How do people celebrate New Year's Eve in Japan?

Learn how Japan marks Omisoka with toshikoshi soba, television specials and temple bells rung 108 times, and how visitors can take part respectfully.

Published October 21, 2026 at 8:19 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Many people in Japan spend New Year's Eve (Omisoka) quietly. Common customs include eating toshikoshi soba noodles, watching year-end television specials, and listening to or visiting a temple where the bell is rung 108 times around midnight. Some people then make a first shrine visit. Several temple events have limits or reservations, so check each temple's official page.

Omisoka: a quiet end to the year

Omisoka is the Japanese name for December 31. Unlike countries where New Year's Eve is a loud party night, Japan treats it as a time to finish the old year and prepare for the new one. The New Year is Japan's most important holiday season, so Omisoka often feels like a calm threshold rather than the main celebration itself. Families commonly gather at home.

The holiday period matters for visitors. Most Japanese people outside retail and emergency services have time off from around December 29 to January 3. Many shops, restaurants and attractions close during these days, and the Japan National Tourism Organization notes that the New Year holidays close many places. Planning meals, transport and activities ahead helps avoid surprises.

That said, big cities still offer events for travelers. Countdown events, illuminated areas and temple gatherings take place in several places, and some visitors choose them for a livelier midnight. Others prefer a quiet evening with a simple meal before early rest, ready for a first shrine visit on January 1.

Toshikoshi soba and other food

The best-known food custom is toshikoshi soba, buckwheat noodles eaten at the end of the year. Wikipedia notes that it is traditionally eaten about an hour before midnight. The noodles are often explained as a symbol of letting go of the old year, but explanations vary by region and family, so it is best to treat them as local custom rather than a single rule.

Soba shops and supermarkets sell toshikoshi soba in the days before New Year's Eve. Visitors who want to try the custom can find packaged noodles at convenience stores or a simple bowl at a noodle restaurant, though some restaurants close early or take reservations for the day. A convenience store or supermarket is a reliable backup.

On New Year's Day itself, special dishes such as osechi (a set of preserved dishes in layered boxes) and zoni (a soup with rice cake) are common. Visitors may see them advertised in stores toward the end of December. Because many restaurants close, these prepared foods are a handy way to taste seasonal flavors.

Temple bells: Joya no Kane

Joya no Kane ("New Year's Eve bell") is a Japanese Buddhist custom in which a temple bell is struck at midnight on December 31. Most temples strike the bell 108 times, and some go beyond that, especially when members of the public take part. The sound travels across neighborhoods, so even people at home can listen.

There is no single answer for why 108. Common explanations include 108 worldly desires in Buddhist teaching, a count based on suffering multiplied by nine, or the traditional calendar's 12 months, 24 solar terms and 72 microseasons. Timing also varies: some temples start at 11 p.m. or later, some ring across both years, and some begin only after midnight.

The practice came from Zen temples in China and reached Japan in the Kamakura period. Radio broadcasts from 1927 spread the custom nationwide, and it later moved to television. Some temples have changed their ringing times in recent years, so check the temple's own page for the current schedule and for any rules about attendance.

How visitors can take part

Some temples allow members of the public to ring the bell, often through a queue or a numbered ticket, and many invite visitors to listen and to warm up with a drink. Because arrangements differ, check the temple's page ahead for start time, entry method and any reservation. Some events are free, while others ask for a small donation.

Another option is to combine the bell with a late-night shrine or temple visit, a style called ninenmairi that begins on December 31 and continues into January 1. People often write wishes on ema (wooden plaques) there. Large sites are crowded and public transport may run late in some places, but schedules vary, so check the operators' announcements.

Tokyo's official tourism guide notes that Zojoji Temple offers a chance to hear its bell rung 108 times as the year turns, and Meiji Jingu is among the most visited shrines in the country at the New Year. Some regional events are famous too. The Oga no Namahage, a New Year's Eve custom in Akita in which costumed visitors call on households, is recognized as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage and appears on the Japan National Tourism Organization's list of winter festivals. Heian Jingu in Kyoto holds an official New Year ceremony at 6 a.m. on January 1. Checking the local tourism page for such events can add a memorable moment to a December trip.

Television, countdowns and other customs

Television is a big part of Omisoka for many households. Radio broadcasts of the bells moved to television in 1955 under a program called Yuku Toshi Kuru Toshi, and year-end music and variety shows have long been a staple of the evening. Visitors staying in a hotel can often catch a broadcast of the bell ringing from temples around the country.

Many households also clean in preparation for the New Year, a custom often called osoji (year-end cleaning). Paying debts, preparing food and visiting family are part of the tradition, and Wikipedia's article on hatsumode notes that many people also pay debts and visit family at this time. These customs give the day a purposeful, family-oriented feel.

Visitors may also see decorations such as kadomatsu (pine and bamboo arrangements) and shimekazari (straw rope ornaments) at entrances and shops. These decorations appear in late December and are meant to welcome the New Year deity. They are a pleasant photo subject, so take a moment to walk through a shopping street or residential area at that time.

Costs, timing and special cases

Watching or listening to a temple bell is often free. Participation tickets, events with food or special seating may charge a small fee, and the temple page is the place to confirm amounts. Many events are outdoors in cold weather, so dress warmly, bring gloves and allow time for queues, especially at famous temples in large cities.

Families with young children should consider the late hour and crowds. Some temples hold earlier sessions or daytime ringing, so a family can still take part without staying up. Older travelers or those with mobility needs should look for seated areas and check the route to the temple. Solo travelers usually find the atmosphere calm and welcoming.

Transport is a key issue. Trains and subways in some cities run extra services around midnight, while others stop earlier, and schedules change each year. Check the operators' announcements and consider staying nearby for the night. Taxis and ride services are busy, so build in time for the trip back.

Common mistakes and practical next steps

A common mistake is expecting everything to be open on December 31 and January 1. Many shops and restaurants close from around December 29, so buy food and necessities in advance. Another is assuming every temple rings at exactly midnight; schedules vary, and some events require registration. Checking the official page prevents wasted trips.

It is also easy to expect a Western-style party. Japan has countdown events, but many are small and local, and the traditional focus is on calm reflection. Visitors who want a lively evening can look at city countdown events, while those who want tradition can seek out a temple bell. Both options are welcome.

This guide shares general information; rules change, so confirm details with the official agency or provider before you act. Event times, entry rules, reservations and train schedules vary by place and year, so check each temple, shrine and transport operator's page before heading out on December 31.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are temple bells rung 108 times?

There is no single explanation. Common ones include 108 worldly desires in Buddhist teaching, a count of sufferings multiplied by nine, or the calendar's 12 months, 24 solar terms and 72 microseasons. Some temples ring more than 108 times when the public joins in, so the exact practice varies.

What do people eat on New Year's Eve in Japan?

Toshikoshi soba, buckwheat noodles eaten at the end of the year, is the best-known food, traditionally eaten about an hour before midnight. On New Year's Day, special dishes such as osechi and zoni are common. Supermarkets and convenience stores sell packaged versions, which helps when restaurants are closed.

Are shops and restaurants open on New Year's Eve?

Many businesses close for the New Year holidays, roughly December 29 to January 3, when most people outside retail and emergency services have time off. Hours vary by place and some shops close earlier on December 31, so buy food ahead, check opening times, and keep a convenience store or supermarket as a backup.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Japanese Culture and Customs is available on Amazon.

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More guides from Tokyo Paul: Are shops and restaurants closed during Japanese New Year?, What is hatsumode and how do visitors take part? and Shogatsu: Japan's New Year Customs.