Shogatsu - New Year Celebration
The most important Shinto festival marking the arrival of the New Year.
Shogatsu is the New Year celebration, the most significant festival in the Japanese calendar. Shrines are decorated with kadomatsu and shimenawa, households perform special cleaning (osoji), and families gather to honor ancestors and welcome the toshigami (year kami).
With the New Year comes renewal, as the toshigami brings fresh blessings.
Shogatsu combines Shinto, Buddhist, and folk elements in a comprehensive renewal celebration.
Calendar traditions