You can use public transportation such as trains and buses to travel around Japan, but a rental car may be better if you have a lot of luggage, or want to visit nice sightseeing spots that can only be reached by car.
However, many people might be anxious about driving in Japan due to the unfamiliar Japanese traffic rules. Below are some of the most important rules for driving in Japan. If you know these, you can be assured! If you want to learn even more, click the Road Signs link at the bottom of this post.
1. Drive on the Left Side of the Road
In Japan, everyone drives on the left side of the road.
2. Intersections
Unlike some countries, in Japan, you can’t turn right or left if the light is red – no “right turn on red.” You can only turn on the green light. However, you must yield to pedestrians even if the light is green.
3. Speed Limit
In Japan, the speed limit for ordinary roads is generally 60 km/h, and for expressways 100 km/h. Some roads’ speed limits may be higher or lower than the general limits listed, so please confirm the speed limit sign on the road. If you are caught speeding by the police, you will have to pay a high penalty. Respect the speed limit and drive safely.
4. Stop Signs
You must come to a complete stop for a few seconds immediately before the stop line or intersection when you see either of the signs above (they mean the same thing). Also, you must not block the intersection for crossing vehicles.
5. Slow Down
When you see either of the above signs, you must slow down to a level where you can stop immediately. The above two signs have the same meaning.
6. No Lane Changes
Lane changes are prohibited where there is a solid yellow line on the road.
7. Bicycle Lane
The bicycle lane is for bikes only, and you cannot use this lane to pass if you are in a car.
8. Dedicated Lanes, such as Bus Lanes
This means that the designated lane is only to be used by the specified vehicle type, such as buses.
9. Priority Lanes, including Bus Priority Lanes
This sign means that you must give priority to buses (or the specified vehicle) in this lane. Other vehicles can also use this lane, but when there is a bus approaching or a bus stop nearby, you must give priority to the bus.
Click Road Signs here to learn about more road signs in Japan.
Please see the below Japanese road sign information for foreign customers renting car in Japan. It features only the necessary signs and explains in detail the meaning of each sign. Read this in advance and start a safe and secure drive in Japan!
＜Closed＞
Road is closed to all pedestrians, vehicles (cars, light vehicles, motorcycles, etc.), trains
＜Closed to Vehicles＞
Road is closed to all vehicles (cars, light vehicles, motorcycles, etc.)
＜Vehicles Prohibited＞
Vehicles (cars, light vehicles, motorcycles, etc.) cannot enter
＜Closed to Cars Other than Motorcycles＞
Only vehicles with 2 wheels are allowed
＜Closed to Vehicles (Combination)＞
Vehicles displayed on the sign cannot use the road (the sign here means no cars or motorcycles)
＜Can only proceed in the marked directions＞
Cannot proceed except in the same direction as the arrows (straight or left only)
＜Can only proceed in the marked direction＞
Cannot proceed except in the same direction as the arrow (left only)
＜Can only proceed in the marked direction＞
Cannot proceed except in the same direction as the arrow (straight only)
＜Can only proceed in the marked directions＞
Cannot proceed except in the same direction as the arrows (left or right only)
＜Can only proceed in the marked directions＞
Cannot proceed except in the same direction as the arrows (straight, left, or right only)
＜Can only proceed in the marked direction＞
Cannot proceed except in the same direction as the arrow (left only)
＜No Vehicle Crossing＞
Crossing beyond this sign (trying to enter a shop or parking lot) is prohibited
※Turning right normally is allowed
＜No Turning＞
No U-turns allowed
＜No Passing＞
No overtaking other cars on the right
＜No Parking＞
Cannot park or stop (in this sign, parking and stopping is prohibited in the time zone of 8:00-20:00)
＜No Parking＞
No parking (in this sign, parking is prohibited in the time zone of 8:00-20:00) ※Brief stops within 5 minutes (i.e., unloading luggage, stopping to let passengers out, stopping when the driver can move the car immediately) is allowed
＜Time-Limited Parking＞
Parking is only allowed in the specified time (in the sign here, you can park for up to 60 minutes between 8:00-20:00)
＜Speed Limit (Maximum)＞
Vehicles must not exceed the limit indicated on the sign (here, it is 50km/hour)
＜Speed Limit (Minimum)＞
Vehicles must not drive slower than the limit indicated (here, it is 30km/hour)
＜Vehicles Only＞
Pedestrians, motorcycles, and light vehicles are not allowed
＜Bicycles Only＞
Indicates that the road is bicycles-only, and cars, pedestrians, etc. cannot use the road
＜Bicycles and Pedestrians Only＞
Only bicycles and pedestrians can use the road
＜Pedestrians Only＞
Only pedestrians can use the road
＜One Way＞
Cars can only drive in the indicated direction (here, it is left)
＜One Way＞
Cars can only drive in the indicated direction (here, it is straight)
＜Dedicated Lane＞
The designated lane is only to be used by the specified vehicle type (here, it is buses)
＜Bicycle Lane＞
The designated lane is only to be used by the specified vehicle type (here, it is bicycles)
＜Priority Lanes, including Bus Priority Lanes＞
This sign means that you must give priority to buses (or the specified vehicle) in this lane. Other vehicles can also use this lane, but when there is a bus approaching or a bus stop nearby, you must give priority to the bus
＜Direction Specific Lanes＞
You must use the indicated lane for the indicated direction
＜Direction Specific Lanes＞
You must use the indicated lane for the indicated direction (here, you can turn left or go straight)
＜Direction Specific Lanes＞
You must use the indicated lane for the indicated direction (here, you can only turn left)
＜Direction Specific Lanes＞
You must use the indicated lane for the indicated direction (here, you can only go straight)
＜Clockwise Roundabout＞
You must drive in a clockwise direction at the roundabout
＜Parallel Parking＞
Parking spaces with this sign (including time-limited parking zones) must be parked parallel to the side of the road
＜Right-Angle Parking＞
Parking spaces with this sign (including time-limited parking zones) must be parked at a right angles to the side of the road
＜Diagonal Parking＞
Parking spaces with this sign (including time-limited parking zones) must be parked diagonally against the side of the road
＜Sound Horn＞
If this sign is present, you must sound a horn while driving
＜Slow Down＞
You must slow down to a level where you can stop immediately
＜Slow Down＞
You must slow down to a level where you can stop immediately
＜Stop＞
You must come to a complete stop before the stop line or sign
＜Stop＞
You must come to a complete stop before the stop line or sign
＜Closed to Pedestrians＞
Pedestrians cannot walk past this sign
＜No Pedestrian Crossing＞
Pedestrians cannot cross the road here
＜＋Shaped Road with Intersection＞
Sign indicating that there is a cross-shaped road intersection ahead
＜┣ or ┫ Road with Intersection＞
Sign indicating that there is a ┣ or ┫shaped road intersection ahead
＜T-Shaped Road with Intersection＞
Sign indicating that there is a T-shaped road intersection ahead
＜ Y-Shaped Road with Intersection＞
Sign indicating that there is a Y-shaped road intersection ahead
＜Rotary＞
Sign indicating that there is a roundabout ahead
＜Right (or Left) Curve Ahead＞
Sign indicating that there is a right (or left) curve in the road ahead
＜Right (or Left) Turn Ahead＞
Sign indicating that there is a right (or left) turn in the road ahead
＜Right (or Left) Curve Ahead＞
Sign indicating that there is a winding road with a right curve at the beginning, immediately followed by a left curve
＜Right (or Left) Sharp Bend Ahead＞
Sign indicating that there is a winding road with a sharp right curve at the beginning, immediately followed by a sharp left curve
＜Right (or Left) Curves Ahead＞
Sign indicating that there is a winding road with a that starts to the right and continues several times
＜Railroad Crossing＞
Sign indicating a railroad crossing ahead
＜Train Crossing＞
Sign indicating a train crossing ahead
＜Preschool, Kindergarten, School Ahead＞
Sign indicating that there is a school, kindergarten, or nursery ahead
＜Stoplight Ahead＞
Sign indicating that there is a stoplight ahead
＜Slippery Road＞
Sign indicating that the road surface ahead is slippery (slippery) due to sand, rain, freezing, etc.
＜Falling Rocks＞
Sign indicating that there is a risk of falling rocks from mountain or cliff ahead
＜Uneven Road＞
Sign indicating that the road ahead is bumpy and uneven
＜Merge Ahead＞
Sign indicating that lanes merge ahead
＜Lane Decrease＞
Sign indicating that the number of lanes will decrease ahead
＜Narrow Lane＞
Sign indicating that the road is narrowing ahead
＜Two-Way Traffic＞
Sign indicating that the current road is a two-way street without a center line or median
＜Steep Slope＞
Sign indicating that there is a steep uphill slope ahead (the sign number indicates the degree of the slope)
＜Steep Slope＞
Sign indicating that there is a steep downhill slope ahead (the sign number indicates the degree of the slope)
＜Road Work＞
Sign indicating that the road ahead is under construction
Signs indicating that animals may jump out on the road (other than deer, there are monkeys, foxes, bears, etc.)
＜Other Danger＞
Sign indicating that there is danger ahead
＜Track Driving Allowed＞
Sign indicating that cars can drive on the train tracks (if specified as an auxiliary sign, only the designated car is allowed)
＜Parking Allowed＞
Sign indicating that parking and stopping are allowed
＜Stopping allowed＞
Sign indicating that stopping is allowed
＜Priority Road＞
Sign indicating that the specified road is a priority road
＜Center Line＞
Sign indicating that the position directly below the sign is the center line of the road
＜Stop Line＞
Sign indicating the stop line for vehicle stops
＜Pedestrian Crossing＞
Sign indicating that there is a pedestrian crossing here
＜Pedestrian Crossing＞
Sign indicating that there is a pedestrian crossing here
＜Safe Area＞
Sign indicating that there is a safety zone here for people who get on and off trains or for pedestrians crossing the road (vehicles cannot enter)
＜Regulation Notice＞
Sign notifying the traffic regulation displayed is being enforced ahead (the left image is telling that the road is closed 100 meters ahead)
＜Regulation Notice＞
Sign showing that the traffic regulation shown on the previous sign is being enforced (the left image shows that the road ahead is closed and a detour is required)
＜Service Area & Roadside Station Distance＞
Sign indicating the distance to the service area or roadside station
ToCoo! Snow Tire Plan now available! Reservations are available from the URL below. Snow Tire Plan 2019
※Snow tires cannot be added as an option, and cannot be added to a reservation. Please make a reservation from the Snow Tire Plan. From November to April in Hokkaido and December to March in the Tohoku area, all cars reserved in heavy snow zones will have snow tires as standard equipment, so all available plans already have snow tires.
１. Snowy areas and seasons
Japan is long in the north and south, so depending on the region, the climate can be very different.
When you rent a car, you need to pay attention to the places and times you want to visit and reserve snow tires as necessary.
※All rental cars in areas with heavy snow consistently every year have snow tires equipped as standard, even without the snow tire plan.
■ Heavy snow zone (area where snow is heavy during the winter, snow tires are standard equipment)
Snowfall estimate: November – April (Hokkaido), December – March (other than Hokkaido)
■ Moderate snow zone (snow falls several times during winter; snow tires may be necessary)
Snowfall estimate: December – March
■ Snow zone (possibility of snowfall once or twice a year; snow tires may be necessary)
Snowfall estimate: December – March
■ No-snow zone (area where snow does not fall)
※Even in areas where it does snow much, there is a high possibility of snowfall in mountain areas where the altitude is high.
２. What are snow tires?
A snow tire is a type of tire that can drive without slipping on snowy roads. Since the groove of the tire is deep and the rubber is soft, it is possible to drive even on a frozen road. But don’t let your guard down! It’s like driving on ice, so you need to always be cautious of sliding.
３. Driving on snowy roads
Warning ① Don’t speed
Warning ② Accelerate slowly and calmy
Warning ③ Be careful of sliding on curves
Warning ④ Put more distance than usual between you and other cars
Warning ⑤ Only change lanes if you need to
Warning ⑥ Even if you don’t see snow, be cautious of frozen roads (black ice)
Even if snow is not piled up on the road, it reflects light.
It seems like there is no snow at first glance and it seems to be dry, but this is because the road is frozen.
Be careful because you may slide more than on snow. Slow down for curves.
To stop, you need to use the brakes considerably earlier than usual.
４. ToCoo! Snow Tire Plan 2019
Now available! Please check the link below for details and to make your reservation.
ToCoo! offers a variety of unique plans designed to suit customers’ needs. However, it may be difficult to determine which of the many plans is best for you. Here, we will introduce the plans to help meet your needs.
1. ToCoo! Expressway Pass Plan for those who will use a lot of expressways
It is a super-value plan that gives you unlimited access to expressways within the rental period. All expressways can be used within the specified range, and there is no additional charge for expressways used during the rental period. Using the expressway pass is very easy. To use, simply insert the ToCoo! ETC card into the on-board ETC card reader device installed in the rental car. You can drive smoothly without having to stop and pay at each ETC gate.
*ToCoo! Expressway Pass Advantages ① Customizable usage period, from 1-20 days ② Wide coverage. ToCoo! Expressway Pass (TEP) Kyushu covers all of Kyushu’s expressways, but similar products do not offer the same range.
2. If you prioritize safe and secure insurance coverage
① Full Coverage Plan
If you book the Full Coverage Plan, you can rest assured that in the event of an accident, you will be exempt from paying the following required amounts. NOC: 20,000-50,000 yen Vehicle compensation: 50,000-100,000 yen Property damage compensation: 50,000 yen *In addition, towing fees (up to 100,000 yen) will be covered.
If you book the Full Coverage Plan, the cost of an accident will be 0 yen.
What is NOC? NOC is an abbreviation for non-operation charge. If the car needs to be repaired or cleaned due to breakdown, odor, etc., this is the amount charged to the customer as compensation to the rental car company for lost sales during that period.
What is the compensation amount? This is the amount the customer must pay in case of an accident.
■Full Coverage Plan This plan is available throughout Japan. *Some areas may not be available depending on the rental car company. ■Budget Special (Full Coverage Plan) This plan is exclusive to Budget Rent a Car. It is currently available for reservations in Kyushu, Sendai, and Hokkaido.
② Plan with travel insurance
This plan comes with travel insurance for foreign visitors to Japan (including all rental car passengers) and a convenient map code information service. We will compensate your medical costs if you are sick or injured while traveling. In addition to financial compensation, you can receive services such as Japanese language translation support.
■ToCoo! Japan Traveler Support Plan In addition to travel insurance, this plan includes map code information service, telephone translator support service, and services that provide specified hospitals where payment for treatment is not required.
3. Recommended for those who want to save on hotel accommodation
If you make a reservation with the Free Overnight Hotel Stay Plan, the hotel fee for 1 room for 2 people for 1 night will be free. *Hotels can be selected from the hotel list provided by ToCoo!
■Free Overnight Hotel Stay Plan This plan is only available from Nissan Rent a Car. In order to use this plan, you must use the rental car for at least 4 days. Hotel List
4. Recommended for those who want to reduce check-in and waiting time at the rental car outlet
During busy periods, check-in and waiting times at car rental outlets tend to be long. You may have to wait from 30 minutes to more than 1 hour. If you make a reservation with the Smart Pass Plan, you can check in online in advance, so you can greatly reduce the time required at the outlet.
■Smart Pass Plan If you book with this plan and complete the online check-in procedure 4 days before the reserved date, you can depart immediately after a simple procedure at the special ToCoo！-only counter on the rental car start date.
5. Snow Tire Plan for those concerned about winter driving
A lot of snow falls in Japan in winter. Snow tires are standard equipment in winter where there is always a lot of snow like Hokkaido and Tohoku. Since it can still snow in the Kanto region and others, we recommend booking the Snow Tire Plan in the winter.
■Snow Tire Plan This plan includes snow tires where snow tires are not standard equipment, such as the Kanto and Kyushu regions. Snow tires can only be booked from the snow tire plan and are likely to be sold out, so we recommend booking early. The Snow Tire Plan will usually be available around September.
6. Recommended for those who want to rent an ETC card and pocket WiFi router
There is a plan available exclusively from ToCoo! which includes free ETC card and pocket WiFi rental together with the rental car.
■Driving Package Plan (Free Internet + ETC card rental) This plan includes free ETC card and pocket WiFi router rental. *Actual used toll fees will be charged after the ETC card is returned to us. *Pocket WiFi data usage is free. ■ToCoo! ETC Card Plan This plan includes free ETC card rental. *Actual used toll fees will be charged after the ETC card is returned to us. ■ ToCoo! Free Internet Plan *Pocket WiFi data usage is free.
Are you trying to figure out what car class would be best for your trip? Use the examples and photos below for your reference! The numbers listed below are maximum, but of course, if you have fewer passengers, you would be able to fit more luggage, even using the extra seats. Finally, please note that since ToCoo! only offers car class reservations, it is not possible to reserve a specific car model.
Important Notes ※Remember to count 1.5 seats for your child seat if you will be traveling with children. For details, please check the Child Seat page. ※A valid International Driving Permit is required to drive any car in Japan. For details, please check the International License page.
Recommended for those traveling on a budget. Because it is a small car, this car class is very fuel efficient. However, it may feel a little cramped for some.
The SUV class is especially recommended for outdoor activities, like camping, skiing, and surfing. Some SUV models also offer 4WD, so it’s especially good for these types of activities.
Recommended for large groups or travelers traveling with lots of luggage. If there are 6 passengers, the minivan will typically fit about 6 pieces of luggage. Please note that when all 8 seats are being used, the luggage space will be quite small.
Luxury and sports car rentals tend to have spacious interiors, and usually, the trunk space is larger than regular car classes as well. There are also some two-seater sports cars which are great for enjoying the drive itself, but not much luggage can fit in a sports car.
Van
Recommended for large groups or people with lots of luggage. However, please note that snow tires cannot be installed on the Hiace models. Also, 10-seater vans (including the driver) require a special International Driving Permit. Please check the International Driving Permit page for details. This type of car has very small luggage space when all the seats are in use, so we recommend to book 2 cars (i.e., 2 minivans) if you have a lot of people and a lot of luggage.
Suitcase Sizing:
Height
Width
Depth
Unit
White Suitcase (Large)
72
50
30
cm
Gray Suitcase (Large)
71
50
28
cm
Silver Suitcase (Medium)
68
45
26
cm
Silver Suitcase (Small)
55
40
20
cm
Blue Suitcase (Small)
55
40
20
cm
※The above images were taken in June 2019. Please note that the trunk space may vary by make, model, and year.
When you are driving in Japan, do you know what to do if there’s an earthquake or sudden heavy rain?
Here are some tips to keep in mind when driving in Japan in order to be prepared in case of a natural disaster.
1. Earthquake
■ If an earthquake happens when you’re driving If an earthquake starts while you’re driving, turn on the hazard/emergency lights and check the condition of nearby cars and pedestrians, then move your car to the shoulder and stop. If you brake suddenly, you could get hit from behind, so gradually reduce your speed before stopping if possible. Please wait in the car without getting out until the earthquake subsides, then check the earthquake information, damage, etc, from your mobile phone or app.
■ If you get out of the car and evacuate If there is a tsunami warning issued or the road is damaged and you cannot continue, turn off the engine, close the windows, leave the car key in the ignition and do NOT lock the doors, and proceed to safety. When you leave the key in the ignition, emergency personnel will be able to move the car if it’s blocking emergency vehicles.
■ When evacuating with the car It’s very dangerous to move the car when there is an earthquake because there might be congestion, damage to the road, or debris blocking the way. Therefore, please stop the car in a safe place and walk to evacuate. If there are no buildings nearby and you must evacuate by car, drive very carefully and pay close attention to road conditions because traffic lights and signals may no longer be operational due to power failures.
2. Sudden Heavy Rain
■ If you encounter heavy rain while driving If it’s raining very hard, stop driving and park in a safe place and wait for the rain to stop.
■ Avoid underpasses Underpasses are made by digging down from the surrounding road, such as underground roads passing under railways or highways. During heavy rain, underpasses are dangerous because they can be easily flooded by several meters of water. During heavy rainfall, never attempt to drive into a flooded area.
■ “I think I can make it” driving is extremely dangerous It’s extremely dangerous to think that you can drive through flooded roads, even if you think it’s shallow. Even a small amount of water can sweep away a car. If you do drive into a flooded area, it’s possible that cars in front of you will become unable to move and the water level will increase, meaning that you will be stuck. Avoid driving through any area that has standing water.
3. Heavy Snow
■ If you get stuck on a snow road If your tires slip on fresh slow and you get stuck, slowly move the car back and forth to stiffen the snow around the tires. If there’s a sand box on the side of the road, sprinkle some sand around the drive wheel.
■ If you can’t move because of heavy snow In whiteout conditions such as snowstorms, please turn on the hazard/emergency lights and and safely stop the vehicle. Since the exhaust pipe might become blocked by snow, there is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, so please remove the snow from the exhaust pipe while you’re waiting for assistance.
4. If Water Gets Into The Car
It’s important to stay calm even if the car engine stops in a flooded area and water gets into the car. First, remove the seatbelt, open the door, and evacuate. If the water is too high and the door won’t open, evacuate from the window. If the window won’t open, break the side window and evacuate (don’t try to break the sturdy windshield glass).
5. Car Fire
If a fire breaks out while driving, turn on the hazard lights to notify the cars around you that an emergency has occurred. Next, stop the car on the side of the road and call the 119 emergency phone number from your mobile phone. If you can, try to extinguish the fire as long as you are not exposing yourself to danger. Depending on the strength of the fire, you may be able to extinguish the flame by choking it with a jacket or water.
6. Safety Information Card – Useful Tool for Tourists Visiting Japan
This tool from the Japan Tourism Agency summarizes information about disaster preparedness, including useful websites and apps, so that tourists can enjoy a safe trip with peace of mind, even in case of a natural disaster. Please use it by all means.
Introduce ToCoo! Car Rental on your site! ToCoo! Car Rental is looking for affiliate partners to introduce our rental car reservation service on your site. It’s totally free to become an affiliate partner, so you can earn commission without any risks. Please take this opportunity to participate! *In addition, there is a limit on the number of partners for each target country in order to protect current contract partners, so there may be cases where registration is refused. If you are interested, please submit your application as soon as possible.
1. Please put a link to ToCoo! on your site. 2. Users access ToCoo! from your site via the link and book a rental car. 3. We will pay you the affiliate fee according to the reservation amount.
■About the Affiliate Program 1) Participation requirements The following websites cannot participate. ・ Adult-only/Pornographic websites ・ Organized crime websites ・ Sites infringing on portrait rights and copyright ・ Sites that mislead visitors to our official site or that have such risks ・ Other sites that do not meet our standards
2) Participation Fee Participation is totally free.
3) About Affiliate Commission The basic affiliate fee is 3% of the basic rental fee. The actual amount will be finalized after the rental car is used. The affiliate fee will be paid according to the reservation amount. Compensation coverage fee, option fees, drop-off fees and T.A.S. are excluded from the commission amount. In some cases, the commission amount may be increased depending the size of the site.
Example: 30 reservations per month Basic rental car fee: 9,000 yen/day (average) Usage days: 5 days (average 5.2 days) Commission: 9,000 yen × 5 days × 3% = 1,350 yen per reservation × 30 reservations = 40,500 yen per month
4) Commission Amount We will pay the commission fee when the total commission amount exceeds 2,000 yen. Example: if the monthly total for January’s reservations is 6,000 yen, the total 6,000 yen will be paid in February. Example: if the monthly total for February is 1,000 yen and the monthly total for March is 3,000 yen, we will pay 4,000 yen in April.
5) Payment Method We will remit the money to you via direct bank transfer. If you use to use a different payment method, we will discuss it separately by email correspondance.
■How to Apply
Please submit your application from the following link.
Setsubun, or “節分” in Japanese, means the parting of the seasons. Every time the season changes, it’s called Setsubun, but the new year starts in spring according to the lunar calendar, so the most important Setsbun is in spring. It’s said that evil comes out at the turn of the season, so it’s very important to protect against it with a new milestone every year.
This year, Setsubun will be celebrated on Sunday, February 3, 2019. So, what do you actually do for Setsubun?
１. Bean throwing
On Setsubun, we throw beans while saying “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi,” which means “Devils are outside, luck is inside.” This tradition is called “mame maki,” where “mame” means beans (think edamame) and “maki” means throw. When you do mame maki, you are driving evil out of the house and attracting good luck into the house. Sometimes, the father of the house will dress up as the devil and children will throw their beans at him!
After you finish throwing the beans, you also have to eat some – but not off the ground! You have to eat as many beans as your age so you will get good luck and good health in the coming year.
２. Ehomaki (恵方巻)
You have to eat ehomaki during Setsubun to get good luck, too! Ehomaki means “lucky direction” sushi, and it must have at least 7 ingredients of different colors. This is because you must eat ehomaki while facing this year’s lucky direction, and you are not allowed to speak until you have finished eating the whole roll. You have to stay silent and make your wish for the new year, because luck will escape if you talk. By the way, the lucky direction this year is east by northeast! There are also some people who believe that you should close your eyes while eating, and there are even some who believe you’ll get the best luck if you laugh while eating! During Setsubun season, you can buy ehomaki at convenience stores, supermarkets, and fancy department stores too, so try it out! There are some very interesting flavors, such as all seafood ehomaki and even tonkatsu ehomaki!
３. Decorations
To protect your house, there are some people who put the heads of sardines and decorations of holly on the entrance of their homes so that demons won’t gather. If you say this outside someone’s house, you might be disinclined to go in, too!
４. Summary
Customs and traditions vary depending on the region, but Setsubun is an event where parents can become demons, children can throw beans with delight, and the whole family can play and eat together. If you come to Japan during Setsubun, why not try experiencing the unique mame maki and ehomaki?
In Japan, the time period of January is called “o-shou-ga-tsu, Oshougatsu in Japan is an event for the family, much like Chinese New Year. Most Japanese people will be at home with their families come together to celebrate the New Year.
The o-souji ritual used to start on December. It has a practical and a spiritual significance. This major house cleaning is thought as a ritual to give a pleasant welcome to God on New Year’s Day.They will associate a big annual clean with spring, in Japan it’s done in the last days of the year – pretty much everywhere. Homes, schools and offices all get a thorough going over that creates a clean slate for the year ahead.
■New Year’s Decorations
After finish the house cleaning, it will start to decorate their houses with special decorations on December 28th and 30th. Please be carefully they would not do it on December 29th because that is apparently also not a good day to put up decorations because the number nine has the same sound as “suffer” (ku 苦) in Japanese, so it is also considered to be bad luck.
Let’s get to know the different Japanese new year decorations!
Kadomatsu
Kadomatsu are placed in pairs in front of the gate or front doors of homes to welcome the Shinto gods.
Shime-Kazari
Shimekazari will put it on top of the house entrance to prevent bad spirits from entering and to invite the Shinto deity, to descend and visit.
A round rice-cake
Japanese people will and place these at very visible places around their homes for decoration. Placing them in different rooms is said to bring more luck, as each room will welcome Shinto gods come and stay.
■nengajo (New Year’s cards)
People say ”あけましておめでとうございます(akemashite omedetou (gozaimasu)” which is meaning congratulations on the new year. They will send New Year’s cards called ”nengajo ”to their family or someone treated well by. Although with the growth of the Internet and cell phones, the number of people who send nengajo is decreasing yearly, The receiver can know your feeling during you hand writing. However, do not send the New Year’s cards to anyone who has had a death in the family during the year.
■Huge bellbsound and toshikoshi soba” (year-crossing soba)
New Year’s Eve is called “Oomisoka” in Japanese. At Buddhist temples, huge bells are hit 108 times during midnight to get rid of all evil desires. Most people believe that huge bells are hit 108 times during midnight to get rid of all evil desires. So that we will eat the “toshikoshi soba” when we hearing the huge bells sounds and wish for a long lasting life. You can still listen the huge bells sounds even while you’re staying at home because you can see it at the TV shows.
■Events and customs
The first sunrise
It is an event to worship the first sun rising on New Year’s Day, which is the beginning of the year since it is believed that the Shinto gods of the year appear with the first sunrise. So, people pray for good luck when the first sun rises.
First visiting to the Shrine
At the beginning of the year, people go to the shrine and pray for the safety and happiness of the new year. Some people leave their home to visit the shrine on the night of the 31st, or at the midnight, and some people just go there in the morning on January 1st or afternoon. Shrines are very crowded at this time of year. The money which you can put into the wooden box for good luck is well known as the more money you put into it, the more luck you will get. On the other hands, some people believe if you put 5 Yen, it is super lucky. Since the pronunciation of 5 Yen which is ‘go en’ sounds similar to the word ‘ご縁(go en)’ which means luck.
Osechi dish
It is a celebration meal that Japanese people have between January 1st and 3rd. Japanese people believe that Osechi dishes bring good luck in the sense of celebration. It is filled with grilled, boiled and pickled foods in a multitiered Japanese food box. It is made up of dishes which couldbepreserved longer time so that it can allow housewives who are busy with cooking take a rest around some days at the New Year.
Otoshidama
Originally, this began with the custom to give some left over rice cakes to children. but today it has become an event for adults to give money to children. It’s a small bag of money that children receive from their parents, grandfathers, grandmothers and relatives.
Kagami-mochi
You should eat Kagami-mochi which were offered to the Shinto gods after some days from the New Year day! People cut this rice cakes and put them into some red bean soup or Ozoni which is Dashi soup(Soup types and other ingredients might be changed up to the location.). They eat this praying for keeping good health of the new year. People eat this mostly on January 11th or 20th.
Every December brings the season to celebrate Christmas around the world, and Japan is no exception. Christmas in Japan has many unique characteristics as part of Japan’s culture. This time we would like to introduce to you how Japanese people celebrate Christmas.
Fried chicken and Christmas cake
Who to celebrate with
Ending the 25th night
Fried Chicken and Christmas Cake
In the United States and elsewhere, Christmas dinner is a roast turkey or ham, but the dish most associated with Christmas in Japan is fried chicken. Since turkey is difficult to find in Japan, it was replaced with chicken instead. Demand for fried chicken in Christmas season in Japan is very high, with fast food chains such as Kentucky Fried Chicken and butcher shops accepting reservation as soon as December 1st. As Christmas draws nearer, fried chicken and roast chicken will be sold at convenience and grocery stores, so you will be able to see the unique Christmas atmosphere.
It is said that eating cake at Christmas is a staple for Japanese people. To produce a sense of Christmas, it is a common practice to arrange fruits and decorate it with Santa and other motifs. Incidentally, on the night of December 25, many cake shops will be selling their goods for half-price, so if you want to enjoy a more cost-effective Christmas, please time your shopping as such!
The origin of Christmas cake in Japan began with a campaign in 1922 when cake manufacturer Fujiya started selling a cake decorated with cream with the catch phrase “Let’s eat cake at Christmas!” At that time, cake was a luxury good, and ordinary people could not easily buy one, but around the 1970s, the custom to eat Christmas cake spread through every home in Japan. Whipped cream and strawberry Christmas cakes are the most popular in Japan today, but there are a variety of other flavors and decorated cakes.
Who to celebrate with
At Christmas time, Japanese people often spend more time with their romantic partner than with their families. So, for Japanese people, Christmas and Valentine’s Day are the two big romantic holidays for lovers.
By the way, it’s the same for children in Japan that Santa Claus brings Christmas presents to good children.
Ending on the 25th night
A happy Christmas will be finished at night on December 25th. The shop displays and Christmas decorations are changed immediately after closing on the 25th, and on the 26th we will enter 100% New Years mode. Of course, the Christmas tree will be put away and the traditional New Years kadomatsu (bamboo decoration) will be brought out.
Summary While incorporating Japanese customs, Christmas has evolved from the original for many years and Japan’s unique Christmas is now fully established. In December, Christmas songs playing throughout the town are not only Western traditional songs and pop music, but also Japanese original Christmas songs. Also in this season, TV and anime will also be broadcasting their Christmas episodes.
If you visit Japan in winter, why not enjoy a unique “Merry Christmas” in Japan?
