New Year's Day Description
New Year's Day (元日, Gantan) on January 1st is the most important holiday in Japan. While only January 1st is the official public holiday, most Japanese companies close from approximately December 29th through January 3rd for the Shogatsu (New Year) period. Traditions include hatsumode (the first shrine or temple visit of the year), with major shrines like Meiji Jingu in Tokyo and Fushimi Inari in Kyoto seeing millions of visitors over the first three days. Families gather to eat osechi ryori (elaborate boxed New Year dishes prepared in advance), ozoni (mochi soup), and toshikoshi soba (year-crossing noodles eaten on New Year's Eve). Children receive otoshidama (money in decorated envelopes). Post offices deliver nengajo (New Year's greeting postcards) simultaneously on January 1st. Department stores run fukubukuro (lucky bag) sales from January 2nd. Government offices, banks, and many private businesses close. Public transport operates on holiday schedules, with some all-night services on New Year's Eve. Note that shrine and temple grounds become extremely crowded; expect long queues at popular hatsumode locations.
