New Year’s Day in Japan

girls making mochi the old fashioned way on New Years Day in Kyoto

New Year's Day in Japan is, like New Year's Eve, a spiritual and significant time. Many people visit their local Shinto shrine on the 1st, 2nd or 3rd of January. Known as 初詣(hatsumode-or first temple visit) this is very important. Last year we arrived at Harajuku station on the 2nd of January, to find an … Continue reading New Year’s Day in Japan