Job Discussion Forums

[tuneintokyo]

I'm considering Tokyo or somewhere in Japan for New Year's Eve.

Are there are major events there like in Times Square New York or other place in the west on that night?

Can you recommend a hotel in Tokyo that is near the event site area?

Will it be difficult to book a room downtown at that time?

Could you recommend a few areas for a young single American male to explore while in Tokyo?

[gaijinalways]

Not particularly. Many Japanese go to visit their families in their hometowns at this time. I would suggest expecting a pretty quiet time except for Roppongi where a few foreigners go to hang one on.

[fizayded]

I spent New Year's Eve in Sapporo a couple of years ago, went out to watch the ball drop in zero degree weather. It was fun, but I noticed I was the only person in the crowd drinking.

Also interesting was going to the mall on Christmas day, hmmm...

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Christmas and New Years are sort of reversed. Christmas is a going out holiday, New Years is a family day. This is a Buddhist country.

[Chris12]

tuneintokyo wrote:

I'm considering Tokyo or somewhere in Japan for New Year's Eve. Are there are major events there like in Times Square New York or other place in the west on that night? Can you recommend a hotel in Tokyo that is near the event site area? Will it be difficult to book a room downtown at that time? Could you recommend a few areas for a young single American male to explore while in Tokyo?

The other posts are correct! In Japan Christmas is celebrated with friends, and new years with family. Tokyo is always an exciting place except during Obon week, and New Years. In fact Japan is a boring place from the 31st to about the 5th. Most people return to their home town to be with their family. Most ATMs are shut down so make sure you have enough money to carry you through those days.

[amphivera]

Yeah, the closest thing you get to any kind of public gathering (like Times Square ball drop) is the insane crowd that gathers at the Shibuya scramble crossing every year. It's mostly young Japanese kids sprinting across the crossing, interfering with cars, climbing telephone poles and chanting. The police get dispatched to "prevent" this behavior but it keeps happening. In any case, this is nothing worth being a part of.

I think the best way to spend New Years Eve in Japan is either a) nestled in a kotatsu with your family/closest friends, eating toshikoshi soba and lots of mikan while watching NHK's Kohaku Utagassen or b) heading out to Kyoto and passing the year at one of the big temples. At least that's where you'll find most Japanese. If you're looking for a real "event" there are many "Toshikoshi Lives" (New Year's Eve Countdown Conerts) going down everywhere. None are actually entertaining though.