kotatsu / electric table heater
A traditional kotatsu was created by placing a wooden frame over a small fireplace, then draping a futon blanket over the top and down the sides. The user would then sit with the lower half of the body under the blanket, which was secured around the waist to keep the warmth in. Modern kotatsu are now tables, with small heaters installed underneath.

yuki-daruma / snowman
Although not unique to Japanese culture, snowmen built by Japanese children often have some distinguishing characteristics. Yuki-daruma literally means "snow-Dharma", so snowmen in Japan commonly have a vague resemblance to the red Dharma dolls traditionally sold as good luck charms. Also, Japanese snowmen are usually only formed from two balls of snow; one as the body and another as the head.

nabe/cooking pot
A nabe is a large metal or ceramic pot for heating or boiling those Japanese dishes cooked in a single container. In winter, a nabe is often heated on a gas burner in the middle of a table so everyone can help themselves with chopsticks. A nabe is common for the preparation of suki-yaki and shabu-shabu meals. Foods cooked in a nabe are also collectively referred to as "nabe", although the proper term is "nabe ryori" or "nabe-mono".

kairo/heat patch / body warmer
Traditionally a kairo was formed by wrapping cloth around a hot rock or by putting heated ashes, embers or hot oil into a metal container, and applying it to various parts of the body for heating or medicinal purposes. Modern kairo are plastic packs containing chemicals, which give off heat when activated. They come in all shapes and sizes.

joya-no-kane/New Year's Eve bell toll
Buddhist temples often ring their bells 108 times in succession, starting at midnight on New Year's Eve. In Buddhist tradition, 108 is representative of the total number of earthly desires that tempt mankind. Each chime of the bell is the symbolic ridding of each desire.

hatsu-mo-de/New Year shrine/temple visit
Shrines and temples are often crowded on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Hatsu-mo-de simply refers to the first shrine or temple visit of the New Year, regardless of when it may occur. Many people also purchase good luck charms (o-mamori) for the coming year and return old ones.

toshikoshi-soba/New Year's Eve soba
It has long been a custom in Japan to eat soba (buckwheat) noodles together with one's family or friends to see in the New Year. Toshikoshi means ''year-crossing'' and eating long soba noodles represents living a long, healthy and wealthy life. In recent years, ready-made toshikoshi-soba has become available in most supermarkets.