New Year's Day is the biggest holiday in Japan's calendar, but this year's festivities were subdued following record highs in new coronavirus cases nationwide and calls from the government to stay home. Emperor Naruhito appealed to the public to work together through the pandemic in ...
Japanese heading home for New Year's holidays crowd trains and airports
People heading to their hometowns or going abroad for the New Year’s holidays crowd train stations, airports and roads in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Hatsuhinode: Where to see the first sunrise of the decade
There's never a better time to catch sunrise in Japan than at new year. From Tokyo Tower to the coast of Chiba Prefecture, here are 10 of the best places to see the first sunrise of the year near Tokyo.
Lawson to allow New Year's store closures in Japan on trial basis
Lawson Inc. plans to allow some outlets to close during the New Year's holiday period on a trial basis, said Sadanobu Takemasu, president and chief executive officer of the convenience store chain, in a recent interview. Between Tuesday and Thursday, 102 stores across 25 prefectures ...
'Tis the season for a lot of gift-giving
If you want to give gifts at Christmas, Hanukkah or New Year's Eve, then get the language of giving and receiving down pat
In Japan, 10% unlikely to take year-end or New Year's holidays
A survey has found that 10.6 percent of the nation's workers will likely be unable to take even a single day off during the nine-day year-end and New Year's holiday period from Saturday to Jan. 5. The proportion of respondents who can possibly take all ...
The end of the year is a time for thorough cleaning to ready the home for the arrival of Toshigami-sama, the god of the new year. Modern lifestyles notwithstanding, the custom remains deeply ingrained in Japan. Two leading floral designers and an in-demand stylist ...
Whether it's sweet or savory, zōni soup is a new year mainstay
For centuries, mochi rice cakes have been a part of festive occasions in Japan, especially during the new year holidays. A hearty zōni soup is one classic way to incorporate mochi into your new year meal.
Mizuhiki are an indispensable part of the country's new year celebrations, embodying people's hopes and prayers for the 12 months ahead.
Tokyo's Shibuya Ward bans drinking in some areas for Halloween and New Year's
The Shibuya Ward Assembly approved an ordinance Wednesday banning the consumption of alcohol on some of the area's streets and parks during Halloween and New Year's events to address an increasing number of incidents by rowdy partygoers. The ordinance calls on restaurants to refrain from ...
IN PICTURES: Japan says good night to 2018, good morning to 2019
Japan greeted 2019 — the year of the boar, according to the Chinese astrological calendar — Monday evening and Tuesday morning with traditional visits to both major and minor temples and not-so-traditional events, such as the massive one at the famous Shibuya Crossing, where thousands ...
Shogatsu, or New Year's holidays, are a special time for Japanese, who typically revisit and take part in long-standing traditions. It's a time when those who left their hometowns go back to visit their families, invite relatives and friends to their homes and wear ...
