New Year's Eve Events in Kyoto

All 24, by week

28 Dec to 2 Jan

• Joya-sai (New Year's Eve Service) at Yasaka Shrine Thu 31 Dec · Yasaka Shrine, GionThe New Year's Eve service, after which the Okera fire is passed to three lanterns on the grounds for visitors to take home.
• Joya-sai New Year Eve rite at Matsuo Taisha Thu 31 Dec · Matsuo Taisha, ArashiyamaThe shrine lists its Joya-sai at 16:00 on 31 December, after the Oharae purification at 15:00.
• Joya-sai New Year's Eve Rite Thu 31 Dec · Awata Shrine, HigashiyamaThe New Year's Eve rite at Awata Shrine, held at night.
• New Year's Eve Bell at Chishaku-in Thu 31 Dec · Chishaku-in, HigashiyamaVisitors ring the bell after a service and protective charms are given out from 23:40 to 0:40.
• New Year's Eve Bell at Daigo-ji Thu 31 Dec · Daigo-ji, FushimiA New Year's Eve service is followed by the bell. Bell strikes are donated at the Sanpoin office from 10 December, 1,000 yen (planned).
• New Year's Eve Bell at Eikan-do (Zenrin-ji) Thu 31 Dec · Eikan-do, OkazakiVisitors strike the bell in groups of two or three when many people wait.
• New Year's Eve Bell at Gansen-ji Thu 31 Dec · Gansen-ji, KizugawaBell ringing starts after a 23:10 service and runs to 01:00. Entry is free and the first 500 visitors receive a prayer tag.
• New Year's Eve Bell at Kaijusen-ji Thu 31 Dec · Kaijusen-ji, KizugawaRinging starts at midnight. Visitors who want to ring can get a numbered ticket handed out from about 22:00.
• New Year's Eve Bell at Kodai-ji Thu 31 Dec · Kodai-ji, HigashiyamaKodai-ji hands out 108 numbered tickets, one per group, from about 22:00 for the New Year's Eve bell. The grounds are lit and open for a first visit from 22:00 to 02:00.
• New Year's Eve Bell at Mibu-dera Thu 31 Dec · Mibu-dera, Shijo-KarasumaVisitors strike the bell in groups of about ten in order of arrival up to 108 times. New Year goshuin seals are given out from 23:00.
• New Year's Eve Bell at Seigan-ji Thu 31 Dec · Seigan-ji, KawaramachiNumbered tickets are handed out from about 23:00 in front of the Shinkyogoku gate, for 108 groups of two or three people.
• New Year's Eve Bell at Shinsen-en Thu 31 Dec · Shinsen-en, NijoThe Toshitokujin direction-change rite is at 22:30 and the bell is rung from 23:40, three people at a time up to 108 strikes.
• New Year's Eve Bell at Shoryu-ji Thu 31 Dec · Shoryu-ji, NagaokakyoRinging starts at midnight and visitors can ring until about 01:00.
• New Year's Eve Bell at Takara-dera Thu 31 Dec · Hoshaku-ji, OyamazakiRinging starts at 23:45 and visitors take turns. The first 108 people receive a talisman blessed in a goma fire.
• New Year's Eve Bell at Tenryu-ji Thu 31 Dec · Tenryu-ji, ArashiyamaThe temple bell is rung from about 23:30 on New Year's Eve, with numbered tickets for the first 108 groups handed out from 23:15.
• New Year's Eve bell ringing at Byodo-in Thu 31 Dec · Byodo-in, UjiAfter a service in the Phoenix Hall, visitors can ring the bell in groups from 23:30 on 31 December, first come first served, and receive a special votive plaque. In Uji.
• New Year's Eve bell ringing at Jojakko-ji Thu 31 Dec · Jojakko-ji, ArashiyamaThe temple lists a public bell-ringing on New Year's Eve in its annual events.
• New Year's Eve Purification at Kamigamo Shrine Thu 31 Dec · Kamigamo Shrine, DemachiyanagiOn December 31 from 16:00 priests purify at Hashidono and float paper figures on the Narano stream, and anyone can watch.
• New Year's Eve Rite and Purification at Shimogamo Shrine Thu 31 Dec · Shimogamo Shrine, DemachiyanagiYear-end purification and New Year's Eve rite on 31 December.
• New Year's Eve Rites and Okera Fire at Kitano Tenmangu Thu 31 Dec · Kitano TenmanguOn 31 December the shrine holds a purification rite and the year-end ceremony, and at the Hinomiko sub-shrine a new fire is struck from flint, with lit cords handed out…
• New Year's Eve Service (Joya-e) at Honen-in Thu 31 Dec · Honen-in, GinkakujiYear-end service on 31 December open to all worshippers.
• New Year's Eve service at Nishi Hongan-ji Thu 31 Dec · Nishi Hongan-ji, Kyoto StationNishi Hongan-ji closes the year with the Joya-e service on the night of 31 December.
• Nishiki Tenmangu Joya-sai (New Year's Eve Service) Thu 31 Dec · Nishiki Tenmangu, KawaramachiThe New Year's Eve service at Nishiki Tenmangu, the shrine in the Shinkyogoku shopping district.
• Okera lantern fire at the New Year's Eve rite at Yasaka Shrine Thu 31 Dec · Yasaka Shrine, GionAfter the New Year's Eve rite at 19:00 on 31 December the sacred Okera fire is moved to three lanterns in the grounds, and visitors take it home on a rope.