Japanese New Year preparation checklist 2027: step-by-step Shōgatsu guide for Japan

Japanese New Year, or Shōgatsu, is the most significant celebration in Japan, filled with traditions, deep cleaning, and preparations that begin weeks in advance. This Japanese New Year preparation checklist 2027 will help you organize every detail, from osechi shopping to end-of-year rituals, following the real timelines and customs of Japan in 2026-2027. Use this checklist in Foco to stay on track: assign due dates, prioritize urgent tasks like last-minute shopping, and share responsibilities with family or housemates.

In Japan, preparations start in early December and ramp up during the last week of the year. Stores close from January 1 to 3, so everything must be ready by December 31. This checklist covers everything from symbolic cleaning (ōsōji) to kadomatsu decorations, traditional food preparation, and temple visits. If you live in cities like Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto, note that some services (like osechi deliveries or temple reservations) require early planning due to high demand.

How to use this checklist in Foco

Create a project called 'New Year Japan' in Foco and assign a distinctive color, such as red or gold. Use the Kanban view to organize tasks into columns like 'Cleaning', 'Shopping', 'Decorations', and 'Rituals'. In the Calendar view, schedule due dates for tasks like 'Book osechi' (before December 20) or 'Buy mochi' (last days of December). Set reminders for urgent tasks like 'Pay bills before year-end' and use tags like '#tradition' or '#urgent' to filter. If collaborating with others, invite them to the project and assign tasks like 'Prepare ozōni' or 'Decorate entrance with kadomatsu'.

• Perform deep cleaning (ōsōji) of the house, including corners like closets and under furniture, to start the year without bad energy
• Buy or make New Year’s cards (nengajō) and send them before December 25, prioritizing family, friends, and work colleagues
• Pay all pending bills and close financial matters before December 31, as banks and offices close for New Year
• Reserve osechi ryōri (traditional New Year’s food) from a store or restaurant before December 20, or plan to prepare it at home
• Purchase ingredients for traditional dishes like ozōni (mochi soup), kuromame (black beans), and kazunoko (herring roe)
• Buy fresh mochi or mochiko (glutinous rice flour) to prepare kagami mochi (New Year’s decoration) and dishes like ozōni
• Decorate the house entrance with kadomatsu (pine and bamboo arrangements) and shimekazari (sacred rope) before December 28, avoiding the 29th (considered unlucky)
• Place kagami mochi (two stacked round mochi with a mandarin on top) on the family altar or tokonoma before December 31
• Prepare otoshidama (money envelopes) for children and young people, using new envelopes and crisp bills if possible
• Plan the first temple or shrine visit (hatsumōde) for midnight on December 31 or the first days of January, including transportation and schedules
• Buy omamori (amulets) and hamaya (lucky arrows) during hatsumōde for protection in the new year
• Prepare the first bath of the year (yuzuyu) with yuzu (citrus) for the night of December 31, symbolizing purification
• Cook toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles) to eat before midnight on December 31, representing leaving behind the year’s hardships
• Watch the first sunrise of the year (hatsuhinode) on January 1, ideally at a scenic spot like a beach or mountain
• Prepare the first breakfast of the year (osechi ryōri) on January 1, including dishes like datemaki (rolled omelet) and kamaboko (fish cake)
• Visit family and friends during the first three days of January (sanganichi) to wish them a happy new year
• Avoid cooking or using knives on January 1 to not 'cut the good luck' of the new year
• Return old omamori and hamaya to a temple or shrine before buying new ones, preferably in January