Start the year 2026 with a breathtaking view of the first sunrise of the year from Tokyo’s most iconic landmark — Tokyo Tower.
This guide covers everything officially announced for the special New Year’s early-morning event “Hatsuhinodekai 2026”:
✔ event schedule
✔ sunrise time and viewing direction
✔ all 7 ticket plans and prices
✔ how to reserve tickets
✔ tips for a smooth visit

Since this is a fully reservation-only and capacity-limited event, early planning is strongly recommended.

1. Experience the First Sunrise of 2026 at Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower hosts its once-a-year early-morning special opening, Hatsuhinodekai, on New Year’s Day.
It’s a rare chance to welcome the new year with crisp winter air and a panoramic city view.

1.1 Official Event Details

• Date: January 1, 2026 (Thu, National Holiday)
• Opening time: 5:50 AM
• Closing time: 8:30 AM (予定 / scheduled)
• Areas:
  • Main Deck (150m)
  • Top Deck (250m)
• Notes: Reservation only / Rain or shine

All details are confirmed by the official Tokyo Tower website.

1.2 Sunrise Time & Viewing Direction

• Sunrise time: Around 6:51 AM (as seen from the Main Deck, 150m)
• Direction: Toward Tokyo Bay

If the weather is clear, you’ll enjoy a magnificent sunrise rising over Tokyo Bay.

2. Ticket Reservations & All 7 Plans (Official Prices Included)

The 2026 Hatsuhinodekai is reservation-only.
Tickets are available through the official Tokyo Tower event page and PassMarket (Yahoo!).

2.1 How to Reserve

1. Visit the official Hatsuhinodekai 2026 page
2. Select your preferred plan (Top Deck / Main Deck)
3. Complete payment through PassMarket
4. Receive your QR-code e-ticket
5. Show your QR code at the designated entrance on the day of the event

2.2 All 7 Official Plans & Prices (2026)

▼ Top Deck (250m) – 1 Premium Plan

▼ Main Deck (150m) – 6 Plans

All prices and capacities match the official Tokyo Tower announcement.

3. Comparing the Views: Main Deck vs. Top Deck

3.1 Main Deck (150m)

• Close-up views of Tokyo’s buildings glowing in the morning sun
• Two-floor layout with both seating and standing options
• New Year shrine visit at the onboard Tower Daijingu, located inside the deck

3.2 Top Deck (250m) – Only 26 Guests

• The highest viewpoint available
• Quiet, exclusive atmosphere
• Near-window space with the most open and unobstructed horizon view
• Ideal for those seeking a special, premium New Year experience

4. Special Perks Included in All Plans

〇 Limited-Edition 2026 Medal (Non-Sale Item)

A commemorative medal available only to Hatsuhinodekai participants.

〇Tokyo Tower Original Lucky Bag

A New Year lucky bag filled with exclusive Tokyo Tower merchandise.

〇 Greeting by Attendants in Kimono

A festive experience with staff dressed in beautiful traditional attire.
(Primarily included in Top Deck experiences)

〇 Shrine Visit at Tower Daijingu

Located inside the Main Deck, offering blessings for good fortune and relationships in the coming year.

5. Visiting Tips: Access, Crowds & What to Wear

(These are based on typical New Year conditions in Tokyo, not official statements.)

〇Access to Tokyo Tower (5–15 min walk)

• Akabanebashi Station (Oedo Line) – 5 min
• Onarimon Station (Mita Line) – 6 min
• Kamiyacho Station (Hibiya Line) – 7 min
• Hamamatsucho Station (JR) – 15 min

To avoid queues, aim to arrive between 5:20–5:40 AM.

〇Weather & Clothing

Tokyo’s early New Year morning can be extremely cold.

• Warm coat
• Gloves & scarf
• Heat packs
• Layers you can easily remove indoors
• Portable battery (phones drain faster in the cold)

6. Summary

Tokyo Tower’s Hatsuhinodekai 2026 will open at 5:50 AM on January 1, 2026.
The first sunrise is expected at 6:51 AM, rising over Tokyo Bay.

With 7 ticket plans ranging from ¥12,000 to ¥40,000, including:

✔ Exclusive medal
✔ Original lucky bag
✔ Greeting by kimono-clad attendants
✔ Shrine visit at Tower Daijingu

…it’s one of the most memorable ways to welcome the new year in Tokyo.

All plans are reservation-only, and limited in capacity, making early booking essential.

Start 2026 with an unforgettable sunrise high above the city—
from the iconic Tokyo Tower.

河村悠太／Yuta Kawamura Third-generation proprietor

Yuta Kawamura is the third generation of his family at Miyakodori, a geisha house in Asakusa, Tokyo that has hosted ozashiki — private geisha entertainment — since 1950. He writes from inside that world, alongside the okami, Chikage — his mother and Miyakodori's second-generation proprietress. Articles on geisha arts and customs are reviewed by her. Miyakodori works every day with the geisha and taikomochi (hōkan) registered with the Asakusa kenban — the only place in Japan where taikomochi remain formally active — and everything published here is grounded in that first-hand experience.

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Geisha culture Asakusa hanamachi (geisha district) Ozashiki (private geisha entertainment) hokan (Taikomochi)