New Year S Money Japan

On new year s there is a tradition of handing a bit of money in an envelope to the children.
New year s money japan. The average amount is reported as 5 000 yen per envelop. Japanese new year celebrations are quite different from typical. It is customary to give money to children during new year s celebrations in japan.
Elementary kids 2 000 3 000 yen per envelope junior high 5 000 yen per envelope and sr. That s because christmas here is like halloween just another fun holiday without much traditional or cultural let alone religious significance the traditional winter holiday for the japanese is oshogatsu literally first month or new year. That is why it is very common to send presents and new year greeting cards to friends and relatives the older family members usually give money in a small cute envelope called otoshi dama to the youngest members of the family.
In japan after the 25th of december it s as if christmas never happened. Most businesses shut down from january 1 to january 3 and families typically gather to spend the days together. Since they are nowadays written on postcards they are also known as nenga hagaki 年賀はがき or new year s postcards.
Amount of money given depends on relationship and age but averages seem to be. For more on japan s new year traditions please read the new year essentials in japan and. In addition to money it is traditional for japanese people to visit a shrine or a temple during new year s holidays.
High 10 000 yen per envelope. The customary gift called otoshidama otoshidama is a monetary gift given to children by adult relatives. On new year s day japanese people have a custom known as otoshidama where adult relatives give money to children.
Sometimes adults will get them to but i remember it being something reserved for children. This is called otoshidama. There s another new year s tradition among japanese families that s particularly exciting for the younger members.