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The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year is usually celebrated between late January and February, during the first new moon. This year, it will be on Wednesday, January 2025. But if you’re in Japan, you may be wondering, “Does Japan celebrate Chinese New Year?” Here’s what you should know. Does Japan Celebrate Chinese New Year? The Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, is normally celebrated around late January till sometime in the end of February. The celebration takes place from the first moon of the year and honors old traditions, customs and superstitions that date back to early Chinese legends. Wondering if Japan joins in on the Chinese New Year festivities? The short answer is no—Japan doesn’t officially celebrate Chinese New Year. Instead, the country follows the Gregorian calendar for its own New Year traditions, called shōgatsu , which kicks off on January 1st. During the Chinese New Year, Japanese Chinatowns are in full effervescence. From Yokohama to Nagasaki, there are tons of lion and dragon dancing celebrations and festivities to bring in the New Year. February 11 (Tue), 4.30pm: the Shukumai-yuko procession will begin at Yamashitacho Park, where a dazzling ensemble of lion dancers, rickshaws carrying people dressed as famous Chinese emperors Chinese visitors, as well as visitors from any other country, can celebrate the Lunar New Year in Japan by partaking in any of the customs mentioned above, by joining a special public event, or by eating special wagashi (Japanese sweets) and Chinese cakes. The two largest minority groups in Japan are Chinese and Korean, so those communities continue to observe Lunar New Year following their own traditions. The three major Chinatowns (or chūkagai 中華街) in Yokohama, Kobe, and Nagasaki are where you’ll find most celebrations for Lunar New Year in Japan. For 2024, Chinese New Year lands on February 10. The festivities across Tokyo will likely be held weeklong, so there is plenty of opportunity to get involved. Much like how Japanese kanji originated from China, many cultural beliefs, religious practices, myths, and celebrations have made their way to, and have been adapted by Japan. Although Lunar New Year is not a holiday in Japan, it is celebrated in various ways. For example, there is the 15-day Chinese Spring Festival in Yokohama, where you can witness the Lion Dance, catch the Celebration Parade, and see thousands of lanterns on the final day of the festival. Various adorable auspicious dragons, giant panda dolls, and traditional handicrafts brimming with the flavor of the Lunar New Year displayed at special booths set up by the Chinese Tourism Office in Tokyo captivated visitors at the fair. For example, if you're born after January 27 in 1998, your Chinese zodiac sign is the Tiger as 1998 was a year of the Tiger (beginning at Chinese New Year). Use the Chinese zodiac calculator below to quickly and accurately know what your zodiac sign is, what is lucky for that sign, and a brief horoscope prediction for this year. The lunisolar Chinese calendar determines the date of Lunar New Year. The calendar is also used in countries that have been influenced by, or have relations with, China – such as Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, though occasionally the date celebrated may differ by one day or even one moon cycle due to using a meridian based on a different capital city in a different time zone or different Winter fireworks can be enjoyed at various locations in Japan, including Lake Kawaguchiko by Mt. Fuji, Atami Onsen, and Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki. We introduce seven winter fireworks festivals for memorable Christmas events, New Year 2025, and travel during the first months of the year in Japan. Here is our annual guide to help you understand New Year customs in Japan. 2025 is the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. New Year’s Eve - Omisoka (大晦日) Omisoka is the Japanese expression for New Year’s Eve. To cut short, it seems like the main difference between the Japanese New Year and Chinese New Year for this aspect is that the Japanese start giving Otoshidama to younger relatives when they start a full-time job and the Chinese start giving red packets to younger relatives when they are married. 3. New Year’s Eve After living in China for 3 years as V-Trust Sales Manager and 1 year in Vietnam as V-Trust Country Manager, I am happy to share my experience and feelings, even if, for sure, I don’t know everything and they may not be exhaustive. Chinese New Year and the Vietnamese New Year (called Tết in Vietnam) actually have a lot in common. I was planning on going to DisneySea next year Feb 10 but when I was checking I noticed that it's the same day as Chinese New Year. Should I be worried about big crowds? I've heard I should avoid popular tourist destinations during their holidays though I'm not sure Japanese people celebrate Chinese New Year. Celebrate in style with this Unisex Adidas Chinese New Year 2025 Jacket, where artistic design meets everyday comfort. The front perfectly comes with stunning, symbolic imagery that brings the energy and excitement of the Chinese New Year to life. The bold patterns continue on the back, adding extra character to this already eye-catching piece. However, in towns like Okinawa and on some southern islands in Japan, people put flags out and eat the traditional soba for New Year. How Japanese Celebrate The New Year. In the Japanese language, New Year’s Eve is best known as 大晦日 (Ōmisoka). 晦 (miso) was originally written as 三十 (meaning 30).
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