Japanese New Year — known as Oshōgatsu (お正月) — is the most important holiday in the Japanese calendar. Unlike Western New Year celebrations centered on parties and fireworks, Japanese New Year is a time of quiet family gatherings, ancient temple rituals, and deeply rooted cultural traditions. For foreigners living in Japan, it is one of the most fascinating cultural experiences the country offers — but also one that requires some preparation.

When Is Japanese New Year?

Japan celebrates the new year on January 1st (not the lunar new year, unlike China or Korea). The holiday period effectively runs from December 29th to January 3rd, during which most businesses, government offices, and shops are closed.

  • December 29–31: Ōmisoka season — final preparations, cleaning, and New Year’s Eve
  • January 1: Gantan — New Year’s Day, the formal start of celebrations
  • January 2–3: Continued celebrations, including the Emperor’s New Year address

Many Japanese workers take a full week off, and travel within Japan peaks dramatically during this period.

Ōmisoka: New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve in Japan is not the party-heavy occasion seen in many Western countries. Instead:

Joya no Kane: At midnight, Buddhist temples across Japan ring their bells 108 times (representing 108 worldly desires in Buddhist teaching). You can attend these bell-ringing ceremonies (many are public) and hear the deep, resonant sound echoing through the cold night air.

Toshikoshi Soba: By tradition, eating toshikoshi soba (year-crossing buckwheat noodles) on New Year’s Eve brings good luck. The long noodles symbolize a long life. This is prepared and eaten at home by most families.

Kōhaku Uta Gassen: NHK’s annual music show — a competition between “red” (female) and “white” (male) singing teams — has aired on New Year’s Eve for decades and remains a national institution watched by much of Japan.

Hatsumode: The First Shrine Visit

One of the most important New Year rituals is Hatsumode (初詣) — the first shrine or temple visit of the new year. Millions of people visit shrines and temples in the first three days of January to pray for health, luck, and happiness in the coming year.

What to do at Hatsumode:

  1. Approach the shrine and toss a coin into the offertory box (any coin is fine)
  2. Ring the bell (if one is present)
  3. Bow twice, clap twice, bow once more, and pray
  4. Purchase an omamori (good luck charm) or ema (wooden wishing board) if you wish

Popular shrines like Meiji Jingu in Tokyo, Naritasan in Chiba, and Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osaka see millions of visitors in the first days of January. Expect large crowds — arrive early or go after January 3rd to avoid the worst lines.

Osechi Ryori: Traditional New Year Food

Osechi ryori is the traditional collection of New Year foods, packed in elegant lacquered boxes called jūbako. Each food carries symbolic meaning:

  • Kuromame (black soybeans): Hardworking year ahead
  • Kazunoko (herring roe): Fertility and prosperity
  • Tazukuri (dried sardines): Good harvest
  • Datemaki (sweet rolled omelette): Scholarship and culture
  • Kohaku kamaboko (red and white fish cake): Joy and purity
  • Kuri kinton (chestnut paste): Wealth and golden fortune

Osechi boxes are expensive when bought from department stores (¥5,000–¥50,000), but simpler versions are available at convenience stores and supermarkets. Many families now mix homemade and store-bought items.

Ozoni: A special soup served on New Year’s Day. The ingredients vary significantly by region — Tokyo-style uses clear broth with rectangular mochi; Kyoto-style uses white miso with round mochi.

Otoshidama: New Year’s Gift Money for Children

Adults give children red envelopes (known as Otoshidama) containing cash during the New Year period. Amounts vary by age and the giver’s relationship to the child:

  • From grandparents: ¥3,000–¥10,000 per child
  • From uncles/aunts: ¥1,000–¥5,000
  • From parents: sometimes given for younger children

If you have Japanese friends or colleagues with children and you visit during New Year, this is a nice cultural gesture, though not expected from foreigners.

Nengajō: New Year Cards

The Japanese equivalent of Christmas cards — nengajō (年賀状) — are postcards sent to arrive on January 1st. Written and sent before December 25th, they include a New Year’s greeting, often personal artwork or family photos, and sometimes a lottery number. The postal service delivers them all on January 1st in a remarkable logistical feat.

If you have close Japanese friends or colleagues, sending a nengajō is genuinely appreciated. Blank cards are sold at post offices and convenience stores from November.

What’s Open During New Year

Most businesses, offices, government services, and many restaurants are closed from December 30 to January 3. Convenience stores, some restaurants (especially in tourist areas), and hospitals for emergencies remain open. Plan your shopping and banking before the holiday period.