If you’re looking to countdown into the new year wearing sparkly dresses at extravagant parties until the break of dawn, ringing in the new year in Tokyo might not be for you.
Unlike NYC, known for its lavish new year’s eve countdown parties and vibrant firework displays that light up the city all night, Tokyo’s take on welcoming the new year is a lot more spiritual, in my opinion.
If you’re looking for a party, you will surely find plenty in Tokyo, but if you ever find yourself in this beautiful city during the holidays, I invite you to experience ringing in the new year the Japanese way. Here are five things you can do in Tokyo to welcome the new year:
1. Eat Noodles and Cheers to Sake
It’s a Japanese tradition to eat Toshikoshi soba noodles on New Year’s Eve. In Japanese, Toshikoshi means “Passing Year” so it’s only fitting to eat it on the last day of the year. This tradition, however, is usually enjoyed at home, so you will have to make sure the soba restaurant you are planning to visit is open on NYE.
On the first day of the new year, it is also customary to cheers to sake. We were offered complimentary sake shots in all of the restaurants we visited on January 1st. Our hotel even had a few bottles in the lobby available for all of their guests. Happy new year indeed!
2. Countdown in Shibuya
As midnight draws closer on new year’s eve, people start to gather in Shibuya Crossing. Although there’s no ball drop when the clock strikes 12 like Times Square, people gather at Shibuya Crossing to watch the countdown on the big screens in Shibuya Crossing. There are also tons of bars and restaurants in the area that host countdown parties. We walked into SG Club without reservations, a sophisticated cocktail bar highly recommended by a prominent bartender in Kyoto. There was a bit of a wait to get in but once we were inside, we were comfortably seated in the speakeasy section hidden behind a quintessential 1920’s shoe shining station, of course. There was a countdown to midnight and complimentary champagne toast.
3. Joya No Kane at a Buddhist Temple
If you’d prefer to celebrate New Year’s Eve in a more spiritual way, you can visit a Buddhist temple and partake in a Buddhist ritual called Joya No Kane. During this Buddhist ritual, the temple bell is struck 108 times to represent striking out the 108 temptations. The bell is struck 107 times on December 31st and once more at the strike of midnight. In Tokyo, some places where you can watch this Buddhist ritual are Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Hongwanji Temple in Tsukiji, and Zenpukuji Temple in Azabu-juban.
4. Hatsumode at a Shinto Shrine
The next day, we decide to head out early to experience Hatsumode at Meiji Jingu Shinto Shrine. Unsurprisingly, we weren’t the only ones. We were greeted with a massive crowd of tourists and locals alike. The bulk of the crowd rushing to the main shrine by the garden to pray for good fortune in the new year. .
5. Hatsuhinode
While most westerners might opt to sleep in on the 1st of January to nurse a hangover from the night before, many Japanese start hiking at dawn to reach mountain tops to catch a glimpse of the rising sun. This is called Hatsuhinode. In Japanese tradition, the first sunrise of the year is said to bring good fortune. One of the most popular places in Tokyo to catch the first sunrise is at Mount Takao.
For anyone looking to party less and reflect more, ringing in the new year in Tokyo should top your destination list. Keeping in mind that this is a cultural tradition and not a show for tourists. I firmly believe that keeping an open mind and showing respect for others’ way of life goes a long way.
