HAPPY NEW YEAR! あけましておめでとうございます！
New Year’s in Japan is filled with many festivities and traditions.
Some of the popular and famous traditions are:
- New Year’s food: Osechi and Toshikoshi soba
- Osouji New Year’s “Big-Cleaning”
- Hatsumode (first shrine visit)
- Hatsuhinode (first sunrise)
Osechi is traditional Japanese New Year food which is eaten at the beginning of new year. They come in an assortment of colorful and authentic dishes packed together in a large bento box called Jubako. Toshikoshi Soba is a bowl of hot soba noodles usually eaten on New Year’s Eve which is supposed to bring you a long life and prosperity in the year ahead.
Osouji, meaning deep-cleaning, is a preparation for the coming New Year. Many people in Japan respect the Buddha and Shinto Gods and believe that cleaning their houses can welcome “Toshigami,” the God of the New Year, who brings health and good luck to the families in the coming year.
Hatsumode is one of the most popular traditions in Japan where you visit a shrine or temple to make wishes for new year, draw an omikuji (fortune-telling), and buy omamori (good luck charms).
Hatsuhinode means “first sunrise” of the year and it is one of the important aspects of New Year’s celebration in Japan. Observing the first sunrise in the early, cold morning gives you a special moment and refreshing feelings.
Thank you for supporting MyJRPass and NTA America all the time.
Hope everyone have a wonderful year!