What is Ganjitsu? Understanding Japan’s New Year Tradition
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The first sunrise of the year, the taste of festive New Year’s cuisine, and the joy of the first shrine visit—Japan’s New Year’s Day is a celebration unlike any other.
For the Japanese people, Ganjitsu (元日) is not only the start of the calendar year but also a time of renewal, gratitude, and hope. From ancient traditions such as hatsumōde (the first shrine visit) and osechi ryōri (New Year’s cuisine), to modern customs like sending greeting cards and enjoying lucky shopping bags, this day reflects both continuity and change in Japanese culture.
In this article, we’ll explore the spirit of Japan’s New Year’s Day, its cherished customs, and the deeper meanings that make it one of the most important celebrations of the year.
The Spirit of New Year’s Day in Japan
What Is Ganjitsu (元日)?
In Japan, Ganjitsu refers to January 1st, the very first day of the year on the Gregorian calendar. Since 1948, it has been designated as a national holiday with the purpose of “celebrating the start of the year.” On calendars in Japan, January 1st is marked specifically as Ganjitsu, underlining its cultural and spiritual importance.
While Ganjitsu is a single day, the broader celebration called *Oshōgatsu (お正月)} often lasts from January 1st to 3rd, and in some regions, festivities continue until January 15th. During this time, families gather, visit shrines or temples, and enjoy traditional foods that symbolize good fortune and prosperity.
Gantan (元旦) vs. Ganjitsu (元日)
Although often used interchangeably, these two words have distinct meanings:
- 元日 (Ganjitsu) → Refers to the entire day of January 1st.
- 元旦 (Gantan) → Refers specifically to the morning of January 1st, symbolizing the very first sunrise of the year.
Both terms carry a sense of purity, renewal, and beginning, highlighting the Japanese emphasis on starting the year with hope and positivity.
Preparations: Welcoming the New Year
Ōsōji (大掃除) – Preparing for the New Year
Traditioally, the great year-end cleaning known as ōsōji was not only about tidying the house, but also about welcoming the toshigami (年神様)—the deity believed to bring blessings and good fortune for the coming year. Cleaning the home before January 1st was seen as preparing a pure and sacred space for the deity’s arrival.
In modern times, the custom of directly “welcoming the deity” has faded, but ōsōji remains an important way for families to start the year fresh, reflecting the Japanese value of purity and renewal. Today, most people honor the gods of the new year through hatsumōde (first shrine visits), yet the spirit of preparing for something sacred still lives on in these traditions.
Joya no Kane (除夜の鐘) – The 108 Temple Bells
On New Year’s Eve, Buddhist temples across Japan ring their bells 108 times. This ritual, called joya no kane, symbolizes the cleansing of the 108 earthly desires or bonnō (煩悩) that cause human suffering. By listening to the solemn sound of the bells, people symbolically leave behind the troubles of the past year and welcome the new year with a purified mind.
Every year, Japan’s national broadcaster NHK airs a program called Yuku Toshi Kuru Toshi (“Year Passing, Year Coming”), which shows live broadcasts of temple bells ringing at midnight.
Toshikoshi Soba (年越しそば) – Year-Crossing Noodles
Another beloved custom on New Year’s Eve is eating toshikoshi soba. The thin, long noodles symbolize longevity and resilience, but there are also deeper cultural meanings. One popular explanation traces back to the Edo period: because soba noodles are easier to cut than other types of noodles, they came to represent “cutting off the hardships and misfortunes” of the past year.
By finishing a bowl of soba before midnight, families symbolically leave behind the old year’s struggles and prepare to step into the new one with a fresh start.
Traditions of New Year’s Day
Hatsu-hinode (初日の出) – The First Sunrise
Many people in Japan welcome the year by watching the hatsu-hinode, or the first sunrise of January 1st. This custom comes from the belief that the New Year deity (toshigami) descends with the rising sun, bringing blessings for the year ahead. Families and friends often gather on mountaintops, beaches, or special viewing spots to witness the sunrise together, making it a deeply symbolic and hopeful start to the year.
Hatsumōde (初詣) – First Shrine Visit
Another essential New Year’s tradition is hatsumōde, the first visit of the year to a shrine or temple. People pray for good health, success, and happiness, and often draw omikuji—small paper fortunes that reveal one’s luck for the coming year. The atmosphere at shrines during this time is festive, with food stalls, crowds of visitors, and families dressed in kimono. For many, hatsumōde is both a spiritual ritual and a joyful cultural event to welcome the new year.
Osechi Ryōri (おせち料理) and Ozōni (お雑煮)
On New Year’s Day, families enjoy special meals prepared just for the occasion. Osechi ryōri is a colorful assortment of dishes, each with symbolic meaning. Some examples include:
- Black beans (kuromame) – for health and diligence
- Herring roe (kazunoko) – for fertility and prosperity
- Sweet rolled omelet (datemaki) – for knowledge and learning
Alongside osechi, most households also serve ozōni, a warm soup with rice cakes (mochi). The ingredients vary by region, but it is always eaten as a way to celebrate the new year with comfort and tradition.
Nengajō (年賀状) – New Year’s Greeting Cards
Just as Christmas cards are exchanged in Western countries, Japanese people send nengajō to family, friends, and colleagues. These postcards often feature zodiac animals or auspicious designs, carrying messages of gratitude and good wishes for the year. Delivered right on January 1st, they symbolize renewing social ties at the start of the year.
Otoshidama (お年玉) – New Year’s Gift Money
For children, one of the most exciting traditions is receiving otoshidama—money placed in decorative envelopes called pochibukuro. Relatives give these as a token of good luck and encouragement for the year ahead. It is a joyful custom that highlights the role of New Year’s as a celebration of family and generational bonds.
The Atmosphere of New Year’s Day
Traditional Quietness
New Year’s Day in Japan carries a unique atmosphere unlike any other day of the year. While shrines and temples overflow with visitors making their hatsumōde prayers, many other places fall into a rare quiet. Shops, restaurants, and entertainment districts that are usually full of life often close their doors, leaving streets and even busy city roads strangely calm and still. For generations, this nationwide pause created a sacred sense of renewal at the very start of the year.
Modern Convenience
In the past, nearly every shop was closed for the holiday, making the silence even more striking. Today, however, convenience stores and some large retail chains remain open, offering reassurance that daily needs can still be met. This balance between quiet tradition and modern accessibility means that Japan on January 1st is quiet yet never completely still—a landscape that feels both sacred and practical at the same time.
New Year’s Greetings
In everyday life, people in Japan greet each other with simple phrases like ohayō (“good morning”) or konnichiwa (“hello”). But on New Year’s Day, a special greeting is used:
“Akemashite omedetō” (あけましておめでとう) – “Happy New Year.”
A more polite version, “Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu” (あけましておめでとうございます), is used to show greater respect.
It is also common to add “Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu” (今年もよろしくお願いします), which means “I look forward to your continued kindness this year.” This phrase goes beyond a simple “Happy New Year”—it expresses appreciation for relationships and a wish to maintain good ties in the months ahead.
Often, these greetings are accompanied by a gentle bow, reflecting the Japanese emphasis on humility and respect. In this way, New Year’s greetings are not only polite words but also a ritual of renewing bonds with family, friends, and colleagues at the very start of the year.
Conclusion: A Day of Renewal
For the Japanese people, Ganjitsu is more than just the first day of the year—it is a moment of renewal, reflection, and connection. From the quiet streets and family gatherings to the special meals and shrine visits, every tradition carries the hope of starting the year in a pure and auspicious way.
Even in modern times, when convenience stores remain open and city life never fully stops, the spirit of January 1st endures. It is a day when Japan collectively pauses, looks to the rising sun, and steps forward with gratitude and hope.
For visitors from abroad, experiencing New Year’s Day in Japan means witnessing this unique balance of silence and celebration, tradition and modernity. It is not just a holiday—it is the country’s way of welcoming the future together, one sunrise at a time.