New Years Eve on my own is there a jazz bar or something? What is everyone doing for new years eve? I havent really done much for New Years in the past few years. What do people do in Japan? I am guessing its not the big party like they have in the west? All my friends have gone away...or are with their family. I might prop myself up at the end of a counter in a Jazz bar or something. Any decent Jazz bars that you would recommend? The sultry slow jazz would be good. My boss is going to one but obviously I dont want to be at the same bar as him for New Years count down!
Fuck no. They store up on food and toilet paper since the whole country shuts down for days. They go to the temple and stay at home. There are some parties though, at least in Tokyo. Good Jazz places if you're not afraid of spending money: Maduro (Roppongi Hills <-- sit at the bar and avoid the 2000 yen cover) New York Bar (top of Park Hyatt... Lost in Translation bar... again, sit at the bar) Tableaux (Daikanyama) None are chaep but always have live music.
Thanks GaijinPunch I live in Shinjuku and the Park Hyatt is only about 10 minute walk to my house. Park Hyatt would be nice with someone as it seems like a classy event is on, maybe ill do that next year. http://www.parkhyatttokyo.com/News/news101110_001.pdf Actually all those bars seem nice, I'll look into them more, or I might just roll on down into some bar in Roppongi where Gaijin are known to frequent
The convience stores will still be open 24 hours a day, so you will be able to get most things if you get desperate. Personally I liked going to a temple at midnight, as well as watching the first sunrise of the new year. If you really want the Japanese experience go and visit the temple at Asakusa on the 1st or 2nd and wait in long queues, throw 5 yen into a box, get your fortune in english and eat something fried from one of the food stalls. What better way to freeze.
If you're going for the crowds, might as well go all the way. Meiji Jinguu on day one... way closer than the disaster of a trip to get to Asakusa. The sheer number of people is worth the effort. I think if you bombed that place on January 1 you'd put a massive dent in the Japanese population.
lol i have a 24 hr convenience store about 20 seconds away from the house. Meiji Jingu is just a walk literally through Yoyogi park which is nearby - I should go just to take pictures of the crowds even though I wont fight to drop my "GOEN" in. Was thinking of hitting up a bar see if I get lucky on the 31st, my friend runs a small bar in Akasaka so I could fall back on that if nothing is looking up. What about Bar Quest in Roppongi, has anyone been? There is another party on at club midas.. New Lex in Roppongi and GasPanic in Shibuya I have been to none of these places let me remind ya