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Tokyo Events This Week: New Year Countdowns, Fireworks, and Shrine Visits
What's a Cheapo to do this week?
Tokyo Cheapo
December 29, 2025
Monday, December 29, 2025, to Sunday, January 4, 2026.
With the mulled wine and tinsel of Christmas behind us for 2025, it’s time to look forward to 2026 with countdown parties, family-friendly happenings, and traditional events across the city. Clubs and venues in Shibuya, such as Womb, Liquidroom, OR, and Unit, will host parties, as will the Happy New Year Tokyo Countdown in Shinjuku. On top of that, we’ve got recommendations for your first shrine and temple visits of the year, where to get your Daruma, and other ways to ring in the new year, including cruises, fireworks, light-ups, and more. Keen to check out more New Year’s events? Have a look at our dedicated round-up here.
Dec 30th - 31st
The focus of the event is dōjinshi — independently created and published manga — and cosplay. Given the thousands of amateur and professional manga artists in Japan, there is always a wide range of genres and styles on display.
Dec 3rd - Mar 29th
Expect thought-provoking painted works and sculptures, as well as immersive video, sound pieces, embroidery, crafts, zines, and community projects.
Dec 31st
Legend has it that on New Year’s Eve foxes from across the Kanto region would disguise themselves in human costume to make their first shrine visit of the year at Ōji Inari-jinja Shrine. To honor this tale, Ōji has held a fox parade to celebrate the new year since 1993.
Dec 31st - Jan 1st
You might know Hakone for the beautiful Lake Ashi or the photogenic torii gate at Hakone Shrine. At the beginning of each year, the shrine hosts several interesting traditional festivities, including fireworks.
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Jan 1st - 10th
From New Year’s Day and for the first ten days of the year, you can join local tradition in visiting shrines of the Seven Lucky Gods.
Jan 1st - 13th
Celebrate the beginning of 2026 by participating in the tradition of hatsumōde — the first visit to a shrine or temple of the year — at one of the most-visited temples near Tokyo.
Jan 3rd
Kitain Temple in Kawagoe hosts an annual Daruma Market where you can purchase Daruma dolls and participate in various New Year rituals.
Jan 1st
One of the three annual festivals at Yakuoin Temple on Mount Takao, this is a memorable way to see in the new year.
Dec 31st
Party until midnight in Shinjuku and see traditional performances, projection mapping, and a whole lot more.
Dec 31st
Celebrate the turn of the year with elegance and style on a cruise around Tokyo Bay. This two-hour voyage takes you to see the twinkling lights of Tokyo, Odaiba, and the colorful Rainbow Bridge before a countdown with a clash of champagne to signal the start of 2026.
Dec 31st
Head away from Tokyo to see in the new year. The Yokohama New Year’s Eve celebrations are a mix of lights and fireworks to end the year on a high.
Dec 31st - Jan 1st
See the new year bright and early with around 500 fireworks at the Yokosuka Countdown. One last festival for 2025, before 2026 brings a new year and a new you.
Dec 31st - Jan 1st
Attractions, including the merry-go-round, haunted house, and Sky Ship, will be open to visitors. The park itself will be covered with cherry blossom-colored lights.
Dec 31st
Ring in the new year in Shibuya with one of the biggest clubs in Tokyo. Expect lasers, strobe lighting, and a massive LED screen to clearly see the countdown into 2026.
Dec 31st
This year’s names include musician, DJ, and producer Takkyu Ishino, electronic pop duo Pasocon Music Club, big-name hip hop project Dos Monos, psych rock outfit Ogre You Asshole, and more.
Dec 31st - Jan 1st
Alternative girl group PIGGS close out the year and kick off the next with a late-night countdown live set at Unit in Daikanyama.
Dec 31st - Jan 1st
TK Nightclub’s NYE event returns for 2025/26. Expect a whole host of local DJs and artists, including Kiyoto, Tyiiga, and TJO. Check their website for the full roster.
Dec 27th - 31st
If you’re all about the domestic music scene, this might be the countdown event for you. Running since 2003, the multi-day event typically attracts over 188,000 visitors and features more than 150 acts.
Dec 31st - Jan 1st
Shibuya’s Circus Tokyo welcomes 2026 with a drum and bass–focused countdown led by London Elektricity and Makoto.
Dec 31st - Jan 1st
Ring in the new year with a full-throttle, three-floor countdown party at club OR. Each level runs a different sound. Drift between genres as the clock ticks down.
Nov 21st - Feb 24th
The ice-skating rink takes over the grass square behind Tokyo Midtown every winter. It is a popular event because of the Midtown Winter Lights right next door — so expect a line.
Jan 2nd - 4th
Tokyo Midtown kicks off 2026 with lion dances, free sake, live traditional music, and a playful new interactive artwork you can literally climb into.
Dec 1st - Jan 5th
A classy and impressive annual display, the Omotesandō Illumination is a light-lit walk of just over 1 km along Omotesandō Avenue. With over 900,000 lights wound around the trees, it’s got a definite winter-wonderland feel.
Nov 27th - Jan 7th
Along the route, you’ll find an AI-powered screen that warps your reflection like a funhouse mirror, a glowing torii, Edo-style lanterns reimagined in neon, and a pair of illuminated trees that “talk” to each other through light and sound.
Nov 29th - Jan 12th
Every evening for around a month, Shinjuku Central Park is lit up with thousands of LED lights, glowing beasties, and other types of installations.
Dec 5th - Jan 31st
Meguro River will shine with nearly 400,000 pink-colored LEDs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. every night. The lights will be powered by cooking oil waste from local homes and businesses.