Tokyo events for Monday, January 6 to Sunday, January 12, 2025.
The start of 2025 brings us some more traditional rituals and markets, as well as some natural phenomena.
Illuminations and New Year temple and shrine celebrations are still continuing. Make sure to check out our full events list for an in-depth look.
Torigoe Shrine Tondoyaki Bonfire
Bring your used New Year’s decorations to Torigoe Shrine for Tondoyaki, a ceremonial burning, or watch others do so. It is said that if the smoke blows over you, you’ll have a year’s good health. Many locals go to the temple on the morning of the 8th to pile up their old decorations, shimenawa rope, and hamaya arrows.
Tokyo Auto Salon
Think MTV’s Pimp My Ride, but more luxurious. The event isn’t exactly Cheapo, but it’s a must-see if you’re really into cars/things you’ll never be able to afford. The event might not hit the insane visitor numbers as before (as high as 300,000) but you can still expect big crowds.
| Advance sales: ¥3,000 | ||
Ashigakubo Icicles Illumination
From early January to late February every year, icicles and other interesting shapes appear in Yokoze, Saitama. On Fridays, weekends, and holidays, the area will also be lit up, creating an eerily beautiful frozen wonderland. Reservations are required if you are driving on the weekends and holidays, but otherwise, you’ll receive a numbered ticket outside of Ashigakubo Station.
| Advance sales: ¥500 | At the door: ¥500 | |
January Grand Sumo Tournament
Held every January, this is the first of Japan’s six sumo tournaments, known as honbasho. With sumo rankings released a few weeks before, it’s a chance to see the traditional sport up close and personal. While the fights are broadcast on NHK, nothing beats the atmosphere of the tense final matches of the day, complete with cushion-throwing and cheers.
Kamimizo (Mizono) Daruma Market
This is a friendly neighborhood festival with a fiery twist. There will be plenty of sales of daruma dolls — from big to small (reservations are required for the big ones) — dances, and a bonfire to say goodbye to a pile of daruma dolls (around 300 to 500) who’ve completed their duties.
Ōme Daruma Market
On the old Ōme Highway, just outside of Ōme Station, daruma are sold in mass at the nearly 200-year-old Ōme Daruma Market. Daruma are round Japanese dolls designed to represent the founder of Zen Buddhism, Bodhidharma. Every year, people purchase dolls and fill in the pupil of one of their eyes (the right one) with black and make a wish. When that wish comes true, they fill in the left side.
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