With the end of the year drawing closer, the pressure is on to figure out how to greet the Year of the Boar. If the dwindling number of viewers staying in to watch NHK’s annual music showcase “Kohaku Uta Gassen” is any indication, more and more people in the Kanto region are choosing to head out for less traditional celebrations.
A good soundtrack can be key to a proper New Year’s celebration and there are more than enough options in and around Tokyo to satisfy a variety of musical tastes. Countdown Japan is a music festival that will take place at the sprawling Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba Prefecture, kicking things off on Dec. 28 and continuing until the early hours of the new year. Around 180 acts will play over the course of four days.
For those looking for romantic views of Tokyo and Yokohama’s landmarks by the cities’ waterfronts, Yokohama Bay and Tokyo Bay have plenty to offer, such as cruises with buffet dinners, live music and views of the Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree. Also, it’ll be hard to miss the spectacular fireworks shows on both waterfronts.
Speaking of Tokyo’s towers, their observatories are the perfect spots for taking in the hatsuhinode, the first sunrise of the year. This Japanese tradition is believed to be an auspicious way to start the year, so scoring the perfect spot will make the moment even more memorable. Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree will hold hatsuhinode-viewing events on Jan. 1 but as only a limited number of guests are allowed, tickets are available by lottery or by a first-come, first-served basis on the day.