Ueno Events December 2025: Complete Guide to New Year Celebrations, Winter Illuminations & Traditional Festivals
Ueno, known as one of Tokyo's premier tourist destinations, is dotted with attractions such as Ueno Park, Tokyo National Museum, and Ameya Yokocho, bustling with visitors on both weekdays and holidays. Ueno Station is not only served by multiple train lines including the Shinkansen, but also offers excellent access from Tokyo's central areas, making it an attractive base for sightseeing.
This charming district of Ueno hosts various events in December, including Christmas and New Year celebrations, as well as historically significant art-related events. This guide will introduce you to the highlights, basic information, timing, and access details for these Ueno Event December 2025 celebrations.
Table of Contents
-December Ueno Offers Many Events to Enjoy the New Year Season
-The Christmas Market at Ueno Park is Also a Must-See
-Art-Related Events You Can Enjoy in Ueno in December
-December Illumination Events You Can Enjoy Around Ueno
December Ueno Offers Many Events to Enjoy the New Year Season
Did you know that December Ueno features numerous events to enjoy the New Year season? Japan's New Year tradition involves purifying oneself of impurities and welcoming the new year with a pure heart. Many shrines hold events based on these customs, and some events require no reservations, so feel free to drop by and give them a try!
Here, we'll explain two traditional Ueno Event December 2025 celebrations you can enjoy at shrines and temples during the New Year season.
New Year's Eve Bell Ringing (Joya no Kane)
New Year's Eve bell ringing is an event where temple bells are struck 108 times on New Year's Eve (December 31st). By listening to the 108 solemn bell sounds echoing through the quiet night, it's believed that the 108 earthly desires humans possess can be removed, allowing one to welcome the new year with a pure heart.
Here are three temples in Ueno where you can experience New Year's Eve bell ringing as part of your Ueno Event December 2025 experience.
Tōeizan Kan'ei-ji Endon-in
Source:TAITO Odekake Navi
Tōeizan Kan'ei-ji Endon-in is a temple founded by Tenkai in 1625, where New Year's Eve bell ringing takes place at two locations: the "Time Bell Hall" within Ueno Park and the "Belfry Hall" within the temple grounds.
At both locations, anyone can experience New Year's Eve bell ringing for a participation fee of 3,000 yen with advance reservations. Not only can you strike the New Year's Eve bells, but you'll also receive hamaya (New Year's good luck charms) and amulets, so be sure to make a reservation and experience a truly Japanese New Year celebration.
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Date: December 31, 2025
Access: 7-minute walk from Uguisudani Station (JR lines)
Admission: Free
Website: https://kaneiji.jp/#gsc.tab=0
Marishiten Tokudaiji Temple
Source:Official website
Marishiten Tokudaiji Temple is a temple founded in the early Edo period where you can experience New Year's Eve bell ringing without reservations on New Year's Eve.
What's noteworthy is that New Year's Eve bell ringing alone is free to participate in, and even after the 108th strike, you can continue striking until around 1 AM. Additionally, for a participation fee of 15,000 yen, there's a plan that includes "First Prayer on New Year's Day" (the first purification ceremony after the new year begins) after the New Year's Eve bell ringing, plus enjoying toshikoshi soba (long-life noodles eaten at year-end for good fortune), and receiving amulets and fortune charms.
Participating in this plan that allows you to fully enjoy Japanese traditional culture will surely give you something to boast about to friends and family.
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Date: December 31, 2025
Access: 2-minute walk from Okachimachi Station (various lines)
Admission: Free
Website: https://marishiten-tokudaiji.com/
Sensoji Temple (Asakusa)
Source:e-asakusa.jp
Sensoji Temple is Tokyo's oldest temple, and since New Year's Eve 1951, New Year's Eve bell ringing has been performed by "the Society of 108," consisting of 108 believers. "The Society of 108" includes local people as well as kabuki actors, rakugo performers, and manga artists connected to Asakusa, who enliven this major New Year event.
A unique feature of Sensoji Temple is that New Year's Eve bell ringing is performed after New Year's Day begins, rather than on New Year's Eve itself. I once participated before my New Year's shrine visit, and it was impressive how loud cheers and applause erupted from worshippers as the first bell rang, celebrating the beginning of the new year with a large crowd.
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Date: December 31, 2025
Access: 1-minute walk from Asakusa Station (various lines)
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.senso-ji.jp/english/
Great Purification (Oharae)
Great Purification is an event held at shrines twice a year at the end of June and December to cleanse sins and impurities unknowingly committed in daily life.
During the event, the Great Purification prayer (text conveyed to the gods during the ceremony) is recited, and katashiro (white paper cut in human form) are used to remove half a year's worth of impurities. Some shrines also have participants pass through Chinowa (large rings made of bundled straw or miscanthus) three times to ward off evil.
Gojoten and Hanazono Inari Shrines
Source:Facebook
Gojoten and Hanazono Inari Shrines are characterized by their connected grounds, appearing as one shrine, with the Great Purification ceremony held at Gojoten Shrine.
During the Great Purification ceremony, you write your family's names and ages on katashiro obtained from the shrine, and bring them to the shrine on the ceremony day to have half a year's impurities removed. Additionally, Chinowa are installed in the grounds for one week before and after the Great Purification ceremony, allowing you to freely pass through them to remove impurities.
The shrine staff will teach you how to properly pass through the Chinowa, so please visit and give it a try!
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Date: December 31, 2025
Access: 3-minute walk from Ueno Station/Keisei-Ueno Station (various lines)
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.gojoutenjinsha.com/
Shitaya Shrine
Source:Official website
Shitaya Shrine, founded in 730, is Tokyo's oldest Inari shrine (dedicated to deities bringing good harvests and business prosperity), where the Year-End Great Purification is held on December 31st.
I have participated in the Year-End Great Purification myself. The Great Purification held in December's cold air has a solemn atmosphere, and I could feel my heart becoming peaceful. After the Great Purification ended, my heart felt refreshed, and I was able to welcome the new year with a bright feeling.
Shitaya Shrine also offers limited goshuin (shrine stamps) according to seasons and events. After purifying your heart with the Year-End Great Purification, why not purchase a December-limited goshuin as a commemorative souvenir?
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Date: December 31, 2025
Access: 2-minute walk from Inaricho Station (Ginza Line), 5-minute walk from Shin-Okachimachi Station (Oedo Line), 6-minute walk from Ueno Station (various lines)
Admission: Free
Website: https://shitayajinja.or.jp/
For Those Interested in Japanese Traditions: Explore Neighboring Asakusa with a Local Guide
For those interested in Japanese traditions, let's explore neighboring Asakusa with the guidance of a local guide. The Asakusa Cultural Walk & Matcha Making Tour is a 3-hour tour that takes you around Asakusa's tourist attractions.
The tour visits four tourist spots:
・Nakamise Shopping Street
・Sensoji Temple
・Tea ceremony experience
・Hoppy Street
First, while strolling through Nakamise Shopping Street with its 300-year history, you'll head to Sensoji Temple, Tokyo's oldest temple, and learn about Japanese customs and culture from your guide. Next, experience the tea ceremony in a quiet tea room and feel Japanese traditional culture firsthand. Finally, at restaurants on Hoppy Street, you can actually cook and eat monjayaki and okonomiyaki on iron plates set up on tables, so you can enjoy lunch while experiencing the fun of cooking.
With content that condenses Asakusa's charm, the 3-hour duration will pass by in the blink of an eye!
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Meeting place: In front of Sensoji Temple Kaminarimon Police Box
Area: Asakusa
Start time: 11:00
The Christmas Market at Ueno Park is Also a Must-See
Source:Ueno Tourism Association
The Christmas market held at Ueno Park is also a must-see attraction, making it a premier Ueno Event December 2025 experience for visitors.
The Christmas market is centered around Hakamakoshi Square within the park, where you can enjoy Christmas tree lighting, panda-designed photo spots, food trucks offering multinational cuisine and Christmas menus, and live performances by artists.
I enjoyed the Christmas atmosphere while eating champagne and authentic frankfurters bought from food trucks, watching the Christmas trees glowing vividly in the darkness and live performances.
Since admission is free, please feel free to stop by when you visit Ueno.
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Date: 2025 month/day
Access: 5-minute walk from Ueno Station (all lines)
Admission: Free
Website: https://ueno.or.jp/christmas/ (2024 site)
Art-Related Events You Can Enjoy in Ueno in December
Ueno is known as one of Japan's leading "art towns," where art museums, museums, and art universities gather. There are spots scattered throughout the station and surrounding areas where you can view artworks for free, allowing you to encounter art in various forms.
From here, we'll introduce two carefully selected art-related events you can enjoy as part of the exciting Ueno Event December 2025 lineup.
Van Gogh Exhibition: The Artist's Dream Connected by Family
Source:PR TIMES
Van Gogh's Home: The Van Gogh Museum. The Painter's Legacy, the Family Collection, the Ongoing Story is an event that focuses on the family collection that the Van Gogh family has inherited among Van Gogh's works that are acclaimed worldwide.
The event features over 30 masterpieces centered on works from the Van Gogh Museum, as well as the display of four precious letters by Van Gogh that are being exhibited in Japan for the first time. The highlight is the immersive corner that utilizes the latest reproduction technology. Here, Van Gogh's works are projected on giant monitors, creating an experience where you can immerse yourself in the artwork.
This is an event where you can fully appreciate the artistic value of Van Gogh, who had a significant influence on Japanese art culture, so art lovers should definitely visit.
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Date: September 12, 2025 - December 21, 2025
Access: 7-minute walk from Ueno Station (all lines)
Admission: Adults 2,300 yen, University/vocational students 1,300 yen, 65 and over 1,600 yen
Website: https://www.tobikan.jp/exhibition/2025_vangogh.html
Special Exhibition "Mass Extinctions - BIG FIVE of Life History"
Source:Official website
Special Exhibition: Mass Extinctions―BIG FIVE. is an event that approaches the mysteries of large-scale mass extinctions that occurred in the 4 billion years of life history.
The event examines from multiple angles the five extinction events (end-Ordovician, late Devonian, end-Permian, end-Triassic, end-Cretaceous) where more than 75% of biological species actually became extinct in short periods, using evidence from fossils and rocks to unravel the story of life's crises, recovery, and evolution.
Additionally, you can see fossil specimens that are the first of their kind in Japan, learn about the history of the Big Five through giant globe-shaped displays, experience volcanic activity, and enjoy content packed with highlights.
The content is enjoyable not only for adults but also for children, so it's recommended for families as well.
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Date: November 1, 2025 - February 23, 2026
Access: 5-minute walk from JR Ueno Station, 10-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Ueno Station, Keisei Ueno Station
Admission: Adults 2,300 yen, Elementary/middle/high school students 600 yen (advance tickets available)
Website: https://daizetsumetsu.jp/
If You Love Alcohol, Enjoy Bar Hopping at Local Favorite Spots with a Local Guide!
If you love alcohol, let's enjoy bar hopping at local favorite spots beloved by locals together with a local guide. The All-You-Can-Drink Bar Hopping Tour in Ueno is a tour where you can be guided to hidden bars in Ueno by a guide who knows the area inside and out.
First, you'll taste local street food such as yakitori, oden, and okonomiyaki at Ueno's famous food stall district. With drinks being "all-you-can-drink" for 45 minutes, you can enjoy alcohol to your heart's content while savoring pairings with beer, sake, shochu, and other beverages alongside the food.
Finally, let's try the "shime no ramen" (finishing ramen), which is part of Japan's drinking party culture. Eating delicious ramen at the end of the tour will surely satisfy both body and soul.
Why not experience Tokyo's nightlife through bar hopping and gourmet experiences?
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Meeting Point: In front of the "UENO" monument, right at the Hirokoji Exit of JR Ueno Station
Area: Ueno
Start Time: 6:00 PM
December Illumination Events You Can Enjoy Around Ueno
Here we'll introduce illumination events you can enjoy around Ueno in December - perfect Ueno Events for December 2025.
Tokyo Dome City Winter Illumination
Source:PR TIMES
Tokyo Dome City Winter Illumination is an event that decorates the entire Tokyo Dome City with snow-white illumination, imagining it as a snow dome.
The highlight is the jumbo tree, approximately 15 meters tall, installed in Crystal Avenue Plaza. This towering giant tree has tremendous impact, and I was overwhelmed by its presence when I first saw it. The tree features about 250,000 LED lights that change patterns, and every 15 minutes you can enjoy captivating performances with light and dancing white soap bubbles.
Various interactive content themed around snow domes is prepared, so you can enjoy a uniquely different illumination event experience.
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Schedule: December 2025 (dates TBD)
Access: Right from Suidobashi Station and Korakuen Station on various lines
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/illumination/ (2024 site)
Tokyo Midtown Illumination
Source:Official website
Tokyo Midtown Illumination is held as part of "Midtown Christmas," Tokyo Midtown's Christmas event. The approximately 560,000 illumination lights throughout Midtown Garden create a fantastical space that offers an escape from the ordinary.
My favorite illumination spot is the annual "Path of Light." The surrounding trees are decorated with approximately 320,000 golden illumination lights, allowing you to enjoy an elegant yet dynamic landscape.
The "Path of Light" can also be viewed from restaurants overlooking the garden area, so you can leisurely appreciate it while dining. If you're not fond of cold weather, use the restaurants to enjoy the illuminations comfortably.
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Schedule: December 2025 (dates TBD)
Access: Right from Roppongi Station on the Toei Oedo Line, 3-minute walk from Nogizaka Station on the Chiyoda Line
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.tokyo-midtown.com/jp/event/7242/ (2024)
Marunouchi Street Park 2025
Source:FASHION PRESS
Marunouchi Street Park illumination 2025 is part of the annual winter "Marunouchi illuminations" held along a section of Marunouchi Naka-dori Street.
Trees planted on both sides of the street are illuminated with champagne gold lighting, creating an elegant atmosphere befitting this sophisticated district. An attractive point is that all electricity used is green power generated from natural energy.
Christmas markets and food trucks also appear during the same period, so why not enjoy the illuminations while eating your way around?
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Schedule: December 2025 (dates TBD)
Access: Right from Tokyo Station on various lines
Admission: Free
Website: https://marunouchi-streetpark.com/
