What is the first day of the New Year called in Japan?

Ganjitsu is the Japanese term for New Year's Day, January 1.

Japanese New Year is called Shōgatsu, a wider observance that traditionally lasts through the first days of January. Ganjitsu specifically means the first day of the year. It is a national holiday and is commonly spent with family, special foods, greetings, and visits to shrines or temples.

Ōmisoka is New Year's Eve, December 31, so it is the preceding day rather than the answer. Hatsumōde means the first shrine or temple visit of the new year and describes an activity, not the date itself. Setsubun is a separate seasonal observance, usually held in early February under the modern Gregorian calendar.

Traditional New Year foods include osechi ryōri, arranged dishes prepared in advance, and ozōni, a soup containing mochi whose ingredients vary by region. Children often receive otoshidama, money given in decorated envelopes. These customs help explain why Shōgatsu is broader than the single calendar day named by Ganjitsu.