Japan Info Swap Blog

New Years in Japan is laser-focused on firsts. You have your first sunrise of the year, which is very important, and other firsts like the Shinnenkai parties to bring in the New Year. There are also the “first sales” of the year where retailers put out goods at bargain prices. Personally, I like the sales but easily the most important of these New Year’s rituals is hatsumode. Hatsumode is the first visit of the year to a shrine. Sometimes temples …