Tokyo New Year 2025 | Shibuya’s “Cancelled” Countdown Event - gets ready?

[@clownearound5751]

Glad to hear you’re feeling much better John, thank you for all the wonderful and interesting content you’ve shared with everyone this year. Wishing you, Kanae, Leo and family a peaceful and happy New Year’s 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇺🇸🇯🇵😊

[@jarihult]

New Year’s celebration hasn’t interested me in years so i wouldn’t even mind if i were there,although i understand if someone does 😎Thank you anyway for sharing and a Happy New Year 2025 🎉

Happy New Year everyone and stay safe. Also #protecthachi by the looks of the barrier complete with signs and that canopy/tent over hachiko.

[@lwwwwl]

日本はまだ開だけど　どこの国ですか？ʬʬʬʬʬʬʬʬʬʬ

[@UFOBobTV]

It’s a shame that foreign tourist, no longer respect Japanese culture, resulting in these closures.

[@LollipopLop]

It’s not that foreign tourists is the problem It’s the fact you keep accepting bad ones into the country 🤦

[@iskandartaib]

I learned about the Japanese way of celebrating New Year's years ago by watching Kimagure Orange Road and Crayon Shin-chan. I thought the Shin-chan take on it was pretty funny, what with the o-kechi ryouri and the "o-zou-ni" soup.. 😂 And there was the mochi-choking scene from that movie Tampopo... Have a shop vac handy when eating ozoni soup.. Around here, it's usually warm New Year's Eve but I don't think people stand around outdoors either - the ones who want to drink will head over to bars or to shopping malls, where they launch fireworks at midnight. The rest of us just stay at home. I'll probably just make some popcorn. 😁

[@silverstar8886]

Happy new year to you, and to Kanae and Leo! Thank you for your perspective on everything Japan. I would not go celebrate New Year’s in crowded places, but I know some people who like doing that because they’re hanging out with so many others to bring in the new year. It’s like a communal thing. Next time I visit Japan, I would love to visit the temples because that’s what I love😊

[@stevewenzel7659]

I think you're right John, Asakusa and Senso-Ji would be a far better place for New Years celebrations, street food and bells, way more traditional than a busy intersection. My brief time in Tokyo in September was Asakusa, an evening walk around Senso-Ji about 10pm was amazing before leaving for Hakuba the next day.

[@Rayo-n8l]

Happy new years john, from miami florida

[@wisemanalpha100]

Been to Asakusa shrine last night. It was fanstatic, great atmostphere, there were lots of street food. I tried almost all of them. Went back around 3am in the morning so I had to take cab. Shrines are definitely the right places to hang out during new year eve in Japan.

[@EdoJapanTravel]

Thank you for sharing this video And a happy new year

[@REVIEWSONTHERUN]

Thanks for sharing it. Happy new year. ✌️

[@christieuyehara9212]

Thank you for another great year bringing Japan to us. Wishing you and your family a safe, happy and healthy New Year's. Happy New Year's to everyone please have a safe, happy and healthy New Year's. Aloha

[@colinmathie2710]

Happy new year John, Kanae + Leo! 😀

[@juliettelamoureux2996]

Happy new year to you & your family 🎉

[@shindoctor76]

miss shibuya alot.. thanks for the info

[@ph7232]

Landed in Tokyo this afternoon for my yearly wrestling pilgrimage. I’m staying in Ryogoku for three weeks so a short walk to Asakusa will be how I end my 2024.

[@jgusbc]

Hi, I'm a foreigner living in Japan for the first time and this is going to be my first New Year's outside of Mexico (my home country). Do Japanese people usually go somewhere to say "Happy New Year" at 00:00am? Or do they all stay inside their homes? I live very close to Tokyo SkyTree and I was thinking of going there at 00:00am but I don't know if there is really some kind of countdown :(

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Usually home when you have a family. A lot of college friends I met went to house parties. A few go to clubs, but it’s not the norm. In Tokyo, a lot of people go back to their hometown, where their parents or grandparents are. You have to see this as like Christmas for westerners. A time to go home and be with family not celebrate with strangers, right? It’s makes more sense.

[@streetcat3411]

何処かに行くとしたら⛩️神社です。家でテレビを見ながら過ごす家庭は蕎麦ヌードル・パーティーを開きます。

[@jgusbc]

Thank you so much for the information! I'm not a party or bar guy so at the end of the day I went to a shrine at 00:00am, there were a lot of people there so I didn't spend my New Year's alone!! あけましておめでとう!🎉⛩️

[@stelioshz]

Happy New Year everyone!

[@jeffkleist9679]

There's a great Soba place right around the corner from Tower Records called Tokyo Mazesoba. Different from the usual soba and awesome

[@zcvxs]

Hope u and your family friends and all a safe new years

[@Everest4Peace]

Wish Tokyo People A Happy New Year 2025🎊🎉🥳🏯

[@carlitosdelangel856]

Happy new year dads germany 🇩🇪 and spain 🇪🇸

[@greenmoss9079]

Well I hope everything goes smoothly thru New Years and there is no trouble. Me personally I can't figure out why anyone wants to hang out in Shibuya, they are not welcomed for the present moment. I like being comfortable so you will not find me there LOL 😂 Take care 😊

[@onlyinjapanGO]

I sort of get it but I also know there are so many better options.

[@richardinjapan4578]

Happy New Year from Hokuriku!

[@sleep12445]

yess asakusa for new year eve better.. omg japan is genius.. they made hachiko sleep!.. super cute

[@franco3584]

Pretty Cute Hachko sign .

[@paddymaellaro2948]

hey if you missed new years in idaho they do the potato drop its happening in about six hours.

[@air2theron862]

The best local Supers (J-grocery stores) are closed in the North Bay Area for 3 or 4 days !! I got my mochi and soba weeks ago 👌😆

[@wendyon4517]

It would be interesting if all the electronic lighting around the Shibuya scramble went dark at 11:55. It would never happen because they are all independently run but it would be interesting. I'm all for Japan blocking the Hachiko statue and other things related to New Years and even Halloween. A certain type will complain but it's like visitors to your house telling you what they are going to do there. Japan's house, Japan's rules.

[@xheyderek3356]

I've heard Asakusa pronounced where they drop the u..becoming Asaksa. How is it most commonly pronounced?

[@AngMajas]

In japen all city did not has fireworks? Help tell please

[@olivergreen198]

Hello, I am here tonight which shrine could you recommend and a club :)

[@Batfez77]

I agree Asakusa will be more fun. I found out as a tourist Asakusa is also great when you fly in and you’re still jet lagged. We usually travel in to Tokyo and stay in Asakusa. Travel around Japan. Come back and stay in Shinjuku for the last two nights before heading back.

[@CookyMonzta]

If these Shibyua cancellations keep up, they'll start going to Shinjuku. Do they have such a gathering in Osaka, maybe at Dotonbori, near the river?

[@onlyinjapanGO]

… Shinjuku is “cancelled” too dude 😂 in Japan, do as the Japanese - go to the clubs or the temples & shrines or stay home with family, talk and share the “talento” show on NHK 😂 with more soba and beer and sake.

[@CookyMonzta]

@onlyinjapanGO I had a feeling they covered all of their bases. 🧐 How long has it been since Roppongi had a Halloween gathering? I gather that stopped after the virus took over the world, because there haven't been any videos from there since COVID's arrival.

[@CookyMonzta]

@onlyinjapanGO Looks like a bunch of people showed up, anyway, to watch the countdown on the screen at Kabukicho Tower; and many came to watch the countdown projected on the government tower. Dotonbori, though, stayed quiet this time around. 😕

[@michaelcedillos224]

Glad your getting some rest Hachiko❤

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Well earned vacation posing for photos 😂

[@log-rn4gs]

What does covering the Hachiko stature do for the Japanese public officials? I'm confused what the purpose of this is. Are there that many heathen gaijin causing mayhem in the streets? The event is suspended, but people are still going to go to Shibuya to drink.

[@xraymind]

Basically there a new law that banned public drinking in Shibuya from 6PM to 5AM and they will ask conbinis in the area to stop selling alcohol on New Year Eve like they did on Halloween night.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

It’s been vandalized when mass gatherings happen on more than one occasion.

[@Grimsy_Max]

Have you ever gone and celebrated on the bay?

[@ummmhi6071]

So should we go to Shibuya for New Years? Sorry I don’t understand

[@gailcrockett9883]

Happy New Year's. Stay safe. Stay well. Stay Good!!

[@nicolefz92]

🎆Happy New Year everyone 🎉

[@michaelcedillos224]

Celebrate in Little Tokyo?

[@bartent6175]

John Thit they change the intersection with gard rails.

[@skewsme7650]

To think Hachiko got completely cordoned off and practically covered up, is all thanks to rowdy and unkempt tourists who don't abide by acceptable Japanese social etiquette... *sigh* That's why we can't have nice things.

[@heyking8583]

Go to Odaiba if u want to see new years fireworks

[@onur5961]

why ?

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Biggest 2 reasons: the station area is under major construction right now and it’s too narrow for mass numbers of people. We had a lot of issues with crowds and behavior, trash and vandalism, the city in this area just doesn’t want this, not part of Japanese culture or tradition and there are dozens of other places better suited like Asakusa and Sensoji Temple.

[@onur5961]

⁠I was in Dotonbori for countdown 2025. The roads were quite adequate, they could easily carry the crowd. There can be a lot of filth and vandalism wherever there are people. How logical and moral is it to blame the people in an area? Everything went well and there was almost no construction, the impact was zero. I think it's more of a religious situation. Also, they say Tokyo is very crowded and there are a lot of people, so there is no pollution and vandalism there? funny

[@Gnarloo]

Can u go to meji shrine at midnight tonight????

[@ChritsianBucic]

Bonne année monsieur ;-) Nice remembrer in Paris

[@onlyinjapanGO]

I will never forget it! 😂 😘

[@Ota_ku69]

Thats so lame. Let the people have fun.

[@TJ_Rider]

Gimme Soba John. Pretty Please! Experiencing serious withdrawals. It has already been a year since we went to Japan 😢 We went to the Gotokuji Shine on New Years and it was great. Had a delish hole in the wall cuppa and it was amazing. Though we did have bbq noodles at Nan Tien Temple in Wollongong, Australia. :) Also, if you can't do Hachiko... Then do the tiny godzilla statue across from Tokyo Midtown Hibiya 😅

[@Nozinbonsai]

Great explanation, when in Rome.

[@steadholderharrington9035]

I've pretty much lost all interest in the New Years celebrations, now that both of my parents have passed on, and what family I have in the city would rather be out with their friends instead, all attending separate parties individually; no time for family anymore. And our local tv stations can't even be bothered to cover the festivities being held in our city centre either, rather opting to show the celebrations from the nation's capital, or NY,NY, or Sydney Australia, or England, but never local. Its that, or they go for re-runs of old programming that doesn't interest anyone really... so sad! Happy 2025 people... 🎆 🎉🍾🎊🎇🥳🥂🙌🎆 .😔

[@onlyinjapanGO]

There is a culture for people in their 20s that feel they are missing something if they don’t go out on a Friday night for example. Everyone wants a good story I guess. You hit 30 and realize no one cares about where you celebrated NYE 😂

[@steadholderharrington9035]

@@onlyinjapanGO I suppose that I'm likely one of the last generation's of people who were raised with re-affirming family values (being over 50 now as I am) being more dominant in our lives than going out to celebrate where-ever with friends or business associates.

[@ClefairyFairySnowflake]

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!!! 🕛🎊😊🎄🎁🥳🍰🍗🎉🥂✨🌸🥛🍪🎇🎆🍬🍫

[@colincofield3747]

John, Kanai, little Leo have a good and safe New Year. 来年も宜しくお願い申し上げます。🎉🎊🎋🎍

[@johnlopez9626]

Happy new year John hope your enjoy your day for the new year

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Happy New Year John!

[@colinmathie2710]

This is ridiculous, folk are still gonna turn up in their droves, this is not a deterrent.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Tourists are going to show up. They have a choice for street food and a real festival at Asakusa or a street intersection. Um, yeah - it’s kind of pointless to go to Shibuya unless it’s to a club.

[@thelonelyamazonian7039]

👀 I think it’s time……. To introduce the new ‘Shibuya Tax’ System for the conniving and naughty misbehaving Gaikokujin. 👍 $100 per Adult $50 per Child 10% discount applied for 🐈‍⬛ and 🐕. I believe it’s a very fair policy. 👌 Happy New Year everyone! ☺️ 💙 🇯🇵

[@heshanraj8212]

What is the best place to c countdown 2025 in tokyo ?

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Temple or Shrine. There is a meaning to it, they have street food and bon fires! Ring a bell 108 times at temples. It’s festive. Hanging out at an intersection, it’s a little odd unless you’re walking to a bar.

[@tonyalexander5643]

You need to be home with your in-laws. Stop filming.

[@alittlebitofskye]

I feel you re: squid game. It felt forced. But I’ll watch the next season though

[@onlyinjapanGO]

It did, too much but still good … it won’t be memorable like the first because of it. It’s forgettable.

[@beyondtwitchlover]

Thank you John for all of your hard work this 2024, Looking forward to the greater year to celebrate. Happy New Year Everyone!

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Thank you! 2025 is gonna be massive! Always optimistic ٩(^‿^)۶ happy New year!

[@hiroakitakagi7724]

SHIBUYA NEW YEAR COUNT DOWN CANCELED.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Since 2019 😂 and before that, they didn’t really have events. It’s kind of a made up story to be honest, media loves it. I’ll talk more about it tonight.

[@saneasmydog7120]

Great decision to cancel. Gaijins are always welcome, but they need to show respect to the locals culture first. Do your countdowns in your hotel rooms

[@onlyinjapanGO]

I think that’s one aspect to this. The other is that the area is under major construction, too many people from narrow exits, entrances. They’ll fix that by 2027-2028 and there’s a chance that people learn and also the area is better set up for public events.

[@j1y0ni]

I’m in Tokyo I was going to do Shibuya this year for NYE but instead I’m going to do Joya no kane at my local Shrine where I am staying. Just don’t feel welcome at Shibuya.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Feel welcome? Just go to a club or bar. The temples and shrines are typically way cooler places to be at midnight. They have street food, bon fires, etc.

[@kawaiipanda1974]

Squid Game 2 was really disappointing. Great cast, but not a great season. Haha...Hachi is asleep....I hope all tourists will behave today!

[@LuanBakashima]

Squidgamesはダサい! NetflixCutiesの方が良いぞ!

[@Spaceouts]

Japan is the worst place to spend New Year's Eve.

[@LuanBakashima]

サンリオ•ピュアロランドが良いぞ!😻

[@jackmercer4244]

15:20 Those Mario Karts became quiet. I guess they got hit with noise pollution and they changed their engines. And they stink, too. I wonder if they fixed that as well?

[@onlyinjapanGO]

I hope they fix that soon. I’ve been blasted with haiki gas emissions many times, I think their days are closer to ending though.

[@seanschloss254]

Two decades' of New Year celebrations in Tokyo. Moved to SE Asia in 2019. Since then I have spent 1 NYE in Myanmar, 1 in USA, 1 apiece in Bangkok and Pattaya. I will ring in 2025 in Myanmar, once again. As the world returns to 'normal', I have come to understand that cultures have returned to their own 'normal', to be put back in their places. It sure is interesting how the world was put back on its individual cultural rails. Just an opinionated observation. I look forward to more videos is 2025! 明けましておめでとうございます🎉 👺🏯

[@ChrizardsAdventures]

This terrible how Japan's become such an anti fun place. 😕 10 years ago it was hopping. Halloween new years they let people have fun. Now there the opposite.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

You go to Shibuya because you don’t know anywhere else and think it’s a thing. It’s not anti fun, it’s Japanese culture vs yours in a foreign country.

[@yosho1502]

If people start going too far (and thinking it’s ok to do silly things), this would happen anywhere but not only in Japan.

[@rk-wy8pu]

If tourists had any sense, they would be booking themselves in a nice countryside/forest ryokan with an Open air onsen and enjoying the new year in the snow there. Not on a damned pedestrian crossing in a crowded city.

[@user-iw5md1eg5b]

Im going to my church and praise Jesus Christ for the New Years eve .

[@jackmercer4244]

shrines and temples blow lol

[@jrmagallanes4219]

heretics lol

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Scoundrels!! 😂

[@glen1491]

Another entitled foreigner streamer telling other streamers not to come stream in the place he is currently streaming from..... Interesting 🙄🙄🙄

[@maplesyrup9723]

another entitled commenter telling someone who's lived in Japan, Married a Japanese woman, has a kid with said japanese woman....... touch grass man or get a job

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Teenager alone in his room 😂 people aren’t dumb kid, they know the difference. I think I proved my point and thanks for watching 😉 please finish your homework and listen to your mum on screen time.

[@Nozinbonsai]

Hey buddy, you got so burned,😅😅😅😅😅

[@user-kt7jz3zn4e]

The perfect example is to stay at your own lane and let the adults speak. 🤫

[@kimstark3997]

This is absolutely over tourism! Too many tourists! Japan…enforce visa limits already

[@onlyinjapanGO]

I dunno know about THAT 😂 they can take more in Tokyo I think. Believe it or not … but the tourists who don’t know the is holiday are flocking to the wrong places hahaha, but it’s right for them. Happy New Year 🥳

[@kimstark3997]

@ Happy new year to you and your family! 🎉🎊🍾