If you want to be among the first on the planet to celebrate the New Year, the Land of the Rising Sun is waiting for you! In addition to the stunning Christmas illuminations that appear on the streets of Japanese cities already in early November, you will definitely be attracted by the New Year fairs, where you can buy absolutely everything from souvenir trinkets to Buddhist ritual utensils. And you will also get acquainted with purely Japanese New Year rituals and customs.
In preparation for New Year's Eve, the Japanese place a traditional kadomatsu ornament at the entrance to their homes. It is made of pine and bamboo branches woven with shimenawa, a rope made of rice straw. Pine is a symbol of purity and health, bamboo symbolizes growth and dynamism, and rice is sacred because it is the staple food here.
At midnight from December 31 to January 1, 108 bells from Buddhist temples will herald the coming of the New Year. According to the beliefs, each stroke chases away one of the harmful passions that burden a person.
On New Year's Eve and the first few days of the New Year, Japanese people rush to buy lucky arrows from Shinto and Buddhist temples to decorate their home altars.
Welcome to Japan for New Year's Eve!
Detailed program
Day 1 (December 29). Arrival in Japan and evening tour of Tokyo
In the morning arrive at Tokyo Haneda Airport, meet your Russian-speaking guide, transfer to Tokyo by private vehicle (distance 20 km, travel time 30 min). On the way the car will drive over the Rainbow Bridge over Tokyo Bay, which offers one of the most beautiful views of Tokyo.
15:00 Hotel accommodation, rest. In Japanese hotels the check-in time is rather late, so, having left your things there, you can walk along the streets of the capital and have lunch in the restaurant you like.
16:00-20:00 Tokyo Evening Tour
- Popular Odaiba district on the bulk islands in Tokyo Bay.
- Japanese Statue of Liberty - an exact replica of its American relative.
- Observation deck on the 52nd floor of the tower Mori Tower - Roppongi Hills, a fashionable residential and shopping complex, where you can admire the fantastically beautiful scenery of central evening Tokyo.
- Nocturnal Ginza - Tokyo's storefront.
20:00 - return to the hotel. Rest.
Day 2 (December 30). Kamakura
Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with Russian-speaking guide in the hotel lobby, transfer to Kamakura by private transportation (52 km, 1-1,5 hours).
09:00-18:00 - Kamakura tour and the Enoshima Peninsula.
If desired (for an additional fee - $50/person.) visit to the mineral thermal spring "onsen" overlooking the ocean.
18:00 - return to the hotel in Tokyo.
In the evening. festive Christmas dinner in a restaurant (on their own).
Day 3 (December 31). Tokyo
Breakfast at the hotel.
10:00-18:00 - Tokyo tour with a guide on transportation, with lunch.
Return to the hotel. Transfer to the restaurant or to New Year's Eve countdown-party. Self return by cab to the hotel.
Day 4 (January 1). Tokyo
Breakfast at the hotel. Free time. Optional independent visit to Tokyo Disney Sea/Disney Land.
Day 5 (January 2). Yokohama
Breakfast at the hotel.
09:00-18:00 - excursion to Yokohama, Japan's largest port city (approx. 40 km, travel time approx. 40 min.) with guided transportation.
In lieu of this tour, you can visit Nikko town. In Nikko, you will see a unique beauty Toshogu Shrinethe tomb of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of Tokyo, the scenic Kagon Falls almost 100 meters high, Chuzenji-ko volcanic lake. In a cozy family restaurant you can enjoy home-cooked rainbow trout on its shores.
Day 6 (January 3). Kyoto
Breakfast at the hotel.
08:00-08.30 - transfer to Tokyo Station.
08:30-10:44 - transfer to Kyoto by Shinkansen bullet train, meeting by Russian-speaking guide at the train.
10:44-18:30 - Kyoto tour, "to the city of a thousand temples."
- From the open veranda of a cliffside establishment Kiyomizu-dera Pure Water Temple overlooking the entire city.
- Golden Pavilion Kinkakuji.
- Shrine Ryoanji with a true wonder of the world - A rock garden.
- Residence of the Tokugawa shoguns. Nijo Castlewhich was famous for its extremely beautiful interiors and "nightingale" floors.
Optionally, instead of Nijo-jo Castle at an additional cost can be visited tea ceremony in a traditional Tondai tea house, which is a heritage site in Japan.
Transfer to Kyoto railway station.
18:30-20:45 - Return to Tokyo by shinkansen bullet train. Independent transfer to the hotel.
Day 7 (January 4). Return home
Breakfast. Check out from the hotel. Transfer to Haneda Airport with a guide.
