Spending New Year's Eve in Tokyo offers a variety of experiences, from dazzling countdown events and traditional hatsumode shrine visits to magical first sunrises of the year. In this article, we will introduce in detail the most exciting events and spots to enjoy during the New Year season in Tokyo.

*The information in this article is current as of November 11, 2025.

*By purchasing or reserving products introduced in this article, a portion of the sales may be returned to FUN! JAPAN.

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New Year's Eve Countdown & Events in Tokyo

The Cruise Club Tokyo: New Year's Eve Countdown Cruise 

Copyright: KKday

The New Year's Eve Countdown Cruise by The Cruise Club Tokyo is a luxurious experience where you can welcome the New Year while enjoying Tokyo's night views from a luxury cruise ship. You can see iconic Tokyo landmarks such as Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower from the water.

At the moment of the countdown, the ship is filled with cheers and a festive atmosphere. You can also enjoy live jazz performances, making for a glamorous and memorable New Year's celebration.

👉The Cruise Club Tokyo｜2 minutes' walk from Tennozu Isle Station【kkday】

The Cruise Club Tokyo

  • Access: 5 minutes on foot from Tennozu Isle Station
  • Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2025
  • Official Website: https://cctokyo.co.jp/

Shinagawa Prince Hotel: Countdown Party 

Copyright: KKday

At the Shinagawa Prince Hotel, the annual glamorous countdown party is held every year. Its excellent location, just a 2-minute walk from JR Shinagawa Station, is also a big attraction. You can enjoy a variety of entertainment such as DJ performances and live music.

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Shinagawa Prince Hotel

Symphony Cruise: New Year's Eve Countdown Cruise

The Symphony Cruise New Year's Eve Countdown Cruise is a romantic event where you can welcome the New Year with live music while cruising around Tokyo Bay. The cruise departs from Hinode Pier and tours night view spots in the Tokyo Bay area such as Odaiba, Rainbow Bridge, and Tokyo Gate Bridge.

Onboard, a special course meal is served, and you can enjoy glamorous live performances and dance shows. Spending a special time surrounded by Tokyo's night views and music is perfect for couples and celebrating anniversaries.

Symphony Cruise

The Prince Park Tower Tokyo: Countdown Event 

Copyright: KKday

The Prince Park Tower Tokyo will be hosting a glamorous countdown party to welcome the New Year. Guests can enjoy live music performances and a spectacular show of bubbles and lights at the venue.

Spending the night in this luxurious hotel setting is perfect for couples and for celebrating special anniversaries, and is ideal for those who wish to ring in the New Year in an elegant and sophisticated style.

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The Prince Park Tower Tokyo

Countdown Musical Concert 2025-2026 (Tokyo International Forum)

Tokyo International Forum © Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Countdown Musical Concert held at the Tokyo International Forum features famous musical numbers and classical masterpieces, offering an artistic way to celebrate the New Year. The powerful performances by the orchestra and singers will make the start of the year truly moving.

Countdown Musical Concert 2025-2026

TOKYO NIGHTTIME PROJECT Happy New Year Tokyo 2026

© Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau

TOKYO NIGHTTIME PROJECT Happy New Year Tokyo 2026 is a large-scale New Year's Eve event that lights up the night in Tokyo, held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Citizens' Plaza.

The event is packed with entertainment that lets you experience the unique spirit of Tokyo, including projection mapping, live performances, and a variety of content such as Hatsune Miku, breakdancer Shigekix, and character shows.

TOKYO NIGHTTIME PROJECT Happy New Year Tokyo 2026

Asakusa Hanayashiki: Hanayashiki Countdown (Held Annually / Not Announced for This Year Yet)

Asakusa Hanayashiki is known as Japan’s oldest amusement park and holds countdown events every year. The park stays open late into the night, offering a unique experience where you can ring in the New Year while enjoying the attractions.

Asakusa Hanayashiki

  • Access: 5-minute walk from Asakusa Station
  • Event Period: Not yet announced for this year. For 2024, December 31 (Wednesday)
  • Official Website: https://www.hanayashiki.net/

TOKYU KABUKICHO TOWER New Year's Eve (*No information announced for this year yet)

Opened in 2023, TOKYU KABUKICHO TOWER has become a new landmark in Shinjuku’s Kabukicho district. This multi-purpose complex is expected to host large-scale countdown events every year.

TOKYU KABUKICHO TOWER

  • Access: 6-minute walk from Shinjuku Nishiguchi Station
  • Event Period: Not yet announced for this year. For 2024, from December 31 (Tuesday) to January 1, 2025 (Wednesday, public holiday)
  • Official Website: https://www.tokyu-kabukicho-tower.jp/

Tokyo’s Hatsumode Spots: Meiji Jingu, Senso-ji

Meiji Jingu: Tokyo’s Most Famous Hatsumode Spot – Over 3 Million Visitors Annually

Meiji Jingu is the most famous spot in Tokyo for hatsumode (the first shrine visit of the year), attracting over 3 million visitors every year, making it the most visited shrine in Japan.

Founded in 1920 to enshrine Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, it is cherished as a spiritual center for Tokyo residents. The grounds are home to about 100,000 trees, offering a tranquil and natural atmosphere that feels far removed from the city center.

Meiji Jingu

🍴【byFood】Guided Sake Tasting and 1-Hour All-You-Can-Drink in Shibuya

Enjoy a sake tasting at a futuristic sake bar in Shibuya! Try different varieties of sake from all over Japan, learn insights from a sake expert, and enjoy all-you-can-drink sake for 1 hour.

🍴【byFood】Shibuya Scramble: Hidden Bars & Lively Izakayas

Experience true Tokyo nightlife with a private bar hop and izakaya crawl in Shibuya! Visit hidden bars, buzzy izakayas, and explore the city’s backstreets with your English-speaking Japanese guide.

Senso-ji: A Popular Temple to Visit Alongside Asakusa Sightseeing

Senso-ji, founded in 628, is Tokyo’s oldest temple and one of the city’s most iconic tourist spots, attracting about 30 million visitors annually. Around 2.9 million people visit for hatsumode.

From the giant lantern at Kaminarimon Gate and the lively Nakamise-dori shopping street to the majestic main hall, you can fully experience traditional Japanese culture. On New Year’s Day, a special prayer ceremony is held to wish for good health and safety throughout the year.

Senso-ji

Zojoji Temple: A Picturesque Temple with Tokyo Tower in the Background 

© Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau 

Zojoji Temple, located in Shiba Park, Minato Ward, is the head temple of the Jodo sect and is known as the family temple of the Tokugawa clan. The unique scenery of Tokyo Tower rising behind the temple is a popular symbol of the fusion of tradition and modernity in Tokyo.

From midnight on New Year’s Day, the temple bell is rung, and you can experience ringing the bell yourself (advance reservation and fee required).

Zojoji Temple

Kanda Myojin: Popular for Business Prosperity and Career Success 

© Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau 

Kanda Myojin is known for blessings related to business prosperity, career advancement, and success in competitions, attracting many businesspeople and entrepreneurs.

With a history of over 1,300 years, it was widely worshipped by both commoners and samurai as the “Guardian of Edo” during the Edo period.

Kanda Myojin

Tokyo’s First Sunrise Spots: Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree

Tokyo Skytree: Welcoming the First Sunrise from the Tallest Point in Japan 

Copyright: KKday

Watching the first sunrise of the year from the observation deck of Tokyo Skytree is one of the most popular New Year’s experiences in Tokyo.

On New Year’s Day, special early morning hours are offered (the schedule may vary by year), and special tickets to view the first sunrise are sold.

👉Tokyo Skytree Observatory Deck / Tembo Galleria Admission Ticket【kkday】

Tokyo Skytree

Tokyo Tower: A Special First Sunrise from Tokyo’s Iconic Landmark 

Copyright: KKday

Watching the first sunrise from the Main Deck (150 meters) and Top Deck (250 meters) of Tokyo Tower offers a stunning view of the city’s skyscrapers against the morning sky.

On New Year’s Day, special events are sometimes held, including countdowns to the New Year and music events along with the first sunrise.

👉Tokyo Tower Main Deck (150m) Admission Ticket【kkday】

Tokyo Tower

Sunshine 60 Observatory Tenbou Park: Welcome the First Sunrise at Ikebukuro’s New-Style Observatory

Sunshine 60 Observatory, themed "A perfect day in the park, 365 days a year," features an open space that feels like a park floating in the city sky.

At 251 meters above sea level, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of Tokyo. There are also lawn areas and a café space, so you can relax while waiting for the first sunrise.

Sunshine 60 Observatory Tenbou Park

Kasai Rinkai Park: Spectacular First Sunrise from the Seaside 

Copyright: KKday

Kasai Rinkai Park is a vast metropolitan park facing Tokyo Bay. It is a popular spot for watching the first sunrise of the year from the seaside. The biggest attraction is the sense of openness, as you can see the sun rise over the horizon with nothing to block your view. Many people visit early in the morning on New Year’s Day.

The park is also home to one of Japan’s largest Ferris wheels, which sometimes offers special hours on New Year’s Day. Watching the first sunrise from the Ferris wheel is a romantic and unique experience.

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Kasai Rinkai Park

Jonanjima Seaside Park: A Hidden Spot to See Airplanes and the First Sunrise

© Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau

Jonanjima Seaside Park is a park facing Tokyo Bay in Ota Ward, and because it is close to Haneda Airport, it is a unique spot where you can enjoy both airplane takeoffs and landings as well as the first sunrise of the year. It is also known as a hidden gem that is relatively less crowded.

The park itself is open to the public and free of charge at all times, but please note that the parking lot is available from 7:30 AM.

Jonanjima Seaside Park

Important Points When Attending Year-End and New Year Events

Crowds and Transportation: This period is extremely crowded with tourists. Major shrines and areas around main stations are expected to be congested, so allow plenty of time for your plans. Many train lines operate all night on New Year’s Eve.

Reservations and Tickets: Special events often sell out early, so be sure to book in advance on the official websites.

Cold Weather Precautions: It can get close to freezing in the mornings and evenings, so prepare warm clothing and hand warmers.

Store Hours: Many shops are closed on New Year’s Day, but convenience stores and hotel restaurants are open.

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