Roppongi Hills New Year

At the Roppongi Hills New Year, there’s everything from traditions to treats.

What happens?

While the Roppongi Hills New Year celebrations run from December 26 to January 7, the real fun takes place on January 2 and 3. The Hills will have several traditional Japanese experiences on offer for guests, from taiko drums and dances, to Showa-era toys to try. To celebrate the new year, flower artist Yoko Uda will redesign the area — using flowers from around Japan to create a meadow in the midst of the city.

Schedule

There’s a lot more on, including free mochi and traditional instruments, but here are some of the highlights.

January 2

• Drum performances: 12:30, 13:30, and 14:30
• Lion dances: 13:00 and 14:00
• Free sake (first 200 people): 13:00 — lottery tickets distributed from 12:00

January 3

• Drum performances: 11:00, 13:40, and 15:30
• Lion dances: 11:10, 13:00, and 14:40
• Mochi pounding: 12:00