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In & Around Kanazawa : A Local City Guide created by our Staff
New Year's Traditions and Guide: Kanazawa
Japan has many traditions and customs to ring in the New Year, or “Oshogatsu”, as it is the most important holiday period in the country. It is a time for family and friends to gather and take part in traditions which date back centuries.
For non-native Japanese, some of the customs may be confusing and difficult to understand, as most have a base in the Shinto religion.
We’ve rounded up some of the most common New Year’s traditions you might encounter on your travels through the country, as well as some recommendations on our must visit shrines during this holiday. Find out how you can get in on the fun and celebrate New Years in Kanazawa like the locals!
Toshikoshi Soba (年越し蕎麦): A must eat on New Year’s eve, Japanese buckwheat noodles are a staple during the holidays. The tradition of eating Japanese “soba”, or buckwheat, noodles become common during the Edo period in Japan. The noodles are stretched and cut in a very long and thin form, which is though to symbolize a long and healthy life. The noodles are also very easy to cut, even with chopsticks, symbolizing cutting away and leaving the bad luck of the previous year.
Osechi ryori (おせち料理): “Osechi ryori” is a special meal consisting of many dishes, specially eaten during the first three days of the New Year. Traditionally, dishes are prepared in the follow up to New Year’s day, so that the first few days can be free of cooking and slaving over a stove. Cooking, especially the act of cutting with a knife, is thought to cut away the fortune that is brought in by the new year. In recent years, it has also become more common to order “Osechi ryori” from famous restaurants and stores to save the hassle of preparing so many dishes.
Ozoni (お雑煮) Also consumed during the first 3 days of the new year, “ozoni” is a soup containing “mochi”, or rice cakes. A tradition since the Muromachi time period, around 700 years ago, the dish is said to bring in good luck. The ingredients and broth of the dish vary by family tradition and by the various regions in Japan, but the main ingredient throughout Japan is always “mochi”.
In Kanazawa, the representative recipe for “ozoni” is said to be one of the simplest in Japan. The broth is often a simple soup made from kelp soup stock, with the only ingredients the “mochi” and a sprinkle of green onions.
Hatsumōde (初詣): The first shrine visit of the year, or “hatsumōde”, is one of the most important New Year’s traditions to the Japanese. It is more common to visit a Shinto shrine, but Buddhist temples, are also popular depending on family and regional traditions. Most locations will have extended hours for the first 3 days of January to welcome visitors, with famous and popular shrines and temples often hosting many booths offering food, drinks, and small trinkets. Many eager visitors start lining up a few hours before midnight on December 31st so they can be one of the first to pray for good fortune.
Omikuji (おみくじ): After visitors pay their respects and pray for good luck in the coming year, it is often a tradition to draw an “omikuji”, or fortune slips. These can be found selling for around 100 yen at shrines and temples, and can come in many forms. Most commonly, you will draw a strip of paper, which states anything from Good Luck to Bad Luck, with advice or predictions for health, love, money, and other areas of your life. It is completely okay to receive Bad or Normal Luck, as the paper is then tied to a designated area on shrine grounds to reverse or leave behind the bad luck. Some even say it is luckier to draw Bad Luck!
Omamori (お守り): “Omamori” are the perfect souvenir that is both culturally significant and affordable in Japan. Many Japanese believe a shrine visit is not complete without purchasing one, especially during the first visit of the year. Although they vary by shrine, “omamori” are often small, highly detailed decorative pouches made of cloth with paper or metal inside. From general luck to more specific charms for health, love, wealth, and more, you can choose the perfect one for yourself or for your friends and family.
Oyama Shrine (尾山神社): Oyama Shrine is the go-to shrine for special events in Kanazawa throughout the year, but especially for “hatsumōde”. The grounds are spacious, and many entertainment and food booths are available for visitors. If you’re debating where to go for your first shrine visit of the year, Oyama Shrine is definitely top of our list!
Ishiura Shrine (石浦神社): Ishiura Shrine is the oldest shrine in Kanazawa, making is extremely popular with local residents. Located near Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle Park, it is slightly hard to find, but we promise that its worth visiting!
Kanazawa Shrine (金澤神社): If you’re a student or want to wish someone good luck in studies, Kanazawa Shrine is the place to be for your first visit! This shrine is said to host a deity of scholarship, and has many good luck charms specific to it. They also have “omikuji” available in English for foreign travelers.
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