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New Year’s Eve in Japan doesn’t really look like the countdown-and-fireworks version most visitors expect. There’s no ball drop, and outside a handful of city plazas, no big countdown crowd either. Instead, the night runs quiet and a little solemn: a bowl of noodles at home or at a neighborhood soba counter, the TV tuned to a music special that’s been running since 1951, and then, as midnight approaches, the sound of a temple bell ringing out 108 times across whatever town you happen to be in.
If you’re spending December 31st in Japan, this is the night to actually go find that bell. Most of the temples that ring it will let a visitor — tourist or not — take a turn on the rope. We picked five real, currently-running joya no kane events across the country, each paired with a bowl of toshikoshi soba nearby.
🔔 Omisoka: How Japan Actually Spends New Year’s Eve
Two traditions define the night. The first is toshikoshi soba (年越しそば), buckwheat noodles eaten sometime before midnight — the long, thin noodle is meant to symbolize a long life, and because soba snaps easily, eating it is also meant to symbolically “cut off” the past year’s troubles before the new one starts. The rule that matters: finish the bowl before midnight. Leaving noodles unfinished is considered bad luck for the year ahead.
The second is joya no kane (除夜の鐘), the ringing of a temple bell 108 times — one strike for each of the earthly desires or attachments named in Buddhist teaching, the idea being that each ring clears one away before the new year begins. Most temples start ringing somewhere between 11 PM and midnight, though a few now offer a daytime version earlier on the 31st for anyone who doesn’t want to be out at 1 AM. Bigger temples hand out numbered tickets (seiriken) to control the line — arrive early, since tickets often run out well before the bell itself starts.
5 Places to Ring in the New Year
Zojoji Temple (増上寺), Tokyo
Zojoji’s great bell, cast in 1673, is one of the largest in the Kanto region, and ringing it out with Tokyo Tower lit up directly behind the temple grounds is one of the more striking New Year’s images the city has to offer. A fire ritual (joto-e) is held in the bell tower before midnight, and the bell itself starts the moment the new year turns over.
Honest note: general kane-tsuki tickets are limited and released starting December 1st — they’ve historically sold out, so this isn’t a same-day walk-up if you specifically want to ring the bell yourself. Arriving to simply watch and listen doesn’t require a ticket.
📍 Address: 4-7-35 Shiba Koen, Minato-ku, Tokyo (東京都港区芝公園4-7-35)
⏰ Hours: December 31st, ceremony before midnight, bell rings from 12:00 AM; ringing tickets released Dec 1st (limited quantity, check the temple’s site)
💰 Budget: Free to attend and watch; ringing tickets, when available, are typically free or low-cost
🍜 Pair it with: a bowl of toshikoshi soba nearby
Shiba and the surrounding Minato-ku streets have a scattering of small, old-school soba counters that stay open late on the 31st specifically for this crowd. Since exact shops and their New Year’s hours shift year to year, it’s worth checking the day-of for whichever’s closest to your hotel — the point is simply to have your bowl finished before you head to the bell.
Sensoji Temple (浅草寺), Tokyo
Tokyo’s oldest temple takes a distinctive approach to the bell: rather than starting before midnight like most temples, Sensoji begins right at the stroke of 12, so the very first strike you hear is the new year arriving. The whole Asakusa neighborhood empties into the temple grounds for it, red lanterns glowing over a crowd that’s noticeably more mixed — long-time locals, families, and a fair number of visitors who’ve made the same discovery you have.
Honest note: this is genuinely one of Tokyo’s most crowded joya no kane events — come early to claim a spot near the bell tower if watching closely matters to you, and expect a real crush moving in and out afterward.
📍 Address: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo (東京都台東区浅草2-3-1)
⏰ Hours: Bell ringing begins at 12:00 AM on January 1st; check the temple’s site for any ticket or entry details closer to the date
💰 Budget: Free to attend
🍜 Pair it with: Namiki Yabu Soba (並木藪蕎麦)
Open since 1913 and a two-minute walk from Kaminarimon Gate, this is one of the “big three” Yabu-style soba houses in Tokyo, known for a darker, more assertive broth than most soba shops use and noodles made from unrefined buckwheat flour that keeps its husk. Get here well before the temple crowd builds, since old-school shops like this one tend to close earlier on the 31st than they would on a normal day.
Kodaiji Temple (高台寺), Kyoto
Founded in 1606 by Kita no Mandokoro, the widow of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, in his memory, Kodaiji is better known for its autumn illumination, but it opens the grounds for a special night viewing on New Year’s Eve too, running roughly 10 PM to 2 AM alongside the bell. Numbered tickets go out at 10 PM on a first-come basis; once you’ve got one, you’re in for both the ringing and a look at the illuminated gardens most visitors only see in November.
Honest note: this is a genuinely popular ticketed event in a touristy part of Higashiyama, so the ticket line itself can take real time — treat the 10 PM ticket release as the start of your evening, not a formality.
📍 Address: 526 Kouyacho, Shimokawaracho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto (京都府京都市東山区高台寺下河原町526)
⏰ Hours: December 31st, tickets distributed from 10:00 PM (first-come, first-served), night viewing runs roughly 10:00 PM–2:00 AM
💰 Budget: Check current admission for the special New Year’s night viewing on the temple’s official site
🍜 Pair it with: Kawamichiya Yoro (河道屋養老)
A century-plus-old Kyoto soba house in Shogoin, across town from Kodaiji but well worth the trip beforehand if you’re basing your evening in Kyoto rather than trying to eat right on Nene no Michi. The house specialty is nishin soba — soba topped with a whole piece of sweet, slow-simmered dried herring — a Kyoto original invented precisely because the landlocked city had no easy access to fresh fish.
Zuikoji Temple (瑞光寺), Kyoto
The pick on this list for anyone who wants to actually ring the bell without a ticket, a line, or a midnight wait. Zuikoji, a modest thatched-roof temple in Fushimi, runs its bell in full daylight — from 2 PM to 5:30 PM on December 31st, no numbered tickets, no group limit, just walk up and take your turn whenever it’s free. The temple also runs a small “joya no kane market” alongside it, with simple food stalls. It’s about a 10-minute walk from Fushimi Inari Taisha, which makes it a genuinely easy add-on if hatsumode there is already on your plan.
Honest note: because it runs mid-afternoon rather than at midnight, this trades the atmospheric “ringing in the actual new year” moment for convenience and zero crowd stress — know which one you’re prioritizing before you choose it over a midnight temple.
📍 Address: Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, near Fushimi Inari Taisha (京都府京都市伏見区)
⏰ Hours: December 31st, memorial service from 1:00 PM, bell ringing 2:00 PM–5:30 PM, unlimited turns
💰 Budget: Free (donations welcome)
🍜 Pair it with: whatever’s on offer at the temple’s own market
Since Zuikoji runs its own small food market alongside the afternoon bell ringing, this is one stop where you don’t need to plan a separate soba errand — grab something simple there, then use the extra time this daytime schedule frees up to get to Fushimi Inari early for hatsumode before the evening crowds build.
Takahata Fudoson Kongoji (高幡不動尊金剛寺), Tokyo
A genuinely good pick if central Tokyo’s big-name temples feel too crowded: Takahata Fudoson, out in Hino City on the western edge of the metro area, is one of the “three great Fudo temples” of the Kanto region and home to Japan’s largest wooden Fudo Myoo statue, at over 1,100 kilograms. It’s also the family temple of Hijikata Toshizo, vice-commander of the Shinsengumi, which gives it a genuine local history angle beyond the bell itself. Ringing starts around midnight, with numbered tickets handed out for the first 108 groups.
Honest note: it’s a 40-plus minute train ride from central Tokyo, so this is a deliberate excursion rather than something you fold into a night already centered downtown — plan your last train back carefully, since services run thinner than usual overnight.
📍 Address: 733 Takahata, Hino, Tokyo (東京都日野市高幡733)
⏰ Hours: December 31st, bell ringing begins around 12:00 AM; numbered tickets for the first 108 groups distributed in advance
💰 Budget: Free to attend
🍜 Pair it with: a soba counter near Takahata-fudo Station
The temple’s approach and the surrounding station area have a handful of small, family-run noodle counters that see a steady stream of regulars finishing their toshikoshi soba before heading to the bell — nothing famous enough to name in advance, but easy to find once you’re there, and exactly the kind of low-key local scene this temple offers over the bigger downtown options.
Practical Travel Tips
Trains run late, but not all night, at most stations. Some lines add special late-night or all-night service specifically for New Year’s Eve (Kyoto’s Keihan line, for one), but this isn’t universal — check your specific route home before you commit to a midnight temple visit, especially somewhere like Takahata Fudoson that’s outside central Tokyo.
Tickets go faster than you’d expect. Any temple handing out numbered kane-tsuki tickets can run out well before the bell actually starts. If ringing the bell yourself matters more to you than just watching, get there early and treat the ticket distribution time as your real start time for the evening.
Dress like you’re going to be outside for hours. Between queuing for tickets, waiting for the bell, and the walk to and from wherever you’re eating, this is a genuinely cold night to spend mostly outdoors. Hand warmers (kairo) are sold everywhere this time of year for exactly this reason.
Decide in advance: bell first or soba first. Since toshikoshi soba is meant to be finished before midnight and most bells start right around then, working backward from your temple’s start time to a realistic dinner slot beats trying to figure it out once you’re already out.
Where to Stay for a Late Night Out
Ringing in the new year often means being out well past midnight, so staying close to your chosen temple beats a late taxi ride home. Two real, currently-operating options near each spot above — one a splurge, one easier on the wallet. All checked and booked through Booking.com below.
Near Zojoji (Shiba, Tokyo)
Tokyo Prince Hotel
You genuinely can’t get closer to Zojoji than this — the hotel was built in 1964 on land that once held part of the temple’s own grounds, and it sits a 3-minute walk from Tokyo Tower and right beside the bell tower itself. Rooms on the tower-facing side look straight out at the lit-up tower, which makes for a memorable spot to watch the night unfold before you head down for the ringing.
Honest note: this is a large, classic hotel rather than a boutique one — the atmosphere leans more “grand old Tokyo institution” than intimate, which is either exactly what you want or not.
📍 Address: 3-3-1 Shiba Koen, Minato-ku, Tokyo (東京都港区芝公園3-3-1)
⏰ Check-in: Standard hotel check-in, 24-hour front desk
💰 Budget: Roughly ¥20,000–¥40,000 per night for two (New Year’s rates run higher than average)
Shiba Park Hotel
An 8-minute walk from Zojoji, open since 1949, with a genuinely distinctive touch: around 2,000 books scattered through the property that guests are welcome to read at their own pace. It’s a quieter, more residential-feeling stay than the big hotels right on Tokyo Tower, tucked a few minutes further into the neighborhood.
Honest note: the walk to the temple is easy but real — pack accordingly if you’re planning to walk back late at night in the cold rather than taking a short taxi.
📍 Address: 1-5-10 Shiba Koen, Minato-ku, Tokyo (東京都港区芝公園1-5-10)
⏰ Check-in: Standard hotel check-in
💰 Budget: Roughly ¥15,000–¥30,000 per night for two (New Year’s rates run higher than average)
Near Sensoji (Asakusa, Tokyo)
The Gate Hotel Asakusa Kaminarimon by Hulic
A 2-minute walk from Kaminarimon Gate, with a 13th-floor lobby and 14th-floor rooftop terrace that look straight out over the temple and Tokyo Skytree — a genuinely striking spot to watch the neighborhood settle in before heading down for midnight. The rooftop bar stays open late, which makes this an easy pick if you want a warm spot to wait out the hours before the bell.
Honest note: it’s a popular, well-reviewed hotel in the middle of Tokyo’s most tourist-heavy street, so expect crowds and noise outside right up until — and honestly through — midnight itself.
📍 Address: 2-16-11 Kaminarimon, Taito-ku, Tokyo (東京都台東区雷門2-16-11)
⏰ Check-in: Standard hotel check-in
💰 Budget: Roughly ¥22,000–¥45,000 per night for two (New Year’s rates run higher than average)
APA Hotel Asakusa Kaminarimon
A 2-minute walk from Asakusa Station and one block from Kaminarimon Gate, with a no-transfer train connection to both Haneda and Narita airports if you’re arriving or leaving around the New Year period. It’s a straightforward, efficient business hotel rather than a design statement, chosen for proximity over atmosphere.
Honest note: rooms are compact, typical for this hotel brand — you’re paying for the location a block from the temple, not square footage.
📍 Address: Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo (東京都台東区浅草)
⏰ Check-in: Standard hotel check-in, 24-hour front desk
💰 Budget: Roughly ¥13,000–¥26,000 per night for two (New Year’s rates run higher than average)
Near Kodaiji (Higashiyama, Kyoto)
Kiyomizu Birodo-an (清水びろうど庵)
A whole Taisho-era machiya, privately rented, tucked down a narrow stone-walled alley a short walk from Kodaiji and Yasaka Shrine — genuinely photogenic, with a full kitchen and antique furnishings that lean into the building’s old character rather than smoothing it over. It’s a real “stay inside old Kyoto” option rather than a hotel room with a view of it.
Honest note: this is a self-check-in vacation rental with a limited front-desk window (3 PM–6:30 PM) — plan your arrival accordingly, since there’s no 24-hour reception to fall back on if your evening runs late.
📍 Address: 478-4 Shimokawaracho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto (京都府京都市東山区下河原町478-4)
⏰ Check-in: 3:00 PM–6:30 PM (limited window), checkout by 10:00 AM
💰 Budget: Roughly ¥28,000–¥50,000 per night for the whole house (New Year’s rates run higher than average)
Rinn Yasaka Kodaiji (鈴 八坂高台寺)
A two-bedroom vacation home down a quiet lane between Yasaka Shrine and Kodaiji, with a full kitchen and living room if you’re traveling as a small group rather than a couple. Guests consistently mention how central the location feels while still being tucked away from the busier tourist streets right outside.
Honest note: like the machiya above, this is a self-check-in property without 24-hour staff on site — confirm your check-in window with the host in advance, especially if your evening runs past a normal arrival time.
📍 Address: Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, near Yasaka Shrine and Kodaiji (京都府京都市東山区)
⏰ Check-in: Self check-in, confirm exact window with host after booking
💰 Budget: Roughly ¥18,000–¥35,000 per night for the whole house (New Year’s rates run higher than average)
Near Zuikoji (Fushimi, Kyoto)
Since Zuikoji sits about 10 minutes on foot from Fushimi Inari Taisha, the same two picks from our Hatsumode Guide work perfectly here too — both are genuinely walkable to the temple and put you in position for hatsumode at Fushimi Inari the next morning as well:
Inari Ohan (稲荷凰庵)
A renovated kyo-machiya just 9 minutes on foot from Fushimi Inari and a short walk from Zuikoji, with its own small garden and kitchenette. Close enough to bounce between both without any transit involved.
Honest note: self-check-in with no front desk, and past guests have noted the house can run cold on arrival in winter before the heating catches up.
📍 Address: 22-3 Fukakusa Inaritoriimaecho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto (京都府京都市伏見区深草稲荷鳥居前町22-3)
⏰ Check-in: Self check-in, confirm exact window with host after booking
💰 Budget: Roughly ¥25,000–¥45,000 per night for the whole house (New Year’s rates run higher than average)
Urban Hotel Kyoto
A straightforward business hotel about a 10-12 minute walk from Fushimi Inari, with on-site parking if you’re driving. A practical, no-frills base for anyone prioritizing proximity over polish.
Honest note: it’s chosen for location and price rather than atmosphere — don’t expect a design hotel.
📍 Address: Fukakusa Nishiuracho 4-chome 59, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto (京都府京都市伏見区深草西浦町4丁目59)
⏰ Check-in: Standard hotel check-in
💰 Budget: Roughly ¥9,000–¥18,000 per night for two (New Year’s rates run higher than average)
A note on Takahata Fudoson: since it’s a 40-plus minute train ride from central Tokyo, this one works best as a there-and-back excursion rather than its own overnight base — stay at either of the two Tokyo picks above and treat Takahata as a deliberate night trip out and back.
Before you go: three things worth sorting before you fly
None of this is glamorous. All of it is cheaper, or simply less stressful, arranged from home than worked out standing in a Japanese station with a queue behind you.
Tours, tickets and day passes across Japan
Timed-entry tickets and guided day trips. Over New Year, the good slots and hotel rooms go weeks, sometimes months, ahead.
Rail passes and shinkansen tickets
A JR Pass only pays for itself over long distances. Price your actual route first — New Year’s trains also run holiday timetables, so double-check schedules regardless of which pass you use.
A Japan eSIM
Free Wi-Fi is patchy and most temple grounds have none at all. Install it before you fly; it activates when you land.
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