Arashiyama Hanatouro

For about ten days each December, the Arashiyama district is transformed by thousands of lanterns and ikebana flower installations lining its streets, temple approaches, and the famous bamboo grove. The Togetsukyo Bridge and the bamboo path are especially striking after dark, and the atmosphere is truly unique. It’s free to walk the main route, though some individual temples charge admission for their own light-ups.

Temple Illuminations

Several of Kyoto’s temples hold special night illuminations in early December, using the last of the autumn foliage as a backdrop. Kiyomizu-dera and Kodai-ji are among the most popular, with extended evening hours and dramatically lit gardens and halls. These typically run into the first week or so of December before wrapping up as the leaves fall.

New Year’s Eve at Yasaka Shrine (December 31)

From the evening of December 31st, the shrine holds Okera Mairi, a fire ritual to ward off the negative energy of the previous year. Some visitors will light a rope from a sacred flame and carry it home, spinning it gently to keep it burning, to light their New Year’s cooking fire for good luck. It’s an interesting and unique way to enjoy the last hours of the year before conducting Hatsumode to ring in the new year.

If your trip overlaps with the very end of December, it’s worth planning carefully — the New Year holiday changes how the city runs.

Many businesses close during the New Year holidays. Small restaurants, shops, and some museums commonly close for several days around New Year, typically from about December 29th or 30th through January 3rd, as staff head home to observe the holiday with family. This isn’t universal — hotels, department stores, and major tourist sites generally stay open — but it’s easy to arrive at a favorite restaurant or small shop only to find it shuttered. Check opening hours in advance for anything you don’t want to miss, and book New Year’s Eve dinner ahead of time if you’d like a sit-down meal that night.

Transportation gets busier. Late December, especially December 28th to 30th, and early January, especially January 2nd to 4th, are among the busiest travel periods in Japan, as much of the country returns home or takes trips of their own. Shinkansen trains and local transport can be crowded and reservations harder to secure, so it’s worth booking seats in advance if you’re traveling into or out of Kyoto during this window.

Book your accommodation early. Kyoto hotels and private machiya houses fill up well ahead of the New Year period. If you know you’ll be in the city for New Year’s Eve or the first few days of January, it’s best to secure your accommodation as early as possible.

Popular shrines and temples can be crowded, particularly around midnight. If you plan to visit Yasaka Shrine for Okera Mairi or join the crowds for hatsumode in the days that follow, expect crowds, especially in the hours around midnight on December 31st into January 1st.

None of this means you should avoid Kyoto over New Year — it’s a wonderful, deeply traditional time to be in the city — but a little extra planning around closures, transport, and bookings will make the days around the holiday much smoother. For more on our recommendations on the best times to visit Japan, read our article here.