Happy New Year Tokyo — Metropolitan Building Countdown

Frequently asked questions

When and where is Happy New Year Tokyo 2027 (the TMG building countdown)?

As of 2026-10-11, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has not yet announced the 31 Dec 2026 → 1 Jan 2027 edition. The previous edition, Happy New Year Tokyo 2026, ran 23:30–24:10 on Wednesday 31 December 2025 at the Citizens' Plaza of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, with a pre-event (projection mapping medley etc.) from 22:00; the call for participants opened on 12 November 2025, the same day as the TMG press release. The times shown on this page (22:00 on 31 December to 0:10 on 1 January) are a guide based on the previous edition, not confirmed times. Check the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's press releases (metro.tokyo.lg.jp) for the 2026–27 dates.

Is it free? Do I need to register in advance?

Last edition it was free of charge with advance registration only: about 2,000 places, drawn by lottery if oversubscribed, and applications closed at 23:59 on 7 December 2025. Same-day check-in for registered participants started at 21:30 (tentative); you cannot walk in without a registration. The 2027 application window and capacity have not been announced (the previous two editions were announced, with applications opening the same day, on 12 November 2025 and 22 November 2024); check the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's press releases (metro.tokyo.lg.jp).

Do trains run all night on New Year's Eve in Tokyo?

For 31 Dec 2025–1 Jan 2026, JR East ran overnight service on six Tokyo-area lines including the Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku/Negishi and Chuo-Sobu Local lines; the Yamanote Line ran roughly every 10–25 minutes between about 1:00 and 5:00. Tokyo Metro, by contrast, ran no overnight trains and no extended last trains on any line and used the Saturday/holiday timetable from 30 December to 3 January, and Toei Subway (including the Oedo Line to Tochomae Station) likewise, as a rule, ran no overnight service and used the Saturday/holiday timetable over the New Year period, according to rail media reports of the operators' releases. Confirm the 2026–27 plans in the December announcements from JR East (jreast.co.jp), Tokyo Metro (tokyometro.jp) and Toei (kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp).

Is there a countdown at Shibuya Scramble Crossing?

The Shibuya Countdown Executive Committee has cancelled the crossing countdown every season since 2020–21, and Shibuya Ward instead fences off the Hachiko statue and sets up a press area from 6:00 on 31 December to 1:00 on 1 January (scheduled), per the ward's press releases for 2024–25 and 2025–26. Since 1 October 2024 the ward also bans drinking on streets and in parks in the designated area around Shibuya Station every day of the year from 18:00 to 5:00 (see the ward's official ordinance page for the exact area). Check the ward's press releases (city.shibuya.tokyo.jp), usually issued in early December, for the 2026–27 measures.

Where can I hear the New Year's Eve bells or do hatsumode?

Zojoji Temple (Shiba Park, Minato) rings its bell 108 times from 0:00 on 1 January, with groups of four visitors striking it. For New Year 2026 (the previous cycle), bell-ringing tickets cost 2,000 yen (with a souvenir), went on sale at 9:00 on 1 December at the temple office on the 2nd floor of the hall, and were limited in number; the official page now says distribution for that year has ended, and as of 2026-10-11 nothing has been announced for New Year 2027. Zojoji's annual events page lists the main hall as open all day on 31 December until 17:30 on 1 January, and a Shushoe service starts at 0:00. Meiji Jingu's normal December gate hours are 6:40–16:00, but its official hatsumode page (for New Year 2026) lists 31 December 6:40–0:00 and 1 January 0:00–18:30, noting that the shrine can be visited all night from New Year's Eve into New Year's Day. Hours change year to year, so confirm on each official site.