How We Celebrate New Year in Japan!

The New Year is still a few weeks away, but I wanted to share how we celebrate it in Japan.
January 1st, called Ganjitsu, is a special day to celebrate the start of a new year with family and friends. Japanese New Year feels a little different from ordinary days—it’s a mix of relaxation, fun, and traditions that make it truly special.

First, on New Year’s morning, we eat Osechi Ryori.
Osechi is a colorful box filled with small dishes, and each food has a special meaning, like wishing for health, happiness, or a long life. From black beans to sweet rolled omelets and herring roe, every bite is both delicious and symbolic. The presentation alone makes you excited to start the year!

Next, there’s Hatsumode, the first shrine or temple visit of the year.
People go to pray for health, happiness, and good luck. Big shrines can even have lines forming before sunrise! Drawing an omikuji (fortune slip) is a fun part of the visit—if you get a “Great Luck,” you can’t help but smile from ear to ear.

Long ago, Japanese New Year was also full of traditional games, like spinning tops, hanetsuki (Japanese shuttlecock), or fukuwarai (a funny face game).
These days, most people don’t play them much anymore, but they remain a charming part of Japan’s New Year culture and give a glimpse of how the holiday was celebrated in the past.

And of course, New Year is still a time to relax.
Special TV programs air all day—funny shows, music shows, and more. Families often snack while watching together, enjoying the slower pace of the holiday.

Starting the year calmly, with a little bit of fun and festivity—
that’s the magic of Japanese New Year!

Japanese New Year is all about eating, praying, relaxing, and enjoying traditions.
Even if some old customs are less common today, they still give the holiday its unique charm and joyful feeling.