JAPAN GUIDE| NEW YEARS IN JAPAN
New Years is the biggest holiday in Japan. It is celebrated from January 1st-3rd and used as a time to spend with family. Many shops close in Japan on New Years, so If you are wondering what you can do during New Years, we have a list of things to do in Tokyo, Japan during the New Years holiday.
Visit a Shrine or Temple: It is tradition for Japanese families to visit a Shrine or Temple to pay respects to their local deities and pray for a good upcoming year. Beware of massive crowds at popular Shrines and Temples like the Meiji Shrine or Asakusa Temple!
Eat mochi: A common thing to eat on New Years is mochi (glutinous rice cake) which is paired with ozoni soup (red bean soup). It is said to bring you good luck in the upcoming year. If you are lucky enough you might be able to see some neighborhoods hand-make their mochi by pounding rice and water! Handmade mochi tastes much better than store bought machine made ones!
Enjoy some peace and quiet in the busy streets: Because everyone is off on New Years, the bustling city streets might be a little less busy than usual. Its a rare sight to see!
If you are in Japan during New Years, you’d definitely get a sight that’s rare to see throughout the rest of the year!
Japan Guide: Small neighbor in Ota-ku, Tokyo pounding mochi to prepare for the New Years holiday.