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Most companies will close for the end of the year (around Dec. 28 – Jan. 3), but we will talk more about that here if you want to jump ahead on the New Year’s calendar. Keep reading for our guide to celebrating New Year’s in Japan! . ↑ Go back to the table of contents. 1. Welcoming the New Year Decorations for New Year’s 🎍 New Year (正月, shōgatsu) is the most important holiday in Japan. Most businesses shut down from January 1 to January 3, and families typically gather to spend the days together. Years are traditionally viewed as completely separate, with each new year providing a fresh start. The New Year holiday is the most important holiday in Japan with many unique customs and events. In this blog we will share how to celebrate New Year in Japan! New Year’s celebrations in Japan are filled with tradition. These traditions begin during the initial build-up to New Year’s Eve and through into New Year’s Day. Here we’ll explain some of Japan’s New Year traditions, beginning with those that take place in the run-up to New Year’s Day. While ganjitsu refers to the whole 24 hours of New Year’s Day, gantan only refers to the morning of New Year’s Day. The second kanji “旦” represents the sun coming up over the horizon -- sunrise. Ganjitsu is a pretty busy day for Japanese families. After breakfast with all the relatives, they visit shrines and temples and shop for New Japanese New Year traditions are rich and symbolic. They include “Joya no Kane,” the ringing of temple bells 108 times to purify the soul, “Hatsumode,” visiting shrines or temples to pray for good fortune, and enjoying traditional foods like “osechi ryori” and “ozoni,” each with unique meanings. Japanese New Years is the biggest holiday of the year in Japan. It's the most likely time of year for families to get together for a meal. The holiday is associated with festive foods, decorations, rituals, observances, pastimes and events that give the day much flavor and charm. The New Year in Japan, or Oshogatsu, marks an exciting time to see the country in a new light, as Japan's most important holiday celebration. Japanese New Year celebrations are quite different from typical Western ones. With celebrations extending until January 3, New Year in Japan is largely a quiet family affair. Noisy reveling, fireworks, or countdown parties aren’t the norm. The New Year period in Japan, known as “Oshogatsu,” is a unique time when tradition and modernity blend. Here’s a guide to help travelers make the most of this fascinating season. New Year’s Eve (Omisoka) Joya no Kane (New Year’s Eve Bell Ringing) On New Year’s Eve, many temples ring their bells 108 times, a [] Check out the best countdown events on New Year’s Eve in Japan 2024–2025. Have a very special moment on 2024 New Year’s Eve and celebrate 2025 New Year! Here are the best New Year’s Eve countdown events in Japan 2024–2025! Religion in the Japanese New Year. Another favorite New Year tradition is hatsumode or the first visit to a shrine or temple.The best temples in Japan attract several million people during the first three days of January, and here, you can experience a festive climate with food and stands, and join in the crowds at the main hall praying or buying good luck charms. Read on to read all about Japanese New Year traditions! Nengaj ō 年賀状 . Sending New Year’s greetings to friends and family is an important part of the celebration of the coming year. Similar to the Western custom of sending Christmas cards, receiving a New Year’s card on January 1st is very common in Japan. New Year in Japan. As you can see, New Year in Japan is a very special time with a lot of uniquely Japanese traditions, decorations and food! If you ever get the chance to spend New Year in Japan, we highly recommend you take it. Learn more about seasonal celebrations in Japan with these related posts: Christmas in Japan: How to Celebrate Like Osechi ryori is a special meal people enjoy on New Year’s Day in Japan. It is the most important meal of the year. The food comes in jubako (red lacquered boxes), and each dish has a special meaning to welcome the New Year. The tradition of eating osechi ryori is a way to wish for happiness and prosperity in the coming year. Toshikoshi Soba is a Japanese buckwheat noodle dish that is traditionally eaten on the evening of New Year’s Eve. Slurping soba noodle on New Year’s Eve is a unique tradition in Japan that dates back to Edo period. It is believed that eating soba on that day is cutting hardship of the past year. 4. Visit a Shrine or Temple for Hatsumode In the days around New Year's, Japan Post hires extra staff to ensure the delivery of all postcards on January 1st. December 31: New Year's Eve for the Japanese The Japanese like the idea of starting the new year rested and free of as many burdens as possible related to the year that is about to end. 1. Tokyo – TOKYO SKYTREE / 2025 New Year’s Day Sunrise. Celebrate New Year’s Eve by witnessing the breathtaking sunrise from the observation deck of Tokyo Skytree. Special tickets for this New Year celebration at Skytree are limited to only 800 pieces. Since last year, these tickets have also been available to international tourists. For New Year’s Day, many Japanese people put in the effort to watch the first sunrise of the day. At Mount Fuji, the ascent of the sun over the peak of the volcano creates a spectacular sparkle known as ‘Diamond Fuji’. Hatsumode. If you are in Japan during New Year, you can join the crowds doing hatsumode, the year's first visit to a shrine or temple.Hatsumode festivities are held at practically every shrine and temple across Japan during the first few days of the year, especially on January 1.
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