Sensoji New Year (Hatsumode & Joya no Kane) 2027 Confirmed

浅草寺 初詣・除夜の鐘 — Tokyo (Kanto)

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Sensoji, Tokyo's oldest temple, is one of the city's busiest places to see in the New Year. The temple bell at Bentenyama is rung for Joya no Kane on New Year's Eve, and from December 31 to January 6 the main hall holds its New Year services (Shusho-e), with the Great New Year Prayers from January 1 to 7. Nakamise, the shopping street leading to the temple, is lined with New Year crowds for the first days of January.

Background

According to the temple's history, Sensoji began in 628, when two fishermen found a statue of Kannon in the Sumida River. Joya no Kane — the ringing of temple bells as the old year ends — is a Buddhist New Year's Eve custom, and Sensoji rings its bell at Bentenyama, a small hill in the temple grounds.

Getting there

Sensoji is a short walk from Asakusa Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, the Toei Asakusa Line and the Tobu Skytree Line.

Tips

• The main hall normally opens at 6:30 AM (October–March) and closes at 5:00 PM; New Year's Eve and New Year hours differ and are worth checking in December.
• On January 1 the monthly Daihannya sutra service starts at 8:00 AM instead of the usual 10:00 AM.
• Expect entry to the main approach to be controlled around midnight and on January 1–3; late morning on January 3 onwards is quieter.
• Come back on December 17–19 for the Hagoita-ichi battledore fair in the same grounds.

Last verified against the official source: Sat, September 26, 2026