Hatsumode in Tokyo: 5 Recommended Places to Enjoy Japan’s New Year

1. Meiji Jingū (明治神宮): Japan’s Top Hatsumode Spot Near Harajuku

Meiji Jingū is where Emperor Meiji (1852 – 1912) and Empress Shōken (1849 – 1914) have been enshrined. This distinguished Shinto shrine is a historical building that exudes a calm and solemn dignity that stands in stark contrast against the general vibe of the busy metropolis it resides in.

Situated in the trendy Harajuku and Omotesando area, the shrine is only about a minute’s walk from the nearest station, Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote Line. If you’re taking the Tokyo Metro, it’s about a 10-minute walk from Omotesando Station.

It’s also within walking distance from Shibuya Station on the JR Lines if you’ll be coming from there. All said, the ideal location is the main reason why plenty of youths and foreign visitors drop by the shrine after taking part in the new year countdown in the downtown areas nearby.

Be sure to protect yourself against the cold if this is your plan, since it can take about 2 hours to reach the offering box after midnight on New Year’s Day. Also note that it tends to be very crowded from 10 PM on New Year’s Eve to 3 AM on New Year’s Day, as well as after 10 AM during the first three days of the year.

・Hours: December 31, 6:40 AM – 4:00 PM; January 1, 6 AM – 6:30 PM; January 2nd and 3rd, 6:40 AM – 6 PM; January 4, 6:40 AM – 5:30 PM; from 6:40 AM to 4:20 PM after January 5th

2. Sensō-ji Temple (浅草寺): A Year-Round Favorite for Hatsumode

Sensō-ji is a top tourist destination in Tokyo’s Asakusa district and sees huge numbers of visitors even on normal days. This temple is a short 5-minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Tobu and Tokyo Metro Lines.

During the new year season, Sensō-ji will be packed to the brim with even more visitors than usual, all wanting to perform their hatsumōde prayers at this well-known temple to get a good start to their year. As such, expect to amble through a long, snaking queue that stretches all the way through the temple premises to Kaminarimon Gate at Nakamise Street before getting your turn.

Note that queue-cutting is neither allowed nor appreciated, so don’t do that! Our recommendation is to avoid the new year period altogether and visit again at another date if possible to avoid the crowds.

Also, one of the things people look forward to the most during hatsumōde is drawing an omikuji paper fortune lot, so be sure to give it a try.

・Hours: All night
・Hatsumōde event: New Year’s Eve Bell on December 31, the first prayer of the new year

3. Kanda Shrine (Kanda Myojin/神田明神): Guardian of All Walks of Life

Kanda Shrine (Kanda Myojin) was constructed about 1,300 years ago and houses the guardian gods of over 108 town councils in Kanda, Nihonbashi, and even Akihabara, the mecca of Japanese subculture.

Built on land that is central to Japan’s businesses, the shrine’s hatsumōde visitors include people from major corporations, and most are naturally more focused on getting blessings for wealth and prosperity. It helps that it’s a convenient 5-minute walk from the Hijiribashi Exit of Ochanomizu Station on the JR Lines, or a 7-minute walk from the Electric Town Exit of Akihabara Station on the JR Lines.

・Hours: December 31: 9 AM – 6 PM; January 1: midnight – 9:45 PM; January 2: 6:10 AM – 8:45 PM; January 3: 6:30 AM – 9:15 PM; January 4: 7 AM – 8:45 PM; January 5: 7 AM – 8:20 PM; January 6: 6:10 AM – 8:45 PM (first workday); January 7: 6:50 AM – 8:20 PM; January 8: 7:30 AM – 7:20 PM; January 9 – 10: 8 AM – 6:20 PM; January 11 – 13: 8 AM – 6:20 PM; January 14 onward: 9 AM – 6 PM
・Hatsumōde event: Saitansai Ceremony *Morning of January 1

4. Tokyo Daijingū (東京大神宮): A Love-Luck Shrine for Ladies

Tokyo Daijingū was built in 1880 as a satellite shrine of Mie Prefecture’s Ise Grand Shrine. Because Emperor Taishō (1879 – 1926) held his wedding ceremony here and was the first to be married in front of the imperial sanctuary gods when he was still crown prince, it became known as the originator of Shinto-style weddings for the public.

The shrine itself venerates Musubi, the god of marriage and people looking for luck in love and marriage naturally flock here to seek a blessing. The shrine is popular among young women, and this becomes even more apparent during hatsumōde season.

To get to the shrine, you’ll have to walk for about 5 minutes from Iidabashi Station on the Tokyo Metro. The shrine’s good location in the popular Kagurazaka area means tourists can drop by for a visit in between food and shopping sessions to maximize their time.

・Hours: 11 PM on December 31 – 3 AM on January 1; 7 AM – 5 PM on January 1; January 2 & 3, 8 AM – 5 PM; January 4 & 5, 9 AM – 4:30 PM; January 6 & 7, 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM; January 8 and onward: 9 AM – 4:30 PM
・Hatsumōde event: Commemorative mini-Oriental Zodiac wooden plaque (first 1,000 visitors who received an amulet or talisman between 8 AM – 10 AM from January 1 to January 3)

5. Zojoji Temple (増上寺): Hatsumode with Stunning Tokyo Tower Views

Zojoji is most well-known for being the family temple of the Tokugawa family, who were rulers of the Edo Shogunate (1600 to 1868). It is a short 3-minute walk from Shibakoen Station on the Toei Lines and a 10-minute walk from Hamamatsucho Station on the JR Lines.

The first thing visitors are likely to notice upon stepping foot onto its premises is the massive Sangedatsumon Gate, the largest of its kind in eastern Japan. It has been designated as a National Important Cultural Property, a sterling testament to its cultural significance.

As you walk farther into its premises, it’s hard not to notice the recognizable silhouette of Tokyo Tower looming just behind the main building. No, it’s not deja vu! You’ve probably seen this very scene before in one of the many tourist pamphlets introducing the area.

As you’ve probably guessed by now, this is a popular hatsumōde spot among foreigners because visitors can sightsee at one of Japan’s most distinctive Buddhist temple buildings along with Tokyo Tower, an iconic modern landmark of Tokyo city in full view at the same time.

・Hours: All night on December 31 – 5:30 PM on January 1; 6 AM – 5:30 PM from January 2 onward
・Hatsumōde event: New Year’s Eve Bell on December 31, first prayer of the new year (the monk starts the prayer after the bell tolls at midnight on New Year’s Day)

These are our top five shrine and temple picks for hatsumōde in Tokyo, but there are, of course, a lot of other places in the city where you can celebrate the new year as well.

Follow the rules and etiquette mentioned above for each location, and you should do just fine! If your preferred hatsumōde spot is somewhere else, try to do some research beforehand on what the place considers appropriate and inappropriate behavior just to be sure!

(*Information as of December 19, 2024. Depending on the situation visiting hours and events may be changed, delayed, or canceled. Please check with the respective official websites before visiting.)

Written by:

LIVE JAPAN’s editorial team

LIVE JAPAN’s editorial team is a multicultural mix of native editors who have lived in Japan for over five years, alongside Japanese editors with a deep passion for travel. We’re devoted to sharing the wonders of Japan. From cultural insights and history to events, practical travel tips and coupons, we’re here to help make your journey unforgettable!