Mochi-tsuki Eating mochi (pounded rice) on New Year’s Day is a tradition in Japan but in order to have mochi to eat for the new year, someone has to make it. Today, it’s easy enough to buy mochi from any supermarket or convenience store or make it in a machine. But traditionally, mochi would…
Tag: new year
Ashikaga Flower Park Winter Illumination
In all seasons except Winter, Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Prefecture is a wonderland of gorgeous seasonal flowers including one of the largest wisteria that blooms for a few weeks in the Spring. But in Winter, the park must transform itself into a carnival of lights, over 3.5 million in 2016, to become one of…
Setsubun
Setsubun is a festival celebrating the beginning of Spring and is observed on February 3rd in Japan. The festival is based on the Lunar calendar and Setsubun is considered to be a type of “new year” festivity and focuses on welcoming “good luck” while getting rid of “bad luck”. Setsubun is neither wholly Buddhist or…
365 JAPAN 