Traditions

Japan transforms in the final days of December in a way you have to see to believe. Shops close, cities quiet down, and traditions that have lasted centuries play out on every street corner. Here’s your complete guide to experiencing Japanese New Year like a local. 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. ...

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. ...