Oshōgatsu & Hatsumōde
正月 · 初詣
Japan's most important holiday. Families gather, eat osechi and make the year's first visit to a shrine or temple to pray for a good year.
Around the same days
7Jan
Nanakusa no Sekku 七草の節句 On the seventh day, a rice porridge with seven spring herbs rests the stomach after the New Year feasts and wishes good health for the year.
11Jan
Coming of Age Day & Kagami Biraki 成人の日 · 鏡開き Young adults celebrate in kimono and formal dress, while at home the round New Year rice cakes are broken and shared.