{"id":72289,"date":"2020-11-04T23:02:05","date_gmt":"2020-11-04T14:02:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=72289"},"modified":"2024-10-07T10:56:02","modified_gmt":"2024-10-07T01:56:02","slug":"new-year-traditions-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/new-year-traditions-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"New Years in Japan: A Niigata Family Gathering to Celebrate the New Year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>It\u2019s that time of the year again. The <strong>New Year is awaiting us,<\/strong> and with it, <strong>one of the most traditional seasons in Japan<\/strong> is around the corner. Because what Christmas is for us in Europe and the US when the whole family gathers, is what New Year celebrations are in Japan. But<strong> what kind of traditions and customs exist in Japan during New Year&#8217;s<\/strong> <strong>(\u304a\u6b63\u6708, <em>osh\u014dgatsu<\/em>)<\/strong> and how do they differ from family to family?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I was lucky enough to spend the New Year&#8217;s holidays with my boyfriend&#8217;s family in <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/destinations\/chubu\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"ek-link\">Niigata Prefecture<\/a><\/strong> and to personally experience the traditions and customs of the holiday. And of course, I want to share these experiences with all of you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ht-block-toc  is-style-outline htoc htoc--position-wide toc-list-style-plain\" data-htoc-state=\"expanded\"><span class=\"htoc__title\"><span class=\"ht_toc_title\">Table of Contents<\/span><span class=\"htoc__toggle\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\"><g fill=\"#444\"><path d=\"M15 7H1c-.6 0-1 .4-1 1s.4 1 1 1h14c.6 0 1-.4 1-1s-.4-1-1-1z\"><\/path><path d=\"M15 1H1c-.6 0-1 .4-1 1s.4 1 1 1h14c.6 0 1-.4 1-1s-.4-1-1-1zM15 13H1c-.6 0-1 .4-1 1s.4 1 1 1h14c.6 0 1-.4 1-1s-.4-1-1-1z\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/span><\/span><div class=\"htoc__itemswrap\"><ul class=\"ht_toc_list\"><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-a-deep-clean-to-start-to-the-new-year-in-japan\">A Deep Clean to Start to the New Year in Japan<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-travelling-the-new-year-s-rush-in-japan\">Travelling the New Year\u2019s Rush in Japan<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#decoration\">New Year Tradition of Cards and Decoration in Japan<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#osechi\">Osechi Ryori: New Year Dinner in Japan<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-new-year-games-and-special-tv-programs-for-family\">New Year Games and Special TV Programs for Family<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#toshikoshi\">Midnight Tradition in the New Year with Toshikoshi Soba Noodles<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#hatsumode\">Hatsumode: Bringing in the New Year with a Prayer <\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#ozoni\">The New Year\u2019s Breakfast with Ozoni and Mochi<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#fukubukuro\">New Year Shopping and Fukubukuro in Japan<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-the-unique-new-year-traditions-of-each-family\">The Unique New Year Traditions of Each Family<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-otoshidama-a-new-year-gift-of-money\">Otoshidama: A New Year Gift of Money<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-access-to-nakaoka\">Access to Nakaoka<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-experience-a-different-kind-of-new-year-in-japan\">Experience a Different Kind of New Year in Japan<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"72292\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28053920\/New-Year_01.jpg\" alt=\"Nagaoka in Niigata Prefecture.\" class=\"wp-image-72292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28053920\/New-Year_01.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28053920\/New-Year_01-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Niigata Prefecture is known for rice.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"72293\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28053944\/New-Year_02.jpg\" alt=\"Nagaoka in Niigata Prefecture.\" class=\"wp-image-72293\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28053944\/New-Year_02.jpg 768w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28053944\/New-Year_02-375x500.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">We spent New Year&#8217;s in Niigata.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-a-deep-clean-to-start-to-the-new-year-in-japan\">A Deep Clean to Start to the New Year in Japan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Since we had planned to go to Niigata on December 30th, more precisely to <strong>Nagaoka<\/strong>, our preparations for the New Year began a few days in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A typical part of the New Year&#8217;s traditions is the so-called <strong><em>os\u014dji<\/em> (\u5927\u6383\u9664), the big clean-up before the turn of the year<\/strong>. Old, forgotten items are sorted out, and every corner of the house gets scrubbed clean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large caption-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054018\/New-Year_03.jpg\" alt=\"Cleaning utensils in Japan.\" class=\"wp-image-72294\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054018\/New-Year_03.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054018\/New-Year_03-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tools for New Year&#8217;s cleaning.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A house or apartment can look more like a battlefield during this cleansing to purify a room from dirt and dust collected from the old year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-travelling-the-new-year-s-rush-in-japan\">Travelling the New Year\u2019s Rush in Japan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you plan to spend the <strong>New Year in Japan<\/strong>, you should be warned that, as the Golden Week holiday in spring, New Year&#8217;s is <strong>one of the most popular travel seasons, <\/strong>and trains will be crowded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since the Shinkansen was too expensive for us, we started the journey from Tokyo to Nagaoka with the <strong>local train lines<\/strong> on <strong>Seishun 18 Kippu<\/strong>. So, a normal 2-hour Shinkansen ride became a 5 \u00bd hours, most of which we had to stand as we weren&#8217;t the only ones who wanted to visit their families. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, there are also <a class=\"ek-link ek-link ek-link ek-link\" href=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/special-tourist-discount-passes-guide-for-japan\/\">cheaper options for train travel in Japan<\/a>. For example, you can find more information about the <a class=\"ek-link ek-link ek-link ek-link\" href=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/japan-rail-pass-guide-worth-tips\/\">Japan Rail Pass<\/a> in our article about transportation in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"72295\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054038\/New-Year_04.jpg\" alt=\"Train ride in Niigata Prefecture.\" class=\"wp-image-72295\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054038\/New-Year_04.jpg 768w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054038\/New-Year_04-375x500.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Looking out the window of our crowded trains during New Year season in Japan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You will have to get used to a fully booked Shinkansen and overcrowded local trains at this time. Convenience stores and<strong> ATMs in more rural areas may also be closed<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"decoration\"><strong>New Year Tradition of Cards and Decoration in Japan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another integral part of the Japanese New Year is the <strong><em>nengaj\u014d<\/em> (\u5e74\u8cc0\u72b6) New Year cards, which typically depict the zodiac animal of the coming year<\/strong>. The <strong>zodiac sign for 2020 is the rat,<\/strong> and 2021 will be the year of the Ox. Most of the pictures and decorations resembled cute mice, and we opted for small hamster-like rodents for our New Year&#8217;s cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"72296\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054117\/New-Year_05.jpg\" alt=\"Nengaj\u014d, cards for New Year in Japan.\" class=\"wp-image-72296\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054117\/New-Year_05.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054117\/New-Year_05-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"72297\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054203\/New-Year_06.jpg\" alt=\"Zodica sign of the New Year in Japan.\" class=\"wp-image-72297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054203\/New-Year_06.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054203\/New-Year_06-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While we were taking care of the nengaj\u014d, my boyfriend&#8217;s father prepared the<strong> <em>kagami-mochi<\/em><\/strong> (\u93e1 \u9905, \u201cmirror rice cake\u201d), which is placed in front of the <em><strong>kamidana<\/strong><\/em> (\u795e\u68da), <strong>a miniature Shinto household altar<\/strong>. The <em>kagami-mochi<\/em> consists of two stacked rice cakes, which are rounded off by a mandarin (\u307f\u304b\u3093, <em>mikan<\/em>) on the top. It represents a typical symbol of New Year in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"72298\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054231\/New-Year_07.jpg\" alt=\"Kamidana, a miniature household Shinto altar.\" class=\"wp-image-72298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054231\/New-Year_07.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054231\/New-Year_07-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"72299\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054344\/New-Year_08.jpg\" alt=\"Kamidana, a miniature household Shinto altar.\" class=\"wp-image-72299\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054344\/New-Year_08.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054344\/New-Year_08-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"72300\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054404\/New-Year_09-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Kamidana, a miniature household Shinto altar.\" class=\"wp-image-72300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054404\/New-Year_09.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054404\/New-Year_09-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054404\/New-Year_09-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054404\/New-Year_09-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054404\/New-Year_09-140x140.jpg 140w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054404\/New-Year_09-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054404\/New-Year_09-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054404\/New-Year_09-800x800.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kamidana, a miniature household Shinto altar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>These mochi rice cakes may not be eaten until January 11th, as they <strong>embody the god Toshigama-sama<\/strong> and is only appropriate to eat once the god has left the household.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"899\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"72301\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054421\/New-Year_10.jpg\" alt=\"Kagami-mochi, symbol of New Year in Japan.\" class=\"wp-image-72301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054421\/New-Year_10.jpg 899w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054421\/New-Year_10-439x500.jpg 439w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 899px) 100vw, 899px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kagami-mochi are a typical symbol of New Year.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"789\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"72302\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054500\/New-Year_11.jpg\" alt=\"Kadomatsu, symbol of New Year in Japan.\" class=\"wp-image-72302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054500\/New-Year_11.jpg 789w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054500\/New-Year_11-385x500.jpg 385w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 789px) 100vw, 789px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kadomatsu are also a traditional New Year decoration.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"osechi\"><strong>Osechi Ryori<\/strong>: <strong>New Year Dinner in Japan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, waiting to eat the mochi was not a big deal, as the highlight of that December 31st evening was the <em><strong>osechi-ry\u014dri<\/strong><\/em> (\u304a\u7bc0\u6599\u7406). This traditional Japanese New Year food is a true feast for both eyes and stomach. The components of the <em>osechi<\/em>, as it is abbreviated, are often<strong> prepared with a lot of sugar, <em>mirin<\/em> and soy sauce to make them last longer<\/strong>. There&#8217;s usually so much food in an osechi meal that you can eat leftovers for the next few days after the New Year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"72303\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054528\/New-Year_12.jpg\" alt=\"Osechi-ry\u014dri on New Year in Japan.\" class=\"wp-image-72303\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054528\/New-Year_12.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054528\/New-Year_12-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"72304\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054601\/New-Year_13.jpg\" alt=\"Osechi-ry\u014dri on New Year in Japan.\" class=\"wp-image-72304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054601\/New-Year_13.jpg 768w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054601\/New-Year_13-375x500.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"72305\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054620\/New-Year_14.jpg\" alt=\"Osechi-ry\u014dri on New Year in Japan.\" class=\"wp-image-72305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054620\/New-Year_14.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054620\/New-Year_14-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"909\" data-id=\"72306\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054652\/New-Year_15.jpg\" alt=\"Osechi-ry\u014dri on New Year in Japan.\" class=\"wp-image-72306\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054652\/New-Year_15.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054652\/New-Year_15-500x444.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A traditional New Year meal called <em>osechi-ryori<\/em> is normally prepared with a lot of sugar, <em>mirin<\/em> and soy sauce to make them last longer. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to the traditional <em>osechi<\/em>, my boyfriend&#8217;s mother served us <strong>sushi, crab and various salads<\/strong>. As she explained to me, <em>osechi<\/em> dished differs from family to family. <b>Local specialties dominate most of the dishes<\/b>. Due to its proximity to the coast, Nagaoka has a variety of delicious seafood to offer, so it wasn&#8217;t surprising that these were generously available that evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-7 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"72307\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054717\/New-Year_16.jpg\" alt=\"Specialities of Nagaoka in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.\" class=\"wp-image-72307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054717\/New-Year_16.jpg 840w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28054717\/New-Year_16-410x500.jpg 410w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Local specialities of Nagaoka.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-new-year-games-and-special-tv-programs-for-family\">New Year Games and Special TV Programs for Family<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While we in Germany or other Western countries may go out for a New Year&#8217;s Eve party, New Year&#8217;s Eve in Japan is a cozy event that is spent at home with family. An integral part of the night also includes watching the numerous New Year specials on the television. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060257\/New-Year_17.jpg\" alt=\"TV show during New Year in Japan.\" class=\"wp-image-72309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060257\/New-Year_17.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060257\/New-Year_17-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Watching a New Year special on TV is part of many families&#8217; traditions.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For my boyfriend&#8217;s family, <em><strong>hanafuda<\/strong><\/em> (\u82b1\u672d) is a part of a typical New Year&#8217;s tradition. <strong>The \u201cflower cards\u201d symbolize the year&#8217;s 12 months<\/strong> and each card has a different value. We were so absorbed in our game that we almost missed the countdown that appeared on the TV that was playing in the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-8 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"72310\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060327\/New-Year_18.jpg\" alt=\"Hanafuda, card game.\" class=\"wp-image-72310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060327\/New-Year_18.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060327\/New-Year_18-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"72311\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060352\/New-Year_19.jpg\" alt=\"Hanafuda, card game.\" class=\"wp-image-72311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060352\/New-Year_19.jpg 768w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060352\/New-Year_19-375x500.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">Playing a game of <em><strong>hanafuda<\/strong><\/em> on New Years. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"toshikoshi\"><strong>Midnight Tradition in the New Year with Toshikoshi Soba Noodles<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>By now, we would have opened the champagne bottles in Germany and hugged each other, but the transition to the New Year is a bit calmer in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>With an &#8220;<em>Akemashite omedet\u014d!<\/em>&#8221; (\u660e\u3051\u307e\u3057\u3066\u304a\u3081\u3067\u3068\u3046), we wished each other a Happy New Year<\/strong> before the culinary feast continued with <em><strong>toshikoshi soba<\/strong><\/em> (\u5e74 \u854e\u9ea6\u3057\u854e\u9ea6) shortly after midnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"699\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060421\/New-Year_20.jpg\" alt=\"Toshikoshi soba, traditional New Year's dish.\" class=\"wp-image-72312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060421\/New-Year_20.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060421\/New-Year_20-500x341.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Toshikoshi soba<\/em> is a part of the New Year tradition in Japan, where families eat buckwheat noodles in the first hours after midnight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Soba, or buckwheat noodles, that are an integral part of Japanese cuisine. <strong>On New Year, <em>toshikoshi soba <\/em>symbolize the transition from the old year to the new year<\/strong>, just as biting off the buckwheat noodles is equated with letting go of the old year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We ate them <strong>in a cold <em>dashi<\/em> broth with spring onions <\/strong>and some spices and sesame, but there can also be different variations, depending on the taste of the person or family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"757\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"72313\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060451\/New-Year_21.jpg\" alt=\"Toshikoshi soba, traditional New Year's dish.\" class=\"wp-image-72313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060451\/New-Year_21.jpg 757w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060451\/New-Year_21-370x500.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 757px) 100vw, 757px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"807\" data-id=\"72314\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060515\/New-Year_22.jpg\" alt=\"Toshikoshi soba, traditional New Year's dish.\" class=\"wp-image-72314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060515\/New-Year_22.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060515\/New-Year_22-500x394.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"hatsumode\">Hatsumode: Bringing in the New Year with a Prayer <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After eating <em>toshikoshi<\/em> soba, the New Year festivities continued. We put on our thick winter clothes and headed to a small shrine in the neighborhood, called the Hachimangu Shrine, for our <strong>first shrine visit of the year<\/strong> called <strong><em>hatsumode<\/em> <\/strong>(\u521d\u8a63).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"72315\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060549\/New-Year_23.jpg\" alt=\"Hachimangu Shrine in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, Japan.\" class=\"wp-image-72315\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060549\/New-Year_23.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060549\/New-Year_23-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"72316\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060620\/New-Year_24.jpg\" alt=\"Hachimangu Shrine in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, Japan.\" class=\"wp-image-72316\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060620\/New-Year_24.jpg 768w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060620\/New-Year_24-375x500.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"72317\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060719\/New-Year_25.jpg\" alt=\"Hatsumode, first prayer of the New Year.\" class=\"wp-image-72317\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060719\/New-Year_25.jpg 768w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060719\/New-Year_25-375x500.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hatsumode, the first prayer of the New Year, at Hachimangu Shrine in Nagaoka.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, we headed to the next shrine of <strong><a aria-label=\"H\u014dtokusan Inari Taisha shrine (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"ek-link ek-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.houtoku.or.jp\/\" target=\"_blank\">H\u014dtokusan Inari Taisha Shrine<\/a><\/strong>. It is said that it was built in honor of the <strong>sun goddess Amaterasu<\/strong> by order of the Japanese queen priest, Himiko, who lived from around 170 to 248.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the H\u014dtokusan Inari Taisha Shrine, we wrote our names on small paper figures called <em><strong>hitogata<\/strong><\/em>. The white paper figures symbolize a man, and the red one, a woman. In addition to our names, we also wrote down our year of birth and current age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"756\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"72318\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060748\/New-Year_26-756x1024.jpg\" alt=\"H\u014dtokusan Inari Taisha in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, Japan.\" class=\"wp-image-72318\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060748\/New-Year_26-756x1024.jpg 756w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060748\/New-Year_26-369x500.jpg 369w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060748\/New-Year_26-1134x1536.jpg 1134w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060748\/New-Year_26-1512x2048.jpg 1512w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060748\/New-Year_26-scaled.jpg 1890w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 756px) 100vw, 756px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>H\u014dtokusan Inari Taisha\u00a0 Shrine<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"72319\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060823\/New-Year_27.jpg\" alt=\"Hitogata are taking bad luck away.\" class=\"wp-image-72319\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060823\/New-Year_27.jpg 576w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060823\/New-Year_27-281x500.jpg 281w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>With the burning of the hitogata, misfortune is taken away from you.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We then handed them over to the shrine staff, and as my boyfriend&#8217;s father explained to me, these paper figures would later be burned while the priests prayed for our health and happiness. <strong>All bad luck would be removed from us by burning the <em>hitogata<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ozoni\"><strong>The New Year\u2019s Breakfast with <\/strong>Ozoni and Mochi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On <strong>January 1st<\/strong>, the obligatory <strong>New Year&#8217;s Sale<\/strong> will start. Before we plunged into the crowds, the traditional New Year&#8217;s breakfast was due. And, to my great joy, it consisted of <strong>a lot of <em>mochi<\/em><\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"72320\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060856\/New-Year_28.jpg\" alt=\"Mochi, rice cakes.\" class=\"wp-image-72320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060856\/New-Year_28.jpg 768w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060856\/New-Year_28-375x500.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"72321\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060933\/New-Year_29.jpg\" alt=\"Mochi, rice cakes.\" class=\"wp-image-72321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060933\/New-Year_29.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28060933\/New-Year_29-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>On January 1st, the sticky rice cakes are typically eaten in a savory or a sweet way<\/strong>, although it is not that easy to decide which variant you&#8217;ll prefer. Also, I wanted to try <strong>the traditional New Year&#8217;s soup <em>ozoni<\/em><\/strong> (\u304a\u96d1\u716e). This vegetable soup, which is prepared with dashi, contains <em>mochi<\/em> as a special side dish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"72322\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28061005\/New-Year_30.jpg\" alt=\"Ozoni, soup with mochi.\" class=\"wp-image-72322\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28061005\/New-Year_30.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28061005\/New-Year_30-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Traditional New Year soup, ozoni.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"72323\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28061031\/New-Year_31.jpg\" alt=\"Ozoni, soup with mochi.\" class=\"wp-image-72323\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28061031\/New-Year_31.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28061031\/New-Year_31-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"72324\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28061110\/New-Year_32.jpg\" alt=\"Mochi with anko and kinako.\" class=\"wp-image-72324\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28061110\/New-Year_32.jpg 768w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28061110\/New-Year_32-375x500.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mochi with <em>ank\u014d<\/em>, sweet red beans paste and <em>kinako<\/em>, a powder made of roasted soybeans.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to the <em>ozoni<\/em>, we also had <strong><em>mochi<\/em> with <em>ank\u014d<\/em> (\u9921\u5b50), sweet red beans paste, as well as with<em> kinako<\/em> (\u304d\u306a\u7c89), a powder made of roasted soybeans<\/strong>. This New Year&#8217;s tradition should be eaten with caution, as reports of deaths in which people have suffocated while eating the mochi increase every year. Therefore, you should not eat them too hastily and always have tea or water by your side!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"fukubukuro\"><strong>New Year Shopping and Fukubukuro in Japan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After breakfast, we went straight into the hustle and bustle of a shopping mall, where shops lured customers in with sales that pop up around the New Year. The so-called <em><strong>fukubukuro<\/strong><\/em> (\u798f\u888b, \u201clucky bags\u201d) are particularly popular and contain goods from a specific shop, although you won&#8217;t know what&#8217;s in your bag until you purchase one. If you want to get a<strong> <em>fukubukuro<\/em> from a popular store like Pokemon Center or Ghibli<\/strong>, you should go to the store before the store opens as crowds can form quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our main destination was the grocery stores to shop for the arrival of more family relatives to visit that evening. That being said, it didn&#8217;t stop me from adding a few additional items like clothes into my shopping bag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"72325\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28061133\/New-Year_33.jpg\" alt=\"New Year decoration in Japan.\" class=\"wp-image-72325\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28061133\/New-Year_33.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28061133\/New-Year_33-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>You can get traditional New Year decorations in department stores.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"679\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"72326\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28061228\/New-Year_34.jpg\" alt=\"New Year decoration in Japan.\" class=\"wp-image-72326\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28061228\/New-Year_34.jpg 679w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28061228\/New-Year_34-332x500.jpg 332w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 679px) 100vw, 679px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Kadomatsu in front of the entrance to the shopping mall.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-the-unique-new-year-traditions-of-each-family\"><strong>The Unique New Year Traditions of Each Family<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The traditions vary from family to family<\/strong>, which is why I can only speak of my personal experiences. A tradition in my boyfriend&#8217;s family is <strong>to write your personal New Year wish<\/strong> to accompany you throughout the year. For the first time, I tried calligraphy during my New Year experience in Japan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"72327\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28061300\/New-Year_35.jpg\" alt=\"Calligraphy, New Year wishes.\" class=\"wp-image-72327\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28061300\/New-Year_35.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/28061300\/New-Year_35-500x281.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Writing down New Year&#8217;s wishes is a family tradition.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-otoshidama-a-new-year-gift-of-money\">Otoshidama: A New Year Gift of Money<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another common tradition is to distribute <em><strong>otoshidama<\/strong><\/em> (\u5e74\u7389). <strong>This New Year&#8217;s tradition is especially joyful for the children as they receive money from the family&#8217;s adults<\/strong>. It is customary for the youngest to receive their pocket money at my boyfriend&#8217;s family before being handed out to the older children. As the oldest, I was the last to receive my <em>otoshidama<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Afterwards, we played bingo to bet some of our small sums of New Year money, which was very entertaining for 13 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-access-to-nakaoka\">Access to Nakaoka<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/embed?mid=1zZv2_y0xVQzx8ZKOTYD2xU5X5mPNgJe3&amp;hl=en\" width=\"800\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-experience-a-different-kind-of-new-year-in-japan\"><strong>Experience a Different Kind of New Year in Japan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In case you ever get the opportunity to experience the New Year celebrations with a Japanese family, take advantage of this opportunity! It was a very special experience for me to experience all the traditions and customs first hand. Therefore, <strong>I would like to take this opportunity to thank my boyfriend&#8217;s family again \u2014 for the hospitality, the patience to explain everything to me and the warm welcome to their family<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s that time of the year again. The New Year is awaiting us, and with it, one of the most&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":110,"featured_media":72297,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"pgc_meta":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2091,26,2051],"tags":[2065,2092,2071,1258,1809,1357,1306,2098],"class_list":{"0":"post-72289","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chubu","8":"category-culture","9":"category-events","10":"tag-cultural-activities","11":"tag-holidays","12":"tag-japanese-society","13":"tag-niigata","14":"tag-religion","15":"tag-seafood","16":"tag-shrine","17":"tag-winter"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>New Year in Japan: The Top Traditions to Experience like a Native<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"New Year in Japan 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