Japan in January 2027 — Complete Travel Guide

What defines this month

Weather across Japan this month

Best cities to visit this month

Ranked by how much is happening there

7 major events happening this month

Hatsumode at Meiji Jingu

January 1-3

Tokyo, Tokyo

Japan's largest first shrine visit — 3 million people visit Meiji Jingu during the first three days of the new year to pray for good fortune. Amazake, omikuji, and lantern-lit forest paths.

Toka Ebisu (Kyoto Ebisu Shrine)

January 8-12

Kyoto, Kyoto

Five-day festival praying for business prosperity at Kyoto Ebisu Shrine in Higashiyama. Bamboo branches decorated with lucky charms are sold to shopkeepers and locals.

Toka Ebisu (Imamiya Ebisu, Osaka)

January 9-11

Osaka, Osaka

Japan's largest Ebisu festival — 1 million people visit Imamiya Ebisu Shrine over three days to pray for business prosperity and receive fukusasa (lucky bamboo) blessings from ceremonial maidens.

Nabana no Sato Illumination

Late October – May

Kuwana, Mie

Japan's most spectacular winter illumination. Millions of LED lights create dazzling tunnels and landscape scenes across this botanical garden. The 'tunnel of light' is unmissable.

Ashikaga Flower Park Illumination

November – January

Ashikaga, Tochigi

The flower park famous for wisteria transforms into a winter wonderland. Over 4 million lights recreate the famous wisteria blossoms in glowing light forms.

Shirakawa-go Light-Up

Select Saturdays in January–February

Shirakawa, Gifu

The UNESCO World Heritage gassho-zukuri farmhouses of Shirakawa-go are illuminated against heavy snow — creating one of Japan's most magical winter images.

Shirakawa-go Winter Light-up

Selected Sundays in January and February

Shirakawa, Gifu

UNESCO-heritage gassho-zukuri thatched houses glow warm against the snow on 6-8 selected evenings per winter. Advance reservation required — no walk-ins.

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