White horse with plum flowers around it, celebration of the Chinese New Year 2026

Chinese New Year in 2026 falls on: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
<Year of the Horse>

Known as the Spring Festival in Chinese, the celebration marks the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar.

It isn’t certain exactly when or how the Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, began, though there are records of it, or similar festivities, being held thousands of years ago. Many myths and legends are related to the origins of the festivities, but the most prominent one centers on the mythical beast Nian. 

On the eve of a New Year, the mythical beast would enter villages, destroying homes, eating livestock and sometimes even people. To stay on Nian’s good side, many would leave food out for him, until one year an old man discovered that Nian was scared of loud noises and the color red.

To keep Nian at bay, people wore red clothes, hung red scrolls and lanterns, and lit crackling bamboo (later fireworks) while beating drums to scare him away. From that point on Nian never returned. 

Over time, both the calendar system and many of the associated customs spread to neighboring parts of Asia. Variations of the celebration are observed across Greater China, as well as the Sinosphere, including in Vietnam and the Koreas. It is one of the most important annual events in these cultures and large festivities can also be found in places with significant Chinese communities, such as Singapore, Australia and cities along the west coast of the United States.

As it is based on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, which follows the phases of the moon, each year lands on the second new moon after the winter solstice on December 21.

The celebrations could land anywhere between January 21 and February 20. For 2026, Chinese New Year lands on Tuesday, February 17. The festivities across Tokyo will likely be held weeklong, so there is plenty of opportunity to get involved. 

Why Japan Celebrates New Year on January 1

Much like how kanji originated in China, many cultural beliefs and seasonal celebrations also made their way to Japan over the centuries. Chinese New Year is, to some extent, one of them.

Historically, Japan used several calendar systems that were modified versions of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. Because of this, the beginning of the year often fell around the same time as the Lunar New Year celebrated elsewhere in East Asia.

That changed in 1873, during the Meiji Restoration, when Japan adopted the Western Gregorian calendar. As a result, many traditions associated with the lunar new year were simply moved to January 1. This made Japan the only East Asian country that does not widely celebrate the Lunar New Year as a national holiday.

In other words, although the date has changed, it is not difficult to imagine how the lunar new year might have been celebrated historically in Japan. Many customs that historically marked the Japanese New Year now simply take place on a different date. While some traditions are distinctly Japanese, such as osechi ryori and kagami mochi, others reflect shared practices across East Asia, including the giving of otoshidama, which is similar to the red envelopes given during Chinese New Year.

You might also be interested in reading our guide to Timekeeping in Edo Period Japan.

So, Does Japan Celebrate Chinese New Year?

The simple answer is that, in many ways, Japan does not celebrate Chinese New Year in the same way as its neighbors.

However, the lunar new year is not completely forgotten. In Japan, it is known as kyu shogatsu, or the “former New Year.” While the main celebrations now take place on January 1, people still recognize that the traditional new year once fell on the day of kyu shogatsu. Some regional festivals and seasonal events still use the old lunisolar calendar to determine their dates.

In Okinawa Prefecture and the Amami Islands of Kagoshima Prefecture, the influence of Sjoogwaci (Ryukyuan kyu shogatsu) remains stronger than on the mainland. The former Ryukyu Kingdom maintained close trade and cultural ties with China, and even after becoming part of Japan, many Ryukyuan-style new year customs continued.

After Japan adopted the Gregorian calendar, people in these regions often continued celebrating the new year according to the traditional lunisolar system. For a time, this meant that two new years were observed: the Gregorian new year and the Ryukyuan lunar new year.

In 1956, when Okinawa was under the U.S. occupation, authorities launched social campaigns to encourage people to celebrate only the Gregorian New Year. By the 1960s, the shift had become more widespread. In 1960, only 8.5 percent of households celebrated the new year on January 1, while most followed the lunar calendar. By 1961, that number had risen to 47 percent.

Even so, the old calendar has not disappeared. During the lunar new year season, supermarkets in Okinawa still display traditional decorations and foods. As a result, Okinawa and the Amami Islands remain the parts of Japan where the new year is most visibly connected to the same dates as Chinese New Year.

It is also important to remember that many communities in Japan come from places that celebrate Chinese New Year or the lunisolar new year. People from mainland China, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam make up one of the largest international populations in Japan, and many continue to observe the holiday.

Chinatowns across the country also host festive events and seasonal decorations. In addition, much like in the United States and Europe, businesses and commercial districts in Japan have increasingly embraced Chinese New Year promotions, displays and themed events in recent years.

Spending Time with Loved Ones

For many who celebrate the Lunar New Year in Japan, this occasion is also marked by simply spending time with loved ones. Victor Jiacheng Leong, a Chinese Singaporean living in Tokyo, explains his experience. “In my sharehouse, we mark the new year by coming together and chatting over a comforting hotpot meal.”

His sharehouse contains nationals of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and South Korea. They all join together and share the holiday, even with those who don’t usually celebrate it themselves. 

Leong adds, “Visiting Chinatown for the festivities sounds delightful. The vibrant decorations and the chance to savor delicious food without the hassle of cooking would be wonderful. However, if anyone prefers to avoid crowds, celebrating at home amongst cherished company is equally appealing. Ultimately, it’s the company that truly makes the celebration special.”

The Chinese Zodiac Animal for 2026: The Year of the Horse

It’s true that the New Year is a time to celebrate with friends and family. But it is also a time to welcome the new zodiac animal. 

The Chinese Zodiac is still a part of Japan’s New Year celebrations to this day. Despite adopting the Gregorian calendar, Japan still celebrates the changing of the zodiac on January 1. It welcomes any of the 12 animals. Rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

In Japan, many shrines feature one, if not all, of the members of the zodiac. Many people go to pray at a shrine best suited to the zodiac for that year.

In 2026, the approaching Lunar New Year ushers in the Year of the Horse. It is especially fitting to visit shrines associated with horses.

One example is Fujinomori Shrine in Kyoto, long revered as a shrine of victory where the famous kakeuma horseback ritual is performed. In Tokyo, Kanda Myojin is home to a sacred horse and is known for prayers for success and advancement. Another Tokyo option is Atago Shrine, tied to a legendary samurai who rode his horse up its steep stone steps and was later promoted, giving the shrine its reputation for career success.

So let’s don our finest red apparel, set off fireworks, watch dragons and lions dance, and welcome the Year of the Horse here in Japan!

Chinese New Year 2026 Events in Tokyo

Chinese Spring Festival 2026

Yokohama Chinatown comes alive each winter for the Chinese Spring Festival, a multi-day celebration marking the Lunar New Year. Over the course of the festivities, the streets fill with lion and dragon dances, rhythmic drum performances, acrobatics and lively parades, creating one of the most atmospheric seasonal events near Tokyo. From late-night countdown celebrations to daytime performances and lantern-lit evenings, the festival offers plenty of chances to experience traditional culture, street food and the buzz of Japan’s largest Chinatown, even if you only drop by for a few hours.

For the latest official details and the full program schedule, check the Yokohama Chinatown Spring Festival page.

Read our guide to Osaka’s Underground Chinatown here.

Originally written by Laura Pollacco and published in February 2023, updated and rewritten by Metropolis Editors in November 2025.