After all the holiday indulgences, Nanakusa Gayu (七草粥) or Seven Herb Rice Porridge is enjoyed on January 7 of the New Year allowing our stomachs to recover.

On January 7th of the New Year, the Japanese observe a tradition known as nanakusa no sekku (七草の節句), or the Festival of the Seven Herbs, by eating a healthy rice porridge called Nanakusa Gayu (七草粥). This time-honored custom is believed to bring good health and to ward off evil spirits for the rest of the year.
The simple meal of rice porridge hits the spot after all the feasting and helps our overindulged stomach to heal and recover. If you’re ready for a reset, this tasty yet light porridge will be a nice welcome to get us back on track.
Table of Contents

What is Nanakusa Gayu?
Nanakusa gayu, literally translates to “seven herbs rice porridge”, is a type of okayu or rice porridge that consists of seven (七 nana) herbs (草 kusa). We sometimes say haru no nanakusa (春の七草), which means spring seven herbs, because young herbs that are available during this time of year are more tender and fragrant.
The custom of eating hot rice porridge on the 7th day of the Japanese New Year has its root in Chinese belief and can be traced back to ancient times in Japan. Based on the Chinese legend, January 7th is also known as Jinjitsu 人日, one of the 5 seasonal festivals (節句), which we celebrate everyone’s birthday as it is the day humans were born.
In Japan, we usually eat a plain bowl of okayu when we’re feeling under the weather because it is light, comforting, and easy for the stomach. It is a suitable meal to heal any heavy feelings or sicknesses. As we wrap up the New Year festivities, it makes sense to eat nanakusa gayu. Since there is little green during this season, the young herbs incorporated into the porridge bring color to the table and represent renewal for the new year.

Use These Seven Herbs for Nanakusa Gayu
Here are the seven herbs used in nanakusa gayu:
- Water dropwort – Seri (せり)
- Shepherd’s Purse – Nazuna (なずな・ぺんぺん草)
- Cudweed – Gogyo (ごぎょう)
- Chickweed – Hakobera (はこべら)
- Nipplewort – Hotokenoza (ほとけのざ)
- Turnip – Suzuna (すずな・かぶ)
- Daikon radish – Suzushiro (すずしろ・大根)

To help remember the herbs, we even have a song that goes like this: 「せり なずな、 ごぎょう はこべら ほとけのざ、 すずな すずしろ これぞ七草 (ななくさ)」(“Seri Nazuna, Gogyo Hakobera Hotokenoza, Suzuna Suzushiro Korezo Nanakusa.”)
For those of us who live outside of Japan, it would be a challenge to find all the seven herbs. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t make nanakusa gayu and enjoy the porridge at home. Over the years, I’ve cooked with various herbs and made my own versions, and each one turns out just as delicious.
Here are some common herbs that you can use, but make sure nothing is too strong or dominant in the amount that overkills the flavors:
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Chervil
- Chives
- Fennel
- Mint
- Watercress, etc
Where To Find Nanakusa (Seven Herbs)
In Japan

You can find these packages of convenient “Haru no Nanakusa Set” (春の七草セット) in grocery stores. They are basically a bundle of fresh herbs ready for use in making nanakusa gayu.

Outside of Japan
Most of these greens will probably be pretty hard to come by in the US or anywhere outside of Japan, so my recommendation is to use a selection of greens you enjoy that are available near you.
I waited for years to share this recipe on my blog because these fresh herbs were not available. Luckily, my local Japanese grocery store (Nijiya Market) started selling this freeze-dry nanakusa.

The package includes 2 small servings of freeze-dried herbs.

Use Japanese Earthenware Pot Donabe for Nanakusa Gayu
For best-tasting okayu, I recommend using a donabe (土鍋), a Japanese earthenware pot, to cook the porridge.

This traditional clay pot distributes heat beautifully and retains heat well, and it makes a beautiful serveware for nanakusa gayu. It certainly suits the spirits of Japanese New Year by serving such a meaningful meal in a donabe.
Before you start using your Donabe, please learn how to season and care for your donabe.
More on Japanese New Year Traditions & Foods:
- How Do The Japanese Celebrate The Japanese New Year
- Toshikoshi Soba (Japanese New Year’s Eve Noodles)
- Osechi Ryori (Japanese New Year’s Food)
- Kagami Biraki – Mochi Breaking Ceremony
- Eating Nanakusa Gayu on The Festival of the Seven Herbs

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Nanakusa Gayu (Seven Herb Rice Porridge)
Ingredients
For Rice Porridge
- ¼ cup uncooked Japanese short-grain white rice
- 250 ml water (1 cup + 2 tsp)
- Diamond Crystal kosher salt (to taste)
Nanakusa (Seven herbs)
- 1 package Nanakusa Set (fresh or freeze-dry) (or 7 herbs of your choice, cut into small pieces)
Instructions
To Make Rice Porridge
- Add ¼ cup (50 g) short-grain rice in a bowl and rinse under running water while gently rubbing the rice with hands. Repeat until the water runs clear and drain.
- Put the rice back in a donabe (I used a small Japanese earthenware pot) or a heavy-bottomed pot, add 250 ml of water, and cover with a lid. Soak the rice for at least 30 minutes. Tip: With the heavy-bottomed pot like a donabe, the heat is distributed not as strongly/directly as a regular pot, so you can cook rice evenly.
- Bring the rice to a boil over medium-high heat. You can open the lid to check during this time.
- As soon as it's boiling, gently mix with the spoon once, making sure the rice is not stuck to the bottom of the pot. Then lower the heat to the stove’s lowest heat setting (make sure to use the right size of stove burner for your pot size), cover the lid, and simmer the rice for 25-30 minutes. During this time, don't open the lid or mix the rice (See Note).
- After 25-30 minutes, turn off the heat and set aside for 10 minutes to let it steam. The rice should be soft and thickened.
To Make Nanakusa Gayu
- Add nanakusa (fresh or freeze-dried) and mix gently. Sprinkle salt to taste. Enjoy!
Notes
Zen-gayu – 1 : 5 (50 grams : 250 ml)
Shichibu-gayu – 1 : 7 (50 grams : 350 ml)
Gobu-gayu – 1 :10 (50 grams : 500 ml)
Sanbu-gayu – 1 : 20 (25 grams : 500 ml) Using Cooked Rice:
Add rice and 2-3 times water in the pot. Cook stirring over medium-low heat. Adjust the consistency by adding more water.
Nutrition
Editor’s Note: The post was originally published on January 5, 2017. It has been updated with new images in January 2019 and republished in January 2022.
Are the nanakusa gayu herbs available only seasonally (at Nijiya for Jan-7th), or is this something Japanese enjoy year-round?
Hi squidlydeux! These herbs are seasonal, and we usually see the fresh herbs at the Japanese store in early January only. We enjoy simple rice porridge without herbs all year round, but Nanakusa Gayu is a special meal for January 7th.
However, now freeze-dry Nanakusa is available in some stores, people may enjoy it any time of the year.
We hope this helps!
Hi Naomi, thanks for the recipe. I was interested to see one of the herbs was dropwort aka hemlock. Here in the UK it’s quite a common wild plant but known to be extremely poisonous, even fatal! I looked to see if it was a different species in US but it seems to be the same. Btw I love your recipes – very informative, well thought out and easy to follow. I look forward to them. Enjoy your New Year feast!
Hi Jasmin! Thank you very much for reading Nami’s post!
The herbs used in this recipe are Japanese species, and it called “Seri” in Japanese. It’s culinary use and safe to eat.🙂 It might be a challenge to find all the seven herbs outside Japan, but we hope you enjoy this recipe with Nami’s recommended alternative herbs listed in this post. Happy New Year!
Hi Nami-san! Thank you for all of your lovely recipes always 🙂 Do you have a suggestion for a different pot to use if I do not have a donabe? Would a dutch oven work? Also, is it possible to make this in an instant pot? Happy New Year!
Hi Kelly! Thank you very much for reading Nami’s post and trying her recipe!
Yes, you can use a dutch oven for this recipe.🙂
As for instant pot, currently, we do not have a recipe on our site, but it’s possible to use an instant pot. Try cooking the porridge for about 15 minutes? Let us know how it goes!
Thank you for letting us know about freeze dried nanakusa at Nijiya. I found it at the San Francisco store. Made nanakusa gayu in the donabe today, 1/7/2021. Great!
Also want to tell you that a couple of months ago I bought anko at Nijiya and made nabe. Added ankimo as your recipe suggests. It was really tasty. I love ankimo and buy it very often, eat it with ponzu.
Hi Lynne,
It is our pleasure! Thank you very much for trying this recipe and Anko Nabe https://www.justonecookbook.com/monkfish-hot-pot/!
We are so happy to hear you were able to make Nanakusa Gayu on 1/7, and you had a chance to enjoy Anko Nabe last year! Yay!
Nami
Thank you for this recipe. I’ve never heard of it but will go to Nijiya to buy it.
Have you heard of this .. my Uncle use to go herring fishing & my Aunt would make this marinade for the Herring eggs on the fresh Nori. Have you heard of such a thing. My Aunt & Uncle have passed so I can’t ask.
Hi Ginger!
Thank you very much for trying this recipe! We hope you find the ingredients at Nijiya and able to try this Nanakusa Gayu.
As for the Herring eggs on the fresh Nori, It sounds to me like a Herring eggs called Komochi-kombu (子持ち昆布). Please search this Japanese word online and see if that looks similar to what you remember. If it’s the same one as my guess, Yes, Nami has a marinade recipe. https://www.justonecookbook.com/kazunoko/
Her recipe’s Herring eggs are not the ones with Kombu, but the marinade will be the same.
We hope this helps!
Muito boa a receita, pena que não temos todas as ervas disponíveis no Brasil.
Hi Nestor,
We are sorry to hear that you can’t find all the ingredients for this recipe. We hope this recipe becomes more popular in your area, and you can purchase it at your local store or online. Thank you for reading this post!
Obrigado!
The Japanese are so sensible !
Here in Saskatchewan after Xmas & New Year’s indulgences we will celebrate Ukranian Xmas Jan 7 Being Ukranian not required! Healthy resolution starts Jan 8
あけましておめでとう🐂
Hi Vanda,
Wow, one day different to start Healthy resolution!
Thank you very much for your feedback and for sharing the Ukraina Holiday information!
Happy New Year!🎉 明けましておめでとうございます。
Is there a website where the herbs can be purchased?
Hi Shawn,
We had searched online, but unfortunately, we couldn’t find the shop that carries it.😔
Thanks for this recipe. I prefer to refer to New Year’s intentions, rather than resolutions.
Hi Frances! Thank you for your input!🙂
All your recipes looks delicious thanks for sharing Happy New Yearr to you and your staff
Hi June!
Happy New Year!🎍 Thank you very much for your kind feedback!
Hi, I have a question? Since it is hard to find these herbs fresh. Can I use packet and lose teas for the herbs that I can’t find. A few of these herbs as easy to find dried and in tea form at the local apothecary locations I frequent.
Hi Cori,
In Japan, a freeze-dried product is available. But we’ve never tried this recipe with loose teas, so it’s hard to say… maybe try it with a small portion first to see if it works?