboo. People get busy cleaning their houses; they want everything should be neat and clean!
Entrances of many stores, houses and buildings are well decorated with Kadomatsu. This is a symbol of longevity.
To make a complete kadomatsu you need to have three bamboo poles of different lengths which are usually cut diagonally. Here, sprays of plum trees and pine tree branches will be attached firmly to the bamboo poles with a new straw rope.
Japanese also hang Shimekazari on the top of the house entrance. The reason they do it is inviting the gods in for the New Year.
It is a small rope made from rice straws and crafted zigzag shaped paper strips called shide. One can also add the daidai (Japanese bitter orange) in the Shimekazari.
There is other type of Japanese New Year’s decoration called Kagami mochi. Two round mocha (rice cake) and daidai are needed to make this. A traditional ornamented Kagamo mocha looks very beautiful.
Happy New Year 2025!
Happy New Year greetings from Japan! I wish you have a very good year and may you all be happy and strong. Celebrating New Year in Japan will be more than an average travel trip to Japan.
Even though shops are closed during this holiday season (January 01), yet you can fully enjoy Japanese New Year by doing things that Japanese do as part of their traditions.
I hope this article helps you to understand about the Japanese New Year celebrations and traditions.
One last thing to mention here is that if you visit Japan during New Years, make sure to buy fukubukuro (lucky bags), sold at many stores on 1 January. You can buy them the entire first week of January until they run out.
You never know what you’re going to get from your Fukubukuro! But the amount of money you will spend for buying one lucky bag would definitely surprise you. It is in fact a fun experience.
Thanks for reading. HAVE lots of fun guys!
