Japanese New Year

Japanese New Year (Oshōgatsu)
The kadomatsu is a traditional decoration for the new year holiday.
Official nameShōgatsu (正月) or Oshōgatsu
Also calledNew year
Observed byJapan
TypeCultural
SignificanceCelebrates the new year
ObservancesHoliday
BeginsDecember 31/January 1
EndsJanuary 4
DateJanuary 1
Next time1 January 2025 (2025-01-01)
Frequencyannual
Related toNew Year's Day, Chinese New Year, Korean New Year, Vietnamese New Year, Mongolian New Year, Tibetan New Year

The Japanese New Year (正月, Shōgatsu) is an annual festival that takes place in Japan. Since 1873, the official Japanese New Year has been celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar, on January 1 of each year, New Year's Day (元日, Ganjitsu). Prior to 1872, traditional events of the Japanese New Year were celebrated on the first day of the year on the modern Tenpō calendar, the last official lunisolar calendar.