What is the name of New Year's Eve in Japan?

New Year's Eve in Japan is called Ōmisoka.

Ōmisoka is observed on December 31, the final day of the Japanese calendar year. It is traditionally a time for completing preparations, cleaning the home, settling obligations, and spending the evening with family. A well-known meal is toshikoshi soba, or “year-crossing noodles,” whose long shape is associated with longevity.

At midnight, many Buddhist temples perform Joya no Kane, ringing their bells 108 times. People may also watch annual television programs, including the long-running music show Kōhaku Uta Gassen, before visiting a shrine or temple after the new year begins.

Ōmisoka should not be confused with Shōgatsu, the New Year period that follows it. Shōgatsu usually refers to the first days of January and the broader New Year holiday. Nor is it the same as Setsubun, a seasonal festival held in early February. These names describe different points in Japan's annual calendar.