Japanese New Year (お正月) Guide for Foreigners (2025)
New Year’s in Japan is nothing like New Year’s anywhere else. The streets go quiet, shrines fill up at midnight, and centuries-old traditions play out in ordinary neighborhoods. Here’s how to experience Oshogatsu the way it’s meant to be experienced. The New Year Timeline Date What’s Happening December 28–30 大掃除 (Osoji) — major home cleaning December 31 年越し (Toshikoshi) — New Year’s Eve; eat soba noodles January 1 元日 (Ganjitsu) — New Year’s Day; most important day January 1–3 初詣 (Hatsumode) — first shrine visit January 7 七草粥 (Nanakusa gayu) — rice porridge with 7 herbs January 11 鏡開き (Kagami-biraki) — break and eat the mochi offering Key Traditions 年越し蕎麦 (Toshikoshi Soba) — New Year’s Eve Noodles Long soba noodles eaten on December 31 before midnight. The length symbolizes a long life. Buy at any convenience store or restaurant — eating it while watching TV (Kōhaku Uta Gassen on NHK at 7pm) is the standard evening. ...