Kadomatsu Meaning: Japan’s New Year Pine and Bamboo Decoration

What Is Kadomatsu?

Kadomatsu (門松) are Japanese New Year entrance decorations placed near gates and doorways. They are typically made with pine branches and bamboo stalks, and you’ll often see them in pairs at entrances of shops, offices, and sometimes homes. The placement at the threshold is the point: kadomatsu visually announces “this is New Year season.”

While they look festive, kadomatsu are not just decoration. They are seasonal markers that help welcome New Year blessings into the space— turning an abstract calendar change into something you can see when you walk in.

Key term: Oshōgatsu — the Japanese New Year season, often experienced as a cultural period rather than a single day.

Kadomatsu Meaning

The kadomatsu meaning centers on welcoming the New Year at the entrance and marking a clear boundary between “old year” and “new year.” Because it’s placed at the gate or doorway, kadomatsu works like a seasonal sign: it says the space has been prepared and the new season is being received.

• Welcome at the threshold: Kadomatsu stands where you enter, symbolically inviting New Year blessings into the home or business.
• A visible seasonal reset: It marks the transition into New Year mode—clean, prepared, and intentional.
• Strength for the year ahead: The materials express resilience and growth, reflecting wishes for stability and success.

Why Japanese think/do this: Many seasonal customs in Japan begin with preparing space. By placing kadomatsu at the entrance, the New Year becomes something you “step into,” not just a date you observe.

Why Pine and Bamboo?

Pine and bamboo are not chosen randomly. In New Year symbolism, they represent qualities people hope to carry into the coming year. Interpretations can vary, but the cultural direction is consistent.

Pine

Pine stays green through winter, so it often suggests endurance and steadiness—an image of “lasting through the season.”

Bamboo

Bamboo grows quickly and bends without breaking, so it often suggests growth, resilience, and an ability to recover.

Together

Together, pine and bamboo express a balanced wish: stable foundations and forward growth—strong roots, flexible progress.

When to Put Kadomatsu Up

Many businesses and households set up kadomatsu in late December as part of New Year preparation. Because kadomatsu is an entrance symbol, it often appears after cleaning and seasonal setup begin.

Timing customs vary by region and household. If you’re unsure, a practical approach is to put it up during late-December preparation days and keep it through the New Year period.

When to Take It Down

Kadomatsu are typically removed after the New Year period ends. The exact timing can vary depending on local custom and personal schedule. What matters most is the seasonal sequence: prepare → welcome → enjoy → close.

If you’re in Japan, you can follow local cues by observing shops and neighbors. If you’re abroad, choose a consistent “closing day” after the New Year period in your local context.

Kadomatsu and Japan’s Calendar Logic

Kadomatsu makes sense when you view Japanese New Year as a season with phases rather than a single day. The entrance decoration is part of the cultural rhythm: preparation time in late December, a New Year period, and a closing phase when seasonal symbols are removed.

To explore how New Year timing connects with holidays and seasonal planning, use our Japanese Calendar. If you’re curious about traditional auspicious-day concepts, you can also explore the Rokuyo Calendar.

How People Use Kadomatsu Today

In modern Japan, kadomatsu are most visible at business entrances, shopping streets, hotels, and public facilities. Some households also display smaller versions, especially in regions where New Year entrance decorations are widely practiced.

Convenience has increased—many people buy ready-made arrangements—but the meaning remains consistent: kadomatsu is a visual “welcome” to the New Year season.

For a complementary entrance symbol used at home doors, see our guide to shimekazari. For an indoor New Year offering, see kagami mochi.

Travel Tips: Where You’ll See Kadomatsu

• Shopping streets and department stores: Especially from late December through early January.
• Hotels and businesses: Entrances often display paired kadomatsu to clearly mark the season.
• Shrine approach areas: Around New Year visits, seasonal symbols are concentrated near entrances and paths.

If you’re visiting Japan around New Year, kadomatsu is one of the easiest “culture-first” signs to spot—just look at entrances.

Trivia

• “Kado” means gate: Kadomatsu is designed for the entrance, not as an indoor ornament.
• Often displayed in pairs: Many entrances place a set to frame the threshold.
• It’s part of a New Year cluster: Kadomatsu (welcome) pairs well with shimekazari (purification) and kagami mochi (offering).

FAQ

Is kadomatsu only for businesses, or do homes use it too?

Businesses display it very commonly, and some households also use it—especially smaller versions. Practice varies by region, space, and personal preference.

Is the meaning the same everywhere in Japan?

The core idea—welcoming the New Year at the entrance—is widely shared, but styles and timing details can vary by region and household.

Do I need to follow strict rules about dates?

Not necessarily. Many modern households and businesses focus on the seasonal intention: prepare the entrance space, display kadomatsu during the New Year period, and remove it when the season closes locally.

How is kadomatsu different from shimekazari?

Kadomatsu is a pine-and-bamboo entrance arrangement. Shimekazari is a rope-based New Year door ornament. They can be used together: one frames the entrance as New Year, the other marks purification and welcome at the doorway. See our guide to shimekazari.

Related Guides

• Japanese Calendar
• Shimekazari Meaning
• Kagami Mochi Meaning
• Etiquette Basics
• Japan Travel Concierge

Official Resources

• Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
• Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet (official site)