December (Shiwasu)

December is also written “monks run” in Kanji characters and pronounced “shiwasu.” This is derived from the meaning that monks are so busy that they run to visit many houses to recite a sutra.

Every family is so busy preparing for the New Year, such as cleaning, writing New Year’s cards, preparing for the New Year’s dishes, etc. The Japanese have a custom of doing a general house cleaning at the end of the year.
On New Year’s Eve, people eat toshikoshi noodles and say goodbye to the old year, hearing the bell. The tradition of eating noodles seems to have become popular during Edo period. I wonder that it is a Japanese noodle restaurant that got the idea of eating noodles on that day.

Before December comes, the whole city has that Christmasy feel to it throughout Japan. It's curious, but it's there nonetheless.

(Christmas Tree in Biei, Hokkaido)