Tokyo's Top 5 New Year Countdown Events (2019-2020)

Celebrate with Your Family! Tokyo's Best New Year Countdown Events

At the end of every year, countown events are being held in various places in Tokyo. There are many different kinds of events, including ones that are suitable for singles, and others that are specifically for couples and families.

Join one of these events and you can be sure it will become a great memory of your New Year's Eve in Japan. Let us introduce the top countdown events in Tokyo!

1. Shibuya - YOU MAKE SHIBUYA COUNTDOWN 2019-2020

Photo by Pixta

YOU MAKE SHIBUYA COUNTDOWN 2019-2020 is an event held at Shibuya's Scramble Crossing.

On the day of the event, traffic will be restricted and the entire Shibuya area will become a pedestrian zone.

This event showcases several things to see and do including projection mapping, which consists of visual images being projected onto local buildings.

You'll also be able to take amazing photos worthy of sharing with your friends. Admission is free and anyone is welcome to join the event.

The Shibuya New Year countdown is also well known among international guests. In fact, many come to Japan at New Year's just for this celebration.

It will be somewhat crowded, but it will become a great memory nonetheless!

Shibuya Scramble Crossing

2. Odaiba - Tokyo Joypolis Countdown Party 2020

Picture courtesy of Tokyo Joypolis

The Joypolis Countdown Party 2020 (Japanese) is an event held on New Year's Eve at Tokyo Joypolis, Odaiba's theme park.

The excitement really builds up when the winners of the New Year's Lottery are announced. On the day of the event, rides and attractions are in full operation all day, so you can enjoy yourself until the wee hours of the morning. You can spend an entire day in Joypolis in a dreamlike fashion.

Admission to Tokyo Joypolis is 800 yen for adults (18 years and up) and 500 yen for elementary school, junior high school, and senior high school students.

For those who would like to enjoy the attractions in addition to the event, there's a Passport Ticket that is 4,500 yen for adults (18 years and up) and 3,500 yen for elementary school, and junior high school, and senior high school students.

There is also a reasonably priced Advance Countdown Passport Ticket which is 3,200 yen for adults (18 years and up) and 2,200 yen for elementary school, junior high school, and senior high school students.

Tokyo Joypolis

〒135-0091 1-1, Odaiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 6-1 3F～5F DECKS Tokyo Beach

3. Ikebukuro - SKY CIRCUS Sunshine 60 Observatory: SPECIAL COUNTDOWN FES GO! 2020

Picture courtesy of Sunshine 60 Observatory

The SKY CIRCUS Sunshine 60 Observatory SPECIAL COUNTDOWN FES - GO! 2020 (Japanese) is an event held in Ikebukuro at the SKY CIRCUS Sunshine 60 Observatory.

Picture courtesy of Sunshine 60 Observatory

At two separate places within the observatory area, there will be live stages offering a variety of entertainment from live music to comedy acts.

The best feature of this event is that there's a free-of-charge virtual reality (VR) experience. There are a total of five experiences, including one in which guests put on a pair of VR glasses and get into a cannon-like machine!

Many other enjoyable mini-events are planned! These include a surprise magic show, in which the magicians move about the observatory as they perform their magic tricks.

Advance tickets are available for 3,000 yen (with tax) while same-day tickets are 3,200 yen (with tax).

SKY CIRCUS Sunshine 60 Observatory

3-1-1 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-8630 Sunshine City Sunsh...

4. Asakusa - Hanayashiki Countdown 2020

Picture courtesy of Asakusa Hanayashiki

Hanayashiki Countdown 2020 is a New Year event held in Asakusa at Asakusa Hanayashiki, Japan's oldest amusement park.

Every year during the countdown event, visitors can enjoy unlimited rides on eight different attractions including the merry-go-round, the carnival, and the haunted house just to name a few.

The countdown festivities take place in the park at the Flower Stage.

Picture courtesy of Asakusa Hanayashiki

The Admission + Free Ride Pass (unlimited for eight different rides) costs 3,000 yen for adults (junior high school students and up), and 1,000 yen for children (2 years old up to elementary school students) and disabled persons.

The live comedy shows of Hanayashiki Countdown are also highly popular. We highly recommend them to international visitors who understand some Japanese.

The Comedy Show Advance Ticket costs 5,000 yen for adults (junior high school students and up), and 3,000 yen for children (elementary school students and under). Please note that this event is separate from the Flower Stage countdown festivities.

Asakusa Hanayashiki

111-0032 2-28-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo

Established in 1853, it is one of the oldest amusement parks in Japan. Located near Sensoji Temple, it has around 25 attractions suitable f...

5. Kasai - Flowers and Diamonds Ferris Wheel

Photo by Pixta

The Flowers and Diamonds Ferris Wheel at Kasai Seaside Park (Kasai Rinkai Koen) is Japan's largest Ferris wheel. It will be hosting a year-end event. (Please note that there will be no countdown stage shows this year).

The event starts at 23:00 on New Year's Eve and consists of various live performances. At 23:55, the lights of the Ferris wheel go off. The lights go on again right when the New Year begins to the sounds of cheering and shouting!

This giant Ferris wheel operates until 8:00 in the morning on New Year's Day so how about enjoying a ride? You might even get a glimpse of the year's first sunrise from above!

The admission to this event is free. In addition, because the park is large, it won't be as crowded as some other events in Tokyo.

You can also look forward to receiving a lucky gift bag (fukubukuro). These presents are handed out to the first 500 people who enter the park.

Diamond and Flower Ferris Wheel

6-2, Rinkai-cho, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 134-0086

Create Unforgettable Countdown Memories in Tokyo!

In 2019, there will be various New Year countdown celebrations held throughout Tokyo.

Even just deciding which event to attend is part of the fun. If you do find an event that looks promising, enjoy it to the fullest!

Main image courtesy of Asakusa Hanayashiki