Hello from Minato & Mirai♪
Here in Yokohama, where we live, you can enjoy New Year’s Eve even for free — with the traditional midnight ship horns at Osanbashi Pier and the countdown at the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel.
So then… what about Tokyo, Japan’s capital? You might expect something even bigger and more exciting, right?
We were curious too, so we looked into it — and what we found was a little unexpected.
- Conclusion: Free countdown events in Tokyo seem very limited…
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Countdown: Lottery-based, limited to 2,000 people
- Shibuya countdowns existed before — but not anymore
- There are paid countdown events — but…
- Why are there so few free countdown events in Tokyo?
- Still want that “New Year’s Eve event” feeling? Consider nearby areas
- Yokosuka Countdown 2026 (Kanagawa) | Event details & access
- Shibayama Countdown Fireworks (Chiba / Shibayama Town)
- Final thoughts
Conclusion: Free countdown events in Tokyo seem very limited…
Let’s start with the conclusion.
For New Year 2025–2026, it appears that there are very few countdown events in Tokyo that anyone can join for free.
We searched terms like:
“Tokyo countdown free”
“Tokyo New Year events 2025”
but honestly, we couldn’t find any event that we could confidently say, “Just go here and you’ll be fine.”
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Countdown: Lottery-based, limited to 2,000 people
The first option that came up was “Happy New Year Tokyo,” held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
This is an official event organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, featuring projection mapping and other special effects — one of the very few free countdown events in Tokyo. However…
- Advance application required (lottery system)
- No walk-in participation on the day
- Applications for the 2025–2026 event have already closed
In other words, while it’s technically free, it’s not an event you can decide to attend at the last minute.
Shibuya countdowns existed before — but not anymore
The Times Square countdown in New York is world-famous. So naturally, you might wonder: doesn’t Shibuya Crossing have something similar?
It’s true that in the past, spontaneous countdown gatherings used to happen around Shibuya Scramble Crossing.
However, due to congestion and safety concerns, official countdown events have been canceled in recent years. Depending on the year, even standing still or gathering in the area may be restricted.
For New Year 2025–2026 as well, it doesn’t look like Shibuya will be a place to enjoy a countdown.
There are paid countdown events — but…
On the other hand, we did find many paid New Year’s Eve events in Tokyo.
- Club countdown parties
- Luxury hotel gala dinners
- New Year’s Eve cruises, and more
That said, prices are usually quite high and advance reservations are required.
Many events are already sold out, so booking at the last minute can be difficult.
Why are there so few free countdown events in Tokyo?
What we found is that in Tokyo, not just for New Year’s Eve, free events that could attract large crowds are handled very cautiously.
In the past, during New Year’s Eve, Halloween, and other major occasions, crowds larger than expected caused congestion and safety issues, which became widely discussed. Each time, security measures and rules were tightened — especially noticeable since the COVID era.
Because of this, it feels like events that are open to everyone without restrictions have become much less common in Tokyo.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government countdown being lottery-based and capacity-limited also reflects how much emphasis is placed on safety.
Still want that “New Year’s Eve event” feeling? Consider nearby areas
If you’re thinking, “I still want to enjoy a proper countdown atmosphere,” one option is to travel a little outside Tokyo.
Yokohama is a great choice, of course — and we also found a few places near Tokyo where you can enjoy countdown fireworks.
Yokosuka Countdown 2026 (Kanagawa) | Event details & access
An annual event right by Yokosuka Port, where you can enjoy naval ship illuminations, a countdown, and fireworks.
It’s close enough to Tokyo to reach easily, yet festive enough to really feel like New Year’s Eve.
- Date & Time: December 31, 2025 (Wed) 18:00 – January 1, 2026 (Thu, Holiday) 01:00
- Highlights:
- Stage events (live performances, countdown)
- Food trucks and tent stalls
- Fireworks over the sea (about 500 shots)
- Various illuminations
- Location: Verny Park – Ikoi no Hiroba
1-1 Shioiri-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 238-0042 - Access:
- JR Yokosuka Station: Right next to Verny Park (toward the waterfront)
- Keikyu Shioiri Station: Walking distance
- Note: No overnight train service on New Year’s Eve / New Year’s Day
Shibayama Countdown Fireworks (Chiba / Shibayama Town)
A countdown fireworks event in Shibayama Town, Chiba, making its return after about six years.
Fireworks will light up the winter sky for about 20 minutes starting right at midnight.
- Date: January 1, 2026 (Thu)
- Time: 00:00 – approx. 20 minutes
- Location: Shibayama Nio-son, under the Nio Gate (Shibayama, Sanmu District, Chiba)
Access by train is not very practical for this event.
The officially recommended route is to take an airport shuttle bus from Narita Airport to “Shibayama Cultural Center,” then transfer to a free shuttle bus to the venue.
Planning your visit with buses in mind is the safest option.
Since it’s relatively easy to reach from Narita Airport or Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, it could be a good New Year’s Eve option if you’re staying in the Narita area.
Final thoughts
Researching this really showed us how limited Tokyo’s countdown options are.
But when you think about it, the true charm of New Year’s Eve in Japan might be staying home, enjoying soba noodles, watching Kohaku Uta Gassen, or “Yuku Toshi Kuru Toshi,” and listening to temple bells from all around the country.
Even the sound of a nearby temple bell drifting through the city — something you usually don’t notice — can suddenly feel special.
In the end, maybe that kind of quiet New Year’s Eve is the most luxurious way to welcome the new year.
That’s what we found ourselves thinking after all this research. 🙂
コメント