Hatsumode in Hiroshima – Shrines to Visit for New Years and the Tondo Festival
Nov 29, 2024 By Hugh Cann
There are two main traditions marking the beginning of the new year in Hiroshima. Hatsumōde is the first visit of the year to a shrine and takes place throughout Japan....[ Click to read more ]
Great Shrines for Hatsumode in Kumamoto
Nov 27, 2024 By Justin Hanus
The turn of the year is holiday time in Japan. People are off work to celebrate the New Year with parties, family gatherings, culinary feasts, and hatsumode. Hatsumode is the...[ Click to read more ]
Hatsumode in Nagoya – Shrines to Visit for New Years
Dec 27, 2023 By First Admin
Oshogatsu, or New Year, is the most important holiday in Japan. Businesses shut down from January 1 to January 3, and families gather to spend time together. During the New...[ Click to read more ]
Hatsumode in Tokyo – Making Your First Shrine Visit of 2023
Dec 26, 2022 By Michael Stigall
New Years in Japan is laser-focused on firsts. You have your first sunrise of the year, which is very important, and other firsts like the Shinenkai parties to bring in...[ Click to read more ]
Making Mochi – Fun for Kids and Big Kids Alike
Dec 23, 2022 By Bert Wishart
When I first heard about mochi, my heart went out to Japan's children. You see, where I'm from, sweets really are just that: sweet. And so, when I was told...[ Click to read more ]
Hatsumode in Kobe – Shrines to Visit for New Years
Dec 20, 2022 By Justin Hanus
Japan only started celebrating the New Year on January 1st, 1873, when the country adopted the Gregorian calendar of the West. Traditionally, the Japanese New Year was the same as...[ Click to read more ]
New Year Countdown Parties Near Nagoya 2022
Dec 13, 2022 By Bert Wishart
New Year is an important time in Japan, but things are celebrated differently here than back home. You are undoubtedly already clued up on Japan's New Year traditions, its New...[ Click to read more ]
Traditional Japanese New Years’ Foods – Osechi Ryori
Nov 24, 2022 By Ray Proper
Osechi-ryōri are traditional Japanese foods eaten at the start of the new year. The osechi tradition has been alive in Japan since the Heian Era (starting in 794). The foods...[ Click to read more ]
Japanese New Years’ Traditions
Nov 24, 2022 By Jason Gatewood
New Year is the main holiday of the year in Japan, and the country shuts down for several days as people take time off to spend time with their families...[ Click to read more ]
Hatsumode in Tokyo – Shrines to Visit for New Years
Dec 24, 2021 By Bert Wishart
In Japan, celebrating New Year is all about 'firsts.' Perhaps the most important 'first' is the first trip to a shrine, a tradition called hatsumode. While this visit can happen...[ Click to read more ]
