New Year’s Greeting 明けましておめでとうございます。 In Japan, we say:“Akemashite omedetō” = Happy New Year“Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu” = Let’s have a good year together This year, I made a quiet resolution. Not to chase something new, but to reconnect with what…
Date: 2026-03-29 (JST) Visiting a Japanese shrine during the New Year period is a memorable experience, but many foreign travelers find the customs around Hatsumōde (the year’s first shrine visit) confusing. Questions about proper etiquette, when to go, and what…
Travel Tips · 2026–2027 Japan New Year Closures 2026–2027 A practical calendar for what stays open and what shuts down — Dec 28, 2026 to Jan 4, 2027. Updated Apr 2026 Closure window: Dec 28, 2026 – Jan 4, 2027.…
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