You know what they say: when in Rome, do as the Romans do . . . and we all know what the Romans do (they wear togas and watch gladiator battles, right?). But what if you are in Tokyo, and for the New Year, of all things? It seems safe to say that the bright lights and bustle of downtown Tokyo easily match the atmosphere in New York City, so there has to be some major excitement in Tokyo come the New Year. That’s exactly right. To spend New Years in Tokyo is to close one year and begin a new year with a really big – huge () – bang. If you plan on being in Tokyo around that time, then you are in for a real treat. Here is a guide to celebrating the New Year in Tokyo:
Japanese New Year
The New Year (called “shogatsu” in Japan) is actually the most important holiday in Japan. Shogatsu is a time that families generally spend together, as is customary during our holiday season. Stores generally shut down from January 1 through January 3, and a real celebration ensues.
Party the Old Year Away
In Japan, each year is considered to be completely separate from the year preceding and following it; therefore, both the end of the old year and the beginning of the New Year are celebrated with a number of traditional parties. Bonenkai (“year forgetting”) parties begin during the last few days of the year, and the first day of the year (the first sunrise of the New Year) is a sacred day, when everyone is joyous and stress-free and there is no work to be done. If you want to go crazy then make sure you get financial help in form of loan to help you have a great new year eve.
Visiting the Shrines
A traditional New Year custom is to visit a shrine at the turn of the New Year. This is called “hatsumode.” Beginning at midnight on New Year’s Eve, hundreds of thousands of people flock to popular shrines to ring the New Year in (literally) by listening to the loud gong of the temple bells. People continue to visit the shrines for the first three days of the year, making special prayers and buying lucky charms to bring in the New Year right. Popular shrines to visit are the Meiji Shrine, Sumiyoshi Taisha, and Fushimi Inari Taisha.
Emperor’s Greeting
Head to the Tokyo Imperial Palace on January 2 to take a tour of the palace’s inner grounds and witness the Emperor’s public appearance from a glass-enclosed balcony of the palace.
If you are planning on spending the New Year in Tokyo, then be prepared for days of celebration and paying homage to the old and new years. Plan ahead, keeping in mind that many businesses will be closed, the streets will be packed, and transportation will be hard to find during this most important time of year.
Are you a student preparing to study abroad? Consider Mobiloans and other forms of lending to help you get your affairs in order before you leave.
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Posted November 17th, 2011 by Wayne Ernest | Comment (0)
