Happy New Year 2023
Photo: Takashi Miyazaki/Unsplash; design: Time Out Tokyo

New Year's Eve in Tokyo 2022: how to celebrate

Usher in 2023 with our guide to the best things to do in Tokyo this New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day 2022-23

Kasey Furutani
Kit Kriewaldt
Written by
Kasey Furutani
&
Kit Kriewaldt
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While New Year’s Day in Japan, called shogatsu, is normally a quiet holiday dedicated to family time, New Year's Eve in Tokyo is anything but. So spend Saturday December 31 2022 like a Tokyoite by heading to a countdown party, sipping creamy amazake at a temple, and getting up early to catch the first sunrise of the new year.

Here's to an amazing 2023!

RECOMMENDED: New Year's Eve train schedules across Tokyo

Say hello to 2023

  • Things to do

Come New Year's Eve, Tokyo is usually filled with incredible parties and countdown celebrations. Thanks to Covid-19, things are a little muted, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to do. Tokyo is still hosting some concerts, club nights and parties over New Year's Eve.

Hatsumode is the tradition of visiting a Shinto shrine (or Buddhist temple) during the first few days of the new year. Some shrines and temples start the celebration early and set up festival tents, similar to those found at summer matsuri festivals, on December 31. The largest festivals are held at Meiji Shrine in Harajuku and Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, while Zojoji Temple offers a majestic view of a glowing Tokyo Tower.

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Did you stay up the whole night partying? Then you can stay up a little longer and catch the first sunrise of the new year, called hatsuhinode. The sunrise is expected around 6.50am, but the early hour doesn’t stop hordes of people flocking to the best spots. You can see the sun from just about anywhere, although popular destinations like Tokyo Tower can get packed.

Avoid the crowds by getting out of the city. Places like Miura Beach in Kanagawa or even the Osanbashi boat terminal in Yokohama are great free spots to see the dawn of the new year.

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  • Restaurants

Looking for a delicious way to ring in the new year? Hotels such as the Four Seasons Otemachi and Andaz Tokyo outdo themselves with lavish multicourse lunches, dinners and buffets just for the occasion. Plus, the hotels are not the only places that are celebrating. If you’d prefer, you can enjoy your New Year’s Eve dinner while cruising around Tokyo Bay, too.

And as for New Year's Day...

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