Toshikoshi soba is the Japanese noodle dish traditionally eaten on New Year's Eve.
The name means “year-crossing soba,” reflecting the meal's place at the boundary between the old and new years. People commonly eat the buckwheat noodles at home, in restaurants, or during family gatherings on December 31. The noodles are usually served in a warm broth, though regional preparations differ.
Several symbolic explanations are associated with the custom. The noodles' length can represent longevity, while their easy-to-cut texture is sometimes linked with leaving misfortune behind. Buckwheat is also associated in folk explanations with strength and resilience. These meanings are cultural associations rather than a single universally fixed religious rule.
Toshikoshi soba is separate from joya no kane, the Buddhist temple-bell ritual involving 108 strikes. It is also distinct from osechi ryori, the collection of New Year's dishes eaten during the first days of January. Japanese New Year's food customs vary by household and region.