The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year is usually celebrated between late January and February, during the first new moon. This year, it will be on Wednesday, January 2025. But if you’re in Japan, you may be wondering, “Does Japan celebrate Chinese New Year?” Here’s what you should know. Does Japan Celebrate Chinese New Year? So, you could say that Tokyo does celebrate Lunar New Year, even if the day-to-day Tokyoites may not know the event is coming until the streets are alive with Chinese dragons, stunning red lanterns and the aroma of limited-time Chinese snacks and drinks. Modern-day Japan does not celebrate Lunar New Year the same way its neighbors do, but several shōgatsu traditions are similar due to their shared history. Both traditions emphasize cleaning the home before the first day of the new year to sweep away the problems of last year (called ōsōji 大掃除, or “big cleaning”). However, in towns like Okinawa and on some southern islands in Japan, people put flags out and eat the traditional soba for New Year. How Japanese Celebrate The New Year. In the Japanese language, New Year’s Eve is best known as 大晦日 (Ōmisoka). 晦 (miso) was originally written as 三十 (meaning 30). Wondering if Japan joins in on the Chinese New Year festivities? The short answer is no—Japan doesn’t officially celebrate Chinese New Year. Instead, the country follows the Gregorian calendar for its own New Year traditions, called shōgatsu, which kicks off on January 1st. That said, Lunar New Year isn’t entirely absent in Japan! So, why is it that Japan does not celebrate Lunar New Year? Let’s find out. Has Japan Ever Celebrated The Lunar New Year? There was a time when Japan did celebrate the Lunar New Year. In the sixth century CE, the Chinese lunisolar calendar became the main way of timekeeping within Japan. This lasted until the year 1873. If you want to celebrate the year of the snake in Japan, there are few better places to visit than Yokohama Chinatown, which has observed Chinese Spring Festival traditions since 1986. Chinese New Year is an annual festival originated in China and Chinese communities around the world celebrate the beginning of a new year based on the traditional Chinese calendar. The Chinese New Year starts on the new moon which appears sometime between January 21 and February 20. In 2024, it’s from February 10 to 17! During the Chinese New So, many people in Japan really do not know what Chinese New Year is. Why Japan does not celebrate Lunar New Year. One of the reasons why the old new year was abandoned in favor of the new calendar in Japan is that Japan was actively embracing Western culture during the Meiji Restoration. The second New Year is on the first day of the Lunar New Year, in line with the rest of the world. These celebrations are on a smaller scale but also incorporate elements of indigenous and Chinese culture. Lastly, the third and final New Year’s celebration takes place on the 16th day of the Lunar New Year, or Jūrukunichi in Okinawan. Victor Jiacheng Leong, a Chinese Singaporean living in Tokyo, explains “In my sharehouse, we mark the new year by coming together and chatting over a comforting hotpot meal.” His sharehouse contains nationals of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and South Korea, who all join together and share the holiday, even with those who don’t usually The Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, is more commonly referred to as the Spring Festival in China and celebrations take place over 15 days. What happens? There’s a variety of customs and celebrations throughout China and among the global Chinese diaspora, but each of the days has a special significance which you can read more about here. The district holds a massive lantern festival, just like in Yokohama, to celebrate the Lunar New Year, with over 15,000 gorgeous Chinese lanterns on display, from small intricate designs to massive lanterns in the shape of Chinese zodiac animals. Singaporeans celebrate Lunar New Year as one of the most auspicious holidays of the year, as well. Because there is such a big Chinese community in Singapore, many of the same cultural Pre-Chinese New Year Preparations and Activities (Jan. 7–Feb. 12, 2025) Jan. 7, 2025: Laba Festival. Some Chinese start to celebrate and prepare for Chinese New Year as early as day 8 of the 12 th month of the lunar calendar. As the lunar New Year is not celebrated as in other Asian countries, it’s not a holiday and people do go to work. However, in towns like Okinawa and on some southern islands in Japan, people put flags out and eat the traditional soba for New Year. How Japanese Celebrate The New Year Celebrating New Year's Eve in Tokyo 2024-2025: Tips, Events, and Traditions Welcome, folks! It's Toxigon here, and today we're diving into the electrifying world of New Year festivities at Tokyo Tower offer a blend of modern celebrations with stunning views of Tokyo's skyline lit up in special colors and a festive atmosphere. Many visitors flock to the tower to enjoy the spectacular night views of the city and participate in countdown events in Tokyo on New Year's Eve 2024. Japanese patisseries celebrate the new year with wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) fashioned in the shape of the Chinese zodiac animal of that year. Japanese bakeries also bake tiny Western-style cakes in the shape of New Year’s animals. Celebrate Chinese New Year in Japan for an Entertaining & Enriching Experience I was planning on going to DisneySea next year Feb 10 but when I was checking I noticed that it's the same day as Chinese New Year. Should I be worried about big crowds? I've heard I should avoid popular tourist destinations during their holidays though I'm not sure Japanese people celebrate Chinese New Year.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.