2026/11/05
The short answer: December in Japan is bonenkai season, when offices and groups of friends hold year-end parties. Restaurants get busy, especially on Friday and Saturday nights, so if you’re visiting Osaka in December and want a proper Japanese dinner, book a few weeks ahead rather than counting on walking in. Also check holiday dates: many restaurants close for several days around New Year.
If you’ve never heard the word before, you’ll see it everywhere once December starts. Bonenkai (忘年会) literally means “forget-the-year gathering.” It’s a chance to put the year’s stress behind you, thank the people you work with, and eat and drink well together. For travelers, it mostly means one thing: tables fill up.
What is a bonenkai?
A bonenkai is a year-end party, usually held from late November through the end of December. Most are organized by workplaces, but friends, sports clubs and neighborhood groups hold them too. They range from loud izakaya nights with all-you-can-drink plans to quiet dinners for a few colleagues at a small Japanese restaurant.
There’s no ceremony to it. Someone says a few words, everyone raises a glass for kanpai, and dinner begins. A smaller version, held after the New Year, is called shinnenkai (新年会).
How December affects your restaurant plans in Osaka
- Weekends fill first. Fridays in the middle of December are usually the busiest nights of the year for restaurants.
- Small restaurants fill fastest. A counter restaurant with a limited number of seats can be fully booked by one or two groups.
- Weeknights are easier. If your dates are flexible, Monday to Thursday gives you a much better chance.
- New Year closures are common. Many independent restaurants close for a few days around January 1. Check before you plan a dinner for those dates.
Tips for booking dinner in December
Book as soon as your travel dates are fixed. If you’re staying in a hotel, the front desk can often call a restaurant for you, which helps if you’re worried about the language. When you book, it’s worth mentioning:
- the number of people and the time you’d like to arrive
- which menu you want, if you’ve already decided
- any allergies or foods you can’t eat
- if you need to finish by a certain time to catch a train
Arrive on time. In December especially, a small restaurant may have another group booked after yours.
What’s good to eat in December
December is when winter ingredients really arrive. Look for yellowtail (kan-buri), crab, oysters and turnips on Japanese menus, along with simmered dishes and hot pots. At a kappo restaurant the menu changes with the market, so the same course tastes different in early December than it did in autumn. For more, see our guide to seasonal Japanese food in Osaka.
On New Year’s Eve, many families eat toshikoshi soba, buckwheat noodles that are meant to carry you from one year into the next.
A quieter year-end dinner near Shin-Osaka
If you’d rather skip the big izakaya crowds, a small Japanese restaurant is a good way to see how locals celebrate the end of the year. Washoku Yu is about a 9-minute walk from Shin-Osaka Station. For international guests, there’s a set menu of sashimi, tempura and seared wagyu sukiyaki for 5,500 yen, which you can order on the day, and a version with sushi added for 7,700 yen if you book by the day before. Chef’s courses are 5,500, 8,800 and 13,200 yen. All prices include tax; drinks are extra.
In December, please book ahead. Sake is a nice way to toast the year, and our guide to ordering sake explains what to ask for.
For events and sightseeing in December, see the official Osaka tourism guide.
FAQ
What does bonenkai mean?
Bonenkai (忘年会) means “forget-the-year gathering.” It’s a year-end party held by workplaces and groups of friends, mostly in December.
Are restaurants in Osaka busy in December?
Yes, especially on Friday and Saturday nights in mid-December. Booking a few weeks ahead is a good idea.
Are restaurants in Japan open over New Year?
Many independent restaurants close for a few days around January 1. Dates vary, so check with each restaurant.
Can I join a bonenkai as a tourist?
Bonenkai are private parties, so you’d need an invitation. But you can enjoy the same kind of year-end dinner at a restaurant.
Is Washoku Yu open in December?
Yes, from 17:00 to 22:00, closed on Sundays. Booking ahead is recommended in December. Please contact us for New Year holiday dates.
About Washoku Yu
Washoku Yu is a small kappo-style Japanese restaurant near Shin-Osaka Station (about 9 minutes on foot) and Higashi-Mikuni Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line (about 5 minutes). Chef Yonezawa trained at the kappo restaurant Ishiwakawa in Kitashinchi and later cooked at a Japanese official residence in Australia.
Open 17:00 to 22:00, closed Sundays. To book, call +81-90-7965-9963 or email info@wasyoku-yuu.com. More details are on our English page.