Happy New Year! New Year day is a bigger and more traditional than any other holidays and festivals in Japan. A very special day. New. Clear. Clean. Happy. Full of expectation and hope.And formal.
Among family we say Akemashiteomedetou gozaimasu. Ending with gozaimasu is polite expression with bow. December 31st and January 1 are next to each other but so different, ending and starting.
Also it’s so interesting customs. On New Year’s Eve we hear the 108 bells of Buddhist temple. Anybody has 108 worldly desire and worries and the bells can clear up all of them so that we can start new life on January 1st. Also eating soba noodle, for longevity.
On January 1st most of Japanese go to Shinto shrine to wish a happy ,healthy and wealthy new year. The busiest time for shrine! They throw money offering to the offertory box. Especially when you have an entrance examination, they ask gods to pass it. We are not conscious of religion. They are customs and tradition.
When you come to Japan, it’s a good time to experience traditional Japan. Clean old you and start new you! As much fun as the time of cherryblossom.Only bad thing about this time is hotels are the most expensive from December 28th to January 3rd but worth experiencing.