Festivals, Running events, and Illuminations in Tokyo & nearby
Marunouchi Illumination 2026
Thu, November 12, 2026 – Sun, February 14 16:00〜23:00Venues, dates, lighting hours and nearest stations for Marunouchi Illumination 2026 (Nov 12 – Feb 14, 2027) and MARUNOUCHI BRIGHT HOLIDAY "Harry Potter" (Nov 12 – Dec 25). Display spots are on the map.
Official site ↗Meiji Jingu Hatsumode 2027
Fri, January 1, 2027 – Sun, January 3 00:00〜Opening hours for New Year visits to Meiji Jingu (all night on New Year's Eve through January 3, 2027), road closure times around Harajuku and Yoyogi, and nearest stations and gates. Closure maps and visiting routes will be added once announced.
Official site ↗Kawasaki Daishi Hatsumode 2027
Thu, December 31, 2026 – Sun, January 3 06:00〜19:30Opening hours for New Year visits to Kawasaki Daishi (New Year's Eve through January 3, 2027), the zone and times closed to cars, the pedestrian-only main approach and Nakamise, the walk from the free Prayer Hall car park to the Main Hall, and nearby stations and toilets on one map.
Official site ↗Naritasan Hatsumode 2027
Thu, December 31, 2026 – Sun, January 3 06:00〜19:00For New Year visits to Naritasan Shinshoji (New Year's Eve through January 3, 2027): the roads and times closed to cars, goma prayer times and peak hours, nearby car parks, the walk from JR and Keisei Narita stations along the main approach, and toilets in the grounds, on one map.
Official site ↗Hakone Ekiden 2027
Sat, January 2, 2027 – Sun, January 3 08:00〜Start times and course of the 103rd Hakone Ekiden (outbound January 2, return January 3, 2027). Road closures and crossing points in Tokyo will be mapped by section, with closing times, once announced.
Official site ↗New Year Greeting 2027
Sat, January 2, 2027 09:30〜14:30Entry hours, Imperial Family appearance times, how to enter through the Seimon Gate (Nijubashi), exit gates and nearest stations for the New Year Public Greeting on January 2, 2027. Updated once the 2027 details are announced.
Official site ↗Setagaya Boro-ichi 2026
Tue, December 15, 2026–Sat, January 16, 2027 (4 dates) 09:00〜20:00Map of Setagaya Boro-ichi (December 15–16, 2026 and January 15–16, 2027): the streets lined with stalls, Daikan Yashiki and the local history museum, the regional products fair, toilets and Setagaya Line stations.
Official site ↗Shinjuku City Half Marathon 2027
Sun, January 31, 2027 07:30〜14:45Map of the Shinjuku City Half Marathon (January 31, 2027) road closures on Shinjuku-dori, Yasukuni-dori, Sotobori-dori, Kagurazaka, Gaien-nishi-dori and around the Meiji Jingu Gaien, with closure and reopening times for each section, the start at the National Stadium and the turnaround at Shinjuku Station East Exit.
Official site ↗
Tokyo in January 2027: Weather, Holidays & Seasonal Highlights
Weather & what to wear
Average highs are 9.8°C and lows 1.2°C, making January the coldest month. The air is dry and clear days are common, so bring warm layers and moisturiser.
Public holidays
January 1 (Fri) is New Year's Day and January 11 (Mon) is Coming of Age Day, making January 9–11 a three-day weekend.
New Year
Shrines are extremely crowded with first visits of the year from January 1 to 3. The Hakone Ekiden runs on January 2 and 3. The Imperial Palace usually holds its New Year public greeting on January 2 (details are announced by the Imperial Household Agency). Some shops and sights close on New Year's Day, and department store New Year sales start around January 2.