The Japanese New Year, known as Oshōgatsu (お正月), is the most important cultural and family festival in Japan. Unlike many countries that treat New Year as a single night of celebration, Japan observes it as a deeply meaningful season focused on renewal, gratitude, reflection, and good fortune.
Every year from January 1 to January 3, Japanese families return to their hometowns, visit shrines, prepare symbolic foods, and follow customs that have been passed down for centuries. The Japanese New Year is not just a holiday it is a spiritual and cultural reset for the entire nation.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
Let’s explore the beautiful traditions behind Japan’s most meaningful celebration.
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The Japanese New Year is called お正月 (Oshōgatsu) — a word that carries both linguistic and cultural meaning.
The term is made up of two parts:
Together, Oshōgatsu can be understood as “the honorable beginning of the year,” reflecting how deeply respected and meaningful this period is in Japanese culture.
Oshōgatsu does not refer only to January 1st. Instead, it describes the entire New Year season, which typically lasts from January 1 to January 3, and in some traditions extends until January 7. During this time, families gather, businesses close, and people focus on renewal, gratitude, and welcoming good fortune for the year ahead.
More than just a calendar event, Oshōgatsu is a cultural reset a moment when Japan collectively pauses, reflects, and begins again.
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Oshōgatsu is the heart of Japan’s cultural calendar. It is not simply a holiday it is a meaningful period of renewal, reflection, and spiritual preparation for the year ahead.
For Japanese families, Oshōgatsu represents:
According to traditional belief, a deity known as Toshigami-sama visits homes during the New Year to bless families with prosperity, good harvests, and well-being. Many New Year customs such as cleaning the home, decorating entrances, and preparing special foods are performed to respectfully welcome this deity and purify the living space.
That is why year-end cleaning, symbolic decorations, and carefully prepared meals are not just habits they are rituals of respect, renewal, and hope. Through Oshōgatsu, people align their homes, hearts, and intentions with a positive beginning for the year ahead.
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Preparation for the Japanese New Year begins well before January 1st. It is a thoughtful and symbolic process that focuses on cleansing the past and welcoming positive energy for the future.
Before the New Year arrives, families take part in ōsōji, a thorough, top-to-bottom cleaning of their homes, workplaces, and even public spaces.
This is more than just tidying up. It represents the act of:
By cleaning their homes, people symbolically clean their lives preparing to welcome Toshigami-sama, the New Year deity, into a space filled with purity, order, and respect.
Once the home is cleaned, it is adorned with traditional decorations, each chosen for its spiritual meaning and good wishes.
Together, these decorations transform the home into a welcoming space for blessings, peace, and prosperity turning preparation into a beautiful ritual of hope and renewal.
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The traditional Japanese New Year feast is called Osechi Ryōri (おせち料理) a beautifully prepared collection of symbolic dishes enjoyed during the Oshōgatsu season.
Osechi is served in elegant, stacked lacquer boxes known as jubako, with each layer holding foods that represent specific hopes and blessings for the coming year. The colors, shapes, and ingredients are carefully chosen, making the meal both visually stunning and deeply meaningful.
Here are some of the most common Osechi dishes and what they symbolize:
| Dish | Meaning |
| Kuromame (Black beans) | Health, diligence, and a strong work ethic |
| Kazunoko (Herring roe) | Fertility, family growth, and prosperity |
| Datemaki (Sweet rolled omelet) | Knowledge, culture, and academic success |
| Shrimp | Longevity and a long, healthy life |
| Kurikinton (Chestnut & sweet potato mash) | Wealth, fortune, and financial success |
Another essential New Year dish is Zōni, a comforting soup made with mochi rice cakes, seasonal vegetables, and broth. Its flavor and ingredients vary by region, making it a unique expression of local tradition.
All of these foods are prepared before New Year begins so families can spend the holiday resting, reflecting, and enjoying time together without the need to cook. In this way, Osechi Ryōri becomes not just a meal, but a celebration of hope, harmony, and renewal served on a plate.
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Japanese New Year is filled with meaningful customs that connect people to spirituality, family, and the rhythm of the seasons. Each tradition carries symbolic value and helps mark the beginning of the year with intention and gratitude.
Shortly after midnight on January 1st, people visit Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples in a tradition known as Hatsumōde. It is the first prayer visit of the year and one of the most important New Year rituals in Japan.
During Hatsumōde, people:
Through these acts, people ask for health, success, happiness, and protection in the year ahead.
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Another beloved tradition is sending Nengajō, New Year greeting postcards sent to friends, relatives, teachers, and colleagues. These cards are carefully timed so that they arrive exactly on January 1st.
They serve as a thoughtful way to:
Nengajō reflects the Japanese value of maintaining harmony and appreciation within relationships.
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Children eagerly look forward to Otoshidama, the tradition of receiving money in beautifully decorated envelopes from parents, grandparents, and relatives.
Much like red envelopes in Chinese culture, Otoshidama symbolizes:
Together, these traditions transform the Japanese New Year into a season of reflection, gratitude, hope, and connection where spiritual practices and family warmth come together to welcome a fresh beginning.
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Learning how to say “New Year” and “Happy New Year” in Japanese adds a beautiful cultural touch to your understanding of Oshōgatsu and allows you to greet others in a respectful and meaningful way.
These terms are used when talking about the season, traditions, or the holiday itself.
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A key cultural detail is that this greeting is only used after the New Year has begun — from January 1 onward. It is not said before midnight on December 31, as doing so would be considered premature.
Using these phrases correctly shows not only language knowledge, but also cultural awareness and respect an important part of communication in Japan.
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Japanese New Year is celebrated on:
Japan follows the Gregorian calendar, so unlike the Chinese New Year, Japanese New Year always starts on January 1.
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During the New Year holiday, much of Japan slows down as people focus on family and tradition.
If you plan to visit Japan during this time, it’s wise to book transportation early and expect limited services but also a uniquely festive and culturally rich atmosphere.
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Japanese New Year beautifully reflects the deeper values that shape Japanese society and everyday life.
It highlights:
Unlike loud, party-driven celebrations seen elsewhere, the Japanese New Year is calm, reflective, and intentional. It invites people to slow down, reconnect with what truly matters, and begin the year with clarity, balance, and a sense of purpose.
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Japanese New Year is called Oshōgatsu (お正月), which refers to the New Year season celebrated from January 1 to early January in Japan.
Oshōgatsu is the most important cultural holiday in Japan. It symbolizes renewal, reflection, gratitude, and the welcoming of good fortune for the year ahead. Families gather, homes are purified, and people reconnect with tradition and spirituality.
“New Year” in Japanese is 正月 (Shōgatsu). When referring specifically to the Japanese New Year celebration, people often say 日本のお正月 (Nihon no Oshōgatsu).
The formal greeting is あけましておめでとうございます (Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu). A casual version used among friends and family is あけましておめでとう (Akemashite omedetō).
The traditional New Year feast is called Osechi Ryōri (おせち料理). It includes symbolic foods served in stacked boxes, each representing wishes like health, prosperity, and longevity.
Common foods include Osechi dishes such as kuromame (black beans), kazunoko (herring roe), datemaki (sweet omelet), shrimp, kurikinton (chestnut mash), and Zōni, a soup with mochi rice cakes.
Hatsumōde (初詣) is the first visit to a shrine or temple in the new year, where people pray for health, success, happiness, and protection.
No. Japanese New Year is celebrated on January 1 following the Gregorian calendar, while Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar and changes each year.
Generally no. The Japanese New Year is calm and family-oriented, focusing on reflection, prayer, and tradition rather than loud celebrations.
The main holiday period is January 1–3, but some traditions continue until January 7.
Toshigami-sama is the traditional New Year deity believed to visit homes during Oshōgatsu to bring blessings for health, harvests, and prosperity.
Otoshidama is the tradition of giving money to children in decorative envelopes as a New Year blessing for growth and happiness.
Nengajō are New Year greeting postcards sent to friends, family, and colleagues to express gratitude and good wishes for the year ahead.
Yes, but they should plan carefully, as many businesses close and transport becomes busy. Shrines and temples are lively and culturally rich during this time.
Because it combines spirituality, family values, tradition, and personal reflection — making it more meaningful and inward-focused than many Western New Year celebrations.
The Japanese New Year (Oshōgatsu) is more than a date it is a cultural reset, a spiritual renewal, and a family-centered celebration that reflects the heart of Japanese society.
Through traditions like shrine visits, symbolic foods, greetings, and rituals, Japanese people welcome the new year with respect, hope, and gratitude. Whether you are a student, traveler, or language learner, understanding Oshōgatsu offers a meaningful insight into Japan’s values and way of life.
It reminds us that a new year is not just about time changing it is about mindset, renewal, and harmony with the world around us.
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