If you are picking up a TOCOO! ETC card or other reserved items after arriving at New Chitose Airport, please make sure to go to the designated Lawson store located at the Domestic Arrival area.
⚠️ Important Note: There are multiple Lawson stores inside New Chitose Airport, but only the one located at the “Domestic Terminal Arrival Floor” is authorized for TOCOO! item pick-up. If you go to the wrong Lawson, even if you present your QR Code, the staff will not be able to process your request, and you may not be able to receive your item.⸻
🚶How to Get There (1st Floor, Domestic Terminal Building)
After arriving at New Chitose Airport, proceed to the 1st Floor of the Domestic Terminal Building.
Follow the map to the correct Lawson store. You can identify it by nearby landmarks:
Located in front of ✅ MOS BURGER ✅ Next to Yoshinoya ✅ Close to Travelex (ANA counter) in the Domestic Arrival Lobby
Please make sure to follow these directions and visuals to ensure a smooth pick-up process.
❌Common Mistakes to Avoid: • Lawson in the International Terminal is not the designated store • Lawson in the Central Plaza or on other floors cannot assist with pick-up • If staff scan your QR Code and get an error, it likely means you are at the wrong store.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask the airport information counter or contact TOCOO!
When you arrived in Airport, have you ever worry about finding the place of Airport Rental Car Reception Counter? This article is for customers who need to find the Airport Rental Car Reception Counter after arriving at the Airport. Below we will guide you on how to find the Airport Rental Car Reception Counter without any problems after you arrive in Airport.
Narita Airport
There are two rental car counters inside Narita Airport. 1)minal 1 1F 2)Terminal 2 1F ※Please note that there is no rental car counter in Terminal 3.※
Terminal 1 1F
The red circle is the location of the rental car counter. Details are below.
※Customers using Terminal 3 should go to the counter in Terminal 2.
There are two ways to move from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2. ① Free bus from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2 ② On foot (It takes about 15 minutes on foot from the access passage (about 500m)
Below is an explanation of the rental car counter at ＜Terminal 1＞.
The rental car counter is on the first floor of Terminal 1.
The red circle number 14 is the location of the rental car counter.
At number 14, there are Toyota Rent a Car,Nissan Car Rental and Nippon Rental Car counters.
◆Customers who have made a reservation at Toyota Rent a Car Narita Airport outlet, Nippon Rental Car Narita Airport outlet, Nissan Car Rental Narita Airport outlet and Nissan Car Rental Narita Airport Terminal 1 outlet can use the counter on ＜the 1st floor of Terminal ＞.
＜Recommended route＞
①After completing the immigration procedures, go out from the arrival exit ⇒ Go to the rental car counter ⇒ Procedure at the counter ⇒ After the procedure, move to the meeting place for the transfer service ⇒ Use the transfer service to the outlet ⇒ Pick up car and go to the post office to pick up the ETC card
②After completing the immigration procedures, go out from the arrival exit ⇒Receive ETC card at the post office in the airport⇒Go to the rental car counter ⇒ Procedure at the counter ⇒ After the procedure, move to the meeting place for the transfer service ⇒ Use the transfer service to the outlet ⇒ Pick up car at rental car outlet
Please refer to The airport post office is here! Guidance of going to the airport post office article for ETC card pick-up at the airport https://bit.ly/3owIVTe
★<Terminal 1> When arriving at domestic flights and South Wing After completing immigration procedures, exit the arrivals exit, turn left, and proceed toward the central exit C1. The rental car reception counter is located near the Central Exit C1.
★<Terminal 1> When arriving at the North Wing After completing the immigration procedures, exit the arrivals exit, turn right, and proceed toward the central exit C1. The rental car reception counter is located near the Central Exit C1.
Next is the contents of the rental car counter at <Terminal 2>
The rental car reception counter is on the 1st floor of Terminal 2.
The red circle number 9 is the location of the rental car reception counter.
At number 9, there are Toyota Rent a Car,Nissan Car Rental and Nippon Rental Car counters.
※Customers using Terminal 3 should go to the counter in Terminal 2.
There are two ways to move from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2. ① Free bus from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2 ② On foot (It takes about 15 minutes on foot from the access passage (about 500m)
◆Customers who have made a reservation at Toyota Rent a Car Narita Airport outlet, Nippon Rental Car Narita Airport outlet, Nissan Car Rental Narita Airport outlet and Nissan Car Rental Narita Airport Terminal 2 outlet can use the reception counter on＜ the 1st floor of Terminal 2＞.
★<Terminal 2>When arriving at Arrival Gate A After completing immigration procedures, exit the arrivals exit, turn right, and proceed toward Terminal 3. The car rental counters are located near the B Arrivals Gate.
★<Terminal 2>When arriving at Arrival Gate B After completing immigration procedures, exit the arrivals exit and there is a rental car reception counter on the right.
After arriving at the rental car reception counter, please contact the store using the direct dial phone at the reception counter. After contacting the rental car outlet, go to the transfer service meeting point and use the transfer service to the rental car outlet. After arriving at the rental car outlet and finishing pick up car procedures, let’s enjoy your trip in Japan!
■when returning the car
When the reserved return date comes, return the car to the reserved return time/outlet!
※Returning a car directly at Narita Airport is NOT allowed.Please return the car to the outlet where you made the reservation.
Toyota Rent a Car Narita Airport outlet, Nippon Rental Car Narita Airport outlet and Nissan Car Rental Narita Airport outlet have shuttle services to the airport after returning the car.
If you plan to return your car at Nissan Car Rental Narita Airport Terminal 1 outlet and Nissan Car Rental Narita Airport Terminal 2 outlet, please return your car at Nissan Car Rental Narita Airport outlet.There is a shuttle service from the store to the airport after returning the car.
Haneda Airport
There are three Airport Rental Car Reception Counters inside Haneda Airport. 1)Terminal 1 1F 2)Terminal 2 1F 3)Terminal 3 2F
Below we will guide you on how to find the Airport Rental Car Reception Counter in each Terminals.
Terminal 1 1F
Each color of marks is the place of Airport Rental Car Reception Counter. Here is the details.
Mark of number 5 is the place of Nissan Car Rental Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter.
Mark of number 14 is the place of Toyota Rent a Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter.
Mark of number 15 is the place of Nippon Rental Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter.
＜Recommended route＞
①After completing the immigration procedures, go out from the arrival exit ⇒ Go to the Rental Car Reception Counter ⇒ Procedure at the counter ⇒ After the procedure, move to the meeting place for the transfer service ⇒ Use the transfer service to the outlet ⇒ Pick up car and go to the post office to pick up the ETC card
②After completing the immigration procedures, go out from the arrival exit ⇒Receive ETC card at the post office in the airport⇒Go to the Rental Car Reception Counter ⇒ Procedure at the counter ⇒ After the procedure, move to the meeting place for the transfer service ⇒ Use the transfer service to the outlet ⇒ Pick up car at rental car outlet
➡When you head to Nissan Car Rental Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter. After completing immigration procedures, exit the arrivals exit, proceed toward Arrival Exit 3, 4. The Nissan Car Rental Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter is located near the Arrival Exit 4.
➡When you head to Toyota Rent a Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter. After completing immigration procedures, exit the arrivals exit, turn right, and proceed toward Market Place in North Wing side. The Toyota Rent a Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter is located near the Arrival Exit 5.
➡When you head to Nippon Rental Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter. After completing immigration procedures, exit the arrivals exit, turn right, and proceed toward Market Place in North Wing side. The Nippon Rental Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter is located near the Arrival Exit 6.
★<Terminal 1>When arriving at the North Wing
➡When you head to Nissan Car Rental Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter. After completing immigration procedures, exit the arrivals exit, turn right, and proceed toward Market Place in South Wing side. The Nissan Car Rental Haneda Airport outlet Counter is located near the Arrival Exit 4.
➡When you head to Toyota Rent a Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter. After completing immigration procedures, exit the arrivals exit, proceed toward Arrival Exit 5. The Toyota Rent a Car Haneda Airport outlet Counter is located near the Arrival Exit 5.
➡When you head to Nippon Rental Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter. After completing immigration procedures, exit the arrivals exit, proceed toward Arrival Exit 6. The Nippon Rental Car Haneda Airport outlet Counter is located near the Arrival Exit 6.
Terminal 2 1F
Each color of marks is the place of Airport Rental Car Reception Counter. Here is the details.
Mark of number 4 is the place of Nippon Rental Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter.
Mark of number 5 is the place of Nissan Car Rental Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter.
Mark of number 21 is the place of Toyota Rent a Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter.
★<Terminal 2> When arriving at the 1, 2, 3 Arrival Exit
➡When you head to Nippon Rental Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter. After completing immigration procedures, exit the arrivals exit, proceed toward Meeting Point 1. The Nippon Rental Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter is located between the Arrival Exit 2, 3.
➡When you head to Nissan Car Rental Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter. After completing immigration procedures, exit the arrivals exit, proceed toward Meeting Point 1. The Nissan Car Rental Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter is located near the Arrival Exit 3.
➡When you head to Toyota Rent a Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter. After completing immigration procedures, exit the arrivals exit, turn left, and proceed toward Meeting Point 2. The Toyota Rent a Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter is located near the Arrival Exit 5.
★<Terminal 2>When arriving at the 4, 5, 6 Arrival Exit
➡When you head to Nippon Rental Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter. After completing immigration procedures, exit the arrivals exit, turn left, and proceed toward Meeting Point 1. The Nippon Rental Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter is located between the Arrival Exit 2, 3.
➡When you head to Nissan Car Rental Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter. After completing immigration procedures, exit the arrivals exit, turn left, and proceed toward Meeting Point 1. The Nissan Car Rental Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter is located near the Arrival Exit 3.
➡When you head to Toyota Rent a Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter. After completing immigration procedures, exit the arrivals exit, proceed toward Meeting Point 1. The Toyota Rent a Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter is located near the Arrival Exit 5.
Terminal 3 2F
The red circle number 16 is the location of the Rental Car Reception Counter.
Nippon Rental Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter, Nissan Car Rental Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter, Toyota Rent a Car Haneda Airport outlet Reception Counter are placed at Haneda Airport Terminal 3 2F
After completing immigration procedures, exit the arrivals exit. The Airport outlet Reception Counters are located left side at the straight forward.
After arriving at the rental car reception counter, please contact the store using the direct dial phone at the reception counter. After contacting the rental car outlet, go to the transfer service meeting point and use the transfer service to the rental car outlet. After arriving at the rental car outlet and finishing pick up car procedures, let’s enjoy your trip in Japan!
■when returning the car
When the reserved return date comes, return the car to the reserved return time/outlet!
※Returning a car directly at Haneda Airport is NOT allowed.Please return the car to the outlet where you made the reservation.
Toyota Rent a Car Haneda Airport outlet, Nippon Rental Car Haneda Airport outlet and Nissan Car Rental Haneda Airport outlet have shuttle services to the airport after returning the car.
Difficult to book due to not knowing much about Japanese prefectures.
Want to return the car to a different outlet than the pick up outlet.How is it possible?
Which outlet is the nearest outlet to the Theme Park?
Have you had any problems like aboves when you book a car rental?
Hi! Let us introduce the tips to find your best car rental outlet by using ToCoo! SEARCH System. Hope these tips help you much to find your most convenient outlet.
On the TOP page of ToCoo! website, you can search cars and outlets by inputting the requirements in the columns of “Find car deals”. There are 2 ways to search, “Filter Search” and “Keyword Search”
a. Filter Search
You can set the pick up outlet from “Airport”s or “Area”s. When you choose “Airport”, all airports ToCoo! offers outlets throughout Japan are shown in the Pull-down menu. When you choose “Area”, the prefecture can be chosen on the Pull-down menu, then the district/area can be chosen.
Difficult to find my convenient outlet, since I do not know the prefectures of Japan. What should I do?
No worries! We offer you “Keyword Search” to find the outlet by a keyword. Let’s check the following!
b.Keyword Search
If you give a check on “Keyword Search” like the image below, the search method will be changed.
Let us explain how to use it!
①Please input the keyword of the LOCATION.
②Please choose the preferred location from the shown suggestions. (Choosing from the suggestions is necessary. Unless you choose the one from them, the result can not be shown) Please contact ToCoo!, in case your preferred location is not shown.(There might be no outlet in that area)
This time, we told you How to use ToCoo! SEARCh System. Hope this can help you to find the best outlet.
2. What is Drop Off?
Drop off option is the option to be able to return the car to a different outlet than the pick up outlet.
Please notes that there are outlets that do not accept drop off cars from different outlets.
a. How to add Drop Off option
You should add the Drop Off option beforehand in case you would like to drop off a car to the different outlet.
Once a reservation is confirmed, any alteration can not be made. If you would like to add the Drop Off option after the reservation is confirmed, please cancel the reservation and re-book with the option.
In case of searching via “Filter Search” Please UNCHECK “Same as pick up”, and choose “Airport” or “Area”. And choose the preferred one from the suggestions.
In case of searching via “Keyword Search” Please check “Return to different outlet” and input the preferred location name, then choose the one from the suggestions. (Choosing from the suggestions is necessary. Unless you choose the one from them, the result can not be shown) In case there is no result, it means there is no outlet accepting the Drop Off option. Please try with the other area to drop off.
Frequently searched outlets
Here is the list of the outlets frequently searched and inquired to ToCoo! Customer Support Team.
a. Nearest outlet to Tokyo Disney Resort
Chiba Prefecture, Urayasu area is the nearby area. Please search by “prefecture” as Chiba and “Area” as Urayasu under “Filter Search”.
Nippon Rental Car Urayasu 3 minutes walking to Urayasu Station
Toyota Rent a Car Urayasu Yanagidori 12 minutes walking to Urayasu Station
b. Nearest outlet to Universal Studio Japan
Unfortunately, there is no outlet nearby USJ, though USJ is located in Fukushima-u, Osaka.
Even at the nearest outlet, you should change trains to access USJ from the outlet.
NIPPON Rent A Car Bentenchō Station It is approximately 37 minutes by changing trains to USJ.
Taking Osaka Circle Line(Kanjo-sen) at JR Bentencho Station->Change to JR Yumesaki Line at Nishi Kujo Station->USJ Station
c. Nagoya Station
Please search by “prefecture” as Aichi and “Area” as Nagoya(Nagoya Station) under “Filter Search”.
Customers who have reserved an ETC card and picked it up at the airport post office, do you have difficulty finding the post office? This article is to introduce you how to find the airport post office after arriving at the airport. Please be sure to know the location of the post office before departure.
Below we will guide you on how to find the location of the airport post office without any problems, so if you get lost in the airport hall, be sure to check here!
The post office at New Chitose Airport is located in the Domestic Terminal (Terminal 2). There is no post office in the International Terminal, so if you are using international flights, please go to the Domestic Terminal.
Recommended route:
① Arrive at domestic flight → Go to the post office to pick up the ETC card → Go to the car rental counter ② Arrive at the international flight → Move to the domestic flight → Go to the post office to pick up the ETC card → Go to the car rental counter
Access: 2F New Chitose Air Port Post Office 〒066-0012 Bibi,Chitose-shi,Hokkaido（New Chitose Airport Terminal 2 2F） Hours of business： Weekdays 9:00～17:00 Saturday 9:00～17:00 Sundays, National Holidays 9:00～17:00
After arriving at Domestic Terminal 2, please go to District C. The post office is circled in red in the map.
2.Narita Airport Terminal 1
There are a total of two post offices at Narita Airport. But not in terminal 3! Below is the guide to the post office in Narita Airport Terminal 1.
Recommended route:
Arrive at Narita Airport Terminal 1 → Go to the post office to pick up the ETC card → Go to the car rental counter
Access: 4F Narita International Airport Post office Terminal 1 Building Office 4F, Narita International Airport Terminal 1, Goryo Bokujo, Narita City, Chiba Prefecture 〒282-8799 Hours of business： Weekdays 08：30－19：00 Saturday 08：30－18：00 Sundays,National Holidays 08：30－18：00 *Since it is a limited-service Yu Yu counter (ゆうゆう窓口), you can only receive an ETC card, but you cannot return it. When returning the ETC card, please put it in the mailbox.
After arriving at the 4th floor of Terminal 1, please proceed towards No.69. The post office is circled in red in the map.
3.Narita Airport Terminal 2
There are a total of two post offices at Narita Airport. But not in terminal 3! Below is the guide to the post office in Narita Airport Terminal 2.
Recommended route:
Arrive at Narita Airport Terminal 2 → Go to the post office to pick up the ETC card → Go to the car rental counter
Access: 3F Narita International Airport Post office Terminal 2 Building Office 3F, Narita International Airport Terminal 2, Furugome, Narita City, Chiba Prefecture 〒282-8799 Hours of business： Weekdays 08：30－19：00 Saturday 08：30－18：00 Sundays,National Holidays 08：30－18：00 *Since it is a limited-service Yu Yu counter (ゆうゆう窓口), you can only receive an ETC card, but you cannot return it. When returning the ETC card, please put it in the mailbox.
After arriving at the 3th floor of Terminal 2, please go north. It is located near the “North Exit 2”. The red circled “No. 8” in the map is the post office.
4.Haneda Airport Terminal 1
There is only one post office in Terminal 1 in Haneda Airport. Customers arriving at Terminals 2 and 3 should proceed to Terminal 1. Below is the guide to the post office in Haneda Airport Terminal 1.
Recommended route:
①Arrive at Haneda Airport Terminal 1 → Go to the post office to pick up the ETC card → Go to the car rental counter ②[Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays] Arrive at Haneda Airport Terminal 1 → Pick up the car at the car rental counter → Go to Kamata Post Office to collect the ETC card
Access: 1F Haneda Airport Post Office 1F, Haneda Airport Terminal 1, 3-3-2,Hanedakuko,Ota-ku,Tokyo〒144-0041 Hours of business： Weekdays：9:00～17:00 Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays：closed If you want to pick up your ETC card on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, we recommend you pick it up at the <Kamata Post Office> near Haneda Airport. Please click “Change delivery location” on the reservation form, select “Hotel”, and enter the name of the post office in the hotel name column and hotel address column.
After arriving at the 1st floor of Terminal 1,head towards MARKETPLACE and it is No.7 on the map. The post office is circled in red in the map.
5Chubu Centrair International Airport
The post office to pick up the ETC card at Chubu Centrair International Airport is automatically set as <Tokoname Post Office Centrair Office>. Terminal 1 only. Customers arriving at Terminals 2 should proceed to Terminal 1. Below is the guide to the Tokoname Post Office Centrair Office.
Recommended route:
①Arrive at Chubu Centrair International Airport Terminal 1 → Go to the post office to pick up the ETC card → Go to the car rental counter ②Arrive at Chubu Centrair International Airport Terminal 2 → Move to Terminal 1 → Go to the post office to pick up the ETC card → Go to the car rental counter ③[Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays] Arrive at Chubu Centrair International Airport Terminal 1/2 → Pick up the car at the car rental counter → Go to Tokoname Post Office to collect the ETC card
Access: 1F Terminal 1 Tokoname Post Office Centrair Office 1F, Chubu Centrair International Airport Terminal 1, Centrair, Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture 〒479-8799 Hours of business： Weekdays：9:00～17:00 Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays：closed If you want to pick up your ETC card on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, we recommend you pick it up at the <Tokoname Post Office > near Haneda Airport. Please click “Change delivery location” on the reservation form, select “Hotel”, and enter the name of the post office in the hotel name column and hotel address column.
After arriving at the 1st floor of Terminal 1,it is on the other side of the Lawson convenience store. The post office is circled in red in the map.
6.Kansai Airport
The Post Office in Kansai Airport is closed, so ToCoo! reservation form do not have the options of Kansai Airport for choosing ETC Card Pick up place. We recommend to Guest who will use Kansai Airport for using “Izumisano Post Office” for pick-up the ETC Card. “Izumisano Post Office” is 16 minutes far from airport by car becuase they are placed near by Airport. Please move to the “Izumisano Post Office“. *Please be careful, You can not pick up the ETC Card at the car outlet. Please click “Change delivery location” on the reservation form, select “Hotel”, and enter the name of the post office in the hotel name column and hotel address column.
Recommended route: Arrive at Kansai Airport→ Pick up the car at the car rental counter → Go to “Izumisano Post Office” to collect the ETC card
Izumisano Post Office Access: ２－８－４５ Uemachi, Izumisano City, Osaka 〒598-8799 MAPCODE:35 864 842*33 Hours of business： Weekdays：8:00～19:00 Saturdays: 8:00～18:00 Sundays, Public holidays: 9:00～16:00
The Post Office of Knasai Airport is closed, so we recommend you to move “Izumisano Post Office” that is 16 minutes far from airport by car for pick up ETC Card. The post office is marked in red in the symbol.
7 Fukuoka Airport
The Post Office of Hukuoka Airport is closed. After you pick up the rental car, please move to Hakaltakita Post Office. (4min to car) Below is the guide to the post office in Hakatakita Post Office
Recommended route: Arrive at Fukuoka Airport→ Pick up the car at the car rental counter → Go to “Hakatakita Post Office” to collect the ETC card
Hours of business： Weekdays：7:00～19:00 Saturdays: 7:00～18:00 Sundays, Public holidays: 7:00～18:00
Hakatakita Post Office Access: １－３－２６ Ooi, HakataKu, Hukuoka City, Hukuoka 〒812-8799 MAPCODE: 13 383188*66
The Post Office of Hukuoka Airport is closed, so we recommend you to move “Hakatakita Post Office” that is 4 minutes far from airport by car for pick up ETC Card. The Post Office is marked in red in the symbol.
8 Kagoshima Airport
The Post Office of Kagoshima Airport is closed. So you can not pick up the ETC Card in this Post Office.
*Please be careful, You can not pick up the ETC Card at the car outlet. Please click “Change delivery location” on the reservation form, select “Hotel”, and enter the name of the post office in the hotel name column and hotel address column.
Kokubu Post Office ３－３９－１ Kokubuchuuou, Kirishima City, Kagoshima 〒899-4399 Mapcode: 216 541 166*72
Hours of business： Weekdays：8:00～19:00 Saturdays: 8:00～17:00 Sundays, Public holidays: 9:00～12:30
The Post Office of Kagoshima Airport is closed, so we recommend you to move “Kokubu Post Office” that is 22 minutes far from airport by car for pick up ETC Card. The Post Office is marked in red in the symbol.
Kagoshima Central Post Office 1-2 Chuuouchou, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima 〒890-8799 Mapcode: 393 575 792*15
Hours of business： Weekdays：7:00～21:00 Saturdays, Public holidays: 7:00～18:00
The Post Office of Kagoshima Airport is closed, so we recommend you to move “Kagoshima Central Post Office” that is 39 minutes far from airport by car for pick up ETC Card. The Post Office is marked in red in the symbol.
Kamata Post Office １-２-８ KamataHonchou, Ootaku, Tokyo-to 〒144-8799
GOOGLE MAP： https://bit.ly/3K2lg5Z 20 minutes far from Haneda Airport by car Mapcode: 191 556*28
Hours of business： Weekdays：07：00－19：00 Saturdays, Public holidays: 07：00－18：00
Tokoname Post Office １－８３ Sakaemachi, Tokonameshi, Aichi 〒479-8799
GOOGLE MAP： https://bit.ly/3XoP5R3 11 minutes far from Haneda Airport by car Mapcode:371 790 173*42
Hours of business： Weekdays：8:00～19:00 Saturdays: 8:00～17:00 Sundays, Public holidays: 9:00～12:30
In Japan, the time period of January is called “o-shou-ga-tsu, Oshougatsu in Japan is an event for the family, much like Chinese New Year. Most Japanese people will be at home with their families come together to celebrate the New Year.
The o-souji ritual used to start on December. It has a practical and a spiritual significance. This major house cleaning is thought as a ritual to give a pleasant welcome to God on New Year’s Day.They will associate a big annual clean with spring, in Japan it’s done in the last days of the year – pretty much everywhere. Homes, schools and offices all get a thorough going over that creates a clean slate for the year ahead.
■New Year’s Decorations
After finish the house cleaning, it will start to decorate their houses with special decorations on December 28th and 30th. Please be carefully they would not do it on December 29th because that is apparently also not a good day to put up decorations because the number nine has the same sound as “suffer” (ku 苦) in Japanese, so it is also considered to be bad luck.
Let’s get to know the different Japanese new year decorations!
Kadomatsu
Kadomatsu are placed in pairs in front of the gate or front doors of homes to welcome the Shinto gods.
Shime-Kazari
Shimekazari will put it on top of the house entrance to prevent bad spirits from entering and to invite the Shinto deity, to descend and visit.
A round rice-cake
Japanese people will and place these at very visible places around their homes for decoration. Placing them in different rooms is said to bring more luck, as each room will welcome Shinto gods come and stay.
■nengajo (New Year’s cards)
People say ”あけましておめでとうございます(akemashite omedetou (gozaimasu)” which is meaning congratulations on the new year. They will send New Year’s cards called ”nengajo ”to their family or someone treated well by. Although with the growth of the Internet and cell phones, the number of people who send nengajo is decreasing yearly, The receiver can know your feeling during you hand writing. However, do not send the New Year’s cards to anyone who has had a death in the family during the year.
■Huge bellbsound and toshikoshi soba” (year-crossing soba)
New Year’s Eve is called “Oomisoka” in Japanese. At Buddhist temples, huge bells are hit 108 times during midnight to get rid of all evil desires. Most people believe that huge bells are hit 108 times during midnight to get rid of all evil desires. So that we will eat the “toshikoshi soba” when we hearing the huge bells sounds and wish for a long lasting life. You can still listen the huge bells sounds even while you’re staying at home because you can see it at the TV shows.
■Events and customs
The first sunrise
It is an event to worship the first sun rising on New Year’s Day, which is the beginning of the year since it is believed that the Shinto gods of the year appear with the first sunrise. So, people pray for good luck when the first sun rises.
First visiting to the Shrine
At the beginning of the year, people go to the shrine and pray for the safety and happiness of the new year. Some people leave their home to visit the shrine on the night of the 31st, or at the midnight, and some people just go there in the morning on January 1st or afternoon. Shrines are very crowded at this time of year. The money which you can put into the wooden box for good luck is well known as the more money you put into it, the more luck you will get. On the other hands, some people believe if you put 5 Yen, it is super lucky. Since the pronunciation of 5 Yen which is ‘go en’ sounds similar to the word ‘ご縁(go en)’ which means luck.
Osechi dish
It is a celebration meal that Japanese people have between January 1st and 3rd. Japanese people believe that Osechi dishes bring good luck in the sense of celebration. It is filled with grilled, boiled and pickled foods in a multitiered Japanese food box. It is made up of dishes which couldbepreserved longer time so that it can allow housewives who are busy with cooking take a rest around some days at the New Year.
Otoshidama
Originally, this began with the custom to give some left over rice cakes to children. but today it has become an event for adults to give money to children. It’s a small bag of money that children receive from their parents, grandfathers, grandmothers and relatives.
Kagami-mochi
You should eat Kagami-mochi which were offered to the Shinto gods after some days from the New Year day! People cut this rice cakes and put them into some red bean soup or Ozoni which is Dashi soup(Soup types and other ingredients might be changed up to the location.). They eat this praying for keeping good health of the new year. People eat this mostly on January 11th or 20th.
