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Special Features
New Year Fun in Nagoya Special Feature 2024–2025
Ring the New Year as you strike a traditional Buddhist temple bell and take to the flock of many making their first visits of the year to shrines, temples, and events during Japan's New Year season. Experience the Japanese New Year in Nagoya with family and those closest to you.
Last subway trains for New Year's Eve
Transportation Bureau, City of Nagoya year-end/new year bus and subway information (Japanese)
Index
Temples with Buddhist bells you can strike to ring in the New Year
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Yagotosan Koshoji Temple
Ring the Buddhist bell at Yagotosan Koshoji Temple to dispel evil and give thanks for the passing year with prayers for a peaceful New Year.
• Date and time: Reception to ring the bell taken in order from 11:30 pm; Tue, Dec 31, 2024
• Price: JPY 100 (Wooden stick given to write your prayer on before burning.)
Official Yagotosan Koshoji Temple site
Spot details
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Osu Kannon Temple
• Price: JPY 1,000
• Tickets: Available for sale to 108 people from Wed, Dec 18, 2024 (Changes or cancellation may occur should circumstances deem necessary.)
Official Osu Kannon site (Japanese)
Spot details
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Kenchuji Temple
• Price: JPY 100
• Tickets: Available for sale from 9:00 am, Sun, Dec 1, 2024 until reservations for 108 rings of the bell have been filled
Official Kenchuji Temple site
Spot details
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Arako Kannonji Temple
• Date and time: From 11:45 pm; Tue, Dec 31, 2024
• Price: JPY 500 (includes good luck charm)
Spot details
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Kasadera Kannon Temple
Kasadera Kannon Temple's Buddhist bell (a prefectural cultural property) was forged during the Kamakura period and offers a purifying ring perfect to greet the New Year.
• Date and time: Reception to ring the bell taken in order from 11:45 pm; Tue, Dec 31, 2024; finishing at 1:00 am the following day
• Price: JPY 300
Official Kasadera Kannon Temple site (Japanese)
Spot details
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Ryusenji Temple
• Date and time: From 11:45 pm; Tue, Dec 31, 2024
• Price: JPY 10
Official Ryusenji Temple site (Japanese)
Spot details
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Jimokuji Kannon Temple
• Date and time: From 11:45 pm; Tue, Dec 31, 2024 (those with tickets numbered 1–108 from 11:30 pm)
• Price: JPY 200
Official Jimokuji Temple (Japanese)
Spot details (Japanese)
Recommended shrines and temples for the first visit of the year
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Atsuta Jingu Shrine
• New Year's Morning Festival: From 5:00 am; Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday), 2025
• Festival of Origins: From 7:00 am; Fri, Jan 3, 2025
• Hatsu Ebisu event (prayers for commercial prosperity and household safety): From 12:00 am; Sun, Jan 5, 2025
• Religious rites for rain: From 2:00 pm; Tue, Jan 7, 2025
• Religious rites for protection against evil: From 10:00 am/1:00 pm, Sat, Jan 11, 2025
• Preparation for next year's religious rites for rain: From 12:00 pm; Sun, Jan 12, 2025
• Religious archery rites: From 10:00 am (report to the gods) and from 1:00 pm (archery on foot); Wed, Jan 15, 2025
• Special New Year's worship within shrine walls: 8:30 am–4:00 pm; Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday)–Sun, Jan 5; Sat, Jan 11–Mon, Jan 13 (national holiday), 2025
Official Atsuta Jingu Shrine site
Spot details
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Osu Kannon Temple
• New Year's morning Goma Fire Ritual / Ringing of Buddhist bell: From 12:00 am; Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday), 2025
• First Auspicious Goma Fire Ritual of the Year (details available by inquiry): 10:00 am–5:00 pm; Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday)–Fri, Jan 3, 2025
• Sagicho Bonfire Festival: From 2:30 pm; Mon, Jan 13 (national holiday), 2025
A bonfire is made within the temple premises to give thanks and burn New Years decorations from previous years.
• Price: JPY 1,000 for one wooden Goma Fire Ritual stick
Note:
• Changes may occur.
Official Osu Kannon site (Japanese)
Spot details
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Yamada Temmangu Shrine
• New Year's Morning Festival: Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday), 2025
• Festival for Prayers of Prosperity: Fri, Jan 4 and Wed, Jan 8, 2025 (at Kogane Jinja Shrine)
• Festival for Passing School Tests: Sat, Jan 11–Mon, Jan 13 (national holiday), 2025
Official Yamada Temmangu Shrine page (Japanese)
Spot details (Japanese)
Main shrines and temples of Nagoya City
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Toganji Temple
• Ringing of Buddhist bell (Visitors able to watch. Ringing done by priests. Starts from around 10:30 pm and lasts about an hour.)
Spot details
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Shiroyama Hachimangu Shrine
• Shrine opening: From 12:00 am; Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday), 2025 (From 5:30 am on Thu, Jan 2 [national holiday].)
• New Year's Morning Festival: 6:00 am–6:30 am, Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday), 2025 (Various types of reception close at 2:00 am with viewing possible until 7:00 am.)
Spot details (Japanese)
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Takamu Jinja Shrine
• New Year's taiko drum performance: From 12:00 am; Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday), 2025
• Special New Year's prayers: 10:00 am–4:00 pm, Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday)–Thu, Jan 2, 2025
Official Takamu Jinja Shrine site (Japanese)
Spot details (Japanese)
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Yagoto-san Koshoji Temple
• First Goma Fire Ritual of the Year: Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday)–Sat, Jan 4, 2025
• First calligraphy of the year: 10:00 am–3:00 pm; Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday)–Fri, Jan 3, 2025
Write your own New Year's resolution for JPY 500/person.)
• Special New Year tea ceremony: 10:00 am–4:00 pm; Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday)–Fri, Jan 3, 2025
Enjoy ornate decorations at a tea ceremony ringing in the New Year for JPY 1,000/person (includes matcha green tea with gold powder and New Years sweets)
Official Yagotosan Koshoji Temple site
Spot details
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Aichi Prefecture Gogoku Jinja Shrine
• New Year's Morning Festival: 12:00 am–1:00 am; Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday), 2025 (giant bonfire)
• First Shrine Visit Festival (prayers): Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday)–Sun, Jan 5, 2025
• First archery shots of the year by women in long-sleeved kimono: Sat, Jan 4
Official Aichi Prefecture Gogoku Jinja Shrine site (Japanese)
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Wakamiya Hachimansha Shrine
• First visit of the year: From 12:00 am; Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday), 2025
Adzuki bean paste-covered rice cakes given to visitors (for the first 500 people) as well as limited-time stamps of this year's Chinese zodiac.
• New Year's Morning Festival: 10:00 am–10:30 am; Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday), 2025
• Hatsu Ebisu event (prayers for commercial prosperity and household safety): 10:00 am–3:00 pm; Sun, Jan 5, 2025
Limited-time shrine stamps given out.
Official Wakamiya Hachimansha site (Japanese)
Spot details
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Susano'o Jinja Shrine
• Special New Year's prayers: 9:00 am–5:00 pm; Mon, Jan 6, 2025
Memo books, calculators, cell phones, and other such items blessed in a prayer for commercial prosperity.
Susano'o Jinja Shrine introductory page (Japanese)
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Ueno Temmangu Shrine
• First prayers of the New Year / New Year's Morning Festival: Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday), 2025
• Sagicho Bonfire Festival: Wed, Jan 15, 2025
• First Tenjin Festival of the New Year: Sat, Jan 25, 2025 (lucky bullfinch figurines available both days)
Official Ueno Temmangu Shrine site (Japanese)
Spot details (Japanese)
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Shinshu Otaniha Nagoya Betsuin Temple (Higashi Betsuin Temple)
• First ringing of New Year Buddhist bells: 12:00 am–1:00 am; Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday), 2025
From 12:00 am, all those visiting Higashi Betsuin Temple for the New Year can ring its Buddhist bell. Then, from around 12:10 am or so, the temple's staff gives a New Year greeting at the great hall before performing the melodic chant of a Buddhist sutra.
Official Higashi Betsuin Temple site (Japanese)
Spot details (Japanese)
Stamps of this year's Chinese zodiac: Year of the Snake
Wakamiya Hachimansha Shrine's stamp designs change every month of every year, and are handmade by the miko—or young shamanistic girls in Shinto religious culture.
Note:
• Check the period stamps are available beforehand from the official site.
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2025 New Year Shrine Visit Year of the Snake Paper Cutout Stamp, available from Jan 1 while supplies last
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2025 Special Year of the Snake Paper Cutout Stamp, available year-round from Jan 1
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2025 First Three Days' Special Stamp, available from Jan 1–3
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2025 Special Hatsu Ebisu Stamp, available on Jan 5 only
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Stamp
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Auspicious Snake Paper Cutout Stamp
Check out this special feature!
Observation spots to watch the first rising sun of the New Year
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Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER
Indoor observation room Sky Deck, 90 meters from the ground, and outdoor observation deck Sky Balcony, 100 meters from the ground, both offer an event to let you take in the first rising sun of the year.
• Date and time:
6:00 am–8:00 am (admission until 7:30 am); Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday), 2025
Notes:
• Sunrise expected to occur around 7:00 am.
• Available by reservation only. Same-day tickets unavailable.
Official Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER site (Japanese)
Spot details
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First sunrise of the year from Midland Square 2025
Midland Square's Sky Promenade is the tallest outdoor observation deck in the Tokai area and offers an event letting you take in the first sunrise of the year.
• Date and time: 5:30 am–8:30 am (doors open at 5:00 am with admission until 8:00 am); Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday), 2025
• Location: Sky Promenade, floors 44–46 (entrance on from floor 42) of the Midland Square Office Building
Notes:
• Operating hours extended for the event.
• Available by reservation only. Same-day tickets unavailable.
Official Sky Promenade site (Japanese)
Spot details
New Year's events
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First opening of Nagoya Castle gates
Nagoya Castle opens its gates for the first time in the New Year.
• Date and time: From 9:00 am; Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday), 2025
Official Nagoya Castle site
Spot details
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Bamboo Wishing All Well—Tokugawaen Garden New Year
Tokugawaen Garden holds an event ringing in the New Year.
• Dates and time: 9:30 am–5:30 pm (admission until 5:00 pm); Fri, Dec 13, 2024–Mon, Jan 13 (national holiday), 2025
• Location: Tokugawaen Garden
• Closed: Sun, Dec 29, 2024–Wed, Jan 1 (national holiday), 2025 / Mon (the following weekday should Mon coincide with a national or make-up holiday)
• Admission: JPY 300 for regular guests / JPY 100 for senior citizens (ages 65 and older) residing in Nagoya / Free of charge for junior high school ages and younger
Delighting in the Cold: Tokugawaen Garden's Winter Peonies
Enjoy a display of winter's flower: the peony. Twenty varieties in 70 pots create a colorful backdrop of white, red, yellow, purple, pink, and other hues for the New Year.
• Period: Thu, Jan 2–Sun, Feb 16, 2025
Official Tokugawaen Garden site
Spot details
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New Year's Higashiyama
Nagoya's Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens hold New Year's events. Learn from caretakers as they give talks on their animals, such as discussions on snakes during the Year of the Snake; botanical staff's seminars on creating traditional Japanese New Year kadomatsu decorations; and a walkathon delving into the secrets of the top ten most famous animals, including koalas and the komodo dragon (selected in fall 2024).
• Dates: Thu, Jan 2–Sun, Jan 5, 2025
Official Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens site
Spot details
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New Year at Shirotori Garden
Enjoy the beauty of Shirotori Garden in the New Year.
New Year's Tea Ceremony
• Dates and times: 10:00 am–3:15 pm at Choro Tearoom (dark tea); Sat, Jan 11–Mon, Jan 13 (national holiday), 2025 (Seven sessions in all. Once one session ends, the next group enters.)
• Location: Choro Tearoom and Ryurei Tearoom (with chairs) of Suiu-Tei Teahouse, Shirotori Garden
• Prices: Ryurei building (light tea): JPY 800 / Choro building (rich tea): JPY 1,500
Obara Japanese Paper Exhibit: Paris's Moonflowers, Bordeaux's Moonflowers
• Dates and time: 9:30 am–4:00 pm; Sat, Jan 11–Mon, Jan 13 (national holiday), 2025
• Location: Hiroma Room, Suiu-Tei Teahouse, Shirotori Garden
Gallery explanation
Explanation by reader Kei Shido
• Dates and time: 10:00 am–3:15 pm; Sat, Jan 11, 2025 (seven sessions in all) Thu, Jan 4–Mon, Jan 8 (national holiday), 2024
• Location: Kyukoken Tearoom, Suiu-Tei Teahouse, Shirotori Garden
• Price: JPY 500 (no tea served)
Explanation by Obara Japanese paper artists Tomomihisashi Kano
• Dates: Sun, Jan 12–Mon, Jan 13 (national holiday), 2025
• Location: Kyukoken Tearoom, Suiu-Tei Teahouse, Shirotori Garden
• Price: JPY 500 (no tea served)
• Closed: Sun; Dec 29, 2024–Fri; Jan 3, 2025 / Mon (the following weekday should Mon coincide with a national holiday or make-up holiday)
• Admission: JPY 300 for regular guests / JPY 100 for senior citizens (ages 65 and older) residing in Nagoya / Free of charge for junior high school ages and younger
Official Shirotori Garden site
Spot details
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2025 Nagoya City Fire Department New Year Ceremony and Drills
Nagoya is holding its Fire Department New Year Ceremony and Drills for the first time in five years at Port of Nagoya Garden Pier. Fire department staff and firefighters display their heroicism together with fire engines, helicopters, and other awesome attractions for the city's citizens.
Plus, you can also see special fire department vehicles on display and watch a performance by the Pokka Lemon Fire Department Band at the Fire Department Fureai Plaza, located within the same venue. Plenty of other events entertain all, no matter your age.
• Date: Sun, Jan 12, 2025
New Year Ceremony and Drills: 10:00 am–11:30 am
Fire Department Fureai Plaza events: 9:30 am–3:00 pm
Official Nagoya City Hall site (Japanese)
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Shimajiro's New Year Special Stage
Shimajiro and friends Mimirin, Torippii, and Nyakki come together at Lagunasia for the New Year! Sing and dance together for fun with the whole family. Lagunasia also offers other Shimajiro attractions, making the perfect recipe for a fun-filled family New Year holiday!
• Dates: Wed; Jan 1 (national holiday)–Sun; Jan 5, 2025
• Location: Lagunasia Art Theater
• Times: From 11:30 am and 1:30 pm (each session lasts 30 min.)
• Prices: JPY 3,500 for adults (junior high school ages and older) / JPY 3,000 for elementary school students / JPY 2,600 for young children (ages 3 and older) / JPY 2,200 for ages 2 and younger
Notes:
• Prices include admission and Shimajiro attractions.
• Same-day tickets unavailable should advance tickets sell out.
• One child ages 2 or younger may sitting on the lap of a single guardian may watch free of charge.
Official Laguna Ten Bosch site's special Shimajiro's New Year Special Stage page (Japanese)
Check here for other events around the New Year.
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