Year-End Prep Countdown
Pick this year's plans and the calendar below updates automatically.
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Based on Japanese New Year customs - may differ elsewhere.
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Work backward from each deadline
Most year-end stress comes from missing a deadline you didn't know was there. Early-bird discounts on osechi (New Year feast) sets close in autumn; new year cards need to be posted by around December 25 to arrive on January 1; and decorations should go up by the 28th, avoiding the 29th and 31st. Each task has its own fixed deadline.
This planner sorts your tasks into six deadlines: December 13 (the traditional start of new year preparations), 20, 25, 28, New Year's Eve, and the first three days of January. Starting on the 13th and checking things off while they can still be fixed is the trick.
Manage the cleaning itself room by room with the Year-End Cleaning Checklist. Card deadlines are in New Year Cards: When to Send, and decoration timing is in New Year Decorations: When to Put Up & Take Down.
Frequently asked questions
When should year-end preparation begin?
December 13, the traditional "start of new year preparations," is the classic marker. Osechi early-bird discounts and popular items can close much earlier, in October and November.
By when should new year cards be posted to arrive on January 1?
Posting by around December 25 is the usual guideline for delivery on New Year's Day. Japan Post begins accepting new year cards on December 15.
Why avoid putting up decorations on the 29th and 31st?
The 29th evokes "double suffering" in Japanese wordplay, and the 31st is "one-night decorating," seen as disrespectfully last-minute for welcoming the deity. Putting them up by the 28th is customary.
Is my progress saved?
Yes. Your checked tasks and choices are saved automatically in your browser (localStorage). Nothing is sent to a server, and your state is restored next time.
What if the cleaning won't be finished in time?
Don't aim for perfect. Finishing just the water areas (kitchen, bath) and the entrance is enough. Leave the rest for "after the new year decorations come down" and relax.