Tokyo welcomes the new year quietly and joyfully at midnight Japan time, from the bell tolls of its temples to the street countdown at Shibuya. This countdown ticks down to that Tokyo midnight, in your own timezone.
Tokyo New Year's Eve is on Friday, January 1, 2027, which is 201 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.
The Shibuya Scramble Crossing hosts a huge street countdown; Zojoji Temple releases balloons at midnight with Tokyo Tower behind it; and millions head to Meiji Shrine and Senso-ji for hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year.
At midnight, Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times — the joya no kane — said to cleanse the 108 worldly desires. Families gather for toshikoshi soba noodles before the new year arrives.