Vol.31 ESSENTIAL NEW YEAR EXPERIENCES FOR EVERY TRAVELER

Welcome to TOKYO BEAT - a special series by your trusty Tokyo Tourism Representative (New York Office) that aims to provide you with story ideas and inspiration. Celebrating the arrival of the New Year is undoubtedly the biggest national holiday in Japan, with numerous centuries-old traditions occurring over the course of several days. People take a break from their daily routine to rest, reflect, spend time with family and commemorate the many ‘firsts’ of the year – from filling the soul to stomach, as well as the gift bag. Here’s how Tokyo does it.

Rituals Visiting shrines and temples on New Year’s is one of the most important activities, as it renews one’s luck for the coming year. This begins with joya no kane at Buddhist temples – a temple bell ringing ceremony that purifies individuals of all immoral worldly desires. Starting around 11pm, countless people gather to witness the temple bell being rung 108 times (for each worldly desire), while some temples even allow for visitors to join in to ring the bell. While there are many wonderful temples throughout Tokyo, some of the most notable include the Sensoji, with its iconic row of shops and festive atmosphere, the historic Ikegami Honmoji, the famed Tsukiji Honganji with its Indian-inspired architecture, and Zojoji, which is beautifully lit up by Tokyo Tower next door.

Hatsumode is the year’s first visit to the Shinto shrine. While crowds will be braved, going along for the ride is an incredible fun way to mingle with locals and also pray for good fortune. Undoubtedly one of the most popular places for this is the legendary Meiji Jingu, which to this day attracts the largest number of visitors every year – and three million people on New Year’s alone. Specific shrines however hold specific types of luck, so it is key to choose wisely; for example, Yushima Tenjin is for students who want to pass their exams while Kanda Myojin is associated with business success, and Tokyo Daijingu is for people who want to fall in love.

Foods Toshikoshi soba is eaten every year, as slurping down noodles symbolizes crossing from one year to the next. Notable restaurants like Kanda Matsuya draw countless people to its nearly 100 year old space for those craving flawless handmade soba. Equally popular is Kanda Yabu Soba, founded in 1880 and celebrated by foodies for its selection of both cold and hot soba dishes. Sohonke Sarashina Horii, the 230-year-old soba house made internationally famous by a visit from Anthony Bourdain, is noted for its variety of handmade soba.

Luxurious restaurants are a fixture of Tokyo’s high-end hotels, and offer some of the most impressive – and extravagant – New Year’s spreads. For travelers, places like Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo in Mejiro are the epitome of Japanese style. Where else can you eat osechi ryori – traditional New Year’s dishes eaten throughout Japan for centuries – as well as Western dishes while looking out at the beautiful gardens of the hotel’s beautiful historic gardens? For more modern options, Shinjuku’s classic Keio Plaza Hotel, the first high rise hotel to be built in Tokyo, offers a selection of lavish restaurants catering to a variety of tastes. But high-end buffets are also popular, thanks to the combination of award-winning cookery and festive atmosphere. Among them is Keio Plaza’s Glass Court ‘Super Buffet’, but the magnificent Tower Buffet on the 40th floor of the Hotel New Otani may be the best way to see the skyline in all its splendor.

Shopping The first sale of the New Year, hatsu-uri, is as big as our Black Friday and extends across nearly every store in Tokyo. But for a unique experience, intrepid shoppers should consider Ameyoko – Ueno’s shopping alley that was once known for candy (‘ame’) until after World War II, when ‘ame’ became more closely associated with America and a growing selection of imported, black market goods. This neighborhood is always at a fever pitch on New Year’s Eve, as locals enjoy coming here to buy up fresh ingredients for their festivities. It is also peppered with shops that sell everything from surplus military clothing and goods to cosmetics, as well as fantastic street foods (not to mention candy and sweets) – all at bargain prices that draw countless Tokyoites.

The element of surprise is strong when it comes to fukubukuro lucky bags that go on sale as stores reopen for business – hopeful shoppers spend anywhere from a few bucks to several hundred on pre-packaged bags that might contain items (ranging from clothing to jewelry, electronics and more) that are several times more valuable than the price of the bag. Longstanding department stores such as Matsuya and Mitsukoshi, often credited with its invention, are still among the most popular to visit, while newly opened complexes like Tokyo Midtown Hibiya and Shibuya Scramble Square are great for the latest sought-after brands. Also all the rage are ‘Experience’ bags like those at Seibu Ikebukuro (baseball practice with a pro coach), Matsuya Ginza (ring throwing game to win fukubukuro), and Tobu Ikebukuro (all you can eat sushi).

For more information on more New Year’s traditions and events, contact press@tokyo-nyc.com or call 917-200-4887. For general information on traveling in Tokyo, head to TokyoTokyo.jp and Gotokyo.org/en/

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