A practical guide to New Year in Tokyo: hatsumode crowds at Meiji Jingu and Senso-ji, what usually closes from December 29 to January 3, what tends to stay open, and how to plan around it.
- Government offices close from December 29 to January 3 by law, and many businesses follow a similar pattern.
- Meiji Jingu is reported to draw about 3 million hatsumode visitors over the first three days of January.
- Convenience stores stay open; department stores often start New Year sales on January 2.
- Opening days for museums, shops, and restaurants vary; check each place before you go.
Next Step
Ask about New Year class dates
Tell us your dates and group size, and we will confirm which days are available over the holiday.
What hatsumode is
Hatsumode is the first visit of the year to a shrine or temple. People pray for health and good fortune, buy new charms, and often return the previous year's charms. Most people go during the first three days of January, though there is no fixed rule and many visit later in the month.
If you want to see hatsumode, expect lines. Tokyo's biggest shrines and temples are crowded from late on New Year's Eve into the early hours of January 1, and again through the daytime on January 1 to 3.
Meiji Jingu and Senso-ji
Meiji Jingu in Harajuku is regularly reported to receive the most hatsumode visitors in Japan, around 3 million over the first three days of January. Counting methods and years differ between sources, so treat the figure as approximate.
Senso-ji in Asakusa is also among the busiest. Lines typically start outside the Kaminarimon gate, and Nakamise shopping street may run one way toward the main hall during peak times. Senso-ji's New Year service, shusho-e, runs from December 31 to January 6, and the temple holds its New Year's Eve bell ringing on December 31. Check the temple's notices for times and crowd control.
- Expect long lines on January 1 to 3
- Late night on December 31 is one of the busiest times
- Smaller neighborhood shrines are much quieter
What usually closes
Under Japanese law, government offices close from December 29 to January 3. Bank counters are closed from December 31 to January 3, and many private companies take a similar break. Some ATMs have limited hours, so withdrawing cash before December 29 is a sensible precaution.
Many smaller shops and family-run restaurants close for a few days, often around December 31 to January 3. Many museums also close for part of the period, though dates differ by museum and some reopen early in January with New Year programs.
What tends to stay open
Convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson generally stay open through the holiday, many of them 24 hours a day. Trains run, but often on holiday timetables. Department stores commonly begin New Year sales, called hatsuuri, on January 2.
Hotels, many chain restaurants, and shops in large stations usually stay open, but hours may be shorter. Because practices differ, check each place's own website or Google listing for the specific dates of your trip.
- Check museum and restaurant holiday hours in advance
- Withdraw cash before December 29
- Look up holiday train timetables
- Book popular activities early
A quieter New Year activity
Early January is also when many people in Japan write kakizome, the first calligraphy of the year, traditionally on January 2. Our classes at Shitaya Jinja Kaikan, the hall of Shitaya Shrine near Inaricho Station, follow the venue's own schedule over New Year, so contact us to confirm which days are available. The beginner class is 60 minutes, guided in English, and you take your finished piece home.