Lunar New Year in Tokyo: What to See and Experience

Lunar New Year is an energetic celebration of the impending change from winter to spring, courtesy of vibrant Chinese culture, traditions and foods. But, if you're here, you're interested about the prevalence of Lunar New Year in Tokyo...

Does this unique Chinese tradition transcend borders and have Tokyoites taking part in traditional Chinese lion dances, parading lantern dragons through the streets and filling up on as much Chinese food as they can manage? 

Well, not quite, but let's delve into Lunar New Year in Tokyo and see where and how to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime — or at least once-in-a-year — event.

The Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese Spring Festival, is a Chinese celebration of the winter being about to give way to spring. It begins from the first new moon of the year, usually falling between mid-January and the end of February, and comes with a wide variety of traditionals and customs.

Yes and no. While the Lunar New Year is not a national holiday in Japan — much like Christmas in Japan, you might be surprised to learn! — there are festivals in certain parts of the country.

These events are mostly run and attended by those of Chinese descent, but Japanese residents and foreign travelers alike can’t help but get wrapped up in this colorful and culturally rich celebration.

Yes! Though the most famous Lunar New Year celebrations take place in Yokohama’s Chinatown, which we’ll tell you all about shortly, there are still a few Chinese Spring Festival events going on in Tokyo.

So, you could say that Tokyo does celebrate Lunar New Year, even if the day-to-day Tokyoites may not know the event is coming until the streets are alive with Chinese dragons, stunning red lanterns and the aroma of limited-time Chinese snacks and drinks.

As you can see from People’s Daily, a China-related news platform, Tokyo Tower is often illuminated red to celebrate Lunar New Year in Tokyo. Though this is still only a relatively new tradition in the grand scheme of things, first lighting up in 2019, it has done so every year since.

In previous years, 未来 (mirai), the characters for “future,” has been presented from the windows of Tokyo Tower’s observation deck, lighting up the night sky with a hopeful message. This was originally to commemorate 50 years of peaceful Japan-China diplomatic relations, so this particular message may change from year to year.

Want to discover more things to do near Tokyo Tower? Take a look at our recommendations for restaurants with the best views of Tokyo Tower, allowing you to celebrate Lunar New Year while also experiencing fine dining in Tokyo. Win-win, we’d say.

North of central Tokyo is Ikebukuro, a part of Tokyo that is most well known for its popularity with lovers of anime, manga and cosplay. However, more recently it’s also made a name for itself as Tokyo’s new “Chinatown.”

Though not as established as the one in Yokohama, Ikebukuro has seen an increase in its Chinese population in recent years thanks to its plethora of Chinese restaurants, supermarkets, bookstores, and other Chinese-friendly shops and businesses. 

“If it’s so popular, why did you put Chinatown in quotation marks?” A fair question.

Well, unlike the Chinatowns of Yokohama, Kobe and Nagasaki, Ikebukuro has not yet been blessed with gates that clearly indicate you are entering into an area that is formally recognized as such. Perhaps in a few years, when Ikebukuro’s Chinatown has begun to bring in more Chinese residents and tourists, it will join the major three in the halls of Chinese glory.

Even so, it’s still a great place to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Tokyo. Many restaurants in the area will offer special menus or dishes to mark the occasion, and you’ll find people making the most of Chinese traditions and customs in the area.

Hungry after all that celebrating? Discover where to eat in Ikebukuro.

Of course, Yokohama is not in Tokyo, but Yokohama Chinatown is the place to be for the Lunar New Year. And, since it only takes about an hour to get from Tokyo Station to Yokohama Chinatown — only a 10-minute walk or so from Ishikawacho Station — you might as well experience the best of the Chinese Spring Festival in Japan.

For example, not only does Yokohama have one of the biggest and most vibrant Chinatowns in Japan, but it also holds a 15-day Lunar New Year Festival. You heard that right: Fifteen days.

In that time, you can witness the enchanting Chinese Lion Dance Parade, join the memorable Celebration Parade and, on the final day of the festival, witness thousands of paper lanterns, commemorating the start of spring in Japan in the most beautiful of ways.

If you’re wondering what else you can do, see and eat during these Chinese celebrations, check out our recommendations for Lunar New Year in Japan. Or keep the festivals going with these festivals in Tokyo, followed by a spot of fine dining, of course.