Celebrating Ōmisoka: Fortune for The New Year

Ōmisoka is celebrated on December 31 in anticipation of the new year. Often confused with the bonenkai, which are celebratory parties held towards the end of the year, Ōmisoka usually entails intimate gatherings of friends and family to partake in traditions and share hopes for the coming year. In fact, the name itself is derived from “the great 30th day,” but it is also known by the more archaic ōtsumogori (the last day of the month). In Tokyo, the holiday culminates in the especially high-spirited joya night, with people from across Tokyo spilling into Shibuya, along with other urban hubs, in effervescent conversation and spirited cheers. So, expand your cultural palate by partaking in celebrations both old and new to sound off the new year!

History and Traditions 

Ōmisoka dates back to the Heian era, when preparations would be made in anticipation of the coming year, involving house-cleaning and offering rice cakes to Shinto gods—principally Toshigami, the kami (god) associated with the harvest and ancestral spirits. Although Ōmisoka is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and has strong ties to Shinto and Buddhist spiritualism, many modern interpretations have been embraced.

Toshikoshi Soba 

Feasting on toshikoshi soba noodles until the bowl is polished clean is customary during Ōmisoka. This practice is believed to have originated during the Edo era and symbolizes two key ideas: the wish for a long life, represented by the length of the noodles, and the cutting away of past year’s misfortunes, akin to the way soba noodles are cut.

Joya no Kane

At around midnight, the crisp winter air reverberates with the sound of bells, which are rung 108 times. The tradition is derived from Buddhist beliefs, and each chime liberates people of a single earthly desire, or bonnou. As one of the most well-known and anticipated traditions in Japanese new year festivities, the bells can be heard practically everywhere as the rituals are carried out at almost every Buddhist temple. 

After a new year’s feast and an evening with family and friends, some Japanese people congregate at a local temple in prayer during the sounding of the bells, and pay their first temple visit of the year, known as hatsumode.

Fukubukuro 

An embodiment of the Japanese proverb, “there is fortune in leftovers,” fukubukuro are small “lucky bags” sold by stores across Japan, containing items whose total worth can often be more than the list price of the bags. They can be found at major retail centers including Seibu, Matsuya or Ito Yokado—and even Apple. This tradition has roots in the late Meiji era, and was pioneered by the Ginza Matsuya department store in Tokyo.

Nengajo

These New Year’s cards are sent to friends, family and coworkers, and communicate good wishes for the holidays and a prosperous new year. Nengajo are often stamped with an insignia of the next year’s zodiac animal, which will be the snake in 2025.

Kadomatsu

These are special decorations exhibited on each side of the front door of homes during Ōmisoka, and are intended to welcome ancestral spirits or the Shinto kami, particularly Toshigami. They are arrangements of bamboo and pines, often with individual touches. On January 15, in the new year, they are set aflame to appease the gods.

Shimenawa 

At holy sites, Shinto straw rope can be seen tethered to trees, bushes, and shrine entrances. They are meant to separate sacred areas from the outside world. They have a fascinating history that dates back to early Japanese history, when shimenawa were tied to old trees, warning woodcutters that if they chopped down the tree, they would have to face the wrath of an angry spirit. During the new year they play an especially important role, suspended over entrances of shrines and holy sites to ward off demonic spirits. 

Where to Celebrate Ōmisoka in Tokyo

This year there are plenty of notable locations in Tokyo where you can partake in hatsumode, or the first shrine visit of the New Year. This tradition draws crowds to temples and shrines across Japan. Whether for spiritual reflection or festive celebration, these spots offer a memorable start to the year. Each location provides a unique atmosphere, blending cultural practices with the excitement of the season.

Zojoji Temple 

This noteworthy temple offers the opportunity to do your hatsumode under the spectacular illumination of Tokyo Tower. Dating back to 1598, this is the main temple of the Jodo-shu Buddhist sect, and comes alive during major holidays. If you intend to visit this temple, make sure to arrive early—it’s very popular!  

Hie Shrine

Located in Nagatachō, Chiyoda Ward, this shrine is dedicated to Oyamakui no Kami, the son of the exalted Toshigami in Japanese mythology, who plays a prominent role in new year’s festivities. The shrine is spectacular, with its beguiling contrast of deep red lacquered columns and cyan-tiled roofs. A popular location for people to pray for healthy children and successful marriages, Hie Shrine attracts visitors every year.

Oji Inari Shrine

Located in Kita Ward, this shrine was established during the Kamakura era and has been designated as the “Northern Protector Shrine.” Beautifully ornate, the shrine is best known for its fox parade procession during Ōmisoka, along with its 600-year-old gingko tree. Both are connected to a riveting legend of Japan’s foxes who, as legend has it, make a pilgrimage to the shrine and congregate under the tree at the end of every year.   

Kawasaki Daishi Temple

Founded near the end of the Heian era, the Kawasaki Daishi Temple follows the Chizan School of Shingon Buddhism, and remains as one of the most popular destinations around Tokyo for Ōmisoka. At this temple just outside of Tokyo in Kawasaki, visitors arrive for the Joya no Kane as well as Goma-Kito, an esoteric Buddhist ritual burning of consecrated wooden sticks and sutra chanting during the new year. 

Sensōji Temple

At the heart of the famous shopping area in Asakusa is Sensōji, Tokyo’s oldest temple. It’s an extremely popular spot, but you’ll be able to pass the time checking out the many items on sale at the lines of stalls leading up to the temple. Once you arrive, make sure to make an offering of a 5 yen coin—and a wish for a prosperous new year! 

Omisoka, the celebration of New Year’s Eve in Japan, is a time of reflection and renewal, as people bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one with hope and optimism. As the clock strikes midnight, traditions such as eating toshikoshi soba and visiting shrines symbolize the desire for longevity, prosperity and good fortune in the year ahead. This moment of transition is not just about closing one chapter, but about opening the door to new opportunities and blessings, marking a fresh start filled with the promise of fortune for all.