New Year’s in Japan
The New Year’s holiday in Japan is huge.Much like Christmas in the United States, it’s the year’s big family holiday that most citizens take very seriously. As part of the festivities, the Japanese send many New Year’s greeting cards to various friends, family, and acquaintances. The number of cards sent per person could easily top 100. Many Japanese return to their hometown for the holidays. They will often visit their parents or other relatives. Sometimes they will spend several days in their hometown before returning home. Suffice it to say, New Year’s tends to be the busiest time in the lives of most Japanese. If you’re vacationing in Japan, it’s not uncommon to see places like Shibuya virtually empty on New Year’s Day. Many shops are closed, and few people are out and about. Most follow the tradition of spending time with close family members, even in Japan’s trendiest spots. Toward the end of the year, businesses often host end-of-the-year parties for their staff. By and large, these parties consist of an evening out at a restaurant. Lots of drinking usually ensues. It is not unusual for a typical Japanese businessmen to attend several such parties at the end of the year, due to their associations and relationships with multiple companies. Weeks later, New Year’s parties are sometimes held, too. These celebrations, of course, ring in the New Year. They follow the same pattern of the end-of-the-year parties; however, their purpose is to celebrate what is to come, not what has already happened. New Year’s is a big deal in Japan. As a Japanese resident, it is an interesting thing to experience. But for travelers, it probably hinders the experience, as many stores are closed, and most Japanese are busy and unavailable during this time. If you wish to plan a trip to Japan, doing so over the course of New Year’s would probably not be recommended in most cases. With that said, here’s wishing everyone a Happy New Year!Brett