New Year’s is one of the best times to shop in Japan, and usually only one of the two times each year that retailers offer discounts to their customers (the other is July). Those with materialistic inclinations will be heading to their favorite store to purchase a fukubukuro, a  lucky bag full of mystery goods that are worth significantly more than the price paid for the tightly sealed bag – no peeking allowed!

A limited number of bags are available and they are so popular that lines can start the day before.  From clothing to homes products and electronics, major stores like Uniqlo, Muji Tokyu Hands, and department stores Mitsukoshi and  Takashimaya are just a few that offer fukubukuro to their customers.  Matsuya is said to have started this retail tradition in the late Meiji period (early 1900’s).

“Customarily, all manner of shops from department stores, grocers, electronics retailers to supermarkets, sell lucky bags on their first day of business in the new year.”

Source: The Japan Times, ‘Fukubukuro’ hunters rise early to bag their prey at nation’s shops

Those leaning more towards spiritual pursuits will make the trek out of Tokyo and other major cities back to their home towns for a visit with family and a visit to the local shrine as soon as possible after the stroke of midnight on New Years Eve.  The tradition is called hatsumode and visitors encounter long lines and a test of their patience as the calendar turns at these popular shrines for hatsumode.

“On New Year’s Eve some people leave their houses and wait for the upcoming year to arrive at a temple or shrine. They listen to the local joyanokane bell, which temples ring 108 times to herald the change of year. Once the clock strikes midnight, people throw coins into a box for offerings placed before the altar, pray for a happy and healthy New Year, and then buy good luck charms like omamori amulets and hamaya arrows. Some temples and shrines even provide free festive drinks like sweet rice wine or sacred omiki rice wine.”

Source:  Web-Japan, New Year’s Shrine Visit

Whether your quest is for the spiritual or the material you will find long lines and crowds in the train stations, stores and shrines in Japan as the country celebrates the new year.

Image Credit: 福袋 (Fukubukuro, lucky bags) & Hatsumode crowd