Winter in Japan is alot warmer outside than it is in the midwest but without central heating inside the houses its cold.
Here are some pictures from Japan during the winter and new years in Japan!
Here is Meiji University Izumi campus in Tokyo.
The infamous Hachikou in front of Shibuya Station
This is a dish called tsukemen (付け麺）, which the noodles are separated from the soup and you dip them into the soup. It was delicious!
A necessity in japanese houses during the winter
At midnight people will go to a temple to wring a huge bell a total of 108 times called hatsumoude. You will pay a small amount and then pick a number that goes from 0 to 108 to keep track of how many times the bell is wrung.
Outside view of the temple
At a shrine people come to throw money into a box and pray for good luck in the upcoming year. The white tent served hot sake.It is up to the person to go to a shrine or temple on New years.
Toshikoshi soba is essential for celebrating the new years as it is something you eat before the new year.
Osechi ryouri (おせち料理）is a traditional meal that families have on new years day where family members gather and greet each other with akemashite omedetou gozaimasu (明けましておめでとうございます）or Happy new year! Parents, grandparents will usually give their children, grandchildren money(お年玉）varying in amounts. Each of dish has a different meaning for the new year.
Here is my grandfather giving otosu、a mirin based sake that people drink on new years. It has a very taste that most young children do not enjoy
