Celebrating a Japanese New Year

As the year draws to a close, preparations begin across Japan to welcome the New Year with a refreshed mind and spirit.

The New Year, or oshogatsu, is one of Japan’s most cherished and festive times of the year, when family and friends gather, decorate the home, and share wishes for good fortune, health, and prosperity for the months ahead.

While some customs have faded with time, many traditions continue to be lovingly preserved. Step into the warmth of a Japanese New Year, and discover how these timeless traditions bring hope and light into the year ahead.

In Japan, many people decorate their homes with a figurine or an ornament representing the zodiac animal of the year.

The eto (Japanese zodiac) comes from the ancient Chinese calendar and consists of twelve animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and boar. The zodiac animal of each year is believed to guide Toshigami-sama, the New Year deity who brings blessings and prosperity into each household. Displaying a zodiac figurine is thought to help welcome these wishes for the coming year.

While there are no strict rules about when to display them, most people put up figurines from mid to late December.

The zodiac animal for 2026 is the horse (uma), a symbol of vitality, progress, and prosperity. Since ancient times, horses have supported people’s lives through farming and transport, and are also considered sacred animals that serve as messengers of the gods.

Kagami mochi (literally “mirror rice cakes”) is a traditional New Year’s offering to Toshigami-sama. Every element of the kagami mochi—its shape, layers, and decorations—holds deep meaning.

The two round rice cakes stacked on top of each other represent the sun and the moon, symbolizing harmony and the wish for “happiness to overlap” and “a peaceful, well-rounded life.”

The orange (daidai) placed on top stands for the prosperity of future generations, as “daidai” also means “from generation to generation.”

There are no strict rules about when to begin displaying kagami mochi, but it is commonly set up in late December. Traditionally, people avoid the 29th and the 31st, as preparing it the night before is considered disrespectful to the gods.

As a symbol of the wish for wellness and happiness throughout the year, kagami mochi is usually placed in the living room or spaces where family members gather.

It is customary to eat toshikoshi soba (New Year’s Eve soba noodles) on the night of December 31. There are many theories about its origin, but all share a common wish—to greet the coming year with happiness and success. 

The long, thin shape of soba noodles is said to symbolize longevity and well-being. At the same time, because soba noodles are easy to cut, they are also believed to help “cut off” misfortunes and hardships from the past year. In addition, soba was once thought to remove toxins from the body, giving it the meaning of a purifying, health-promoting food.

More than just a meal, eating toshikoshi soba is a graceful ritual that purifies the mind and body, inviting happiness and wellness in the year ahead.

For an elegant presentation, enjoy warm soba in this medium bowl, hand-painted with traditional red arabesque patterns that beautifully accentuate the food’s colors.

As part of New Year preparations, many Japanese homes display auspicious items such as shimekazari and kadomatsu (pine and bamboo arrangements) in their entryways. A shimekazari is made of twisted rice straw adorned with paper streamers and other ornaments. It is placed to mark a sacred space, inviting Toshigami-sama into the home.

The kadomatsu also holds deep symbolism. Pine represents longevity and steadfastness, while bamboo signifies growth and resilience.

These decorations are usually displayed from mid to late December, symbolizing the hope that the deity will visit without hesitation and bless the household with happiness and prosperity.

Watching the first sunrise of the year is considered a sacred and auspicious custom, as it is believed that Toshigami-sama appears with the rising sun.

The origin of this tradition traces back to the Heian period (794–1185 CE) when the emperor prayed to deities in all four directions for peace and prosperity. By the Meiji era (1868–1912 CE), the belief that the New Year deity arrived with the sunrise became widespread, and people across Japan began celebrating the first sunrise as a moment to renew gratitude and hope.

Today, many people climb mountains such as Mount Fuji or take early-morning flights just to witness the breathtaking beauty of the year’s first sunrise.

Osechi ryori is a traditional New Year’s dish, beautifully presented in tiered lacquered boxes known as jubako. Each dish has a special meaning—wishing for a good harvest, family prosperity, good health, and happiness.

Originally, osechi was prepared as an offering to the gods and shared with family to receive divine blessings. The use of jubako bento boxes symbolizes the hope for layers of happiness and prosperity.

It is considered disrespectful to the gods to still be preparing osechi on New Year’s Day, which is why it is carefully prepared in advance during the final days of December. Also, the use of knives is said to be avoided during the New Year period, as using knives is believed to “cut ties,” an inauspicious act at the start of the year.

Hatsumode is the first shrine or temple visit of the year—a cherished tradition in Japan where people pray for good health, happiness, and prosperity. For many, it is also a rare occasion to wear a kimono.

Most people visit during the first three days of New Year’s, drawing omikuji (fortune slips) and writing their wishes on wooden ema plaques. An omikuji reveals your fortune, good or bad, and also includes practical guidance for the year ahead, covering wellness, work, and relationships.

You can find omikuji at many shrines and temples throughout the year, so when you visit Japan, be sure to draw one and try your luck!

Otoso is a spiced medicinal sake traditionally enjoyed on New Year’s Day to wish for good health and long life. It is made by infusing sake and mirin with a blend of medicinal herbs known as tososan.

The white porcelain Arita ware sake set, complete with beautifully stacked sakazuki cups, makes an ideal choice for otoso. At New Year’s celebrations, the youngest family member takes the first sip, drinking from the flattest cup upward.

Kakizome is the Japanese tradition of writing the first calligraphy of the year, often choosing a word or phrase that reflects one’s hopes for the months ahead. The practice began in the Heian period as a court ceremony in which nobles composed poems and waka verses to welcome the new year.

Today, many people sit down to do their kakizome around January 2, writing characters that express their intentions or goals. It is more than simply putting ink on paper. The slow movement of the brush encourages steady breathing, and the mind begins to settle. In this quiet moment, the act becomes a way to reconnect with oneself.

Although fewer families practice this tradition at home nowadays, it is still carried on as a common assignment during winter break in many elementary schools.