Written by TC Team
Happy New Year! If you want to kick off the month of January with some fun, start with these events.
For more information on how to welcome 2025 the Japanese way, check out our guide to Japanese New Year customs and traditions.
For the top events in Tokyo throughout the year, check out our complete guide — organized by month.
1. Hatsumōde
Enjoy the first few days of the year, Japanese-style
Ring in 2025 with the Japanese tradition of hatsumōde, the first shrine or temple visit of the year (usually from January 1 to 3). You can pray for blessings and wealth for the future at various temples and shrines around Tokyo, but you may want to avoid the most popular spots — Sensō-ji Temple, Zōjō-ji Temple, Meiji Shrine, and Kanda Myōjin Shrine — if you don’t like crowds!
There will also be performances, ceremonial burnings, daruma doll markets, and other festivities around this time at temples and shrines. Here are some event highlights:
- Seven Lucky Gods Pilgrimage: Why just visit one shrine or temple? Go on a pilgrimage.
- Torigoe Shrine Tondoyaki Bonfire: Bring your used New Year’s decorations for a ceremonial burning.
- Geikosai New Year’s Festival: Really put in the effort and climb a mountain.
- Join the masses at Ryusenji Temple in Kumagaya.
- Head to Takasaki on a day trip to see one of the biggest daruma markets in Japan.
2. January Grand Sumo Tournament
The wrestlers are back in Tokyo again
Held every January, this is the first of Japan’s six annual sumo tournaments, known as honbasho. While the fights are broadcast on NHK, nothing beats the atmosphere of the tense final matches of the day. See how to get sumo tickets.
3. Tokyo Auto Salon
What kind of weird and wonderful cars will you find?
One of the biggest car shows in the world, Tokyo Auto Salon is for anyone who is into customizing or personalizing their car, or for those who enjoy seeing how other people customize their rides. The event will feature not only new and upcoming cars, but also the latest technologies, accessories, parts, and related merchandise. The first day is Business Day, which means that it’s only open to industry insiders and the press, but if you have a premium ticket (which will be sold in limited quantities), you too can visit from 2 p.m.
| Advance sales: ¥3,000 | ||
4. Earth Garden Winter Festival
Promoting sustainability and eco-living
Earth Garden Winter Festival is a two-day outdoor market at Yoyogi Park. The food, workshops, and products being offered all promote ecological living — so you can feel good about going and also what you bring home. The event square will also have a stream of musical performances spanning both days.
5. Setagaya Boroichi Market
The biggest flea market of the year
We are known for our list of good-value flea markets to visit in Tokyo, and this is at the top of that list. As one of the biggest of the year, Setagaya Boroichi Market takes place twice, both in January and December. More than 700 vendors sell a variety of used goods, antiques, handicrafts, religious artifacts, and food to approximately 200,000 visitors.
6. Matsuda Wintersweet Tree Festival
Flowers in winter
See a stunning display of more than 1,000 wintersweet trees and their yellow blossoms spread across Matsuda Yadoriki Park in Kanagawa Prefecture. On weekends, there are stalls selling food, local farm products, crafts, and souvenirs.
If you can’t make it to Matsuda, you can sniff a couple of wintersweets at the west gate of Yoyogi Park in Tokyo.
Another flowery day trip idea: Visit Atami’s plum garden for winter plum blossoms.
| At the door: ¥500 | ||
7. Winter illuminations
Many illuminations will continue lighting up the city well into the new year. Here are some of our top picks:
- Tokyo Mega Illumination (until Jan. 12)
- Ebisu Garden Place Illumination
- Kioi Winter
- Marunouchi Illumination
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. This post, which was first published in December 2016, is updated annually. Last update: December 2024 by Alex Ziminski.
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