New Year in Japan: Traditions, Events and Travel Tips
How Japan celebrates New Year, the country's biggest holiday: temple bells, first shrine visits, special food and lucky bag sales, plus what is open and how to plan a trip over the holiday.
Quick answer
- When: the holiday runs from about 29 December to 3 January.
- Big moments: temple bells at midnight on 31 December and the first shrine visit, hatsumode.
- Closures: many restaurants, shops, museums and offices close for some or all of the holiday.
- Open: convenience stores, most hotels, big shrines and temples, and some department stores from 1 or 2 January.
- Travel: trains and flights are packed around 28 to 30 December and 2 to 4 January.
New Year, called shogatsu, is Japan's most important holiday. It is a quiet, family time, a little like Christmas in the West, with special food, visits to shrines and a fresh start for the year ahead. Visiting at this time is fascinating, as long as you plan around the closures.
New Year's Eve
- Families eat toshikoshi soba, long buckwheat noodles that wish for a long life.
- Many watch Kohaku, a huge music show on NHK television.
- At midnight, Buddhist temples ring their great bells 108 times, a tradition called joya no kane, to clear away the 108 earthly desires.
- Some temples let visitors take a turn ringing the bell. Arrive early, as places are limited.
Hatsumode: the first shrine visit
In the first days of January, millions of people visit a shrine or temple to pray for the year ahead. Meiji Jingu in Tokyo receives around 3 million visitors in the first three days. Senso-ji, Fushimi Inari in Kyoto and Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osaka are also very busy.
- People buy new good luck charms, called omamori, and return last year's to be burned.
- Omikuji fortune slips tell you how lucky your year will be. Tie a bad fortune to the rack to leave it behind.
- Food stalls line the approaches, with sweet amazake and grilled snacks.
- For a calmer visit, go after 4 January or early in the morning.
New Year food
- Osechi ryori: beautiful boxes of small dishes, each with a meaning, such as black beans for health and prawns for long life.
- Ozoni: a soup with mochi rice cakes, made differently in every region.
- Mochi: pounded rice cakes, eaten in many forms.
- Kagami mochi: a stacked rice cake decoration with a bitter orange on top.
Shopping and events
- Fukubukuro, or lucky bags, are mystery bags of goods sold at a discount from 1 or 2 January. Queues start early.
- On 2 January the Imperial Palace in Tokyo opens its inner grounds for the New Year greeting, when the Emperor appears on a balcony.
- Ekiden relay races are on television on 2 and 3 January.
- Kadomatsu, made of pine and bamboo, decorate the entrances of homes and shops.
What is open and what is closed
| Usually open | Often closed |
|---|---|
| Convenience stores | Small, family-run restaurants |
| Hotels and most ryokan | Many museums and galleries |
| Big shrines and temples | Banks and government offices |
| Trains, at holiday timetables | Some tourist sights and gardens |
| Chain restaurants and fast food | Many shops on 1 January |
| Department stores, from 1 or 2 January | Some local markets |
Our tip: Check opening days for anything you have your heart set on, especially museums, restaurants and tours.
Planning a New Year trip
- Book trains and flights early, and avoid 28 to 30 December and 2 to 4 January if you can.
- Hotels in cities can be good value over New Year, while ski resorts and onsen towns are expensive and busy.
- Stock up on snacks and essentials before 31 December.
- Combine New Year with a winter trip. See our guide to Japan in winter.
Frequently asked questions
Is New Year a good time to visit Japan?
It is a special time to see traditions, but many restaurants and sights close. Plan carefully, or arrive after 4 January.
What is hatsumode?
The first visit to a shrine or temple in the new year, to pray for good luck and health.
Are shops open on 1 January in Japan?
Convenience stores are. Many department stores and big shops open on 1 or 2 January, often with lucky bag sales.
What do Japanese people eat at New Year?
Toshikoshi soba on New Year's Eve, then osechi ryori and ozoni soup with mochi in the first days of January.
We check this guide regularly. Prices, rules and services in Japan can change, so confirm with the official sources below before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
