Updated: 2025. Dec 17.
In Japan, New Year, known as "Oshōgatsu," is one of the most significant and cherished celebrations. Families come together to usher in the new year with a variety of traditional customs. Before midnight, many visit Shinto shrines to participate in the "Joya no Kane" ceremony, where a large bell is rung 108 times to symbolize the overcoming of human desires. New Year's Day is marked by the practice of "Hatsumode," the first shrine visit of the year, where people pray for health, happiness, and prosperity.
The New Year's holiday is a time to spend with family and friends, reflecting on the past while hoping and preparing for the coming year. The first week of January is also spent in this preparation, setting everything up to start the year right. It is a time for socializing, sending greetings and well wishes to the people in our lives, refreshing and deepening relationships. This is an important time set aside, so we can start the year with the right mindset and in good spirit.
Because of the importance of this celebration, most businesses in Japan take a longer holiday during this time, pausing their usual operation, cleaning their facilities (especially factories), etc.
This year, the Winter Holidays at Sazen Tea start on the 27th of December, 2025, and last until the 4th of January, 2026. This means the final shipments of 2025 will be sent out on December 26. Since we order our matcha fresh from the factory after receiving customer orders—and delivery to us takes several days—we cannot guarantee that orders containing Kanbayashi, Maruyasu matcha, or products from the Culinary Tea Powder menu will ship before the winter break. We will resume preparation of packages on the 5th of January. During this time, replying to emails, messages, and inquiries will also be on hold. We will get back to your requests as soon as we can after we reopen our office on the 5th.
Our website is still operating through this break, orders can be placed. Please follow us during the holiday for new products, and don't miss our Winter Holiday Promotion starting on the 1st of January, 2026 where every order wins!
Place your order first, then choose three cards, and receive either extra Sazen Tea Reward Points or a surprise can of matcha.
The promotion is valid from JAN 1, 2026 to JAN 31, 2026.
We wish you a happy New Year, full of joy and success!
