Japanese New Year (Shougatsu): Customs Every Expat Should Know

In Western countries, Christmas is the focal point of winter holidays. In Japan, however, the most important celebration of the year is New Year (Shougatsu - お正月). Celebrated from December 31st to January 3rd (and often stretching a full week for offices), it is a time for family, reflection, traditional food, and a hard reset before the new year begins. This guide walks through the customs you will see, the etiquette you are expected to follow, and practical tips for surviving your first Shougatsu as an expat.

Essential New Year Traditions

To participate in or appreciate Shougatsu, keep an eye out for these essential customs:

• Toshikoshi Soba (年越しそば): On New Year's Eve (Omisoka), it is customary to eat long buckwheat noodles. The length of the noodles symbolizes a long, healthy life, and their easy-to-cut texture represents cutting off the hardships of the past year.
• Joya no Kane (除夜の鐘): Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times at midnight on New Year's Eve — once for each of the 108 worldly desires in Buddhist teaching. Many temples allow visitors to take a turn ringing.
• Hatsuhinode (初日の出): Watching the first sunrise of the year, often from a mountain, beach, or east-facing balcony. Popular spots include Mount Fuji viewing areas and Tokyo's waterfront.

Beyond the big three, several smaller traditions fill the days around New Year. Kadomatsu (門松) — paired bamboo and pine decorations placed at entrances — welcome the New Year's deity (Toshigami). Kagami Mochi (鏡餅), a stack of two round rice cakes topped with a mandarin, is displayed in homes as an offering and later broken and eaten in a ceremony called Kagami Biraki (breaking the mirror) in mid-January. Shimekazari (注連飾り), braided straw ropes with paper streamers, are hung above doorways to mark a sacred space for the new year.

Osechi Ryori: Traditional New Year Foods

Osechi Ryori (おせち料理) is the centerpiece of New Year cuisine — beautifully arranged in lacquered boxes called jubako. Each ingredient has a symbolic meaning rooted in wordplay or tradition. Buying a pre-made osechi set from a department store or ordering one from a restaurant starts at around ¥10,000 and can run over ¥50,000 for luxury versions.

• Kuromame (sweetened black beans): Represent health and the ability to work diligently (*mame* means both 'bean' and 'diligent').
• Kurikinton (sweet chestnut paste): Symbolizes fortune and wealth — the golden color resembles gold coins.
• Kobumaki (kelp rolls): The word *kobu* sounds like *yorokobu* (to be joyful).
• Tai (sea bream): Sounds like *medetai* (auspicious or celebratory).
• Tazukuri (candied sardines): Historically used as fertilizer, symbolizing an abundant harvest.
• Kazunoko (herring roe): Symbolizes fertility and many descendants.

Many expats find osechi polarizing — the dishes are often sweet, vinegary, or dry, designed to keep without refrigeration. If you are unsure whether to invest in a full set, consider ordering a small modern osechi or making a few dishes at home with friends instead.

Ozoni: The Mochi Soup

Ozoni (お雑煮) is a mochi (rice cake) soup eaten on New Year's morning, often alongside osechi. The recipe varies dramatically by region: in eastern Japan (including Tokyo), the broth is clear (sumashi-jiru) with square-cut grilled mochi; in western Japan (including Kyoto and Osaka), it is miso-based with round mochi. Some regions add chicken, others use seafood or leafy greens. Families often have their own heirloom recipe passed down through generations. For expats, ozoni is a gentler introduction to New Year food than osechi — the savory broth and soft mochi are more universally appealing than the sweet-vinegar flavors of the jubako boxes.

Hatsumode: The First Shrine Visit

Hatsumode (初詣) is the first shrine or temple visit of the new year, performed between January 1st and 3rd (or sometimes the first weekend). Millions of people visit major shrines — Meiji Jingu in Tokyo attracts over 3 million visitors in those three days alone. Popular shrines can have 2–4 hour wait times.

• Top Tokyo shrines: Meiji Jingu (Harajuku), Senso-ji (Asakusa), Sumiyoshi Taisha.
• Top Osaka shrines: Sumiyoshi Taisha, Tenmangu.
• What to do: Toss a coin into the offering box (saisen-bako), bow twice, clap twice, make a wish, bow once. Then draw an *omikuji* (fortune paper) for ¥100–¥300.
• Buy new omamori (charms): Old ones from last year should be returned to the shrine to be ceremonially burned; do not throw them in the trash.

Hamaya and Engimono: Lucky Items to Buy

At Hatsumode, shrines sell hamaya (破魔矢) — decorative 'demon-breaking' arrows that are taken home as protective talismans for the year — and engimono (縁起物), a rotating selection of lucky charms that change annually based on the Chinese zodiac animal. In 2026 (Year of the Horse), horse-themed items are everywhere. You can also buy ema (絵馬), small wooden plaques on which you write a wish and hang at the shrine. Budget ¥500–¥2,000 if you want to bring home a set of New Year amulets.

Otoshidama: New Year's Money for Children

Otoshidama (お年玉) is the custom of giving money to children in small decorated envelopes called *pochibukuro*. If you visit Japanese relatives or close friends with kids, preparing standard amounts is a thoughtful gesture. Typical amounts by age:

• Preschool (ages 0–6): ¥1,000 – ¥3,000
• Elementary school (ages 7–12): ¥3,000 – ¥5,000
• Junior high school (ages 13–15): ¥5,000 – ¥10,000
• High school (ages 16–18): ¥10,000

Always give crisp, unfolded bills — ideally new notes from the bank. Never hand money loose without a pochibukuro; this is considered rude.

Fukubukuro: Lucky Bags

Fukubukuro (福袋), or 'lucky bags,' are sealed bags sold by department stores and brand retailers on January 1st or 2nd at a steep discount from the combined retail value. Consumers do not know the exact contents — only the category (e.g., apparel, cosmetics, electronics). Luxury brands like Apple, Loewe, and Ginza department stores see massive pre-dawn lines. The value is real, but the contents are often a mix of last season's items.

For expats, fukubukuro is a fun way to score brand-name goods at 30–50% off — just be prepared that returns are almost never accepted.

Social Etiquette and Greetings

If you interact with Japanese colleagues, friends, or neighbors during the holidays, there are a few important etiquette points:

• Before January 1st: Say *'Yoi otoshi wo omukae kudasai'* or just *'Yoi otoshi wo'* (Wishing you a good year).
• From January 1st onward (until about January 7th): Switch to *'Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu'* (Happy New Year).
• Nengajo (年賀状): New Year postcards sent to arrive exactly on January 1st. The tradition is declining with digital alternatives, but still common for business contacts and older relatives.
• Business nenshi (年始): Many companies send new year greeting emails or hold a small *shinnenkai* (new year party) in January.

Practical Survival Tips for Expats

• Banking and ATMs: Most bank ATMs close from December 31 to January 3. Seven Bank and Post Office ATMs stay open but may have reduced hours.
• Grocery stores: Stock up by December 30. Many supermarkets close December 31 – January 2.
• Hospitals and clinics: Most clinics close entirely from December 29 through January 3. Emergency rooms are open but extremely busy.
• Trains and Shinkansen: Run on holiday schedules. Expect 2–3x normal crowds on January 1–3.
• Government offices (Ward Offices): Closed December 29 – January 3. If you have a visa or registration deadline, schedule early.

What to Do If You Get Sick During New Year

Because most clinics are closed, getting sick during Shougatsu can be stressful. For non-emergencies, look for 'Shogatsu Kyujitsu Shinryojo' (正月休日診療所) — clinics designated by each ward to handle New Year holiday patients on a rotating basis. Your ward office publishes the schedule in late December. For real emergencies, go to the ER of the nearest large hospital; call 119 for an ambulance if needed. Always have your health insurance card (hokensho) on hand.

Nengajo and the Postal System

Nengajo (年賀状) are New Year postcards that Japan Post guarantees will be delivered on January 1st if mailed by December 25th. Japan Post prints lottery numbers on every card — prizes range from TVs and cameras to stamps. The tradition is fading among younger people but remains standard for business contacts and older relatives.

For expats, sending nengajo to your Japanese landlord, colleagues, and neighbors is a thoughtful gesture that costs little (¥63 per standard postcard with a pre-printed lottery number) and signals cultural integration. You can buy blank cards at convenience stores and write a simple message. If you receive a nengajo and did not send one, do not panic — a thank-you email or a small gift at your next in-person meeting is sufficient.

Hatsumode and the New Year Budget

While New Year in Japan is culturally rich, it is also a surprisingly expensive holiday once you add up osechi, otoshidama, fukubukuro, shrine offerings, and travel. A family with two children can easily spend ¥30,000–¥80,000 over the three-day holiday. For single expats, the main costs are osechi or New Year meals (¥3,000–¥10,000), hatsumode transportation and omikuji/omamori (¥1,000–¥5,000), and any fukubukuro purchases (¥5,000–¥30,000).

If you are budgeting for the full year, set aside ¥20,000–¥50,000 for New Year expenses. To manage your household budget year-round and see how one-time events like Shougatsu affect your savings, use our Income Tax Calculator to understand your true take-home pay after all deductions. The Japan National Tourism Organization provides official New Year customs guides for visitors who want to experience Shougatsu firsthand.