Happy New Year!

This year, I welcomed 2019 in one of my favorite cities - Tokyo. 

We counted down the clock at Shibuya Countdown with thousands of people who converged in front of Shibuya 109 and the Shibuya Crossing. The streets were packed with locals and tourists alike. The festive crowd cheered as the countdown began after a short program. Confetti showered on everyone and shortly after most continued to celebrate the new year in the streets of Shibuya while others headed out.

Getting back to the Metro was a little more tricky due to the enormous crowd and some metro entrances closed. After about an hour though getting to the trains were much easier. Since the trains extended their hours with just less frequency getting back wasn’t too much of a problem. train operations are extended on  New Year’s eve as locals head home and some catch the first sunrise of the year in different places like Mt. Takao. Part of their new year tradition of different firsts is catching the first sunrise and the first visit to a temple of shrine - Hatsumode.