![]() This tradition, known as the Joya no Kane ceremony, is a wonderful opportunity to incorporate some reflection and peace into your New Year’s Eve in Tokyo. Smaller temples may provide a better, less claustrophobic experience, so don’t be afraid to seek out a lesser-known or visited temple instead. If you are interested in joining the thousands of people who trek to Senso-ji or Zojo-ji, some of Tokyo’s most popular and well-known temples, consider going early in the evening (it may be hard to fully enjoy the experience if you arrive close to midnight). Some of Tokyo’s most famous and important temples are great places to take part in this meaningful ritual, but they are also great places to experience significant crowds. The bells will begin ringing on December 31, with the final bell sounding at midnight on January 1-a sign that the challenges of the previous year have been left behind. By ringing a large bell 108 times, Buddhists believe their souls can be cleansed for the new year. In Buddhism, the number 108 is significant: it reflects the number of earthly desires humans face on earth. Visit a Temple for New Year’s Eve Sengakuji TempleFor a very different type of celebration, consider ringing in the new year with actual bells at a Buddhist temple, where you’ll hear bells ring 108 times ending at midnight. We found the kadomatsu made the city feel especially festive in the days leading up to and after New Year’s Eve. Homes and buildings will often place the decorations outside their entrance just after Christmas and leave them on display through January 7th, when they are burned. Made up of three pieces of bamboo, straw, and pine branches, and often decorated with plum flowers, the kadomatsu is meant to honor the spirits and welcome happiness and prosperity in the new year. Most buildings are adorned with traditional Japanese new year decorations called kadomatsu. Whether you’re walking to a huge gathering or a quiet temple, the spirit of the new year can be found throughout the city. Sure, there are plenty of parties-and we certainly found the biggest one in Shibuya-but many locals enjoy a quieter celebration. The New Year is traditionally a time spent with family, when many people enjoy vacation time and domestic travel peaks as people reunite with loved ones in their hometowns. ![]() Unlike most cities, where New Year’s Eve is synonymous with champagne and fireworks, most of Japan celebrates the passing of the old year as a more solemn affair. While New Year’s Eve is an important holiday around the globe, it has a special significance for many people in Japan. What to Expect on New Year’s Eve in Tokyo Traditional New Year kadomatsu decorationsWhen you decide how you will spend your New Year’s Eve in Tokyo, you will have one big choice to make: do you want a more reflective evening, or do you want a party atmosphere? Whether you’re hoping for a classic party or a night steeped in tradition, the city has plenty to offer. If you are thinking about spending New Year’s Eve in Tokyo, here’s how we filled a few fast-paced days-and a few tips for making the most of your experience. ![]() ![]() New Year’s Eve provided the perfect opportunity to answer that question-and learn how one of the world’s great cities throws a party. We visited Tokyo once before, during a whirlwind extended layover on our way to Kuala Lumpur, and it left us feeling like we had barely scraped the surface of things to see and do in the city. When we found a good flight deal to Japan’s capital city just after the Christmas holiday, New Year’s Eve in Tokyo emerged as this year’s celebratory destination. We’ve counted down in Cape Town, watched fireworks explode over Porto, huddled by bonfires in Reykjavik, and sang in the streets of Bruges. At 10:30 PM on New Year’s Eve in Tokyo, we found ourselves in the midst of the pulsing crowds-but this time, the intersection stayed at capacity as 70,000 people took over the streets to countdown to the new year.įor a few years now, our tradition has become traveling during New Year’s Eve, experiencing how different corners of the world say goodbye to one year and hello to the next. Thousands of people simultaneously cross the street under the glow of stories-high neon lights and flashing billboards, pausing for traffic only until the lights change and release them back into what is affectionately called the “Shibuya Scramble.” When we visited in 2015, we stood in the window of a nearby building and watched, mesmerized, as the intersection swelled with people before emptying out again. Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing is perhaps the busiest pedestrian street crossing in the world. ![]()
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