Praying, Hot Springs, Shopping | Experiencing Japan's New Year Culture
Ding-dong! Here is a recommended itinerary for a family trip to Japan during the Spring Festival~ If it's your first time in Tokyo, you don't have to arrange all your activities within the city; there are plenty of winter activities in the surrounding areas.
1. New Year's Prayers
The Japanese call this "Hatsumode," which means the first visit of the year to a shrine or temple. You ring bells, write wishes, buy omamori (charms), and pray for the health and safety of family, friends, and yourself. Popular Hatsumode spots in Tokyo include Senso-ji Temple and Meiji Jingu Shrine. Around Tokyo, there are also Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.
2. Hot Spring Experience
Japan is known as the "Land of Hot Springs," with abundant hot spring resources nationwide. Nikko, Kusatsu, and Hakone near Tokyo are famous hot spring resorts. Finding a hot spring town to enjoy a unique winter holiday is truly delightful.
3. Enjoying Disneyland
Tokyo has two Disney parks, including the only DisneySea park in the world. Currently, they are celebrating their 40th anniversary with many limited-time events that will last until March 31, 2024. It's perfect for a family outing.
4. Skiing Experience
Skiing is one of the most popular winter sports among young Japanese, with over 600 ski resorts nationwide. The Kanto region alone has more than 30. For example, Hakuba Village and Karuizawa in Nagano, and Echigo Yuzawa in Niigata are all within a 2-hour drive, offering convenient access.
5. Shopping Bargains
January is the discount season in Japan, with many stores offering various lucky bags (fukubukuro), making it easy to find great deals. Drugstores also offer extra discounts during this time, making it the best time of the year for shopping.
This time, taking advantage of the year-end holiday, I flew to Tokyo specifically to enjoy praying, hot springs, and shopping. Let's take a look at my itinerary!
Chapter 1: Hot Spring Trip to Kusatsu Onsen
Although Kusatsu Onsen is located in Gunma Prefecture, it's very convenient to reach from Tokyo. If you have a JR Pass, the time-efficient way is to take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo, boarding at Tokyo or Ueno Station to Karuizawa. Then take the Kusakaru Bus from Karuizawa Bus Station to Kusatsu Onsen Station. The journey takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Kusatsu Onsen is one of Japan's three most famous hot springs and has been ranked first in the "Japan Hot Springs 100" for many years. Its symbol is the Yubatake, which represents the abundant hot spring flow. The water quality is high, making it one of the rare acidic hot springs in Japan with a pH of 2.1, offering strong antibacterial properties. It is definitely a hot spring everyone should visit in their lifetime.
The most famous feature is "Yubatake," a fenced-off hot spring source about the size of a football field. Steam rises everywhere, creating a misty atmosphere.
The water temperature at Kusatsu Onsen is very high, and dozens of wooden boxes are placed in the middle to catch the hot spring water. Through these boxes and pipes, the water naturally cools down before being distributed to various baths.
Standing around Yubatake, you can faintly smell a pungent odor—that's sulfur. Although some people may not like it, it's undeniable that this unique smell contributes to the high-quality experience of Kusatsu Onsen.
Every evening, the steam from Yubatake blends with the surrounding lights, creating a dreamlike hot spring world. This hot spring town has 18 public baths, and soaking your feet while enjoying the view is a wonderful experience.
Kusatsu has many traditional cultural activities, and one of the most representative is called "Netsu no Yu," a "hot water stirring" performance. To cool down the very hot spring water, locals, following the command of the "Yu-Cho" (hot spring leader), bare their upper bodies and use a long wooden board to stir the bath water while chanting labor songs. The purpose is to mix the medicinal elements evenly, lower the temperature, and enhance the therapeutic effects.
Today, the stage performance retains this traditional form but includes many interactive elements with the audience. You can participate, gently stirring or vigorously mixing the water under their guidance, making the spring water churn and rise, as if you've returned to the Edo period.
The small streets and alleys around Yubatake are called "Onsen Street" by locals, featuring old shops that have been around for over a hundred years.
The most eye-catching sight on the street is the "Totoro" character from Hayao Miyazaki's works. Various stationery, gifts, and household items are popular among women.
Also visible are "hot spring eggs" being boiled along the street, creating a unique scene.
Further ahead is Nishinokawara Park, which is characterized by hot springs everywhere.
At the end of December, the area is covered with a thin layer of snow, and the hot springs seem to flow like rivers. Finding a pool to soak your feet while enjoying the 360-degree snow scenery is simply dreamlike.
Chapter 2: The Romantic Atmosphere of Tokyo Night Views
At the end of the year in Tokyo, shopping is a must! Many of my friends are planning family trips to Japan during the Spring Festival and have been asking me for drugstore shopping tips.
I personally prefer Matsumoto Kiyoshi. It's affordable, well-stocked, and easily found in shopping districts like Shinjuku, Ginza, and Akihabara. Moreover, Chinese tourists can enjoy tax refunds and discounts when spending a certain amount, so choosing a larger store to buy everything at once is more cost-effective.
This time, I chose to eat yakiniku (grilled meat) in Ginza and then wandered over to Yurakucho. Let me show you what I bought!
1. Lululun VC Face Mask - It has won various beauty awards like @cosme and is very popular among Japanese girls. It's great for personal use or as a gift. I have very dry skin in autumn and winter, and I love the intense hydration of this mask. It feels very moisturizing on the face and can replace toner. I used to think masks could only be used 2-3 times a week, but this one can be used daily, like supplementing with various vitamins, nourishing the skin every day.
Each mask contains a large amount of essence with 7 types of vitamins and 7 plant extracts. The newly developed HIFU elastic mask sheet lifts and tightens the face while moisturizing every corner, improving rough pores and creating a glowing complexion.
A bag contains 7 masks, meeting daily hydration and firming needs. Alternatively, a larger box of 28 masks is even more economical.
2. Lululun Repair Mask (green packaging) - Designed for sensitive skin, it contains licorice extract and can be used as an emergency mask. It repairs sensitivity, brightens the skin, improves roughness, whitens while suppressing melanin production, and is moisturizing without being sticky, creating a healthy, transparent complexion.
3. Dup Eyeliner - An affordable eyeliner recommended by LDK. The tip is neither too thick nor too thin, and the lead is soft without splitting, making it very friendly for beginners. It is waterproof and sweatproof, staying on all day without smudging.
4. Kate Tinted Lip Balm - A perfect autumn/winter no-makeup look essential, especially for light lips. Besides moisturizing, it also adds color. The colors 07 Smoke Pink and 08 Milky Orange are both beautiful, bringing joy for just about 30 yuan.
5. Anessa Sunscreen - The famous "gold bottle" now dressed in Doraemon clothing. It has a high UV protection level among all versions, extending the effectiveness of sun protection. It also contains skincare ingredients, protecting while nourishing the skin.
6. Shiseido Collagen Powder - Japanese girls really love this. They add a spoonful to coffee or milk, where it dissolves quickly. It's low in calories and calories, supplementing collagen to keep the skin moist.
Also, every time I go to a drugstore, I repurchase some household medicines, such as throat spray, nasal spray, patches, eye drops, etc. I'm quite satisfied with them, so I share them for your reference.
If you have a packed itinerary, I suggest visiting attractions during the day and saving shopping for the evening. Matsumoto Kiyoshi in popular shopping districts usually closes at 23:00, Daikoku Drugstore also closes late, and Don Quijote is open 24 hours, which is very convenient for tourists. Remember to bring your passport!
At the end of the year, the streets of Tokyo are filled with romantic festive atmosphere, with Christmas trees and light displays everywhere, shining like stars and creating a dreamlike scene.
I arrived late to see the most popular illumination at Roppongi. Every evening at 17:00, 800,000 blue and white lights on both sides of the road light up simultaneously, forming a dazzling galaxy. It's a must-visit photo spot in winter.
However, the Christmas illumination ended on December 25. Those who missed it can go to nearby "Azabudai Hills" to enjoy the beautiful view of Tokyo Tower, which sparkles wonderfully under the lights.
Chapter 3: New Year's Prayers at Naritasan
Tokyo has many prayer spots, such as the famous Senso-ji Temple, which is often crowded. This time, since I was returning to Japan from Narita Airport, I chose to visit Naritasan in the Narita area, which offers a sense of tranquility away from the bustle.
Narita International Airport's Terminal 2 is just one station away from JR Narita Station, making transportation very convenient. From JR Narita Station, there is a street called Naritasan Omotesando with Edo-era charm, about 1 kilometer long, perfect for a leisurely stroll while enjoying traditional Japanese style.
This street is similar to the old streets in ancient towns in China, with small shops on both sides selling various souvenirs, local products, and food.
The most prominent star on this Omotesando is definitely eel rice (unagi don). About 60 restaurants here have eel rice on their menus, making it hard to decide which one to enter!
From travel guides, I learned that the most popular one is "Kawabune Honten," which is especially crowded on weekends and holidays. It usually opens at 10:00, and peak dining hours start after 12:00, requiring you to queue and get a number at the door, almost the same process as popular restaurants in China.
While queuing, you won't get bored because they have an open kitchen where you can witness the whole process of slaughtering, skewering, and grilling the eels.
The price of eel rice depends on the amount of eel. You can choose 1, 1.5, or 2 eels for big eaters, with prices increasing accordingly.
It's no exaggeration to say that the grilled eel here is tender, delicious, and will surprise your taste buds. Since the eels are very fresh, the bones are a bit hard and plentiful. Personally, I think choosing the small portion with 1 eel is enough.
Walking further along Omotesando, you'll reach Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple, which has a history of over 1,000 years. It is a famous ancient temple in Japan where many Buddhist ceremonies are held. Every year, more than 12 million people come here to pray for career, love, health, etc. It is the second most popular spot in the Kanto region, after Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo.
The temple grounds are dotted with various old and new buildings, and different flowers bloom depending on the season. Surrounded by cherry blossoms, wisteria, hydrangeas, and various precious old trees, it looks even more solemn and elegant.
Shinsho-ji Temple has five important cultural properties of Japan: Niomon Gate, Three-Story Pagoda, Shaka-do Hall, Gaku-do Hall, and Komyo-do Hall. Besides these, there are many other buildings constructed from the mid to late Edo period. Although the buildings are scattered, it's easy to find them on a map.
My favorite place in Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple is the Naritasan Park. The natural scenery of ponds and waterfalls gives a feeling of being away from the mundane world and deep in a forest.
The hills in the park are lush, with a neatly paved path winding through them. Along the path stand many statues of high monks. At the end of the path, the view opens up, revealing a wide open space with a pond in the center.
The park is located behind the Main Hall and is a large garden. The most noteworthy feature is the flowers and trees surrounding Monju Pond and Ryuju Pond, creating a colorful and charming atmosphere that changes with the seasons.
