Hatsuyume (初夢) means the first dream of the New Year. It is traditionally believed to foretell the kind of year and luck you will receive for the year ahead. As New Year’s Day (1st of January) is a quiet celebration and people start resuming their regular routines the following day, hatsuyume is the dream you…

Sugoroku is a Japanese board game which has become a tradition for kids to play during the New Year’s Day. Usually children’s magazines would include additions to the game in their January issues. The history of Sugoroku can be traced back to the 12th century. In the 17th century, e-sugoroku (“e” meaning picture) which is…

If you have been to Japan during the oshogatsu (お正月) i.e. Japanese New Year before, you probably have seen many people queuing outside department stores and shops to buy fukubukuros (福袋) i.e. fortune bags. If you have not witnessed this phenomenon personally, you might have seen footage of the frenzy caused by eager shoppers who…

When the current year draws to a close, the Japanese are busy with preparing for the upcoming oshogatsu (お正月) by cleaning up their houses, purchasing or preparing food to be cooked and eaten during the New Year holidays, travelling to their hometowns to reunite with their families or taking a much-deserved break overseas with their…

Probably there are different ways to spends holidays on the New Year depending on the cultural backgrounds of every country and also on the customs and traditions in your family. In Japan there is also a long list of things to do during this important event so here is a guide to how Japanese people…

While it is the time of the year for preparing Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties in many countries, in Japan things are a little different. It is the time when people return to their hometown to enjoy a few days together with their families. However, the lack of parties does not mean Japanese people…

When you say the word “Chiba” or “Narita” to most foreigners, images of Japan’s largest international airport comes immediately to mind, along with that mad rush foreigners make to catch their plane. Yet, if you say Narita or Chiba to most Japanese, you might hear two diverse descriptions – the first, of course is the…

The 35th anniversary of Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan continues with various seasonal activities to make your visit a truly memorable one. Spectacular special events are lined up which you will surely enjoy with your family, friends, or special someone. Check out the “Happiest Celebration!” events for the rest of 2018 below! 1. Disney Tanabata…

Winter is here in Japan, bringing dry air, clear skies, and huge snowfall in northern prefectures such as Aomori, Hokkaido, and Iwate. There are a lot of great things about winter in Japan, such as hot and delicious drinks, seasonal food such as hot pot, and winter illuminations. Here are some useful words that will…

Are you looking for a place where you can enjoy the holiday season but have a different taste of it? Or do you want to experience a little deviation from your usual New Year’s celebration? Then Japan is the right place for you! New Year in Japan jp.fotolia.com/ Celebrating the beginning of a new year…