Year-End in Japan: Osoji Cleaning and Omisoka for a Fresh Start

Updated October 24, 2026 | By Tokyo Paul

As the final weeks of the year approach, many Japanese households prepare for a particular kind of fresh start. There is deep cleaning, a special meal on the last night, a bell rung at a temple, and then a first visit to a shrine. These customs share a gentle theme: close the old year with care, then open the new one with intention. This guide explains the main year-end traditions and shows how their spirit can support your own reflection on what gives your days meaning.

Omisoka, the Last Day of the Year

December 31 is called omisoka. According to Nippon.com, it is arguably one of the most significant dates on the Japanese calendar. The day has its own set of customs, some practical and some symbolic, that tie the end of the year to the beginning of the next.

Osoji: Cleaning as Reflection

One of the best-known customs is osoji, the year-end cleaning. Nippon.com explains that it is an important part of omisoka, that it began in the Edo period and was slowly adopted by households over time, and that many people see the cleaning as a way to reflect on the year past.

The idea of cleaning as reflection is appealing. Wiping down a shelf or sorting through papers is a physical action that can also be mentally clarifying. As you decide what to keep, repair, or let go of, you are quietly deciding what matters to you. In that sense, osoji and ikigai share a kind of conversation: one asks what belongs in your home, and the other asks what belongs in your life.

Toshikoshi Soba

Many people eat a bowl of toshikoshi soba on New Year's Eve. Nippon.com reports one explanation that the noodles are easy to bite through, which provides a symbolic break from the trials and tribulations of the past year. It also says the hardiness of the soba plant and the length of the noodles are thought to help ensure longevity and health for the diner, and that western Japan typically eats udon instead.

If you want to enjoy this custom, any simple bowl of soba or udon works. People with wheat or buckwheat allergies should avoid foods that contain those ingredients, since buckwheat allergy can be serious. When dining out, tell the staff about any allergies, and check labels on packaged noodles.

Joya no Kane: The Bell Rung 108 Times

At midnight, many Buddhist temples ring a large bell 108 times in a custom known as joya no kane. Nippon.com describes it as ringing the bell at a Buddhist temple 108 times to represent each of the earthly sins. You might choose to treat it as a moment to let go of regrets from the year that is ending. If you plan to visit a temple on New Year's Eve, check the temple's official information about access and rules, because crowds and hours can vary.

Hatsumode: The First Visit of the Year

After the new year begins, many people make a first visit to a shrine or temple, called hatsumode, the first prayer of the New Year. Nippon.com notes that people visit sites such as Tokyo's Meiji Shrine for this. A separate Wikipedia article adds that hatsumode typically takes place on the first, second, or third day of the year. The same article reports that Meiji Shrine had 3.2 million visitors in the first three days of January 2010, so major shrines can be very crowded, and some visitors may prefer quieter local shrines or a different day.

New Year Cards and Door Decorations

Two other customs belong to the same season. The first is nengajo, New Year's cards, which Nippon.com says play a similar role to Christmas cards in other countries. Post offices hold the cards and distribute them on the morning of January 1. To arrive on that day, cards need to be posted between December 15 and 25, according to the same source, and the cards often feature the zodiac animal of the coming year. Households that lost a family member during the year send mourning postcards in early December so that others know not to send a New Year card.

The second custom is kadomatsu, New Year decorations made from pine, bamboo, and sometimes sprigs of plum. Wikipedia describes them as a type of yorishiro, an object meant to welcome ancestral spirits or kami of the harvest, and says that in modern times they are placed after Christmas until January 7. If you see these decorations beside doorways in Japan in late December, you are seeing the neighborhood getting ready to welcome the new year.

Both customs show a similar instinct: mark a transition with something you can touch, whether it is a card written by hand or a green arrangement beside the door.

Using the Spirit of Omisoka for Your Own Reflection

You do not need to be in Japan to borrow the spirit of these customs. Here is a simple year-end routine inspired by them.

Clean one small area on purpose. Choose a drawer, a desk, or a bag. As you clear it, think about what you are keeping and why.
Write down three things from the year that gave you energy or a sense of meaning. They can be small.
Write down one thing you would like to release, such as a worry, a habit, or an expectation.
Choose one small commitment for the new year that connects to something meaningful. Keep it modest enough to actually do.
End with a simple ritual, such as a warm bowl of noodles or a quiet walk.

A Note on Wellbeing

The end of the year can be joyful, but it can also be heavy for some people. If you notice persistent sadness or anxiety, reach out to a trusted person or a health professional. Reflection should leave you feeling clearer, not more burdened. If a question feels too heavy, leave it for another day.

Why These Customs Endure

The charm of Japanese year-end traditions is that they combine the practical and the symbolic. A clean room is useful. A bowl of noodles is delicious. A temple bell is beautiful. And each of them gives the mind permission to turn the page. For anyone interested in ikigai, the season is a natural moment to ask a simple question: what gave your days a reason to begin this year, and how can you give it more space next year?

From the Lunar Calendar to December 31

Wikipedia says Omisoka was traditionally held on the final day of the 12th lunar month, and that after the switch to the Gregorian calendar in 1873 it is now used on New Year's Eve, December 31. It adds that the day is also known by the archaic pronunciation otsugomori. This helps explain why some customs feel older than the modern date.

Tasks Before the New Year

According to the page, traditional tasks include house cleaning, repaying debts, and purification. The page does not use the word osoji, but house cleaning is the same idea. If you want to try your own version, keep it small: clear one shelf or one drawer, and keep what is useful.

Food and Television

The article says families and friends often watch the over four hour Kohaku Uta Gassen on NHK, and that people often eat toshikoshi soba or toshikoshi udon about an hour before the New Year, with tempura toppings in some localities. It says families traditionally make osechi in the last few days of the year. Customs vary, so there is room for your own traditions.

At Midnight

Wikipedia says many people visit a shrine or temple for hatsumode, that Shinto shrines prepare amazake for crowds near midnight, and that most Buddhist temples ring a large bell once for each of the 108 earthly temptations believed to cause human suffering. The bell ringing is known as joya no kane. If you go out at midnight, dress warmly, expect crowds, and follow staff instructions.

Holiday Rhythm

The holiday page says most companies voluntarily designate a holiday from December 29 to January 3, though it is not an official holiday. Shops and transport may change hours, so check schedules and stock up on basics in advance.

A Quiet Reflection

Take ten minutes to write down what you want to let go of and what you want to carry forward. Keep it kind. If the end of the year brings sadness or stress, talk with someone you trust or a professional. This article is general information, not medical advice.

Keep Exploring

Tokyo Paul's book Unlocking Ikigai: The Japanese Key to Longevity, Purpose, and Happiness (Japanese Wellness and Ikigai Book 1) explores the roots and cultural significance of ikigai, and includes interactive exercises and mindfulness practices, according to its Amazon description. See Unlocking Ikigai on Amazon