Shogatsu: Japan's New Year Customs

Bells, pine decorations, special food and the first shrine visit of the year make the first days of January the most traditional time in Japan.

Published October 19, 2026 at 1:29 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Shogatsu is the Japanese New Year, the country's most important holiday, centered on January 1 to 3. Families clean their homes, eat special dishes such as osechi and ozoni, visit a shrine or temple for hatsumode, and give children small gifts of money. Many businesses close for several days, so travelers should plan ahead.

What shogatsu is and why it matters

Shogatsu is the Japanese name for the first month of the year and, more commonly, for the New Year holiday period. It is the most significant seasonal holiday in the Japanese calendar, a time of renewal, family gatherings and gratitude. The celebration is based on welcoming a deity of the new year, often called Toshigami, who is thought to bring good fortune and a fresh start.

The core days are January 1 to 3, called sanganichi. In practice, the holiday period often runs from around December 29 to January 3 or longer, since many offices and shops close. People travel to their hometowns, so trains and highways are crowded at the start and end of the break. If you plan to visit Japan at this time, book transport early.

Preparing for the new year

In the final days of December, households carry out o-soji, a thorough year-end cleaning, so that the home is ready to welcome the new year's deity. People also decorate with pine, bamboo and plum. A kadomatsu, a pair of arrangements of pine and bamboo, is placed at the entrance, and a shimekazari, a straw rope ornament, hangs on doors to mark the home as pure. Kagami mochi, two stacked round rice cakes topped with a bitter orange, is displayed as an offering.

Around January 11, the mochi is traditionally broken apart, not cut, and eaten in soup or sweet red bean porridge, a custom called kagami biraki. Many families cook or buy osechi ahead of time, since stores and markets close in the first days. Mailing New Year cards, called nengajo, is another tradition; Japan Post delivers them on January 1 if mailed by a deadline in late December.

Joya no kane and toshikoshi soba

On New Year's Eve, temples ring a large bell 108 times in a ceremony called joya no kane. The number is linked to Buddhist ideas about worldly desires, and each strike is meant to clear one of them. Many temples let visitors join in or offer warm drinks. The sound of distant bells at midnight is a memorable feature of the night. Families often eat toshikoshi soba, buckwheat noodles, on New Year's Eve. The long strands symbolize a long life, and the noodles are easily cut, suggesting a break from the past year's troubles.

Many soba restaurants are busy that day, and supermarkets sell packaged sets. If you are traveling, check which restaurants will be open, since some close for the holiday. The meal is often eaten before midnight, so that the old year's worries are left behind. In some regions, people eat it after midnight instead, and in some households the timing is a matter of family habit. Whichever way you choose, a warm bowl on a cold night is a pleasant way to end the year.

Osechi and ozoni: the festive food

Osechi-ryori is a set of small dishes packed into tiered lacquer boxes called jubako. Each dish has a symbolic meaning. Black soybeans (kuromame) stand for health, herring roe (kazunoko) for fertility, sweet rolled omelet (datemaki) for learning, and shrimp for long life. Many dishes are prepared to keep for several days so that cooks can rest. Ozoni is a soup containing mochi rice cakes, eaten on New Year's morning. The recipe differs by region.

In eastern Japan, the broth is often clear and the mochi is square and grilled; in western Japan, the broth may be miso-based with round mochi. Be careful with mochi, which is sticky and can be hard to swallow, so cut it into small pieces if you serve children or older adults. Many households now order osechi from department stores, restaurants or convenience stores, with sets for one person to large families, and Western or Chinese-style versions are also sold. Reservations usually open in autumn.

Hatsumode: the first shrine visit

Hatsumode is the first visit to a shrine or temple in the new year. Many people go on January 1 to 3, though the period extends through early January. Famous sites such as Meiji Jingu in Tokyo, Fushimi Inari in Kyoto and Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osaka draw very large crowds. Smaller local shrines are less crowded and just as meaningful. At the shrine, visitors toss a coin into the offering box, bow twice, clap twice and bow once more while making a wish. Many buy omamori charms or ema wooden plaques, or draw an omikuji fortune slip.

Old charms from the previous year are returned to the shrine for ritual burning. Expect long lines and stalls selling hot amazake and snacks. If the crowds at the biggest shrines sound daunting, go early on January 1 right after midnight, or wait until later in the first week, when queues shorten. Many local shrines also welcome visitors through all of January, and some even keep the hatsumode atmosphere until the middle of the month. Dress in warm layers and wear comfortable shoes, as the walk to the main hall can be long.

Money gifts, games and other customs

Children receive otoshidama, small envelopes of money, from relatives. The amount depends on the age of the child and the family. Traditional games such as karuta (card matching), hanetsuki (a shuttlecock game) and kite flying are played, although many families now prefer video games. Television broadcasts New Year specials, and the first sunrise of the year, hatsuhinode, draws people to beaches and hills. Another custom is hatsuyume, the first dream of the year. A dream of Mt. Fuji, a hawk or an eggplant is considered lucky.

Department stores and shops hold New Year sales and sell lucky bags, called fukubukuro, with mystery contents. These bags are popular and sell out quickly, so some people line up early on the morning of January 2. Nengajo postcards also feature the zodiac animal of the year, and sending them to friends and colleagues is a pleasant habit. Many people now send digital greetings, but printed cards remain widely popular, especially among older relatives.

Traveling in Japan during the new year

Many restaurants, museums and shops close from around December 29 to January 3. Convenience stores and large chain restaurants tend to remain open, and big tourist sites often have special hours. Before you go, check opening dates for the places on your list. Hotels may offer special holiday menus, and ryokan often hold New Year events. Transport is crowded at the start and end of the holiday. Shinkansen and long-distance buses sell out, so reserve seats.

Within cities, trains may run extra late-night services on New Year's Eve for hatsumode visitors. Dress warmly, as January is cold. It is a good time to see a quieter side of Tokyo, as many residents have left for their hometowns. If you plan to stay in a hotel, ask whether breakfast is available on January 1, since some kitchens close. Supermarkets and department stores usually reopen on January 2 or 3, so keep snacks on hand for the first day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is hatsumode?

Hatsumode is the first visit to a shrine or temple in the new year, usually between January 1 and 3. People pray for health and good fortune, buy charms, and draw fortune slips. Large shrines are crowded, so consider visiting a local one.

What is osechi?

Osechi is a set of traditional New Year dishes packed in tiered boxes. Each dish has a symbolic meaning related to health, prosperity or long life. They are designed to be eaten over several days, so cooks can rest. Curiosity is welcome, and polite questions are usually met with friendly answers.

Are shops open on New Year's Day in Japan?

Many shops and restaurants are closed from around December 29 to January 3, though convenience stores and large chains often stay open. Department stores reopen for sales around January 2. Check opening hours in advance. Rules and prices change, so verify the details on the official page before you go.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: Nenmatsu: How Japan Closes the Year, Otoshidama: The New Year Money Envelope and Japan in December: Illuminations and Year-End Closures.