Hatsumode (初詣) is practiced by many Japanese in the New Year. It is the first visit to a shrine to celebrate the New Year and typically happens during the first three days of the year when everyone is on vacation. This year I visited Senso-ji temple in Asakusa.

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Hello all...Happy New Year from Tokyo!
新年あけましておめでとうございます。 Read More...

I had an awesome Korean meal last night for dinner. No I didn't travel to Seoul...I had it in Tokyo. In Adachi-ku, no less. Read More...

Today I made a visit to Akihabara, which is the place for the latest electronics in Tokyo. The assortment of computers, cellphones, digital cameras, etc. is mind-blowing. If any place can bring out the inner geek (or in Japanese otaku) in you, it is Akihabara. Read More...

As part of the New Year's celebration, I am spending it in Japan. New Year (Oshogatsu) is the most important holiday in Japan and represents a chance to start afresh with a new year. It is a time when people close out all the business from the old year, go to bonenkai parties (i.e. parties to forget the old year) and plan celebration for the New Year.

However, New Year's celebration is more of a family affair than a New York-style, Time Square-like celebration. In fact, New Year's eve is very quiet, followed by a family meal on New Years Day. However, I am getting ahead of myself; I will report on this in more detail later.