Hello, I’m Kodak.
When people hear “New Year,” they may imagine fireworks, a countdown party, and staying awake until midnight.
Japan has countdown events too, but the traditional Japanese New Year has a different atmosphere. Families clean and decorate their homes, eat symbolic foods, exchange greetings, give money to children, and make their first shrine or temple visit of the year.
It can refer to New Year itself, the holiday period, or the customs used to welcome and celebrate the new year.
Hiragana: おしょうがつ
Standard romaji: oshōgatsu
Keyboard-friendly romaji: oshougatsu
Natural English: the Japanese New Year; the New Year holiday; New Year celebrations
Oshougatsu is the Japanese New Year celebration. Traditionally, it is a time to welcome Toshigami, the deity associated with the new year, and to pray for health, prosperity, safety, and happiness.
Modern traditions include housecleaning, New Year decorations, osechi food, ozoni soup, hatsumode, otoshidama, nengajo cards, and spending time with family.
What Does Oshougatsu Mean?
お正月 (oshōgatsu) is the everyday Japanese word for the New Year and its celebrations.
Oshōgatsu o iwau.
to celebrate the New Year
お正月を家族と過ごす
Oshōgatsu o kazoku to sugosu.
to spend the New Year with one’s family
お正月休み
Oshōgatsu yasumi.
the New Year holiday
日本では、お正月は大切な年中行事です。
Nihon de wa, oshōgatsu wa taisetsu na nenjū gyōji desu.
In Japan, the New Year is an important annual event.
お正月は実家で過ごします。
Oshōgatsu wa jikka de sugoshimasu.
I will spend the New Year at my family home.
It can mean January, the beginning of the year, or the period when New Year celebrations take place. In everyday conversation, it often suggests the first few days of January and the surrounding holiday customs.
Oshougatsu in Kanji: お＋正月
a polite or respectful prefix; part of the usual everyday word
正 (shō)
correct; proper; principal
月 (gatsu)
month
正月 (shōgatsu)
the first month of the year; the New Year celebration period
The word 正月 historically and literally refers to the first month of the year. It also came to refer to the celebrations held at the beginning of the year.
Adding お gives the conventional everyday form お正月.
However, when referring warmly to the holiday in everyday conversation, お正月 is very common.
How to Pronounce Oshougatsu
Standard romanization: oshōgatsu
Keyboard-friendly spelling: oshougatsu
Common simplified spelling: oshogatsu
Rhythm: o-sho-u-ga-tsu
Mora count: 5
The しょう (shō) contains a long “o” vowel. Give it two beats:
o / sho / o / ga / tsu
oshōgatsu clearly marks the long vowel.
oshougatsu follows the kana spelling しょう.
oshogatsu is a common simplified search spelling.
When Is Oshougatsu?
The most important New Year dates are January 1 through January 3, called 正月三が日 (shōgatsu sanganichi).
大晦日 (ōmisoka) — New Year’s Eve
January 1
元日 (ganjitsu) — New Year’s Day
January 1–3
三が日 (sanganichi) — the first three days of the year
Early January
お正月 / 松の内 (matsu no uchi) — the New Year period; exact customs and ending dates vary by region
In modern work and travel contexts, the year-end and New Year holiday period commonly extends from late December through the first few days of January. Exact company, school, store, and transport schedules vary.
The first three days are the central holiday period. Some traditions continue until January 7, January 11, around January 15, or another regional date.
Oshougatsu vs Ganjitsu vs Gantan vs Shinnen
the New Year celebration or holiday period
元日 (ganjitsu)
the whole day of January 1
元旦 (gantan)
strictly, the morning of January 1; often used more broadly in casual modern usage
新年 (shinnen)
the new year; common in formal expressions and greetings
年末年始 (nenmatsu nenshi)
the year-end and New Year period
お正月は家族と過ごします。
“I spend New Year with my family.”
Use 元日 when you specifically mean January 1 as a date.
The Core Meaning of Japanese New Year Traditions
Many older oshougatsu customs are connected with welcoming 年神 (Toshigami), the deity associated with the new year, harvest, prosperity, and renewed vitality.
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Welcome Toshigami
↓
Offer decorations and food
↓
Share the blessings of the new year
↓
Pray for health, prosperity, safety, and happiness
Modern Japanese families do not all interpret or practice the traditions in exactly the same way. Some follow religious customs closely, while others treat oshougatsu mainly as a family holiday.
Still, the old idea of welcoming new blessings helps explain why people clean, decorate, prepare special food, and value a fresh beginning.
15 Japanese Oshougatsu Traditions
1. 大掃除 — major housecleaning
2. 年賀状 — New Year cards
3. 門松 — gate decorations
4. しめ飾り — sacred New Year decorations
5. 鏡餅 — stacked New Year rice cakes
New Year’s Eve
6. 年越しそば — year-crossing soba
7. 除夜の鐘 — temple bells rung 108 times
New Year’s Day and the first days of January
8. 明けましておめでとう — New Year greeting
9. 初日の出 — first sunrise
10. おせち料理 — symbolic New Year food
11. お雑煮 — mochi soup
12. 初詣 — first shrine or temple visit
13. お年玉 — New Year money for children
14. おみくじ・お守り — fortunes and amulets
15. 正月遊び — traditional New Year games
1. Osoji: Cleaning Before the New Year
大掃除 (ōsōji) means a major or thorough cleaning.
Before New Year, people may clean homes, workplaces, household altars, and other spaces. Traditionally, this was not only practical cleaning but also purification in preparation for welcoming the new year.
年末に家の大掃除をします。
Nenmatsu ni ie no ōsōji o shimasu.
We do a major housecleaning at the end of the year.
Year-end osoji helps people finish the old year, clear away dirt and unfinished business, and begin the new year with a fresh environment.
2. Nengajo: Japanese New Year Cards
年賀状 (nengajō) are New Year greeting cards sent to relatives, friends, teachers, customers, and professional contacts.
明けましておめでとうございます。
今年もよろしくお願いします。
Happy New Year.
I look forward to your continued friendship or support this year.
Traditional cards often feature the zodiac animal for the new year, family photos, illustrations, or short personal messages.
The level of formality depends on the relationship.
3. Kadomatsu: Decorations That Welcome the New Year Deity
門松 (kadomatsu) are New Year decorations placed near gates or entrances.
松 (matsu) — pine
Kadomatsu commonly use:
・pine
・bamboo
・sometimes plum and other auspicious plants
Traditionally, kadomatsu serve as markers for welcoming Toshigami. Evergreen pine symbolizes vitality and longevity, while bamboo is associated with strong, upright growth.
Miniature, printed, or simplified versions preserve the New Year image in a practical form.
4. Shimekazari: A Sacred New Year Decoration
しめ飾り (shimekazari) are decorative sacred ropes placed around entrances and other important spaces.
They are related to しめ縄 (shimenawa), straw ropes used to mark a purified or sacred area.
the home has been cleaned and purified
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the entrance is prepared as a suitable place to welcome Toshigami
Shimenawa refers more specifically to the sacred rope itself.
5. Kagami Mochi: New Year Rice Cakes
鏡餅 (kagami mochi) commonly consists of two round rice cakes stacked on top of each other, traditionally decorated with a daidai citrus fruit.
餅 (mochi) — rice cake
The round shape is associated with ancient mirrors, which had sacred significance.
Kagami mochi is displayed as a New Year offering and symbol of welcoming Toshigami.
Its name sounds like 代々 (daidai), meaning “generation after generation,” so it is associated with family continuity. Modern display products may use another citrus fruit or a plastic decoration.
6. Toshikoshi Soba: Noodles on New Year’s Eve
年越しそば (toshikoshi soba) means “year-crossing soba.” It is eaten on December 31.
crossing from the old year into the new year
そば (soba)
buckwheat noodles
The custom has several explanations. The long noodles are commonly associated with longevity, while their ability to break cleanly can symbolize cutting away the difficulties of the old year.
大晦日に年越しそばを食べます。
Ōmisoka ni toshikoshi soba o tabemasu.
We eat year-crossing soba on New Year’s Eve.
The important idea is finishing the old year with the symbolic dish.
7. Joya no Kane: 108 Temple Bell Rings
At Buddhist temples on New Year’s Eve, bells may be rung 108 times in a custom called 除夜の鐘 (joya no kane).
鐘 (kane) — bell
The 108 rings are associated with the 108 worldly desires or mental afflictions in Buddhist thought.
The ringing symbolizes leaving behind the attachments and troubles of the old year and entering the new year with a clearer mind.
Always check the individual temple’s current rules.
8. Akemashite Omedetou: The Japanese New Year Greeting
明けましておめでとう！
Happy New Year!
Polite:
明けましておめでとうございます。
Happy New Year.
Common continuation:
今年もよろしくお願いします。
I look forward to your continued friendship or support this year.
Use this greeting after the new year begins. Before January 1, say 良いお年を (yoi otoshi o), meaning “Have a good New Year.”
Before midnight: 良いお年を
After the new year begins: 明けましておめでとう
Learn more: Akemashite Omedetou Meaning and Kanji
9. Hatsuhinode: The First Sunrise of the Year
初日の出 (hatsuhinode) means the first sunrise of the new year.
日の出 (hinode) — sunrise
初日の出 — the first sunrise of the year
People may watch the sunrise from beaches, mountains, observation decks, or other places with a clear eastern view. The first sunrise is associated with a hopeful and auspicious beginning.
海で初日の出を見ました。
Umi de hatsuhinode o mimashita.
I watched the first sunrise of the year at the sea.
10. Osechi Ryori: Symbolic Japanese New Year Food
おせち料理 (osechi ryōri) is a collection of New Year dishes, often arranged in layered lacquer boxes called 重箱 (jūbako).
Many foods carry wordplay, visual symbolism, or wishes for the coming year.
black soybeans; associated with health and diligent work
数の子 (kazunoko)
herring roe; associated with many descendants and family prosperity
田作り (tazukuri)
small dried fish; associated with a good harvest
昆布巻き (kobumaki)
rolled kelp; linked by wordplay with よろこぶ, “to be happy”
海老 (ebi)
shrimp; its curved shape is associated with living to old age
栗きんとん (kuri kinton)
sweet chestnut and sweet potato; its golden color suggests wealth
Recipes and symbolic interpretations differ by family and region. Osechi is also practical: many dishes keep well, reducing the need for cooking during the first days of the year.
There is no single modern household pattern.
11. Ozoni: New Year Mochi Soup
お雑煮 (ozōni) is a New Year soup containing mochi and other ingredients.
・clear broth or miso broth
・round or square mochi
・grilled or boiled mochi
・chicken, fish, vegetables, or local ingredients
Ozoni is one of the clearest examples of how Japanese New Year traditions vary across the country and between families.
Instead of looking for one “correct” version, ask where the recipe comes from and what ingredients that household traditionally uses.
12. Hatsumode: The First Shrine or Temple Visit
初詣 (hatsumōde) is the first visit of the year to a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple.
・pray for health, safety, and success
・draw an omikuji fortune
・receive a new omamori amulet
・write a wish on an ema plaque
・return an old amulet according to the site’s rules
Remember that the prayer etiquette differs: Shinto shrines commonly use bows and claps, while Buddhist temples usually use quiet prayer without clapping.
Learn more: Hatsumode Meaning, Etiquette, and Tokyo Shrines
13. Otoshidama: New Year Money for Children
お年玉 (otoshidama) is a New Year gift, now usually money given mainly by adults to children.
The money is placed in a small decorative envelope called an お年玉袋 (otoshidama-bukuro) or ポチ袋 (pochibukuro).
祖父母からお年玉をもらいました。
Sofu-bo kara otoshidama o moraimashita.
I received New Year money from my grandparents.
お年玉 is a seasonal New Year gift.
お小遣い (okodzukai) is regular allowance or spending money.
Learn more: Otoshidama Meaning and Envelope Etiquette
14. Omikuji and Omamori: Fortunes and Amulets
a paper fortune drawn at a shrine or temple
お守り (omamori)
a protective amulet associated with health, study, traffic safety, relationships, and other wishes
Some people keep a favorable omikuji. Others tie a less favorable fortune at a designated place, following the shrine or temple’s custom.
Old omamori should be returned only according to the site’s instructions. Do not place unrelated trash or decorations in sacred collection areas.
15. Traditional Japanese New Year Games
a traditional battledore game
凧揚げ (takoage)
kite flying
独楽回し (komamawashi)
spinning tops
かるた (karuta)
Japanese card games
福笑い (fukuwarai)
a blindfolded face-building game
These games remain recognizable New Year symbols, although many modern families spend the holiday watching television, playing video games, shopping, traveling, or simply relaxing.
A family may eat ozoni, send greetings by phone, visit a shrine later to avoid crowds, and spend the rest of the day watching television. Old and new habits often coexist.
What Happens After the First Three Days?
Nanakusa Gayu on January 7
七草粥 (nanakusa gayu) is rice porridge containing the seven spring herbs. It is commonly eaten on January 7 with wishes for health during the year.
粥 (kayu / gayu) — rice porridge
Kagami Biraki
鏡開き (kagami biraki) is the custom of opening or breaking the displayed kagami mochi and eating it. January 11 is common, but dates and practices can vary.
The mochi may be used in soup, sweet red bean dishes, or other foods.
Dondoyaki
どんど焼き (dondoyaki) is a regional event in which New Year decorations and approved sacred items are ceremonially burned, often around the Little New Year period in mid-January.
Accepted materials differ, so follow the organizer’s rules and remove prohibited plastic, metal, or unrelated objects.
How Is Oshougatsu Different from Western New Year?
countdown parties, fireworks, midnight celebrations, resolutions
Traditional Japanese image
family gatherings, purification, symbolic decorations and food, temple bells, first sunrise, hatsumode, New Year greetings and gifts
This is only a broad comparison. Japan also has countdown parties, and Western countries also have family and religious New Year customs.
However, oshougatsu has its own history, religious background, foods, greetings, and customs, so it should not be treated as a direct equivalent.
Modern Oshougatsu in Japan
A modern family might celebrate in the following way:
clean the home, finish work, travel to the family home, prepare food and decorations
December 31
eat toshikoshi soba, watch television, hear temple bells, or attend a countdown
January 1
exchange greetings, eat osechi and ozoni, give otoshidama, watch the first sunrise, or go to hatsumode
January 2–3
visit relatives, relax, shop at New Year sales, buy fukubukuro lucky bags, or continue hatsumode visits
Not every household performs every activity. Work schedules, religion, age, region, family structure, and personal preference all shape the celebration.
Visiting Japan During Oshougatsu
・heavy domestic travel around the holiday
・limited transport and accommodation availability on popular routes
・some businesses closing or reducing hours
・busy shrines and temples
・special food and seasonal decorations
・New Year sales after stores reopen
The year-end and New Year period commonly affects schedules from late December through early January, but specific closures change by business and year.
Convenience stores and some large facilities may open, while smaller restaurants, museums, shops, banks, and family businesses may close or shorten their hours. Check each official schedule.
Useful Japanese Phrases for Oshougatsu
Oshōgatsu wa dō sugoshimasu ka?
How will you spend New Year?
お正月は実家に帰ります。
Oshōgatsu wa jikka ni kaerimasu.
I will go back to my family home for New Year.
良いお年を。
Yoi otoshi o.
Have a good New Year.
明けましておめでとうございます。
Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu.
Happy New Year.
今年もよろしくお願いします。
Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
I look forward to another good year with you.
初詣に行きましたか？
Hatsumōde ni ikimashita ka?
Did you go to hatsumode?
おせち料理を食べました。
Osechi ryōri o tabemashita.
I ate osechi food.
Natural Example Sentences with Oshougatsu
お正月は家族とゆっくり過ごしました。
Oshōgatsu wa kazoku to yukkuri sugoshimashita.
I spent a relaxing New Year with my family.
日本のお正月には、さまざまな伝統があります。
Nihon no oshōgatsu ni wa, samazama na dentō ga arimasu.
There are many traditions associated with the Japanese New Year.
お正月の前に家をきれいに掃除します。
Oshōgatsu no mae ni ie o kirei ni sōji shimasu.
We clean the house before New Year.
玄関にお正月の飾りを置きました。
Genkan ni oshōgatsu no kazari o okimashita.
I placed a New Year decoration at the entrance.
お正月におせち料理とお雑煮を食べました。
Oshōgatsu ni osechi ryōri to ozōni o tabemashita.
I ate osechi and ozoni during New Year.
子どもたちはお正月を楽しみにしています。
Kodomotachi wa oshōgatsu o tanoshimi ni shite imasu.
The children are looking forward to New Year.
お正月には親戚が集まります。
Oshōgatsu ni wa shinseki ga atsumarimasu.
Relatives gather during New Year.
今年のお正月は旅行に行きません。
Kotoshi no oshōgatsu wa ryokō ni ikimasen.
I will not travel this New Year.
お正月休みはいつまでですか？
Oshōgatsu yasumi wa itsu made desu ka?
How long does the New Year holiday last?
お正月の営業時間を公式サイトで確認しました。
Oshōgatsu no eigyō jikan o kōshiki saito de kakunin shimashita.
I checked the New Year opening hours on the official website.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake 1: Thinking Oshougatsu Means Only New Year’s Day
Oshougatsu can refer to the wider New Year celebration period. Use 元日 when you specifically mean the date January 1.
Mistake 2: Pronouncing It as Four English Syllables
Remember the five Japanese beats: お・しょ・う・が・つ.
Mistake 3: Calling Sensoji a Shrine
Hatsumode can happen at shrines and temples. Sensoji is a Buddhist temple, not a Shinto shrine.
Mistake 4: Assuming Every Family Follows Every Tradition
Modern celebrations vary greatly. An article can explain typical customs without implying that every Japanese person practices all of them.
Mistake 5: Treating Symbolic Food Meanings as One Universal Rule
Food, recipes, wordplay, and interpretations can differ by region, period, and household.
Mistake 6: Using Akemashite Omedetou Before January 1
After New Year begins: 明けましておめでとうございます
Mistake 7: Assuming Holiday Business Hours Are the Same Every Year
Always check current official information for transport, stores, restaurants, museums, shrines, and temples.
FAQ About Oshougatsu
What does oshougatsu mean?
Oshougatsu means the Japanese New Year, the New Year holiday, or the period of New Year celebrations.
How do you write oshougatsu in Japanese?
It is written お正月 in standard Japanese and おしょうがつ entirely in hiragana.
How do you pronounce oshougatsu?
Pronounce it o-sho-u-ga-tsu. The shō contains a long “o” sound.
What is the difference between oshogatsu and shogatsu?
Both refer to New Year. お正月 includes the conventional polite prefix お and is very common in everyday speech. 正月 is also normal, especially in compounds and more direct descriptions.
When is oshougatsu celebrated?
January 1 through January 3 is the central holiday period. Preparations begin in December, and some New Year customs continue through January 7, January 11, around January 15, or another regional date.
What do Japanese people do during oshougatsu?
Common traditions include cleaning and decorating the home, eating osechi and ozoni, exchanging greetings, visiting a shrine or temple, giving otoshidama to children, and spending time with family.
What food is eaten during oshougatsu?
Common foods include toshikoshi soba on New Year’s Eve, osechi ryori, ozoni soup, mochi, and regional New Year dishes.
What is the purpose of kadomatsu?
Kadomatsu traditionally marks the entrance as a place prepared to welcome Toshigami, the New Year deity.
What is the difference between oshougatsu and ganjitsu?
Oshougatsu refers to the New Year celebration or period. Ganjitsu means the whole day of January 1.
Is oshougatsu a religious holiday?
Many traditions have Shinto, Buddhist, and folk-religious roots. Modern people participate at different levels, from religious worship to family and cultural celebration.
Is Japanese New Year like Christmas?
Both can be important family holidays, but oshougatsu has its own history, religious background, food, greetings, and rituals.
Can tourists participate in oshougatsu traditions?
Yes. Visitors can enjoy New Year food, decorations, hatsumode, first-sunrise events, and other customs while respecting local rules and worshippers.
Related Japanese New Year Words
大晦日 (ōmisoka) — New Year’s Eve
年越しそば (toshikoshi soba) — year-crossing soba
初日の出 (hatsuhinode) — first sunrise of the year
初詣 (hatsumōde) — first shrine or temple visit
お年玉 (otoshidama) — New Year money for children
おせち料理 (osechi ryōri) — symbolic New Year food
お雑煮 (ozōni) — New Year mochi soup
門松 (kadomatsu) — New Year entrance decoration
鏡餅 (kagami mochi) — stacked New Year rice cakes
年賀状 (nengajō) — New Year greeting card
Explore the complete vocabulary guide here: Japanese New Year Words and Traditions.
- Akemashite Omedetou Meaning and Kanji
- Otoshidama Meaning and Envelope
- Hatsumode Meaning and Tokyo Shrines
Summary: Oshougatsu Meaning and Traditions
Oshougatsu means the Japanese New Year, its holiday period, and its celebrations.
● Japanese writing
Kanji and kana: お正月
Hiragana: おしょうがつ
Romaji: oshōgatsu / oshougatsu / oshogatsu
● Main period
January 1 through January 3 is the central celebration period, although related customs begin in December and may continue into mid-January.
● Traditional core
Prepare the home, welcome Toshigami, share New Year blessings, and pray for health and prosperity.
● Common traditions
Osoji, nengajo, kadomatsu, shimekazari, kagami mochi, toshikoshi soba, joya no kane, hatsuhinode, osechi, ozoni, hatsumode, and otoshidama.
● Modern meaning
For many people, oshougatsu is also a family holiday and a chance to rest, travel home, eat special food, and begin the year with a fresh feeling.
“Oshougatsu is the Japanese New Year holiday, celebrated with family gatherings, symbolic food and decorations, New Year greetings, gifts for children, and the first shrine or temple visit of the year.”
References
- Kotobank: 正月
- Kotobank: 御正月
- The Government of Japan: The Origins and Significance of Japan’s New Year’s Culture
- The Government of Japan: New Year’s O-sechi Cuisine
- The Government of Japan: The Significance and Spirit of New Year Shitsurai
- The Government of Japan: Traditional Winter Events in Japan
- The Government of Japan: The Burning of New Year’s Decorations
- The Japan Foundation: Annual Events — Oshougatsu
- Japan National Tourism Organization: Japan in December
- Japan National Tourism Organization: Japan in January
- Japan National Tourism Organization: New Year Celebrations Done the Japanese Way
- Japan National Tourism Organization: The Meaning of New Year’s Mochi