New Years Eve Kyoto 2020, Events, Parties, Hotel Packages
New Years Eve Kyoto 2020, Where To Celebrate New Years Eve Kyoto 2020, Things To Do New Years Eve Kyoto 2020, Hotel Accommodation For NYE 2020 Kyoto
NEW YEARS EVE KYOTO 2020
Usually family members gather to spend this holiday together. On New Year's Eve they visit a temple nearby to listen to the sound of a ringing bell, called Jyoya no Kane around 23:45. The bell at each location is rung 108 times. The reason for this particular number is that it is believed that a person has 108 earthly desires and that they can be purified by ringing the bell (it is true that many go to hear these bells, but a lot of people stay at home and just listen).
New Year's is the most important festival/holiday of the Japanese year. It's like Christmas and Thanksgiving all rolled into one. This is the time when families gather to feast and visit their local temples and shrines to pray for good fortune in the coming year.
CELEBRATE NEW YEARS EVE IN KYOTO
New Year's Feast
For Japanese, the most important part of the New Year's holiday is gathering with the family to have a special feast or feasts, often held on the evening of December 31st and during the day on January 1st. Unless you're lucky enough to have friends in Kyoto, it will be tough to join such a feast, but you can sample the special Japanese New Year's cuisine, known as o-sechi ryori, by stopping by one of the department stores and purchasing a ready-made assortment that you can eat at your lodgings. Takashimaya, Daimaru and Isetan department stores are all good places to pick up some o-sechi ryori.
Another option on New Year's Eve is to head to a luxury hotel and eat a bang-up meal at one of their on-site restaurants. A good choice for this would be the Hyatt Regency Kyoto or the Westin Miyako Hotel Kyoto.
Joya no Kane – temple bell rang 108 times
After feasting on New Year's Eve, many Kyotoites head to their local temple to perform joya-no-kane, a sacred bell ringing ceremony. Here, people line up to ring the giant temple bells and wish for good fortune in the New Year (and to get rid of bad karma from the old). Technically, the bells are supposed to be rung 108 times, a number symbolizing the sins to which the flesh is heir, but many temples will allow everyone a chance to ring the bell even if it exceeds this number. Here are some good spots to participate in or observe joya-no-kane:
Chion-in: This vast temple houses Kyoto's largest temple bell in a special enclosure above the main precinct. The bell is rung by a team of 17 monks, who fall with all their weight on ropes to swing the massive log-like clanger into the bell. If you want to see this, you'll have to go very early and stand in line.
Nanzen-ji Temple: If you're willing to stand on line, you can take a turn ringing the bell at the atmospheric bell tower of this fine Zen temple.
Kurodani Temple: Located on a hill above the city, the night view alone here is worth the trip. If you get here about an hour before midnight, you'll have a chance to ring the bell with the locals.
Shinyodo Temple: This lovely temple in Sakyo-ku is very popular with Kyoto's expat community as a place to ring in the New Year. The monks here serve hot medicinal tea to visitors, who then stand on line to ring the bell. I once spent a magical New Year's Eve here waiting to ring the bell in deep snow.
Hatsu-mode (First Shrine Visit of the New Year)
After ringing the bell at the local temple, many Kyotoites head to their local shrine or one of the city's grand shrines to perform hatsu-mode, the all-important first shrine visit of the New Year. Those who don't visit a shrine on the evening of December 31st will almost always go on January 1st, 2nd or 3rd. Once at the shrine, Kyotoites will stand on line to ring the bell and say a prayer for a good New Year. Foreign visitors are more than welcome to join the queue and say a prayer. Some shrine-goers will also draw an omikuji (fortune) by shaking a numbered stick out of a special container and telling the number to the waiting attendant who will hand over the corresponding fortune (this costs Y100). Some shrines serve special sweet alcohol-free sake called amazake to their guests on New Year's Eve, and this is a great way to beat the chill.
Kemari Hajime
Every year on the fourth of January, a ritual called Kemari Hajime is held at Shimogamo Shrine. This shrine dates back to the Heian period, a thousand years ago. Like you can see in the picture, the ritual consists by the priests kicking a ball, and every year a great number of people go to see this ritual, so the feel at the temple is joyous. If you have time on the fourth, consider going to Shimogamo Shrine to see some Japanese-style football!
Toka Ebisu Festival
At Gion's Ebisu Shrine, they have a festival every 10th of the first January of the year, for the health and prosperity of their parishioners. After the festival, you even have a chance to buy a bamboo shoot to decorate and bring health to your home. There are also many food stalls close to the shrine, so you can also get some nice street food as well!
BEST CLUBS FOR CELEBRATE NEW YEARS EVE IN KYOTO
Much of Japan stays home on New Year's Eve to spend time with family and visit their neighborhood shrine. But if you're more into the midnight countdown and partying the night away, check out our list of recommended events where you can ring in 2020 in style!
 World Location: Imagium Bldg, 97 Shin-cho, Nishikiyamachi-dori Shigo-agaru, Shimogyo-ku Kyoto |
 Metro Location: Ebisu Bldg, 82 Shimotsutsumi-cho, Kawabata Marutamachi-sagaru, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto |
 Kitsune Location: FS Kiyamachi Bldg, 179 Zaimoku-cho, Kiyamachi-dori Sanjo-sagaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto |
 Weller's Club Location: 5 Raport Bldg, 146 Aburaya-cho, Takoyakushi Nishi-iru, Fuya-cho, Nakagyo-ku Kyoto |
 Butterfly Location: Japan, 〒604-8031 Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Daikokucho |
 Flamingo Location: Japan, 〒605-0073 Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto, Higashiyama Ward |
BEST BARS FOR NEW YEARS EVE IN KYOTO 2020
A New Year's party at a rooftop is probably the best place to enjoy both fun and sky-high vibes, while also getting the best spot to watch all the fireworks. If you would like to celebrate New Year's Eve at a rooftop and want to enjoy the fireworks with the best view, this is the list for you.
 Grill Lounge & Terrace Location: Hyatt Regency Kyoto |
 Southern Court Location: Hotel Granvia Kyoto |
 Grand Jour Location: Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto |
|---|---|---|
 Rooftop Garden Location: Fortune Garden Kyoto |
 Pontocho Marble Room Location: Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto |
 Atlantis Location: Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto |
 Sky Lounge KUU Location: Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Higashishiokojicho |
 TOUZAN BAR Location: Kyoto, Higashiyama Ward |
 Dining Café & Bar Ronde Location: Kyoto, Minami Ward, Nishikujo Inmachi |
What's Open and What's Closed on New Year's in Japan?
Be warned that it can be inconvenient to travel in Japan over the New Year's holidays. While most attractions stay open, some attractions and many shops and restaurants will be closed. Here's a list of what stays open and what closes over the New Year's holidays. Usually Closed from December 31 to January 2nd (sometimes January 3rd)
- Post offices
- Bank
- Public offices
- Businesses
- Shops
- Supermarkets
- Museums and Galleries
- Sento (public baths)
- Department Stores
ENJOY NEW YEARS EVE AT RESTAURANTS
Eating soba noodles is an important New Year's tradition in Japan, and luckily there are many great soba restaurants in Kyoto!
1. Honke Owariya - main branch
https://sharing-kyoto.com/Eat-Drink/magazine/re007261
Honke Owariya is THE soba noodle place if you ask the locals. They are most famous for their Horai Soba which you can see in the picture. You have five layers of soba with all kinds of sauces and spices, every layer different from each other.
2. Honke Tagoto Sanjo-Teramachi main store
https://sharing-kyoto.com/Eat-Drink/magazine/re007261
Honke Tagoto is located on the busy shopping street of Sanjo-Teramachi. The restaurant started operating in the first year of the Meiji period in 1868, and although the restaurant is very traditional, they're not afraid to incorporate new styles and things into their menu. In the picture, you can see their Spicy Ebi-Taiko, which contains Pollock roe in its soup, and has a strong, spicy taste unlike the subtle soba usually served in Kyoto. This soba gets my recommendation.
3. Misoka-an Kawamichiya
https://sharing-kyoto.com/Eat-Drink/magazine/re007261
Misoka-an Karamichiya is located in a traditional Japanese house and the restaurant itself has over 300 years of history behind it. Once inside the restaurant, you're greeted by a nostalgic feel. Eating cold noodles in winter you may feel a bit cold, but you'll get to taste the great taste of buckwheat in the noodles. The noodles taste even better eaten with the Japanese mountain yam paste!
4. Kyoto Nakanokoan
https://sharing-kyoto.com/Eat-Drink/magazine/re007261
Kyoto Nakanokoan is a trendy soba restaurant in the middle of Kyoto, and it's indeed so trendy that you wouldn't at first believe it's a soba restaurant. Inside the restaurant the lighting is dim and the atmosphere bar-like. Unlike many another soba restaurant, Nakanokoan's tempura set doesn't contain seafood tempura, but instead, it features chicken tempura.
5. Shofukutei
https://sharing-kyoto.com/Eat-Drink/magazine/re007261
This restaurant is located close to subway Gojo Station, and their specialty is soba noodles with matcha in them. The taste is very special because they add matcha to the noodles when they're making them. This is why the noodles are a light shade of green. The noodles here are best had with some tempura as a side.
WHERE TO STAY ON NEW YEARS EVE IN KYOTO
Staying in a good Western-style luxury hotel is a good move if you're in Kyoto over the New Year's holiday. This is because many of the city's restaurants are closed over New Year's, but hotel restaurants usually stay open and you'll be able to dine at your lodgings rather than traipsing all over town looking for an open restaurant. As mentioned above, Kyoto's luxury hotels often serve special dinners on New Year's Eve.
Some good hotels in which to stay over the New Year's holiday include: Hyatt Regency Kyoto, Hotel Granvia Kyoto, Westin Miyako Hotel Kyoto, Kyoto Hotel Okura, Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto, The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto.
 Hyatt Regency Kyoto |
 Hotel Granvia Kyoto |
 Westin Miyako Hotel Kyoto |
 Kyoto Hotel Okura Kyoto |
 Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto |
 The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto |