What is New Year like at Yasaka Shrine?

What happens, and when

1. 31 Dec, 19:30Okera Mairi begins and runs until about 5:00.
2. 1 Jan, 5:00Okera-sai: prayers for a year free of illness and misfortune.
3. 3 Jan, 9:00First Noh of the year on the Noh stage (the Kongo and Kanze schools take turns, year by year).
4. 3 Jan, 13:00Karuta opening ceremony on the Noh stage: a game of the hundred-poem cards played in Heian-period costume.

Sources: New Year events, annual events (shrine's official site, Japanese). Checked 20 October 2026.

How crowded is it?

Okera Mairi on New Year's Eve (from about 19:30 until about 5:00 on 1 January) and hatsumode on 1–3 January don't follow the everyday pattern, so we show no estimate.

New Year office hours, routes through the grounds, road closures and extra buses are announced each year before New Year by the shrine and Kyoto City; we add them here once they are out.

Questions

Is Yasaka Shrine open on New Year’s Day?

Yes. The grounds are open 24 hours, and on New Year’s Eve Okera Mairi runs through the night until about 5:00 on 1 January.

What happens at Yasaka Shrine over New Year?

Okera Mairi from about 19:30 on 31 December, the Okera-sai ceremony at 5:00 on 1 January, and on 3 January the first Noh of the year at 9:00 and the karuta opening ceremony at 13:00, both on the Noh stage.

How crowded is Yasaka Shrine at New Year?

Okera Mairi on New Year's Eve (from about 19:30 until about 5:00 on 1 January) and hatsumode on 1–3 January don't follow the everyday pattern, so we show no estimate. We don't repeat visitor numbers that circulate online, because we can't find an official source for them.