Japan in December
Solar terms this month: Major Snow, Winter Solstice.
Events and customs
- Annual EventsEssential omisoka大晦日New Year's Eve in Japan
- Annual EventsEssential osoji大掃除the year-end deep clean
- Annual EventsEssential christmas japan日本のクリスマスChristmas as a couples' night with fried chicken
- Annual EventsEssential toshikoshi soba年越しそばNew Year's Eve noodles
- Annual EventsEssential bonenkai忘年会the year-end party to forget the year
- Annual EventsEssential bonenkai and shinnenkai忘年会と新年会year-end and new-year parties
- Food & DrinkEssential shabu-shabuしゃぶしゃぶbeef swished in hot broth
- Food & DrinkEssential sukiyakiすき焼きbeef simmered at the table
- Food & DrinkEssential mochi餅pounded rice cake
- Life EventsEssential nengajo年賀状New Year greeting cards
- BuddhismStandard joya no kane除夜の鐘the 108 bells on New Year's Eve
- ClothingStandard hanten半纏the padded winter jacket worn at home
- Annual EventsStandard kisei rush帰省ラッシュthe mass return to the hometown
- Annual EventsStandard goyo osame御用納めと仕事始めthe last and first working days of the year
- Annual EventsStandard winter solstice冬至the shortest day, with a yuzu bath and pumpkin
- Annual EventsStandard toji and yuzu bath冬至とゆず湯the winter solstice and citrus baths
- Annual EventsStandard kadomatsu門松the pine and bamboo arrangement placed at the door for the New Year
- Food & DrinkStandard odenおでんa winter stew of fish cakes, daikon and eggs
- Food & DrinkStandard taiyakiたい焼きfish-shaped cake with bean paste
- Home & LivingStandard irori囲炉裏the open hearth sunk into the floor
- Home & LivingStandard gassho-zukuri and thatched roofs合掌造りと茅葺きthe steep thatched farmhouses of the snow country
- Home & LivingStandard heating appliances暖房器具how Japanese homes are heated
- Home & LivingStandard cold Japanese houses日本の家の寒さwhy homes are cold in winter
- Life EventsStandard mochu hagaki喪中はがきthe mourning notice sent before New Year
- Seasons & NatureStandard hatsuyuki and nezuki初雪と根雪the first snow and the snow that stays all winter
- Seasons & NatureStandard yukikaki雪かきclearing snow as daily work
- Seasons & NatureStandard yukiguni雪国Japan's heavy snow regions
- Pop CultureStandard Kohaku Uta Gassen紅白歌合戦the New Year's Eve song contest on public television
- Work CultureStandard bonusボーナスthe twice-yearly lump-sum pay
- Annual EventsAdvanced hari kuyo針供養a memorial service for broken needles
- FolkloreAdvanced yuki-onna雪女the snow woman
- Life EventsAdvanced ochugen and oseiboお中元・お歳暮the two seasonal gift-giving periods
- Pop CultureAdvanced doujinshi同人誌とコミケself-published fan comics and Comiket
Micro-seasons this month
- 60Mandarin Oranges Turn Yellow橘始黄橘の実が黄色く色づくDecember 2〜
- 61The Sky Closes, Winter Sets In閉塞成冬空がふさがり、本格的な冬になるDecember 7〜
- 62Bears Retire to Their Dens熊蟄穴熊が穴にこもるDecember 12〜
- 63Salmon Gather and Swim Upstream鱖魚群鮭が群れて川をのぼるDecember 17〜
- 64Self-Heal Sprouts乃東生夏枯草だけが芽を出すDecember 22〜
- 65Deer Shed Their Antlers麋角解鹿の角が落ちるDecember 27〜