Best Things To Do In Tokyo January include First kabuki shows of the year in Asakusa, Sumo Grand Tournament, Tsukiji Fish Market Tuna Auction, visiting the Japanese Royal family in Tokyo Palace, and Japanese girls in their kimonos at a Traditional Tokyo festival.
Celebrating Your Twenties in Japan
Coming of age Festival (second Monday of January)
Young people who turn twenty years old that year celebrate their “coming of age” – the age considered as the beginning of adulthood in Japan. The legal age for voting, drinking, and smoking.
How is it celebrated? Japanese girls dressed in their traditional Kimonos, and guys wearing their suits, are all out and about celebrating. A good place to watch it is Meiji Shrine, where they all gather for traditional Archery.
After the formalities are over everyone gets drunk hoping to make the last train home.
See More: Meiji Shrine
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Best Tours for January in Japan – What to Book now!
Mt. Fuji
Kyoto and Nara
Studio Ghibli Museum – The Disney Of The East
Tokyo Robot Restaurant Cabaret Show
Nikko National Park Day Trip from Tokyo
One Day Tour of Kamakura from Tokyo
More Highlights: Fun Day Tours and Activities in Tokyo itself
New Year’s Day Shrine & Temple visits
(until January 7th)
Put off by the crowds on New Year’s Eve? Fear not – there is more festive fun to be had in January. Shrines and temples will be adopting a distinctly festive feel until January 7th, with most of the action taking place on the first three days – all of which are national holidays.
At this time, you can throw a coin into the money box, pray for the health and safety of your family, and ring the shrine bell. Take a fortune slip and get some discerning reader of Japanese to tell you how lucky you will be this year.
And for the adults desperately trying to keep warm, the delicious, sweet and literally white hot taste of ama-zake (“sweet sake”) awaits. Many local shrines and temples should have something on. As ever, Sensoji Temple in Asakusa Geisha district and Meiji Shrine will be exceedingly popular.
Getting there: Asakusa Station is accessible via the Tobu Sky Tree, Toei Asakusa and Ginza metro lines. Meiji Shrine can be reached from JR Harajuku and Meiji Jingu-mae Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line.
See More: New Year In Japan : Should You Visit Meiji Jingu Shrine at Midnight?
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Tokyo Palace Special Celebration: How to Meet The Royal Family?
(January 2nd)
Ippan Sanga is one in two days of the year in which the Palace opens its doors. Ippan Sanga is amongst the only two occasions in Japan when the general public is permitted to meet the Emperor and in turn enter the inner grounds of the Palace. As this is a rare occasion to catch a glimpse of the Royal family, Japanese and many foreigners too gather to the palace grounds from early morning hours. The current Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, the Crown Prince Naruhito, Crown Princess Masako and several other members of the Imperial Family meet the general public and exchange greetings and wishes. The ritual begins from 9.30 in the morning and continues till 3 in the afternoon. The Royal family appears at an hourly interval at the palace balcony screened with a bulletproof glass.
See More: Palace Special Celebrations
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Best Things To Do In Tokyo January 2018: Tokyo Tourist Hotspots
The Kabuki schedule is action-packed with extra excitement that comes with the new year, and – in addition to Asakusa – the Shimbashi Embuji, Meiji-za and National Theater will be resuming their schedules on January 2nd or 3rd.
Image by 西光亭芝國・春好齋北洲 at Wikipedia (license)
Witness the stars of the future amid the traditional hustle and bustle of one of the most famous traditional spots in the entire country. Asakusa Public Hall will, as ever, be hosting its New Year Kabuki Shows from January 2nd to 27th – but with a distinct difference. Whereas the central-Tokyo theaters merely showcase the established stars, Asakusa January kabuki gives the hottest young Kabuki talents a chance to shine – and grab the chance with both hands they certainly do, putting on plays rich in energy and excitement.
Alas, English earphone guides are not available, but since most Japanese don’t understand the ancient words spoken anyway, kabuki is all about appreciation of the costumes and sets.
Getting there: Asakusa Public Hall can be accessed via the area’s famous Nakamise Street. Asakusa Station is accessible via the Ginza Line, Toei-Asakusa Line and Tobu-Sky Tree Line.
See More: Kabuki Tickets
Tokyo Sky Tree is expected to be especially crowded during the first week of January, so visits are best put off until the second half of the month. For those of you who don’t want to take care of tickets and transportation, this Tokyo Sky Tree Tour is great easy solution.
Meanwhile, Tokyo Tower’s lights will continue to be a refreshing and brightening presence among the Tokyo skyline.
Tsukiji Fish market will experience is busiest season during the new year. The market is the largest in the world, with $15.5 million worth of fish sold there on a daily basis. The star here is Tuna. Tokyo market Tuna auctions are world known.
Tuna Auctions start at 5 am. Tourists have to apply at the Osakana Fukyu Center (Fish Information Center) at the Kachidoki Gate, starting from 5:00am. Admittance is on a first-come-first-in basis.
In order to be here in time for Tuna auction you will have to take a Taxi since the subway only starts at 6:00 AM.
If you want to take it easy I recommend you take a Tokyo Market Tour which makes visiting Tsukiji Market as simple as can be. An organized tour will take you through the wholesale area which has 1000′s of seafood containers, and into the hidden spots you want to visit.
See More: Tsukiji Fish Market Schedule
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Fun Things To Do In Tokyo January Grand Sumo Tournament
Sumo is back in Tokyo again, for the first time in four months. Better still, it’s the first tournament of the New Year – the biggie, the one that every wrestler sees as the chance to set the tone for the 12 months ahead.
With average weights of 140 kilograms, sumo is surely the way to start 2017 with a bang!
Getting there: The Kokugikan, or national sports hall, is located in Ryogoku, a two-minute walk from Ryogoku JR Station, and a seven-minute walk from Toei-Oedo subway station.
See more: How to Buy Sumo Tickets
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Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea Special Events in January 2018
Disney New Year Schedule (January 1st– 5th)
January might either be an incredibly bad time to visit Disney, or an incredibly good one. Weather in Tokyo can be cold and dry in January. This may actually be a blessing in disguise; fewer locals coming means more time (and crucially space) for you to enjoy the attractions.
The special new year’s parades between January 1st and 5th will certainly be crowded, though, especially due to the prospect of seeing Mickey Mouse in a kimono!
See More: plan your trip to Tokyo Disneyland
Getting there: Tokyo Disneyland-Getting There Fast And Easy
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Tokyo Disneyland & Disney Sea Printable Guide and Book
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