Nenmatsu: How Japan Closes the Year

Big cleaning, farewell parties, bell ringing and a bowl of noodles: the last weeks of December follow a familiar order.

Published October 19, 2026 at 12:42 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Nenmatsu, the end of the year, is a busy and meaningful season in Japan. Households do a deep clean called osoji, workplaces hold bonenkai parties, people post New Year cards, and on December 31 many eat toshikoshi soba and listen to temple bells. Most offices close from about December 29 until early January, so plan travel and shopping ahead.

The shape of the season

The weeks before New Year follow a loose schedule that most Japanese households know by heart. Companies wrap up their work, friends and colleagues meet for year-end parties, homes are cleaned and decorated, and travel plans are made for visits to relatives. The mood is a blend of busyness and anticipation, since the New Year is the most important holiday on the calendar. The word nenmatsu simply means the end of the year, and it appears on shop banners and in advertising from early December.

Stores put out New Year goods, food halls promote festive meals, and post offices display stacks of New Year card supplies. Many customs have deep roots. The idea is to finish the old year cleanly, settle debts and obligations, and welcome the new year with a fresh start. That attitude shapes everything from housecleaning to gift giving. The pace quickens after the middle of December, when schools finish their term and workers count down the remaining days. By the final week, trains and shops feel noticeably different, and many people say the whole country seems to take a collective breath before the new year starts.

Bonenkai, the forget-the-year party

A bonenkai is a year-end party, and the name is often translated as a forget-the-year gathering. Colleagues, friends, clubs and school groups meet at restaurants or izakaya to look back on the year, share a meal and drink together. Companies often hold one for each department, and dates cluster in mid to late December. The party typically starts with a toast, called kanpai, and continues with a set course meal. Speeches are usually brief and the mood is warm. Some groups hold a second gathering, called nijikai, at a different venue.

Popular restaurants fill quickly in December, so reservations are wise if you want to dine out. If you are invited to a bonenkai, it is polite to join the first toast and to pour drinks for others in the group. Menu choices often include hot pot dishes in winter, grilled skewers and plenty of seasonal seafood. Many restaurants offer fixed-price all-you-can-drink plans for groups, and the details vary by venue, so reading the plan description before booking helps you avoid surprises.

Osoji and the New Year decorations

Osoji, the big year-end cleaning, is a ritual in many households. Families sweep, wipe windows, clean kitchens and tidy closets so they can enter the New Year with a clean home. Schools and workplaces often have their own cleaning day before the break. Decorations follow the cleaning. Kadomatsu, arrangements of pine and bamboo, are placed at doors to welcome the New Year deity, and shimekazari, straw rope ornaments, mark a home as pure. Tradition suggests setting them up before December 28 or on the 30th, and avoiding the 29th, which can be read as unlucky, and the 31st, which is considered too hasty.

Mochi, the rice cakes used for offerings and New Year dishes, are pounded or bought around this time. Kagami mochi, two stacked round cakes, are displayed in homes as an offering until they are eaten later in January. Some temples and shrines hold their own cleaning rituals, such as the dusting of large Buddha statues, which are sometimes covered by local news. These ceremonies carry the same idea as household cleaning: clearing away the old to make room for the new.

Nengajo, cards and gifts

Sending New Year cards, called nengajo, is a long-standing habit. The cards are printed or hand-made with greetings and the zodiac animal of the coming year, and they are mailed in December so that the postal service can deliver them on January 1. People often send them to relatives, friends, teachers and colleagues. Many people write a simple message of thanks for the past year and good wishes for the next. Special New Year postcards go on sale in autumn, and post offices set a recommended posting deadline in late December.

Year-end gifts, called oseibo, are another custom. People give them to those who have helped them during the year, such as superiors, clients or relatives. Department stores offer gift sets of food, drinks and household items, and details vary with region and relationship. Cards written after the deadline are still welcome, and recipients simply receive them a few days late. People who prefer a modern approach send digital greetings, though many still enjoy the pleasure of finding a handwritten card in the mailbox on New Year's morning.

Joya no kane and toshikoshi soba

On December 31, many people eat toshikoshi soba, buckwheat noodles that are said to symbolize letting go of the year and wishing for a long, steady life. The noodles are usually served in a hot broth, and some households add tempura or simple toppings. The custom is generally to finish the noodles before midnight. At midnight, Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times in a ceremony called joya no kane. The number is linked to a Buddhist idea about human worldly desires, and the ringing is meant to clear the mind for a fresh start.

Some temples allow visitors to ring the bell, and others have a limited number of places, so check the temple's official information. Many families also watch television specials on New Year's Eve, including a long-running music program broadcast by the public broadcaster. Others head out for shrine visits at midnight. Some soba restaurants take special orders for home delivery on December 31. Cooking at home is also simple, since packaged noodles and dipping sauce are sold in every supermarket during the last week of the year.

Travel, closures and practical tips

Japan's year-end travel period is one of the busiest of the year. Trains, airlines and highways are crowded as people return to their hometowns, and reservations for long-distance travel often sell out well ahead. If you plan to travel, book as early as possible and expect heavy crowds. Most government offices, many businesses and some restaurants close from about December 29 or 30 until January 3. This period is called the New Year holiday.

Many shops reopen from the first days of January with special sales, including lucky bags known as fukubukuro. Convenience stores, some supermarkets and big tourist attractions may stay open, but hours can change. Check official websites for current information, and stock up on essentials before the break begins. Banks and post offices often stop normal services for several days, so tourists should withdraw cash and handle errands early. Many museums and attractions publish their holiday closures in advance, and checking each official page is the safest way to avoid disappointment.

Joining in as a visitor

Visitors can enjoy the season in simple ways. Walking through shopping districts shows the decorations and the busy atmosphere. Department store food halls sell osechi, the traditional New Year dishes, in decorated boxes. Reservations are often required, and ordering deadlines are usually in advance. On New Year's Eve, look for temples that welcome the public for the bell ringing. Arrive early, dress warmly and be prepared to queue. Respect any rules about photography and silence.

A quiet way to take part is to eat a bowl of soba on the last night of the year. Many soba shops open specially for the occasion, and the simple meal captures the spirit of the day. Shrines are crowded at midnight and in the first days of January, a visit known as hatsumode. If you prefer quiet, go on a weekday morning later in the month, when the atmosphere is calmer but the decorations are still in place.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does nenmatsu mean?

Nenmatsu means the end of the year. It refers to the weeks before New Year in which people clean, hold parties, send cards and prepare for the holiday. Shops and media use the word in their seasonal campaigns. Related words you may see include bonenkai for year-end parties, osoji for the big clean and nengajo for New Year cards, which all signal that the season is underway.

Why are 108 bells rung on New Year's Eve?

The number 108 is linked in Buddhist teaching to the human worldly desires. Ringing the bell that many times is meant to help clear the mind and begin the new year freshly. The ceremony is called joya no kane. Some temples let visitors take a turn striking the bell, though numbers are limited, so arriving early and following staff directions is important.

Are shops closed at the end of the year?

Many offices and some shops close from around December 29 to January 3. Convenience stores and some large stores may stay open with adjusted hours. Check official sources and prepare ahead. Supermarkets and department stores run extended hours before the break, so it is easy to stock up on food, drinks and daily items in advance.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: Shogatsu: Japan's New Year Customs, Japan in December: Illuminations and Year-End Closures and Otoshidama: The New Year Money Envelope.