
Must-see January Events and Festivals in Japan
Japan ushers in the new year with exciting festivals and events, celebrating everything from timeless traditions to winter illuminations. The month is filled with culturally enriching and visually stunning experiences that unite locals and travelers. Below are the biggest and most popular events happening throughout January.
1. Hatsumode (first shrine visit of the New Year)

When: January 1–3 annually
*Technically, hatsumode, refers to the first shrine/temple visit of the year, but most people go within the first three days of the new year.
What: Hatsumode is the first shrine or temple visit of the year, where people pray for good fortune, health, and happiness. Major shrines like Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo and Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine in Kyoto attract millions of visitors during the first few days of the year.
Where: Various shrines throughout Japan, with popular spots including Meiji Jingu, Tokyo; Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto; Sumiyoshi Taisha, Osaka; and Atsuta Shrine, Nagoya.
2. Hakone Ekiden (Tokyo-Hakone Round-trip Collegiate Race)

When: January 2–3 annually
What: Hakone Ekiden is one of Japan’s most famous long-distance university relay races. Teams of university students compete in a grueling two-day, 134-mile (217-kilometer) race between Tokyo and Hakone. It is one of the nation’s biggest sporting events, with thousands coming out to cheer on the runners, creating a pulsating atmosphere!
Where: The race travels from Otemachi in Tokyo to Hakone and back. It follows national highways, with key points along the route including the sights of Mount Fuji.
3. Oniyo Fire Festival

When: January 7 annually
What: Oniyo Fire Festival is one of Japan’s oldest fire festivals, with a history of over 1,600 years! It features enormous torches carried through the night to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune for the new year. It is said that the embers or sparks that fall on spectators are blessed with good fortune — although, be prepared with a change of clothes!
Where: Daizenji Tamataregu Shrine, Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture. The festival has been designated as one of Japan’s three best fire festivals and an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
4. Toka Ebisu Festival

When: January 9–11 annually.
*The main festivities are on January 10.
What: Toka Ebisu Festival celebrates Ebisu, the Japanese god of fishermen, luck, and good fortune. The festival is held at shrines across Japan, with Nishinomiya Shrine being one of the largest and most popular locations, featuring lively food stalls.
Where: Nishinomiya Shrine, Hyogo Prefecture. It is the head shrine of the Ebisu shrines in Japan, located between Osaka and Kobe.
5. Nozawa Onsen Dosojin Fire Festival

When: January 13–15 annually
*The main event is on January 15.
What: The Dosojin Fire Festival in Nozawa Onsen is another one of Japan’s three great fire festivals. Held to pray for good fortune and health, the festival culminates in a fierce fire battle with massive torches lighting up the snowy village.
Where: Nozawa Onsen Village, Nagano Prefecture. The event takes place at Dosonji Matsuri Kaijo, near the village hall. (Entry to see this festival requires a ticket.)
6. Zao Juhyo Illumination

When: December 27, 2024–February 23, 2025
What: The Zao Juhyo Illumination is a stunning winter event in which Zao’s famous “Snow Monsters” — hoar frost-covered trees — are illuminated with colorful lights, creating a mystical scene against the snowy backdrop.
Where: Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Yamagata Prefecture. The illuminations can be observed from multiple locations, including from the ropeway.
7. Dondo-yaki Festival

When: Around January 15 annually
Where: The Dondo-yaki Festival is a traditional fire festival where people burn New Year’s decorations and talismans to cleanse and purify the new year. It is celebrated across Japan, and each region has its version of the event with giant bonfires lighting up beaches, riverbanks, and shrines.
Where: The festival takes place all across Japan, but notable versions are Nozawa Onsen Dosonji Fire Festival and Oniyo Fire Festival.
8. Sapporo White Illuminations

When: November 22, 2024–March 14, 2025
*Exact dates depend on the location.
What: Sapporo White Illumination is one of Japan’s most beautiful winter light displays, with millions of LED lights transforming key areas of Sapporo into a glowing winter wonderland. While the Odori Park illuminations end on Christmas, the Ekimae-dori location continues its light throughout January and into February, with other locations continuing until March.
Where: Odori Park, Ekimae-dori, and others in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
9. Wakakusa Yamayaki

When: January 25, 2025
*Held on the fourth Saturday of January annually.
What: The Wakakusa Yamayaki is an annual festival in Nara, where the dry grass of Mount Wakakusa is set ablaze in a spectacular and fiery event. The festival begins with a ceremonial lighting of the fire at the base of the mountain, followed by a breathtaking display of fireworks. The festival's origins are believed to date back to beliefs that burning the mountain will prevent ghosts from emerging, and something bad will happen if the mountain is not burned. Today, it attracts large crowds eager to witness the dramatic burning of the mountain.
Where: Mount Wakakusa, Nara, Japan. The event takes place on the slopes of Mount Wakakusa near Nara Park, offering panoramic views of Nara City and its surrounding landmarks.
10. Jozankei Snow Lantern Festival

When: January 25–February 1, 2025
What: Jozankei Snow Lantern Festival transforms the hot spring town of Jozankei Onsen into a winter wonderland, where hundreds of snow lanterns line the streets. This peaceful event, set against Jozankei’s natural beauty, gives visitors opportunities to explore the snow-covered hot spring town at night.
Where: Jozankei Onsen, Sapporo, Hokkaido. The festival is centered around Jozankei Shrine.