A Complete Guide to New Year's in Japan

New Year’s in Japan

In contrast to how low key Christmas is in Japan, New Year’s is a BIG DEAL. It is one of the most important holiday periods for families and a chance to experience many fascinating traditions. Forget partying into the night (although that is always in option in Tokyo!), the New Year in Japan is all about catching that first sunrise and visiting the shrine with your loved ones to set the tone for the year.

New Year is one of the most culturally interesting times to visit Japan, but there are some particularities to be aware of. It is one of the only times of the year when people and businesses take a vacation, so many shops and activities shut down for 4 or 5 days (usually between December 31st and January 4th). This means that some of the experiences may not be available. Prices may also be higher during this time.

If you do decide to visit during this time, you will be rewarded with some really special traditions and experiences.

Joya no Kane

Joya no Kane is one of the most important rituals carried out in Buddhist temples throughout Japan. Around midnight on New Year’s Eve, all of the temple bells ring 108 times (this takes over an hour!) to symbolize the 108 types of earthly desires, like anger or jealousy, described in Buddhism. The idea is that once the bells have finished ringing, you can begin the year free of negative emotions and troubling desires.

Hatsumode

In the first few days of the new year, many people head out for their first shrine visit of the year, known as Hatsumode. This is a time for family and relatives to express gratitude and pray for good fortune in the year head. Popular shrines and temples usually organize festivities with food stalls, omikuji (fortune-telling strips of paper) and lucky charms. It can get very busy but the atmosphere is lively and full of promise for the year ahead.

Hatsuhinode

Hatsuhinode refers to the first sunrise of the new year, which is considered to be particularly auspicious in Japan. It is tradition for people to gather on mountaintops, observatories, beaches, and anywhere else with a good view of the horizon to catch the hatsuhinode and pray for good fortune and happiness in the new year.

Toshikoshi Soba

Osechi Ryori

Traditional New Year’s Food

TOSHIKOSHI SOBA

Toshikoshi soba (year-end soba) is a dish of buckwheat noodles served in hot broth. There is no set recipe for toshikoshi soba, so families add their own twist from a simple garnish of green onions to toppings like tempura or egg. This dish is eaten on New Year’s Eve to encourage a long and healthy life (the long noodles symbolize a long life) and needs to be finished by midnight.

OSECHI RYORI

Osechi Ryori is eaten on New Year’s day. This traditional assortment of foods is served in special 3 to 4 layer bento boxes called ‘jubako’ and placed in the centre of the table to be shared by the entire family. The box is made up of foods intended to invite luck and prosperity in the year ahead.

Shimekazari

Kagami Mochi

Kadomatsu

Decorating for New Year’s

Much like the tradition of ‘spring cleaning’ in the West, it is customary for families and offices to perform a deep clean '(osouji) before the New Year. This is both to prepare the house for visiting family members and to purify the space for the coming year.

Once the deep cleaning is completed, families will decorate their home for the New Year’s celebrations. Traditional decorations include:

• Shimekazari: This decoration is made of shimenawa, a sacred Shinto straw rope, and other materials such as bitter oranges, ferns, and white ritual paper strips called shide. It is hung above the front door of the house to prevent bad spirits from entering while inviting the Toshigami (Shinto deity) to visit.

• Kadomatsu: These are made from bamboo, pin trees, and sometimes other foliage and flowers. They are displayed in pairs at the front of house gates and buildings from January 1st-7th and are believed to be a temporary dwelling place for the gods who descend to the bless the people living there. Kadomatsu are burned after January 15th to release the gods.

• Kagami Mochi: This decoration is made of two rice cakes (mochi) placed on top of each other (the smaller one is placed on the larger one). These two mochi represent the past year and the year to come. The decoration is topped with a daidai (Japanese bitter orange) and symbolizes the continuity of the family over the years. It is places in the homes Shinto shrine known as kamidana.
  

Fukubukuro

Nengajo

Other Traditions to Look out For

FUKUBUKURO

Fukubukuro are ‘lucky bags’ sold at the start of the New Year by Japanese stores. The bags are filled with a random assortment of leftover goods and then sold for a fixed price, usually at a discount compared to the value of the items. When you purchase a bag, you cannot know what is inside, so it is really the luck of the draw! People form long queues to buy the fukuburo of popular department stores.

NENGAJO

Nengajo are New Year’s Day greeting cards sent to arrive on the 1st of January. These often feature the animal zodiac of the new year and, similar to Christmas card in the West, they are used to send good tidings for the new year.

OTOSHIDAMA

This tradition involves parents, grandparents, and relatives giving young people money for the new year. The amount is usually between ¥5000 and ¥10,000 depending on the child’s age. It is a sign of appreciation for their efforts in school over the year.

New Year’s Eve Events in Tokyo

Tokyo has some fun options to ring in the New Year.

Some of these may not be available this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

COUNTDOWN EVENTS

• Shibuya Countdown: For a crazy and lively countdown experience similar to celebrating in Times Square, Shibuya Crossing will be shut down for cars from 9pm and transformed into a massive outdoor countdown party. A stage will be erected and thousands of people are expected to gather. Last year, the event drew 120,000 people!

• Tokyo Tower Countdown: For a more relaxed countdown experience, Tokyo Tower is a great spot. Many people gather there, and the tower will have some special illuminations.

OJI FOX PARADE

For a unique way to celebrate the New Year, we recommend the Oji Fox Parade in northern Tokyo around the Oji Inari Shrine. This Japanese festival originated from the legend of some foxes dressing up as humans to visit the shrine on New Year’s Eve. Nowadays, humans dress up as foxes and parade the streets around the shrine. Anyone can join the parade as long as they wear a kimono and some fox disguise but pre-registration is required. It is also fun just to watch the parade and there is even a booth to get your face painted as a fox.

NEW YEAR’S COUNTDOWN PARTIES

For a glamorous New Year’s countdown party experience, the events at Park Hyatt and Aman Tokyo are always popular. If you are in the mood for something a little wilder, why not try a countdown cruise or even a party at one of Tokyo’s many megaclubs? For Japanese music lovers, Countdown Festival in Chiba promises 4-days of music culminating in the countdown on the 31st.