In Japan, New Year’s (oshōgatsu / お正月) is one of the most important holidays of the year. Unlike the party-heavy countdowns common elsewhere, it’s closer in spirit to Christmas in the UK: quiet, family-focused, and full of rituals that mark a clean break between the old year and the new.
Below is a list of the key New Year’s traditions in Japan, from what families eat at home to what happens at shrines, post offices, and even the workplace.
At a glance
1. Oshōgatsu (お正月): the New Year holiday itself
Oshōgatsu refers to the New Year period, typically from 1–3 January, though preparations begin well before midnight on 31 December. Many businesses close, public transport runs on holiday timetables, and families return to their hometowns. Homes are cleaned thoroughly beforehand in a ritual called ōsōji (大掃除), symbolising the removal of bad luck and unresolved problems from the previous year.
For visitors, this period feels noticeably calmer in cities like Tokyo, while regional towns and family neighbourhoods come alive.
2. Toshikoshi soba (年越しそば): noodles for longevity
On the evening of 31 December, families eat toshikoshi soba, simple buckwheat noodles served hot in broth or cold with dipping sauce. The noodles’ length represents longevity, while their easy-to-cut texture symbolises letting go of the year’s hardships.
You’ll find soba shops packed late into the night, especially near stations. In Tokyo, neighbourhood soba-ya often stay open until just before midnight.
3. Ozōni (お雑煮): welcoming the year with mochi
Eaten on New Year’s Day, ozōni is a clear or miso-based soup containing vegetables, chicken or fish, and mochi (餅) rice cakes. The dish varies widely by region: Kanto-style ozōni is usually clear with square mochi, while Kansai versions often use white miso and round mochi.
Mochi stretches as it’s cooked and eaten, symbolising good fortune and continuity into the year ahead.
4. Otoshidama (お年玉): New Year’s pocket money
For children, New Year’s means otoshidama: cash gifts from parents, grandparents, and relatives. The money is placed inside small decorative envelopes called pochibukuro (ポチ袋), often illustrated with zodiac animals or playful designs.
Amounts vary by age, but the tradition teaches gratitude and responsibility rather than excess.
5. Hatsumōde (初詣): the first shrine or temple visit
One of the most visible New Year’s traditions is hatsumōde, the first visit of the year to a shrine or temple. Families and friends go to pray for health, happiness, and success. Popular spots like Meiji Jingū (明治神宮) in Tokyo draw millions between 1–3 January.
During hatsumōde, people often:
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Buy omamori (お守り) protective charms
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Draw omikuji (おみくじ) fortune slips
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Return last year’s charms for ritual burning
Queues can be long, but the atmosphere is calm and festive rather than hectic.
6. Joya no kane (除夜の鐘): 108 bells at midnight
At Buddhist temples across Japan, bells are rung 108 times on New Year’s Eve in a ritual called joya no kane. The number represents the 108 earthly desires in Buddhism, and each bell strike is meant to cleanse one of them.
Some temples allow visitors to take turns ringing the bell themselves, a quietly memorable way to mark the moment the year changes.
7. Nengajō (年賀状): New Year postcards with a twist
Instead of Christmas cards, Japan has New Year postcards sent to friends, colleagues, and extended family called nengajō. These cards thank recipients for the past year and wish them well for the next.
A distinctive feature is the printed lottery number on each card. Every year, Japan Post runs a draw where winning numbers receive prizes such as cash, stamps, or food items. It’s common for households to check their stacks of cards together after New Year’s Day.
8. Oseibo (お歳暮): year-end gifts of thanks
While not limited to New Year’s Day itself, oseibo is closely tied to the season. Given in December, these gifts express gratitude to colleagues, clients, teachers, or family friends.
Typical oseibo gifts range from chocolates and coffee to premium items like A5-grade wagyū beef or seasonal fruit. Department stores dedicate entire floors to oseibo displays from November onwards.
9. Workplace customs during the New Year period
Although offices usually close from late December to early January, New Year’s still carries professional meaning. Nengajō are often exchanged between colleagues, and it’s polite to acknowledge the year’s end with brief messages of thanks.
When work resumes, staff may bring small regional snacks (omiyage / お土産) from their hometown visits to share with the team.
10. A quieter, family-first celebration
Perhaps the most striking tradition is what doesn’t happen. There are no widespread fireworks, loud countdowns, or late-night parties. New Year’s in Japan values resetting, reflection, and togetherness. Television schedules feature traditional music and variety shows, meals are shared slowly, and the pace softens.
Experiencing New Year’s in Japan as a visitor
If you’re in Japan over New Year’s:
Expect limited opening hours on 1 January
Plan shrine visits early morning or late evening to avoid peak crowds
Book accommodation and transport well in advance
The reward is a rare glimpse into Japanese family life and seasonal customs that locals hold dear.
New Year’s in Japan is a lot about starting clean, eating with intention, and carrying gratitude into the year ahead—one bowl of soba, postcard, and shrine visit at a time.
