The holiday season is always a tricky one for newcomers to Japan.

If Christmas is the Western world¡¯s big day to spend time at home with family, that¡¯s what ´Ç²õ³ó¨­²µ²¹³Ù²õ³Ü (New Year¡¯s) is in Japan. Arguably the most important time of the year for most Japanese people, ´Ç²õ³ó¨­²µ²¹³Ù²õ³Ü activities typically include journeys long and short back to family homes, food and drinks together and late-night (or early-morning) visits to local shrines.

It might all seem simple, at first ¡ª unless you¡¯ve found yourself this December romantically linked with a Japanese partner who has invited you to join in on their family¡¯s at-home ´Ç²õ³ó¨­²µ²¹³Ù²õ³Ü festivities.