Hatsumode 2027 in Tokyo: when to go, which shrine, and what is open on New Year’s Day
Hatsumode is the first shrine or temple visit of the new year, and in Tokyo it means choosing between enormous crowds and a calmer visit later in the week. The shrines are free to enter, and the main decisions are which one, which day, and what will actually be open when you get hungry. Here is how the January 2027 calendar looks.
The traditional hatsumode window is Jan 1–3, 2027 (Friday to Sunday). Meiji Jingu in Harajuku is the biggest in Tokyo, with an estimated 3 million or more visitors over the first three days, and Sensoji in Asakusa is the classic temple option. To avoid the worst crowds, go very early on Jan 2 or 3, visit a smaller neighbourhood shrine, or wait until Jan 4–7. Entry is free, but many restaurants and shops are closed Jan 1–3, so plan meals around convenience stores and chains.
Which Tokyo shrine or temple?
Meiji Jingu (Harajuku) is the first answer for most visitors: a large, forested shrine a short walk from Harajuku Station (JR Yamanote Line) and Meiji-jingumae Station (Chiyoda and Fukutoshin lines). A source on hatsumode there says it normally closes in the evening but, in past New Year periods, stayed open from New Year's Eve morning through the evening of January 1, with trains running late. That is how it works in past years, so check Meiji Jingu's official site for the 2027 schedule before you go.
Sensoji (Asakusa) is a Buddhist temple rather than a Shinto shrine, and is popular on January 1 partly because its guardian deity is said to grant wishes about work and money. The scene is different from Meiji Jingu: shopping street, market stalls and a large incense burner rather than a forest approach. You can do either; if you are short on time, choose by neighbourhood and what you want to do after.
| Place | Type | Why go | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meiji Jingu | Shinto shrine, Harajuku | Biggest hatsumode in Japan; easy station access | 3 million+ over three days; slow queues in the afternoon |
| Sensoji | Buddhist temple, Asakusa | Classic Tokyo scene with stalls | Very crowded on Jan 1; check official times |
| A local neighbourhood shrine | Shinto shrine, anywhere | Shorter lines, same etiquette | Smaller stall selection |
When to go to beat the crowds
The same source on Meiji Jingu says 4 a.m. on January 1 is probably the least crowded time of that day, though still busy, and that mornings are calmer than afternoons. Another guide recommends going early on January 2 or 3, or aiming for January 4–7 when crowds usually thin. In 2027, January 2–3 fall on a weekend, so expect more people than a weekday would bring. If you want the atmosphere of a bustling hatsumode, go on the 1st to 3rd. If you want quiet, go on Monday, January 4 or later.
What to do when you get there
At a Shinto shrine, rinse your hands at the water pavilion, toss a coin into the offering box, bow twice, clap twice, make your wish, and bow once more. At a temple such as Sensoji, press your palms together quietly and skip the clapping. Many visitors then draw an omikuji (fortune slip), buy an omamori (amulet) for the year, or write a wish on an ema (wooden plaque). People return last year's amulets to the shrine or temple to be burned. Being non-religious is fine; hatsumode is open to anyone.
Eat before you go. On January 1–3 most traditional restaurants and small shops close, and department stores are typically closed on January 1 and reopen on January 2 or 3 with lucky-bag (fukubukuro) sales that draw early lines. Convenience stores, many chain restaurants and stations stay open, so a quick meal is easy, but a sit-down dinner may not be.
New Year's Eve and the bells
On December 31, temples ring a bell 108 times around midnight (joya no kane) and people eat toshikoshi soba for the evening. Some temples let visitors take a turn at the bell, free at some and for a small donation at others. If you are in Tokyo that night, a midnight shrine visit is the most atmospheric version of hatsumode, but it is also the most crowded. Dress warmly and plan your last train home before you set out.
If you are in Tokyo around the New Year, combine it with lights: our winter illuminations guide lists the displays that run into January and February, and the autumn leaves guide covers garden evenings earlier in the season.
Common questions
When is hatsumode in 2027?
Hatsumode traditionally covers the first three days of the year, January 1–3, 2027 (Friday to Sunday). Some people go any time through January 7, and visits to smaller shrines can be later.
What is the best Tokyo shrine for hatsumode?
Meiji Jingu in Harajuku is Tokyo's most popular, with an estimated 3 million or more visitors over the first three days. Sensoji in Asakusa is the best-known temple choice. A neighbourhood shrine is quieter.
How do I avoid the crowds at Meiji Jingu?
One source says 4 a.m. on January 1 is probably the least crowded time of that day, and mornings are calmer than afternoons. Going January 4–7 is usually calmer still.
Is hatsumode free?
Entering a shrine or temple is free. Omikuji fortunes, amulets and ema plaques cost a small fee at the stalls, and you may want a coin ready for the offering box.
What is open on January 1 in Japan?
Most convenience stores, some fast-food and family-restaurant chains, train stations, hotels and designated holiday attractions are open. Many traditional restaurants, small shops and museums close, and department stores usually reopen January 2 or 3.
Do I need to be religious to visit?
No. Hatsumode is open to anyone; the etiquette is to be quiet and respectful, and to follow the same simple bow-and-offer steps as other visitors.