In Japan, New Year’s Eve is called “Omisoka”. People welcome in the New Year by listening to the “Joya no Kane” (or New Year’s Eve bell). The first day of the new year (1st January) is called “Gantan” and is a national holiday. This week, we will be introducing some Year End and New Year events that are peculiar to Yokohama.

There will be an event to see in the New Year at Osanbashi from around 7pm on 31st December until around 9am on 1st January.

There will be a kitchen on wheels where visitors can buy hot meals, and movies will be played in the immigration lobby, which will be open throughout the night.

At the front edge of the rooftop, the Yokohama Port photogenic Illuminations will be on display.

Try welcoming in the New Year at Osanbashi, not with a New Year’s Eve bell, but with a New Year’s Eve steam whistle!

The sight of all the ships in harbor sounding their whistles at 12am, as the New Year begins, is overwhelming. And from the rooftop you will be able to see the first sunrise of the year, to the right of Yokohama Bay Bridge.

As well as this, a trip to the historical Japanese Garden, Sankeien, is recommended in order to experience a traditional Japanese New Year.

An event called “New Year at Sankeien” will be held there between 9am and 4pm from 1st January - 3rd January. During this period, traditional events will take place in buildings that are not usually open to the public.

Kakushokaku, a huge wooden structure that was the former home of Sankei Hara, who created Sankeien, will be opened up specially for public viewing during the three days from 1st, and visitors will be able to enjoy a different traditional Japanese New Year event each day.

On 1st January there will be a Koto Performance. On 2nd, a Knife Ceremony will be held, where fish are carved up using just a knife and a pair of chopsticks, with the carver’s hands never coming into direct contact with the fish. On 3rd January, Wazuma (traditional Japanese magic) will take place.

For details, please see the homepage.