New Year’s in Japan 2013

New Year’s or oshogatsu (正月) in Japanese is one of the most important holidays on the calendar in Japan. It is a time to look back to the past and follow the traditional customs of the festive season. Most people will return home to spend the time together with their families, kind of like Christmas in the West. It is also a popular tradition to visit a temple or shrine at midnight on December 31st, as Buddhist temples all around Japan ring their bells a total of 108 times to symbolize the 108 human sins in Buddhist belief and to get rid of the 108 worldly desires.

January 1st or New Year’s Day is a very fortunate day in Japan. It is meant to be full of joy and happiness with no stress or anxiety. Everything should be clean and you should not work on this day. A popular custom is to watch the first sunrise of the New Year (初日), which is meant to guarantee good luck for the New Year. It is tradition to visit a shrine or temple during oshogatsu for hatsumode, the first visit of the New Year. The bigger more popular shrines and temples are extremely crowded with people praying for health and happiness. We usually visit Inaba Jinja, which is the most famous shrine in Gifu City.

Here are some traditions and customs that are followed during New Year’s in Japan

Shimekazari 

Shimekazari (しめ飾り) is a traditional New Year’s decoration made out of sacred Shinto rice straw rope, pine twigs, and carefully crafted zigzag-shaped paper strips called shide. Shimekazari is usually hung on the front door, and is used to keep bad spirits away as well as inviting the toshigami (歳神) or Shinto deity to visit. Unlike Christmas decorations which are usually packed up and used the following year, New Year's decorations must be new as they symbolize a brand new start and a move away from the past. It is good luck to hang up the shimekazari straight after Christmas, but no longer than after the 28th of December. It is custom to remove the shimekazari on either January 7th or after the 15th, depending on which area of Japan you live.

Shimekazari

Kagami Mochi 

Kagami Mochi (鏡餅) is another traditional decoration that consists of two round mochi (rice cakes). The smaller rice cake is placed on top of the larger one with a daidai (bitter orange) on top. The two mochi represent the past year and the year ahead with the daidai, which means “generations” in Japanese representing the continuation of a family from one generation to the next. These days you can buy a modern version with the zodiac sign for the coming year on top instead of the bitter orange. 2014 was the year of the horse, with 2015 being the year of the sheep.

Kagami Mochi

Mochibana 

Mochibana (餅花) is a popular New Year’s decoration that consists of branches decorated with pieces of white and pink mochi. They look like flowering branches of the blossoms in spring, and signal the coming of spring ahead in Japan.

Nengajo 

Nengajo (年賀状) is a  Japanese custom of sending a New Year’s Day Card to friends and relatives. It is very similar to our custom of sending Christmas Cards. Japanese people send these so that they arrive on January 1st. It is common to feature the zodiac sign for the coming year on the card.

Toshikoshi Soba 

Toshikoshi Soba (年越しそば) is buckwheat noodles that are eaten on New Year’s Eve and symbolise longevity. It is believed that by eating these long thin noodles you will live a long and healthy life. Toshikoshi means the ending of the old year, and the beginning of the new one. It has become a modern tradition to eat toshikoshi soba while watching TV on New Year’s Eve, with the music competition Kohaku Uta Gassen (紅白歌合戦) the most popular show. To ensure good luck, all the noodles must be polished off before midnight.

Toshikoshi Soba

 Hatsumode 

Hatsumode (初詣) is the first shrine visit of the New Year to pray for health, happiness and prosperity for the coming year. Most people will make their visit on the first, second, or third day of the year. A common custom is to buy an omikuji, which is a fortune written on a small piece of paper. If the omikuji predicts bad luck, you can tie it onto a tree on the shrine grounds, in order for the prediction not to come true.

Hatsumode at Inaba Jinja in Gifu City

Osechi Ryori 

Osechi Ryori (御節料理) is traditional Japanese dishes served during New Year celebrations. The tradition started in the Heian Period (794-1185) with each dish having a special meaning. Osechi ryori is served in special boxes called jubako (重箱) and contain food such as konbu (boiled seaweed), kamaboko (fish cakes), kinpira gobo (burdock root), and kuromame (sweetened black beans).

Osechi Ryori

Ozoni 

Ozoni (お雑煮) is a soup made with mochi (rice cakes) traditionally served on New Year’s Day. Our family usually has ozoni for breakfast on New Year’s Day. Ozoni varies from region to region and from household to household.

Ozoni

Otoshidama 

Otoshidama (お年玉) is special money given to children on New Year’s Day. It is handed out in small decorated envelopes by family and relatives. The amount varies depending on the age of the child, but typically will be either ¥5,000 (USD$50) or ¥10,000 (USD$100).

Mochi 

Mochi (餅) a favourite custom is creating mochi or soft rice cakes from boiled sticky rice. This is called mochitsuki (餅つき) and is usually made before New Year’s Day and eaten during the start of New Year’s in January. 

Hope you have a great New Year's wherever you are in the world!

Kadomatsu

McDonald's Japan Winter Menu

McDonalds Japan has put on a tasty selection of winter menu items to get us through the colder months in Japan. The menu items feature cheese, which is always popular in winter. Back in the summer Japan Australia wrote about some new summer items to the McDonald's menu, now its winter's turn and you can read all about them below.

White Cheddar Series 

The White Cheddar Series includes the Quarter Pounder and Chicken Fileo. The burgers have replaced the usual cheese with white cheddar cheese. The White Cheddar Quarter Pounder features extra rich white cheddar cheese, grilled bacon, mustard and is topped with a roasted onion sauce. It went on sale December 11th. The White Cheddar Chicken Fileo features the new crispy chicken breast as well as two slices of the extra rich white cheddar cheese, sliced onions, two pieces of bacon and mustard. It went on sale December 15th.

White Cheddar Quarter Pounder

White Cheddar Chicken Fileo

Cheese Potato Dip 

The Cheese Potato Dip is a snack consisting of shredded mozzarella cheese and cheddar cheese, mixed with potato. The mixture is shaped into balls that are deep fried to a golden brown. The Cheese Potato Dip is served with an Arrabbiata dipping sauce, which adds a boost to the flavour. Arrabbiata is an Italian spicy sauce made from garlic, tomatoes, and red chili peppers. The Cheese Potato Dip costs 150 yen (USD$1.50) for five pieces and went on sale December 11th.

Cheese Potato Dip

The Taste Test

Japan Australia wandered down to our local McDonald's to see what all the fuss was about. We ordered a White Cheddar Quarter Pounder set with a side of Cheese Potato Dip. The White Cheddar Quarter Pounder was really tasty and we would definitely order this again from the menu. We are already fans of the classic Quarter Pounder, but this took it to a higher level with a great full flavour cheese and roasted onion sauce. In fact, the roasted onion sauce kind of reminded us of a chutney from back home. The Cheese Potato Dip has a great texture with a crisp crunchy outside and soft fluffy cheesy inside. The actual flavour was quite bland on its own and it really did need the extra boast of the Arrabbiata sauce which was full of flavour.

White Cheddar Quarter Pounder Set

The White Cheddar Quarter Pounder ready to be opened up

A look at the White Cheddar Quarter Pounder

Cheese Potato Dip with Arrabbiata Sauce

Crispy & Cheesy Cheese Potato Dip

There you go! If you are in Japan this winter and want to give something new a try, check these out.

McDonald's Japan Website

White Cheddar Series

Christmas in Japan 2013

Christmas is just around the corner, so I thought I’d talk a little about Christmas here in Japan. Christmas is not a national holiday like it is back home in Australia, but is just a regular working day. It is a romantic time for couples, kind of like a second Valentine’s Day, rather than a time to spend with your family. Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day is the special day in Japan. It is a time for couples to go out on a romantic dinner date and exchange gifts. Restaurants and hotels are usually fully booked out during this time. Christmas Eve is celebrated with a fancy Christmas cake. The cake is not a rich fruit cake like we have in the west, but a sponge cake covered in whipped cream and topped with strawberries.

Christmas food in Japan includes traditional KFC Christmas Chicken Dinner. Kentucky Fried Chicken has become synonymous with Christmas in Japan since they launched their advertising campaign in the 1970s. You will usually see the Colonel dressed up in Santa gear around this time. There are long lines at KFC on Christmas Day and many people pre-order their Christmas feast well in advance to avoid missing out. It is estimated that 1 in 3 Japanese adults will eat fried chicken this Christmas!

KFC Japan Website

The Colonel dressed as Santa Claus for Christmas 

The retail stores and shopping malls scattered all around Japan have been the most enthusiastic about Christmas, with large Christmas trees, Santa Clauses and seasonal decorations out in force several weeks or months in advance. This year the decorations came out the day after Halloween!

Christmas decorations in Japan

Christmas Tree in Shopping Mall

Christmas was first celebrated in Japan during the Sengoku Period, also known as the Warring States Period, in the 16th Century. It was during this time that a missionary, Francis Xavier introduced Christianity to Japan. The modern celebration of Christmas in Japan first started around 1900 during the Meiji Restoration when Japan opened up to the West after a long period of isolation. Japanese Christmas Cake first hit the streets in the 1920s at department stores in Ginza, Tokyo. As mention above, KFC started their Christmas Fried Chicken marketing campaign in the 1970s and the rest is history.

Over the last few years, more and more people are starting to celebrate Christmas like we do in the west. They are taking up traditions such as decorating their home, exchanging gifts and having a nice Christmas dinner. The Winter Illuminations have become a big deal during this time with magical displays put on by several places. They are popular with couples out on a romantic date as well as families.

Winter Illuminations at Nabana no Sato

How to spend a Festive Christmas in Japan like back home 

There are several places in Gifu/Nagoya, my home in Japan that have the goodies you need to make a Festive Christmas just like at home.

Kaldi Coffee Farm located in most of the big malls in Gifu such as Morela, Masa21, Aeon Mall Kakamigahara and Aeon Mall Kisogawa. They have a lot of different imported food such as chocolate, candy, shortbread and snacks for those Christmas stockings.

Plant6 in Ogaki has a range of cheeses, party foods, snacks, cookies and meats.

Amika in Akenabe-cho and Masaki in Gifu has a large range of frozen meats including whole chickens. 

FrancFranc in Morela, Gifu & Nagoya Parco has lots of different Christmas decorations as well as Tokyu Hands in Takashimiya Nagoya.

Loft in Gifu City and Sakae Nagoya also has lots of Christmas decorations, Christmas trees & lights and stationary like Christmas cards.

Meidi-ya in Sakae, Nagoya specialises in foreign food and has a range of Christmas goodies.

Seijyo-ishi in Meieki, Nagoya is a foreign food supermarket with a good selection of foreign food.

Kaldi Coffee Farm

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Japan have also released a range of Christmas themed doughnuts to light up the festive season. They include Snowman Chocolate, Pistachio Wreath and Stollen Ring. You can pick up a Santa Claus Dozen that features the above doughnuts as well as a special Santa Cheesecake Doughnut for 2000 yen.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Japan

Krispy Kreme Santa Claus Dozen

Wherever you are in the World, the team here at Japan Australia would like to wish you a Merry Christmas!

Tokyo Christmas Illuminations

Tokyo continues to be one of the best places in the world for Christmas illuminations. There’s all sorts, from rather tacky, but cute to super stylish. Here are some of my favourites:

Tama Center 

Tama Center (多摩センター) is home to Sanrio Puroland, Hello Kitty’s theme park. It seems like this was created as a new city centre outside central Tokyo, and the size of the Christmas illuminations reflect this. The long shopping promenade was lined with illuminations as early as mid November!

Tokyo Midtown 

For some really posh Christmas illuminations, head to Tokyo Midtown (東京ミッドタウン) in Roppongi (六本木). These super stylish illuminations can be found at the garden in the back of this high class shopping centre.

Ginza 

Another Christmas illuminations highlight in Tokyo is Ginza (銀座), a famous shopping street with all the top luxury brands. There seems to be a little competition going on between some brands as to who has the best Christmas illuminations on their store building.

Today's guest post is from Tokyo Blogger Matthew Baxter.

Matthew is a blogger, game developer and writer living in Tokyo, Japan. He has lived cheaply in Japan for over 5 years, and writes for Cheapo Japan, a travel guide dedicated to budget travel in Japan. You can read more of his work at www.cheapojapan.com

Washoku Traditional Japanese Cuisine added to UNESCO Cultural Heritage List

“Washoku” or traditional Japanese cuisine was officially added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The proposal was formally approved on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at a meeting of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee in Baku, Azerbaijan. The committee valued the spiritual tradition of respecting nature that is associated with Japanese washoku. This good news is a great boast to Japan and its profile as a tourist destination and will hopefully attract more foreign tourists to this amazing country as well as raising its food profile globally.

In more recent times Japan has seen an influx of Western style eating habits such as fast food, which have spread due to their popularity among young people. A move back to traditional eating habits and culture will only benefit the nation as a whole and help preserve this cultural asset. It should ensure that traditional Japanese food culture is continued to be passed on to future generations, as well as raising its profile among people overseas. Washoku (和食), Japan’s traditional cooking method embraces seasonal ingredients, a unique taste and style that is steeped in centuries of tradition.

The proposal to UNESCO for the registration of the country’s food culture was made back in 2012. It was titled “Washoku: Traditional dietary cultures of the Japanese”. Japanese food across the country share many basic common characteristics, but it also had great diversity based on geography and history. Areas through-out Japan have regional specialties and it is this diversity along with the connection to seasonal events and celebrations that make washoku so special.

Japanese Cuisine now joins French Cuisine as the only other UNESCO registered national cuisine. This could lead to an increase in tourism to Japan with tourists keen to visit to sample the culinary delights. Washoku also joins Mount Fuji, which was officially named a UNESCO World Heritage Site on June 22nd, 2013.

Japanese Traditional Multi Course Meal ~ Kaiseki Ryori (懐石料理)

Japanese Traditional Cuisine ~ Washoku (和食)

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Winter Illuminations in Japan 2013

One of the highlights of winter in Japan for me is the spectacular winter illuminations that decorate the Christmas period. Around this time of year a lot of parks and town districts put on spectacular night time illuminations. The illuminations usually start late autumn and finish around the end of December, but some last until early February. Most are FREE and definitely worth checking out as they are a highlight of winter in Japan.

Some of the most popular and spectacular Winter Illuminations for 2013 include:

Kobe Luminaire

Kobe Luminaire in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. It is a light festival, which is the original and most famous in Japan. The illuminations run for twelve days in December and are turned on for a few hours each evening. They are truly spectacular with each light individually hand painted. Kobe Luminaire started after the Kobe Earthquake in 1995 with the hope to give courage and inspire the people of Kobe. It was such a success that it has continued as an annual event. This year’s theme is “A Memory of Light”, Kobe Luminaire will run from December 5-16.

Kobe Luminaire image source

Nabana no Sato

Nabana no Sato, located in Kuwana City in Mie Prefecture, it is a theme park dedicated to flowers. They have one of Japan’s finest winter illuminations that runs for about 4 months from mid-November to mid-March. The park is covered in more than 8 million LED lights with the highlight, the spectacular light tunnel. This year’s theme is “Nature”, and the park will celebrate the recent addition of Mt. Fuji as a UNESCO World Heritage Site by a giant illuminated model of the famous mountain. The model will change to represent the different seasons and times of day. Nabana no Sato Winter Illuminations will run from October 25 2013 to March 31 2014.

More on Nabana no Sato

The Light Tunnel at Nabana no Sato

Sirakawa-go

Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its gassho zukkuri farmhouses. This place has been famous for years due to its thatched roof farmhouses, but the beauty is raised to an even higher level when the houses are lit up in the snow. Spotlights illuminate the snow covered thatched roofs which makes this place look like Santa’s village in the North Pole. It is truly spectacular. This year it will run from the end of January to February.
Dates: January 18,25,26 and February 1,2,9,15

Winter Illuminations at Shirakawa-go image source

Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido, this annual snow festival also called the Sapporo Yuki Matsuri is a winter favourite. It is held each year in early February with dozens of large and amazingly elaborate ice and snow sculptures. The event will be held from February 5-11 in 2014 and the amazing ice sculptures are lit at night creating a winter wonderland.

Sapporo Snow Festival image source

Some spectacular spots around the Tokai Area of Japan are:

Kiso Sansen Park

Kiso Sansen Park, located in Kaizu City in Gifu Prefecture, is an urban city park. The park first opened in 1987 and is the largest urban park in Japan. Every winter from early to late December they have a spectacular winter illumination consisting of about 500,000 lights that decorate the park.

More on Kiso Sansen Park

138 Tower Park

138 Tower Park, located in Ichinomiya City in Aichi Prefecture, it is one of the best public parks in Japan. It features a spectacular 138 meter high observation tower with dual arches. From mid-November to late-December the park is decorated with around 500,000 lights creating a spectacular winter illumination. This year’s theme is “Galaxy Fantasy” with the illuminations set up so that when viewed from the tower above they actually look like a galaxy of stars.

More on 138 Tower Park

138 Tower Park Galaxy Fantasy

Tokyo has quite a few seasonal illuminations spots including:

• Shinjuku Southern Terrace, south of JR Shinjuku Station – November 13, 2013 to February 16, 2014
• Ginza, Christmas trees along Chuo Street and store illuminations – November 16, 2013, to December 25, 2013
• Roppongi Hills, 10th Anniversary Christmas Illumination Event – November 5, 2013 to December 25, 2013
• Tokyo Midtown, Midtown Christmas featuring the “Starlight Garden” – November 14, 2013 to December 25, 2013
• Odaiba, has the “Daiba Memorial Tree" in Odaiba Kaihin Park – November 16, 2013 to March 16, 2014
• Tokyo Dome City, has an impressive collection of illuminations and displays – November 7, 2013 to February 16, 2014
• Marunouchi, the entire district lights up with Nakadori Street, especially beautiful – October 1, 2013 to February 16, 2014

Most places in Japan will have some kind of winter illuminations, so wherever you are in Japan, you will be able to enjoy this winter tradition.

Winter Illuminations at Nabana no Sato in Mie Prefecture

Autumn Leaves at Yoro Park

Yoro Park (養老公園) is regarded as one of the best spots in Gifu Prefecture for the beautiful Autumn Leaves. Yoro lies at the western edge of Gifu Prefecture close to Mie Prefecture. It is beautifully situated between the Yoro Mountains and the Ibigawa River. The main attraction of Yoro Park is the spectacular Yoro Falls, which is ranked among the top 100 most beautiful waterfalls in Japan. In Japanese it is called Yoro no Taki (養老の滝). The waterfall is about 32 meters high and 4 meters wide. The water from the falls is top quality and is also ranked one of the top 100 best spring water in Japan. The water is said to not only give silky smooth, clear skin but cure all diseases as well. It is believed the water can returned lost hair and restore failing eyesight. It is basically a Japanese Fountain of Youth! Well, that is according to Empress Gensho, who ruled Japan during the Nara Period from 715-724. She was so impressed with Yoro Falls that she even named her era after Yoro in 717.

Yoro no Taki (Yoro Falls)

There is also a famous legend surrounding the power of Yoro Falls “Kokogenjonai”. According to the legend, in the 8th century, a poor woodcutter and his father lived in the area. One day, the woodcutter went into the woods to find firewood and discovered the water of the spring had turned to sake. He filled a gourd with the spring water/sake as this was his father’s favourite drink, and as they were so poor they couldn’t afford to buy it. The woodcutter brought the water/sake to his elderly father who was very sick. The father drunk the sake and was instantly returned to good health. The transformation of the water to sake was believed to be the gods rewarding the son for his dedication to his father.

Spring Water at Yoro Falls

The water today is not sake but tasty water and the locals make a carbonated drink from it called “Yoro-sanroku Cider”. It is a must try when at Yoro Falls. The water of Yoro Falls is naturally filtered through the mountain of chalk that is Mount Yoro, producing water rich in minerals and natural gases.

Yoro-sanroku Cider

Yoro Park has around 3000 cherry trees the bloom during the spring, as well as many Japanese maple trees that turn the park into ablaze of yellow, orange and red during the Autumn. The mountains surrounding the waterfall and park are stunning this time of the year and many people visit the park to see the changing leaves or Koyo (紅葉) in Japanese.

Beautiful Autumn Colours at Yoro Park

The park is also home to the Site of Reversible Destiny (養老天命反転地). A conceptual art project that opened in 1995. According to their website, it is an “experience park” conceived on the theme of encountering the unexpected. By guiding visitors through various unexpected experiences as they walk through its component areas, the site offers them opportunities to rethink their physical and spiritual orientation to the world. The park is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and entry costs 710 yen (USD$7.10).

More Pictures of Yoro Park

Starting Point at Yoro Park

Autumn Leaves at Yoro Park

The Beautiful Path to Yoro Falls

Lantern Shaped Light at Yoro Park

The Famous Yoro Falls

Red Autumn Leaves at Yoro Park

Yoro Park Manhole Cover

Yoro Park Information 

Location: 1298-2 Takabayashi, Yoro-cho, Gifu Prefecture
Closed: Mondays & from December 29 to January 3
Admission: FREE to Yoro Park but entrance fees apply for the Site of Reversible Destiny
Access: Yoro Park can be reached by car with parking available. Public Transportation is also available with trains running from Ogaki to Yoro Station. From Nagoya take the JR Tokaido Line to Ogaki Station and then change to the Kintetsu Yoro Line. The park is a short 10 minute walk from Yoro Station.

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