New Year Eve Tokyo Japan

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.

New year eve tokyo japan. With celebrations extending until january 3rd new year in japan is largely a quiet solemn family affair. New years eve at tokyo disneyland. This is called hatsumode and is a way to get your first prayer of the year in nice and early.

It s primarily a shinto practice though most buddhist temples also participate. It s not always marked by noisy reveling fireworks or countdown parties though those can be found. For us the main draw to new year s eve in tokyo was being part of the action at shibuya.

Less so in tokyo where literally millions of people flock to the city s major and minor temples and shrines in the middle of the night. Similar to halloween this city offers a wide selection of ways to celebrate the big countdown. Japanese new year celebrations are quite different from typical western ones.

Midnight on new year s eve in many countries is usually the point at which the festivities get kicked up a notch. There will be the annual new years eve greeting on the parade route and the waters of the mediterranean harbour at tokyo disneysea. The tokyo disneyland resort and tokyo disneysea host a variety of special events over the festive period including some great parties and extra attractions on new years eve.

In fact most japanese people will be at home and if they re not from tokyo in their hometowns with their families. Smaller temples may provide a better less claustrophobic experience so don t be afraid to seek out a lesser known or visited temple instead.