New Year & Year-End Prep Guide
The "when?" and "how much?" of the Japanese New Year,
all in one place.
Based on Japanese New Year traditions - may differ elsewhere.
Check with the tools
Year-End Prep Countdown
Pick your plans and get cleaning, cards, osechi and decorations as a task list by deadline.
Build the calendar
Year-End Cleaning Checklist
Kitchen, bath, fridge, entrance - room by room, generated from your home and style.
Check it off
Otoshidama Amount Guide
Pick relationship and age for a typical amount, plus how to fill the envelope.
Look up amountsPrepare for the New Year
Year-End Cleaning: How-To
From decluttering to the entrance: room-by-room steps and cleaner chemistry.
Read the guide
New Year Cards: When to Send
The posting deadline, replies within the period, and switching to a winter greeting.
Read the guide
New Year Cards: How to Write
Choosing the greeting, and samples for a boss, client, relatives and friends.
Read the guide
Osechi Delivery Comparison
Early-bird timing, chilled vs frozen, and choosing by group size.
Read the guide
Homecoming Gifts
Long-keeping classics for the trip home, plus etiquette on presenting them.
Read the guideKnow the customs & symbols
What Is Osechi?
An offering to the year deity, and the wishes behind each dish.
Read the guide
Ozoni: Regional Styles & Recipes
Square vs round mochi, clear vs white miso, and basic recipes.
Read the guide
New Year Decorations Timing
Put up by the 28th, take down at the end of the period. Timing and disposal.
Read the guide
Kadomatsu & Shimenawa
Each decoration's origin and how long to keep it, explained separately.
Read the guideSpend the New Year period
Kagami Mochi & Kagami Biraki
The display period, the dates, why it is opened not cut, and how to eat it.
Read the guide
Hatsumode: How Late Is OK
The visit period, avoiding crowds, and the two-bows-two-claps-one-bow etiquette.
Read the guide
New Year's Eve & Toshikoshi Soba
When to eat the noodles, their meaning, and how to spend the evening.
Read the guide
Kids' Winter Break
Homework, routine, indoor play and New Year experiences, in balance.
Read the guidePR — This page contains promotional content
How to use this site
- Start with the Year-End Prep Countdown to lay out this year's tasks by deadline
- Clean room by room with the Cleaning Checklist, and check amounts with the Otoshidama Guide
- For cards, osechi, decorations and hatsumode, check the "when?" in each guide