Planning a trip to Japan in late December-January with a friend and 15-year old daughter. I understand that New Year is a very busy time, but seems like an interesting time to be in Japan. We are planning to settle in to Tokyo for a few days and not attempt to travel in the few days around New Year.
It sounds as if there is a lot of action around Zojoji temple on New year's eve. Do you think this would be a good place to go on NYE with a 15-year old? Is there a better way to spend NYE?
If we are going to go to Zojoji thought it would be good to be staying at a hotel within walking distance so we don't have to deal with public transport on New Year's eve. The Prince hotel looks close on the map but is a bit expensive for us. Can anyone recommend anything within walking distance of Zojoji temple that is under 10,000 yen for a twin room?
Any other recommnedations for activities in Tokyo around New Year ould be welcome.
Shiba park Hotel (Shiba Koen) is very close to Zojoji (no more than 200 metres), but Asia Rooms discount booking site has it for Y15,000 a night, twin room, breakfast included. This is quite a nice western style hotel with larger than average rooms compared to business hotels, which is why it costs more; you may find it cheaper on other websites. We had a room that had a direct view of Tokyo tower, though the hotel is in two buildings (one is called the annexe), and one building shields the other's views of the tower and Zojoji grounds.
If you have to stay further afield, the subway station DAIMON (means "big gate", when you get to the street and face the temple you'll see where the name comes from), is extremely handy, and there's another subway station on a different line which is quite close (forget its name).
I was there last New Years Eve, with friends, and we made our own fun, which is fair enough. There was no countdown, or fireworks, and when we went home, about 1am, it took us all of 2 minutes to pick up a taxi. Not like New Years Eve in Australia. However, the action does seem to be around the temples, and so next time I will check out a temple or two. Sorry, I can't give any advice on the Zojoji temple specifically.
I think that January 2nd is one of 2 days in the year when the Imperial Palace is opened up and you can go in, see the emperor, listen to a speech of his for a couple of minutes, wave the Japanese flag, (which is handed out free, and recycled later) and shout banzai. Certainly worth thinking about.
There are parts of the Imperial Gardens that are open every day of the year, it's just that on 2nd January much more is opened up.
Seems like all the temples have something going on. Personally I have gone to the Asakusa Temple each time I have been in Japan for New Years. It is fun and cool to see the sea of people chargingb up the temple steps at midnight.
Don't miss going to the Imperial Palace on Jan 2nd to greet the emperor. You will see all kinds of crazy things and interesting people on that date.
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