Are you looking for New Year’s fireworks in Tokyo and…struggling? Don’t worry, it’s a rite of passage for Westerners spending the holidays in Japan to discover that things are done a little differently. New Year’s Eve is traditionally a time for family and temple visits, and although Japan is known for some of the best fireworks displays in the world, they’re really more of a summer thing here.
But, fret not! There are still options for anyone hoping to ring in 2026 with fireworks! We’re sharing the top three NYE fireworks displays near Tokyo, including family-friendly, traditional, and all-out festival options.
How to Celebrate New Year’s Eve Like a Local
As I mentioned, celebrating the new year with brilliant fireworks displays is not really a common thing in Japan. In fact, New Year’s Eve is a time when people travel to be with family, eat traditional foods symbolising prosperity, and practice hatsumode (the first prayer of the year).
The time between New Year’s Eve and the first few days of January is typically very quiet and celebrated with family. Some Japanese people will literally be doing the New Year’s countdown outside of a temple, ready to pray for good fortune in the coming year and purchase an amulet to bring luck in specific areas of their lives.
A few open traditions that you can join in to welcome in 2026 like a local, are:
- Eating Toshikoshi Soba on New Year’s Eve, extra-long noodles which represent crossing from one year to another.
- Buying (or making) osechi, bento boxes filled with food for New Year’s Day, including a delicious soup topped with savoury mochi.
- Visiting a shrine or temple on January 1st to pray. Just be prepared for long, long lines, especially if you visit the popular shrines of Senso-ji and Meiji Jingu.
- Looking for lucky bags! Lots of stores sell these mystery bags at the start of January, filled with goodies at a discount price…but the catch is you don’t know what you’ll get until you open it.
Check out the best countdown events in Tokyo:
If you can’t imagine celebrating the New Year without fireworks, then these are the three spots you need to visit:
Yokohama New Year’s Eve Celebrations
If you have kids (or midnight is just too late for you to be out), then the Yokohama Night Flowers fireworks display is simply the perfect New Year’s Eve option. First of all, it’s not at all far from Tokyo (around half an hour on the train), and secondly, the display is at 7pm.
The fireworks go off from Osanbashi New Port Wharf, but you can see them from all the way along the waterfront. There are plenty of benches, seats, and grassy banks to sit on, and we recommend stopping by Yokohama Chinatown beforehand (if you have time) to pick up some snacks and boba to enjoy while the fireworks go off. It’s only about a 15 minute walk from the wharf.
Yokohama New Year’s Eve Celebration Details
Where: Osanbashi New Port Wharf
When: 7pm to 7:05pm
Official Website: https://www.yokohama-nightflowers.com/
How to Get There From Tokyo:
From Tokyo Station, take the JR Tokaido Line to Yokohama Station, then transfer to the Minatomirai Line and get off at Nihon-Odori Station. If you’re coming from Shibuya, you can catch the Tokyu Toyoko Line (which runs through to the Minatomirai Line) directly to Nihon-Odori Station. From there, it’s about a 7-minute walk to the water front.
Yokosuka Countdown 2026
For the ultimate New Year’s celebrations with performances, illuminations, food stalls, and yes, of course, fireworks, you have to check out the Yokosuka Countdown 2026! With the US Marine Base located in the area, it’s no surprise that their New Year’s festivities had to involve an amazing countdown to midnight, ending with 500+ fireworks.
The stage performances and food stalls will start from 6pm, and then at 9pm, you can see the amazing naval boat illumination as the Yokosuka Regional Headquarters is covered in dazzling lights. You can join in with the crowd counting down to midnight, then watch the spectacular fireworks together and celebrate until the festival ends around 1am.
Yoskuska Countdown Details
Where: Verny Park Recreation Area
When: The Countdown events start at 6pm, with fireworks at midnight
Official Website: https://www.cocoyoko.net/event/countdown.html
How to Get There From Tokyo:
You can get to the Yokosuka Countdown event in just over an hour from Tokyo by taking the JR Yokosuka Line directly to Yokosuka Station. Exit the station and walk for about 5 minutes toward the waterfront to reach Verny Park Recreation Area.
Hakone Shrine New Year’s Festival
Not only is Hakone Shrine one of the most iconic views in all of Japan, but it’s also the host of a spectacular New Year’s Festival that features a midnight fireworks display over Lake Ashi. This is an amazing experience for anyone looking for fireworks and tradition. The shrine will be filled with ceremony and ritual, with a chance to pray, be purified, and receive good luck amulets, surrounded by local people doing the same.
Events start at 2pm, with the festival’s Shiwasu O-harai (a purification ritual), then at 9:30pm is a ceremony to burn old amulets from the year before. This is also when the New Year’s festivities really begin. Expect lots of people to be there waiting in line to pass through the five torii gates and pray, plus spectators getting ready to count down to the incredible fireworks show at midnight.
You can then stay through the night or return the next day for the New Year’s Day festival, which begins at 4am.
Hakone Shrine New Year’s Festival Details
Where: Hakone Shrine
When: The New Year’s Eve Festival begins at 9:30pm, with fireworks at midnight
Official Website: https://hakonejinja.or.jp/hakone/first_visit.html
How to Get There From Tokyo:
It takes around 2 to 2.5 hours to reach the Hakone Shrine from Tokyo Station. Take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen (35 minutes) or JR Tokaido Line (90 minutes) to Odawara Station. From Odawara, transfer to the Hakone Tozan Railway to Hakone-Yumoto Station, then take the Hakone Tozan Bus bound for Moto-Hakone or Hakone-machi and get off at Motohakone-ko. Hakone Shrine is a short walk from the bus stop.
Get our full Hakone Itinerary
Preparing for New Year’s in Japan
Now, if you are planning to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Japan, there are a few things you need to know in advance. Firstly, prepare to book travel in advance! A lot of people are travelling home over the national holiday, so many buses and trains won’t have any seats left if you try to get tickets on the day!
Next is that January 1st is the one day of the year when things are actually closed! Even in Tokyo, you should expect that grocery stores, shops, and restaurants aren’t going to be open for the entire day. If you’re outside of the big cities, places may even be shut for a few days. So, in other words, you need to make sure to have everything you need (aka food) beforehand!
Our final tip is actually a good one! Tokyo famously doesn’t have night trains…except on New Year’s! Lots of lines run through the night to make sure people can get around and home safe after the usual midnight service ends, including many JR lines like the Yamanote Line, Chuo Line, and Yokosuka Line.
Tokyo New Year’s Eve FAQs
Is Tokyo good for New Year’s Eve?
Yes! We might be biased, but we think Tokyo is one of the best places to spend New Year’s Eve! Alongside club nights, fireworks, and bar crawls, this is the most important time of year in Japan. It’s filled with rich traditions and customs, creating an experience you won’t find anywhere else.
Where to go for New Year’s in Tokyo?
You have lots of options! The traditional places to go are temples, with Senso-Ji in Asakusa and Meiji Jingu in Shibuya putting on the biggest New Year’s events. You can also find lots of clubs putting on special events, or travel to Yokohama, Yokosuka, or Hakone for some amazing fireworks.
Is Christmas and New Year’s a good time to visit Japan?
Absolutely. It might be a bit cold outside during winter in Japan, but that can be a good thing. It means it’s the perfect season for visiting the onsen, seeing Mount Fuji, and eating the most delicious Japanese comfort food.
How is New Year’s celebrated in Japan?
New Year’s in Japan is traditionally a quiet, family-centred holiday focused on reflection and renewal rather than parties. People clean their homes, eat traditional foods, and visit shrines or temples.
