Celebrate Unique Japanese New Year Tradition Culture Festivity
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Celebrate Unique Japanese New Year Tradition Culture Festivity
By OMAKASE LLC
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About
Step Into the Magic of Oji's Fox Folklore! Are you looking for an unforgettable way to celebrate New Year in Japan?
On New Year's Eve, foxes from across the region would visit Oji Inari Shrine. This enchanting tale, immortalized in Utagawa's ukiyo-e artwork, inspired the creation of the Oji Fox Pageant organized by passionate locals. More than 200 participants gather with yellow lanterns symbolizing foxfires in their hands, wearing kimonos, fox masks or fox makeup.
Your journey begins with a visit to 3 local shrines guided by a knowledgeable Japanese host, followed by a lively evening at a cozy izakaya. Say “Kanpai (cheers)” with sake served in aromatic hinoki cypress masu cups. Learn about sake brewing from a Sake sommelier before diving into an exciting sake-tasting.
As the countdown to midnight approaches, head out to witness the grand finale: the dazzling fox procession, complete with traditional dances, including the powerful lion dance.
Don't miss this magical celebration.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 13-99, max of 30 per group
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: Chinese, English
More
- Free flow of Sake and beer or other alcoholic beverages for adults, soft drinks for under drinking age customer
- Edamame (green soybeans), Fried chicken, French Fries etc.
What's not included- Gratuities
- Start:
- Ōji Station, 1-chōme-10-18 Ōji, Kita City, Tokyo 114-0002, JapanNorth Entrance of JR Oji station, Kehin Tohoku line. You can also come to Oji Station on the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line. From Tokyo Metro Oji Station, take Exit 3 and come to the North Entrance of JR Oji Station. (Ground level)
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5526188P3- Not recommended for travellers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travellers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travellers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5526188P3
From
₹8,699.99
per adult
Select date and travellers
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- annaliseo20250 contributionsMust do experience in TokyoWe had the best time on this tour! We visited so many amazing places custom to what we wanted to see & with some cool recommendations too! We went to the fish market and really got the whole experience, trying new foods we never would have know about otherwise! We were able to travel via public transport easily & also learn the train system which is absolutely fantastic for getting around Tokyo when you know how it works! We couldn’t be more grateful for our awesome guide & for getting to see Tokyo so effortlessly! 100% recommend this to anyone visiting Tokyo we will be doing another tour again!Written 28 January 2025
- M3611VUmaryc0 contributionsKimono Day at Shinjuku Gyoen and Imperial Palace East GardensHitomi-san, who is a licensed tour guide, culture expert, and interpreter, made this day truly unforgettable. Though I was initially hesitant about wearing a kimono (mainly out of respect for Japanese culture), the experience turned out to be both fascinating and memorable. From layering the garments to tying the obi and putting on the special tabi socks, every step felt meaningful—though I have to admit, being cinched so tightly was no joke! While I’ve visited Shinjuku Gyoen and the Imperial Palace East Gardens before, seeing them through Hitomi-san’s eyes made them even more special. She shared stories and insights that brought the locations to life, guided us to the most beautiful spots, and kindly helped us capture some wonderful memories along the way. It was an enriching and fun day spent with a wonderful friend, blending culture, history, and unforgettable moments.Written 4 January 2025
- giovannicT8985DP0 contributionsLet Hitomi and Omakase LLC plan your trip!Everyone enjoyed Hitomi’s tour. We always reserve a day or two of our trips to Japan letting Hitomi plan where we go, eat and drink! Because she knows us from several trips, she figures out a new experience for us.Written 4 January 2025
- AndreaBCo0 contributionsExcellent private tour with kimono of Shinjuku Gyoen and Imperial East GardensHitomi-san made sure of family of 8 had a great day! We had a day of fun and learning. She arranged for our big group the kimono rental, a tour of Shinjuku Gyoen, a Japanese lunch, and a tour of East Gardens of the Imperial Palace ! Hitomi-san is amazing - she is warm abs welcoming and very wise.Written 4 January 2025
- S8219UDelenab0 contributionsBeautiful Tokyo!Meaningful and interesting guide, Ms.Hitomi! Our family especially, the two young boys left with a little bit of history, depth, and loads of fun!Written 3 January 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
4 reviews
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554keitat
10 contributions
Dec 2024 • Friends
I enjoyed Japanese local new year eve and It was great to meet many people.the sake and yakitori in “izakaya “
were delicious but it was troublesome to order menu on tablet.The tour guide was enthusiastic and likable. Unfortunately, there were many audiences and it was not easy to see the “ fox procession”,but it was also good experience.
were delicious but it was troublesome to order menu on tablet.The tour guide was enthusiastic and likable. Unfortunately, there were many audiences and it was not easy to see the “ fox procession”,but it was also good experience.
Written 31 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are very honored by your appreciation and helpful comments.
We hope you enjoyed the real local atmosphere of participating in a local festival in a non-touristy place. The ordering tablets in the Izakaya pub are complicated and confusing at first. Next time your guide will help you! The crowds were great, but next time we will improve the tour to give you a better view of the parade and make it more enjoyable.
We will continue to hold events in cooperation with the local community, such as cherry blossom viewing in the spring, sake brewery tours, and summer festivals to enjoy Bon Odori dancing with the local people.
If you ever come to Japan, please join us!
And of course, don't forget say Kanpai!
Miyuki & Hitomi
Written 10 January 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Makattack
Nashville, TN35 contributions
I was really looking forward to this New Year’s Eve tour, expecting a traditional celebration, but unfortunately, it didn’t meet my expectations. From the beginning, the organization felt disjointed. Our group had around 30 people, and the guide would start speaking before everyone had even arrived, and when she did, it was so quiet that it was difficult to hear her. It was frustrating, and it was clear she needed a microphone. It would have been much better if she had waited for the whole group to gather before beginning.
We then spent two hours at a restaurant that felt like a waste of time. It seemed more focused on getting people drunk than creating a memorable New Year’s experience. The “unlimited drinks” offer was confusing and didn’t add anything positive to the evening.
The biggest disappointment, however, was the Fox Parade. We were promised a great viewing spot, but that was far from the reality. We should have arrived at the parade location at least an hour early, but when we did get there, the guide seemed surprised by the crowd, despite it being New Year’s Eve. We tried to follow her to find a better spot, but she led us to the start of the parade, where we couldn’t see anything. Eventually, we were moved to the temple where the parade ended and had to stand there for an hour. By the time it reached us, it simply went up the temple steps, and we still didn’t get a good view. They had promised us the best spot, but it definitely wasn’t. We left feeling incredibly disappointed.
The tour was nothing like what we had imagined, and to make matters worse, the transportation afterward was a nightmare. The train would have taken us until 6 a.m., so we had to scramble to find another way to get home.
On the positive side, our guide was friendly, and we did visit some beautiful temples, but overall, this experience didn’t live up to what we had hoped for. We never got to see the parade, which was the highlight of the evening, and it was a major letdown.
We then spent two hours at a restaurant that felt like a waste of time. It seemed more focused on getting people drunk than creating a memorable New Year’s experience. The “unlimited drinks” offer was confusing and didn’t add anything positive to the evening.
The biggest disappointment, however, was the Fox Parade. We were promised a great viewing spot, but that was far from the reality. We should have arrived at the parade location at least an hour early, but when we did get there, the guide seemed surprised by the crowd, despite it being New Year’s Eve. We tried to follow her to find a better spot, but she led us to the start of the parade, where we couldn’t see anything. Eventually, we were moved to the temple where the parade ended and had to stand there for an hour. By the time it reached us, it simply went up the temple steps, and we still didn’t get a good view. They had promised us the best spot, but it definitely wasn’t. We left feeling incredibly disappointed.
The tour was nothing like what we had imagined, and to make matters worse, the transportation afterward was a nightmare. The train would have taken us until 6 a.m., so we had to scramble to find another way to get home.
On the positive side, our guide was friendly, and we did visit some beautiful temples, but overall, this experience didn’t live up to what we had hoped for. We never got to see the parade, which was the highlight of the evening, and it was a major letdown.
Written 9 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your valuable feedback.
This event, which had been canceled by Covid, resumed the year before last after a three-year absence, and the turnout exceeded our expectations.
The fact that there were no roped off areas for the parade at the last stop was also unexpected, as we had been waiting for an hour and were unable to see the parade due to the crowds of people who came later. If we had known this information in advance, we could have directed you to a different location.
Since microphones are not an option in a residential area at night, we are considering increasing the number of guides and dividing the group into several smaller groups.
Some people said the time spent at the izakaya-pub was short, some said it was long, and everyone is different, but next time we are considering renting out an appropriately sized izakaya-pub and having guests enjoy drinks while watching a presentation on Japanese culture and traditions.
Regarding the difficulty in getting back to the hotel due to the limited number of trains, we will either try to obtain train schedules in advance and let you know, or we will discuss with local tourism associations that can provide a place to rest after the parade to avoid the peak hours.
We look forward to welcoming you next year with even more improvements.
Miyuki
Written 10 January 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jake H
1 contribution
Dec 2024 • Friends
Very good and friendly tour guides, enjoyed going around the shrines and seeing the real culture of Japan, going for food and drinks after the tour was a very wholesome experience on New Year’s Eve very much recommend going on this tour.
Written 31 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are very honored to receive a 5 star rating from you.
It was a very rare experience to visit a shrine and to hear the story at night. We hope you enjoyed the mysterious and solemn atmosphere.
We are committed to not only providing sightseeing, but also to share with international visitors the Japanese culture and traditions that lie behind the scenes.
We will hold this kind of event in cooperation with the local people, so if you ever come to Japan, please join us!
Let's Kanpai together!
Miyuki & Hitomi
Written 10 January 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dion R
1 contribution
Dec 2024 • Friends
Shrines were beautiful and food as well highly recommend excursion if you are looking for something to do at night time .
Written 31 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the 5-star rating! We really appreciate it!
It was a cold night, but we had a HOT time with all of you and it was a very valuable New Year's Eve.
We will hold this kind of event in cooperation with the local people, so if you ever come to Japan, please join us!
See you soon!
Miyuki & Hitomi
Written 10 January 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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