Planning to spend time in Japan on the new year eve and days? 

Unlike most of the western world where people celebrate it with firework and a lot of alcohol, the new year is (probably) the most silent period of time in Japan. 

If you are looking forward to the big fire works everywhere and a lot of parties, you are basically in a wrong country. On the bright side, it is a very special moment in the country of rising sun. You spend one of the most important moments with all Japanese people. Yet, unless you stay in the very suburb, it is not complete silence during the period. There are a lot of fun events, parties etc. going on on Japan's new year.

We try to list up as many fun things as possible to do on the new year eve and new year days.

As of Dec, 2018, the information for the 2019 new year day events are yet to be open. We will keep you updated!

Now let us cut to the chase!

Source: Hanayashiki

Name: Asakusa Hanayashiki (theme park)

Place: Asakusa, Tokyo

Price: 2000JPY (Jr. High or older )

1000JPY (2 years - before Jr. High)

Only cash ( no credit card)

Time: 31 Dec 21:00- 1 Jan 02:00AM

Contact: +81 3-3842-8780

Note: At 23:45 on 31st of Jan the countdown event starts. You can ride as many attractions as possible and after the event you can visit Sensoji temple in Asakusa.

http://hanayashiki-event.com/countdown2016/

Name: Nanja town 

Place: Nanja Town, Ikebukuro, Tokyo 

Time: 31 Dec 22:00- 1 Jan 05:00AM

Contact: +81 3-5950-0765

Note: TV game battle (if you win, your name will be written in the venue). At the Sunshine building in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. It usually offers new year ice creams (1000 ice creams for free at 2017 event)

Official web　(no info as of Dec, 2018)

Source: Sunshine building

Name: Ikebukuro Sunshine Sora Fes Countdown special - Sky circus -

Place: Sunshine Building observatory on 60th floor, Ikebukuro, Tokyo 

Time: 31 Dec 20:00- 1 Jan 01:00AM (you can only enter before 12:00 mid night)

Price: 2800JPY

Contact: +81 3-3989-3457

Note: You enjoy the live music and VR entertainment. Limited to 1000 people. 

Official website: http://www.skycircus.jp/

Source: Tokyo Joypolis 

Name: Tokyo Joypolis countdown party

Place: Tokyo Joypolis, Odaiba, Tokyo  (get off at Odaiba Kaihin koen stn or Tokyo Teleport stn)

Time: 31 Dec 23:00- 1 Jan 05:00AM (you can only enter before 04:15AM)

Price: 800JPY for 18 years old or older. 500JPY for primary, jr. and jr. high school 

Contact: +81 3-5500-1801

Note: You enjoy the live music and some shows. 

Official website: http://tokyo-joypolis.com/event/countdown2016/index.html

The new year festival starts around 22:00. Many of the restaurants close but you see many street shops open. The main venues are Emperor Guan's Shrine and Yokohama Ma Zhu Miao. You see big fire crackers and lion dances.

Place: Ikoi hiroba at Verny Park 

Time: 31 Dec 18:00- 1 Jan 01:00AM

Address: 1 Chome-1 Shioirichō, Yokosuka-shi, Kanagawa-ken 238-0042 (Get off at Shioiri station (Keikyu) and 5 min walk, or Yokosuka station (JR) 1 min walk)

Note:

The schedule looks like

18:00 event starts (live performances on stage)

21:00 light decoration on on the ship

00:00 (mid night)at fireworks (around 400 shots) for 5 mins

01:00 the event ends

Contact: +81 46-825-1080

Website

Name: Happy Island Countdown 

Place: Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise

Time: 31 Dec 19:00 - 1 Jan 08:00AM

Contact: +81 45-788-8888

Note: ca 3000 fireworks!

Website 

Name: Tokyo Disney resort

Place: Maihama, Chiba

Time: 31 Dec 20:00 - 1 Jan 22:00

Contact: http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/magic/cd_party/apply/

Fee: 9700 JPY per person 

Note: Ticket is to be sold in Nov usually. It is already sold out as of December, 2018 (if you are reading this in 2019 for 2020 or thereafter, you may have a chance. Go quick and find out on the official website )

(You can see the fire work for free if you are lucky. Check out Kasai Rinkai Park below)

One cool spot you want to be is Kasai Rinkai Park. Unlike many other places, it is a 700 JPY entry. You can even see fireworks of Tokyo Disney resorts.

31 Dec 10:00AM - 1 Jan 08:00AM

Contact: +81 3-3686-6911

Click the above picture to go to each official website

Some examples of big countdown parties taking places as below:

Name: ageHa

Address: 2-2-10 Shinkiba, Koto, Tokyo 136-0082

Phone: +81 3-5534-1515

Note: Capacity 2400 people. Currently probably the most famous club in Japan.

Name: SOUND MUSEUM VISION

Address: 2−10−7, Dogenzaka, Shibuya,Tokyo

Contact: +81 3-5728-2824

Note: Located at the basement in Dogenzaka street, Shibuya. Capacity 1500 people.

Name: Club Six Tokyo

Address: 2F, 5-5-1, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Phone: +81 3-3470-6066

Note: Capacity 500 people. The club with the latest sound systems.

Name: V2 Tokyo

Address: 13F, 5-5-1, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Phone: +81 3-5474-0091

Note: Capacity 2000 people. One of the biggest clubs in Roppongi area.

Name: Maharaja Roppongi

Address: 3-12-6, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Phone: +81 3-6804-1798

Note: Most famous club in Japan in 1980-1990. The countdown party offers you something Japanese e.g. new year soba noodle etc.  Capacity 300 people.

Name: ESPRIT TOKYO

Address: Roppongi B&V building2/3 floor,5-1-6 Roppongi Minatoku,Tokyo

Contact: +81 3-3470-1371

Note: renovated in April, 2015. around 600 people capacity

 If you want to have a very special night with great food and atmosphere, you can check some countdown parties at cool hotels in the city. Well, you need to book in advance and the price is quite something (150 USD - 300USD per person). It is certainly worth it.

Our recommendations are ANA InterContinental Tokyo for DJs at MIXX bar and lounger and Shangri-La Hotel in Tokyo for all you can drink Dom Perignon and some buffet.

Countdown fireworks at Universal Studio Japan, Osaka 

Place: Universal Studio Japan, Osaka

Time: 31 Dec 19:00 - 1 Jan 02:00AM

Fee: 12800 JPY per person

There will be live concerts by some famous musicians (famous in Japan) and fireworks!

You need to get " the party pass " to attend this party. This party pass allows you to attend the party and ride all attractions from 19:00 on 31 Dec till 21:00 on 1st of Jan (26 hours!).

Website 

Place: Porto Europa area in Wakayama Marina City, Wakayama

Time: 31 Dec 19:00 - 1 Jan 00:50AM

Address: 1527, Kemi, Wakayama-shi, Wakayama-ken, Japan

Fee: Free

Contact: +81 73-448-0300 

You see the local musicians on stage and fireworks!

Website

Place: Suma Aqualife Park Kobe, Kobe, Hyogo

Time: 31 Dec 21:00 - 1 Jan 01:00AM

Fee: 1300JPY 

Address: 1 Chome-3-5 Wakamiyacho, Suma Ward, Kobe, Hyogo

Contact: +81 78-731-7301 

Every year around 4000 visitors. You see the new year dolphin shows etc.

Website 

There shall be a lot of new year events at clubs

Famous ones include

Vanity Osaka

Address: 2 Chome-7-20 Higashishinsaibashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka Prefecture 542-0083

Phone: +81 6-6212-3333

On and On

Address: Basement 1, 6 Chome−8−7, Nishitenma, Kita, Osaka

Phone: +81 6-6362-0212

Name:  Otaru Beer Countdown

Address: Otaru Beer Otaru Soko No. 1,  5-4 Minatomachi, Otaru-shi, Hokkaidō 047-0007

Fee: 2000JPY ticket which buys you 2500JPY amount of drinks/foods at the venue

Time: 31 Dec 10:00AM - 1 Jan 01:00AM  (Last entry before 00:30 mid night)

Contact: +81 134-21-2323

Note:  Dance, live music event. Beer drink countdown event. There will be a special beer of 13.5% alcohol brewed over 7 month (available one glass per one person only)

Website: https://otarubeer.com/jp/

Name:  Sora no Toshikoshi@T38

Address: 38th floor of JR building, 2 Chome-5 Kita 5 Jōnishi, Chūō-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaidō 060-0005

Fee: n.a. for the new year event. But the normal fee is 720JPY for adult. 

Time: 31 Dec 10:00AM - 1 Jan 01:00AM  (Last entry before 00:30 mid night)

Contact: +81 11-209-5500

Note:  JR tower obervatory on 38th floor at the height of 160m. Talk show and live music.

Website: http://www.jr-tower.com/t38

Name:  RUSUTSU RESORTS

Address: Ski resort. 13 Izumikawa, Rusutsu-mura, Abuta-gun, Hokkaidō 048-1711

Fee: Free to watch. 550JPY to have a torch and ski

Time: 31 Dec 20:45 - 21:30  (ski resort opens from 09:00AM - 21:00)

Contact: +81 136-46-3111

Note:  1200 shots of firework, torch holding ski, bingo game

Website: https://rusutsu.co.jp/

Name: New Year's Party

Address: 333 Nagashimachō Urayasu, Kuwana-shi, Mie-ken 511-1135

 (Take Mie-Kotsu bus from Kuwana station)

Fee: 5500JPY per person (if you buy in advance, 5000JPY)

Time: 31 Dec 20:00-1 Jan 03:00AM

Contact: +81 594-45-1111

Note: This is the biggest new year event in Tokai area. It is a theme park with hot spring. Live concerts and then fireworks. Every year famous firework artists from Aichi prefecture craft the fireworks. After the countdown, enjoy the hot spring in this venue. The hot spring is open till 05:00AM (last entry is by 04:00AM) on 1st Jan

Website

Huis Ten Bosch fireworks in 2015 - 2016

Name: Huis Ten Bosch

Address: 1-1 Huis Ten Bosch Machi, Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture 859-3292

Fee: there are several types, basically around 10,000JPY

Time: 31 Dec 08:00AM-1 Jan 26:00

Contact: +81 570-064-110

Note: There are more than 40 attractions/rides you can enjoy in the ticket package. Live concerts and fireworks. Their fireworks is one of the biggest in Japan for the countdown event.

For this venue, you can check out the Robot hotel for your stay.

Website

Name: Candle Road in Morin-ji

Address: 1570 Horikuchō, Tatebayashi-shi, Gunma (you walk around 10 mins from Morin-ji-mae station on Tobu Isesaki line)

Fee: n.a.

Time: c.a. 31 Dec 23:00-1 Jan 02:00AM

Contact: +81 276－73－0632

Note: In Japanese, Morinji reads " 茂林寺 ". At this special time of the year, the temple lit up 2000 candles. The temple usually offers warm drinks. No fireworks but this venue is  great for those who appreciate silent traditional type of Japanese new year.

Website 

Name: Sanrio Character Harmony Park Kitty Land

Address: 5933 Fujiwara, Hinodemachi, Hayami, Oita

Fee: n.a. 

Time: 31 Dec -1 Jan 

Contact: +81 977-73-1111

Note: If you love Hello Kitty and other characters from Sanrio, this must be the ideal way of welcoming a new year. There will be fireworks around Kitty Castle when the time hits the new year. Usually visitors fly their balloons when the fireworks start.

Website 

After you spend sleepless night on the new year's eve, you can consider doing the below. Many Japanese do these.

You go to the emperor's palace near Tokyo station and get disappointed as the gates are always closed?  You will be very lucky if you visit Japan on new year's day. On January 2nd, the Japan's emperor makes several speeches to the public at the Tokyo Imperial Palace. It is one of only two rare occasions for the year. On this day the gate opens to the public, there will be so many people (you may also see some far right wing people too).

We are once there to see the emperor. You do not need to reserve in advance but please be prepared to wait for 2 hours or longer, where you basically need to stand still in the cold till the security guards instruct you to move, before you see the royal family.

The emperor and family members appearance time table 

10:10AM 

11:00AM 

11:50AM 

13:30 and 

14:20

Many shops offer you a bag full of items at a good price on 1st ( and, 2nd and 3rd depending on shop)of Jan. It is normal that you can not see what it is in the bag. You open it when you buy and you may be happy to find great items at super good price or be disappointed to find all the unsold items from the previous year..

Popular Fukubukuro includes Japan's Starbucks which offer original items.  Last year (2015 as of the time of writing this) there were incidents where some group of people bought all Starbucks' Fukubukuro around major cities (to resell the items online to earn profit) which pissed the public off.

Do not expect an easy and silent trip to the shrines (if you go to one in a big city) Source: Wikipedia

Many Japanese visit shrines on 1st of Jan. It is called " Hatsu-mode = first visit" . If you are in Tokyo area, famous places are:

1) Meiji jingu,

Address: 1-1 Yoyogikamizonochō, Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to 151-0052

Note: Probably the most famous shrine in Tokyo. Very close to Harajuku station. 3.17million visitors on the new year day in 1st, 2nd and 3rd of Jan, 2016. The Peak times are 00:00-03:00AM on 1st, 11:00AM-15:00 of 2nd and 3rd of Jan

2) Yoyogi Hachimangu

Address: 5-1 Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-0053

Note: Some walk from Yoyogi Park/Yoyogihachiman. It is believed to give luck on your job at this shrine

3) Kinarikio jinja 

Address: 2 Chome-17-5 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-0021

Note: Around 4000 visitors every year at the new year day

4) Namiyoke Inari 

Address: 6 Chome-20-37 Tsukiji, Chuo, Tokyo 104-0045

Note: Close to Tsukiji market. The peak time is 00:00-03:00AM on 1st of Jan. 30,000 visitors on 1-3 of Jan, 2016 

You will see so many visitors like crowded trains in the morning.

Hatsu-mode is usually for shrine but many also visit temples. For example, Sensoji in Asakusa will be full on the new years days.

Source: Meijijingu shrine

At Hatsumode(a new year day) visit to a shrine, you can buy the cute doll of the animal of the year (Chicken is the animal of 2016 (called "Dorei = clay bell"). pictured on left). Our members collected all 12 animals. 

And you can write your wish on the wooden plate called "Ema" (pictured on right).

This is too much Japanese though, if you want to know what we are doing on the new year's day traditionally.

When we were little, we went out to our schools and flew kites on new year's day. It is usually cold on these days but as kids you would not mind it.

It is getting really Japanese here. What we do on new years day, we also do calligraphy writing the word for the new year. For example, if you have an important exam on that year, you may write "Pass= Gokaku (合格)" on the paper with a Japanese pen.

We also play Hanetsuki which is similar to badminton without a net.

Hane means "feather shuttlecock" and Tsuki means "hit". It is really like a badminton as everyone knows. 

Yet, there is no net so you can play anywhere outside unless the wind is too strong and also the rackets are made of wooden board (no net). This way, if any kids play this game, you can easily notice from the sounds the rackets make when hitting the shuttlecock.

The most distinct part of this game is that if you lose, the opponent will write something ( x mark) on your face with a Japanese calligraphy pen. It is quite messy if you play this game so we do not see many really write on their faces in the game even though play this Hanetsuki badminton.

Did you find where to go on your new year's eve and days in Japan? Then, to make sure your trip is a great and happy one, we would like to share with you some travel tips when you are visiting Japan on new year.

Public transport may not run 24 hours in Japan. In some countries public transport goes on 24 hours which is great for party goers but not in Japan. Public transports stop usually by the mid night or around 1AM at latest even in the center of Tokyo. As an exception in the year, on new year's eve many public transports in the major cities run 24 hours. Yet, you better check out if you have a train or bus to go back to your place on some new year's eve events.

Our recommendation is to use this website to check your way back. It covers most of the public transports in Japan. https://world.jorudan.co.jp/norikae/cgi-bin/engkeyin.cgi

Many touristy places like museums, zoos, and stores, restaurants, banks and ATMs are closed on one or more days between December 29th and January 4th. Japan is known for having most of the places open and till late but you find many places are closed on 1st of January. 

For food, books etc. do not worry, convenience stores are always there for you. But for the cash, the ATMs are in the convenience stores usually but on 1st and 2nd of January, ATMs in the convenience stores are not in service (due to some maintenance etc.). Considering that there are significant numbers of places which do not take credit cards, if you have not much cash with you, better withdraw before the new year's eve to survive the new year's day.

It is not usually that it snows in Tokyo or Osaka on new year day. But in some years we saw a big snow around the new year time and the road gets icy in the city esp. in the morning and the night.  You do not want to start a new year with broken arm/leg(s) or so. To have a safe grip of the ground, better prepare one pair of snow shoes which can walk on icy road. 

All information based on 2018. Some events may not take place in other year and also may be under different names

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Source: Wikipedia, each inn's official websites

Disclaimer: Even though we try to make the info as updated and accurate but the accuracy of the information herein is not guaranteed by us. If you have any uncertainty, please contact the information source.