่ฏใใๅนดใใ่ฟใใใ ใใ
ใใใใจใใใใใใใใ ใใ
I wish you a good new year (before Jan 1).
POINTFarewell greeting at the end of the year. No after New Year's Day
Culture/Events
New Year/Hatsumode phrases
New Year's greetings, worship etiquette, and New Year's gifts.
A collection of phrases to spend the Japanese New Year beautifully.
This page helps foreign residents and long-term visitors handle "New Year/Hatsumode phrases" with daily Japanese phrases for living in Japan, practical examples, and common mistakes to avoid.
What this page helps you say in Japan
This page focuses on New Year/Hatsumode phrases and teaches useful Japanese phrases for daily life in Japan, including natural replies, polite alternatives, and practical wording for foreigners living in Japan.
What You'll Learn on This Page
- Year-end and New Year greetings (Happy New Year)
- Etiquette for visiting shrines and temples
- Expression of fortune/amulet
- Topics about Osechi cuisine and ozoni
- New Year's gift exchange
Practice Phrases (10 Total)
ๆใใพใใฆใใใงใจใใใใใพใ
ใใใพใใฆใใใงใจใใใใใพใ
Happy New Year (after Jan 1).
POINTUsed from New Year's Day to Matsunouchi (until January 7)
ๆฌๅนดใใใใใใ้กใใใใใพใ
ใปใใญใใใใใใใใญใใใใใใพใ
I look forward to working with you this year too.
POINTโThis year tooโ โ โThis year tooโ is polite
ๅ่ฉฃใฏใฉใกใใฎ็ฅ็คพใซ่กใใใพใใ
ใฏใคใใใงใฏใฉใกใใฎใใใใใซใใใใพใใ
Which shrine will you visit for hatsumode?
POINTconversation starter phrases
ไบ็คผไบๆๆไธ็คผใๅบๆฌใฎไฝๆณใงใ
ใซใใใซใฏใใใ ใใกใใใใใปใใฎใใปใใงใ
Two bows, two claps, one bow is the basic manner.
POINTEtiquette for visiting shrines (no applause at temples)
ใใฟใใใๅผใใฆใฟใพใ
ใใฟใใใใฒใใฆใฟใพใ
I'll try drawing a fortune slip.
POINTโOmikujiyarโ โ โPullโ is the correct verb
ใๅฎใใๆไธใใฆใใใ ใใใใฎใงใใ
ใใพใใใใใ ใใใฆใใใ ใใใใฎใงใใ
I'd like to receive a charm.
POINTAt shrines, it is not โbuyingโ but โgivingโ
ใใใกๆ็ใใใใ ใใพใใ
ใใใกใใใใใใใใ ใใพใใ
I had osechi (New Year cuisine).
POINTโI ateโ โ โItadakimasuโ
ใๅนด็ใใใใใจใใใใใพใ
ใใจใใ ใพใใใใใจใใใใใพใ
Thank you for the New Year money.
POINTStandard expressions when children receive gifts
ไปๅนดใใใใ็ธใใใใพใใใใซ
ใใจใใใใใใใใใใใพใใใใซ
Wishing good connections this year too.
POINTNew Year's Prayer/New Year's Message
Want to practice these phrases out loud?
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Practice with ECHO App โFrequently Asked Questions
Q. By when should I go for New Year's visit?
A. Generally, it is until January 7th (Matsunouchi), and in Kansai it is until January 15th (Little New Year). If you want to avoid crowds, you can go after mid-January.
Q. Should I visit a shrine or a temple?
A. Both possible. Etiquette is different: at shrines, it's ``two bows, two claps, one bow'', and at temples, it's ``worship only (no applause)''. Traditionally, it follows the family's sect.
Q. What is the market price of the offering?
A. There is no particular rule, and 5 yen (for a good fortune) and 50 yen (for a five-fold fortune) are said to be auspicious. It doesn't have to be a large amount.
Q. How much is the average value of New Year's gift?
A. The average fee is 1,000 yen for preschoolers, 1,000-3,000 yen for lower elementary school students, 3,000-5,000 yen for upper elementary school students, 5,000 yen for junior high school students, and 5,000-10,000 yen for high school students.
Q. Should foreigners send New Year's cards?
A. Although it is not obligatory, it would be appreciated if you send it to the person who helped you. If you mail the "New Year's Card" stamps between New Year's Day and January 7th, they will be delivered during that time.