New Year's Day - January 1, 2020

UPDATED: JANUARY 2, 2021, see bottom of page for update.

Today was really boring. I got up, but I was really sleepy. The pack left me in the crate and I slept the day away until they returned. Then I moved to my bed in front of the heater and slept some more. Boring. I hope the rest of the year is not like this.

Jenn's take on the day: I would like to start with an overview about how the Japanese people approach the New Year. New Year's (Oshogatsu) is THE largest Japanese holiday. They start preparing before the New Year by 'deep cleaning' the house and sending thank you cards to friends and family. It is a religious time. Decorations (oshogatsu kazari) made of pine and bamboo are placed on their doors to help the god, Toshigami, find them and bring good luck for the year. Here is an example:

A visit to a local shrine within the first 3 days of the new year is also important. Needless to say David and I avoided the crowds at the shrines this week. After the shrine visit there is a special meal with a variety of components, all with special meanings. One of their traditions involve Daruma dolls. The dolls are bought without eyes. You paint on one eye as you make your resolution or wish. After you have completed your resolution you paint the second eye. The doll is then burned in a ceremony at the end of year, typically at the shrine where it was purchased.

This is also a time for big sales in the stores. One of the 'specials' stores will have are fukubukuro, aka lucky bags. You are not supposed to know what is in them, although some stores will tell you. Whatever is in the bag is guaranteed to be worth more than what you pay for the bag. I became a bit obsessed with the lucky bags, but more on that in a bit...

David and I had a low key New Year's Eve. We are officially too old to want to stay up until midnight in a loud and crowded bar so we stayed in and went to bed before 10pm. Sounds sad, I know, but I had other plans and needed to get a good night's sleep. I had thought long and hard about where I wanted to get a fukubukuro from. It had to be a store with items I needed and/or liked. I didn't want to get a bunch of things I couldn't use or at least give as gifts. Given my limited exposure to shopping options here it was a particularly difficult task. In the wee hours of the morning on the first I made David take the train with me to my 'chosen store'. Unfortunately, they were sold out when we got there (30 minutes after they had opened) so I had to come out with a back up plan quickly. I found a "Made in Japan" store that still had bags and purchased one.

I paid ~$55 for the bag. It included a tote bag, 2 dish towels, two packs of bath salts, new underwear for the new year, a can of tangerines, a potpourri sachet, and a bag of 'balls' for soup. I was happy with my bag. I will use most of it and gift some of it. I am particularly looking forward to trying the soup "balls."

Next on the agenda was exploring Chinatown. We wandered the streets and ducked in a few shops. It is an interesting area with SO many food options.

Unfortunately, we had just eaten. We definitely will need to go back some time with empty bellies.

UPDATE- January 2, 2021

Yesterday brought another quest for lucky bags. Over the past year I have found a local mall with multiple stores I enjoy shopping in. Happily, this meant I didn't have to go far or get up early to begin the hunt. My first stop was a kitchenware store. The contents of the bags were a surprise. For Y3300 (~$33) I got a pair of slippers, 3 glass storage containers, two earthenware bowls, a dish towel, a wooden spatula, and a small canvas tote.

I also stopped at a Lupicia, a high end tea shop, and for Y3300 ($33) I got an assortment of 9 flavors (10 bags of each). I am going to have fun doing my own tea tasting.

While at the mall, I happened upon a show that included a lion dance.

If you are "bitten" by the lion you are given good luck. I was "bitten" so I hope it's true.

I thought I was done shopping for luck bags but then I stumbled on one I HAD to buy today. There is an award winning rice cracker store near our house. I have been wanting to try it for a long time now. Well, we were driving past it today and the hubby suggested we stop in. Imagine my surprise to realize they were selling lucky bags! It will be a great way for us to try a variety of their offerings. Look at everything I got for Y3500 ($35)!

So far I have only tried the Plum Blossom flavor and it has definitely been added to my 'buy again' list.