Click on Tell me more to read about the event, then use the search term plus the year to find out exact dates and times for when you’re traveling
New Year’s Festivals
From Jan 1-3, everyone makes their First Shrine Visit of the Year (often wearing kimonos), so shrines dish up all kinds of traditional entertainment, music and food, as well as dispensing free amazake (a slightly alcoholic rice brew).
Best shrines for enjoying the new year’s festivities:
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Winter Illuminations
Many of Tokyo’s fabulous free winter illuminations and Yokohama’s Yoru-no-yo continue in the month of January, as well as the eye-popping paid illuminations at Tokyo Mega-Illumi, Yomiuriland, and Sagamiko.
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Winter Sumo Tournament
The Tokyo winter sumo tournament runs for 14 days in January. Everyone should see the original clash of the titans at least once!
Search term: january sumo tournament tokyo
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Coming-of-Age Day
On the second Monday of January 20-year-olds put on the most spectacular kimonos they will ever wear, visit their favorite shrine, and officially become adults.
Best shrines for enjoying the Coming-of-Age kimonos:
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Tokyo Auto Salon
This sprawling auto show fills every hall at Makuhari Messe for three days in mid-January, and it might be the wildest auto show you’ve ever seen. From tricked out cars to booth babes, Tokyo Auto Salon spotlights all the mods you’ll need for drift racing and lowriding, not the latest minivans. Even if you’re not in the market for animated taillights or a DJ sound system that will rock the block, if you miss this, you’ll have Regrets.
Search term: tokyo auto salon
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—James Ziskin, Anthony, Barry, and Macavity Award-winning author of the Ellie Stone mysteries
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And here are the other places I take my friends when they come to town
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Jonelle Patrick writes about Japan 