New Year's Eve in Tokyo 2014-15

Countdown to 2015 at Hanayashiki

Where: Asakusa Hanayashiki
Asakusa's charmingly decrepit Hanayashiki amusement park celebrates the new year with this annual event that sees all rides accessible for a flat ¥1,000 between 9pm and 2am. Stay for the countdown to 2015, which will be handled by a group of stand-up comedians, and participate in the raffle to win a free-entry pass for yourself and all your friends and family. Read more

Oedo Onsen Monogatari Countdown

Where: Oedo Onsen Monogatari
Odaiba's Edo-era onsen theme park celebrates the coming of 2015 with appearances by comedians and other performers, who'll be taking over the faux-shitamachi alleys just before the clock strikes 12. Once the new year has arrived safely, visitors can break out their best Para-Para moves at the huge dance-off taking place around the facility. Read more

TwentyEight Countdown

Where: Conrad Tokyo
If clubbing's not your thing but cash isn't a problem, head up to the TwentyEight for all-you-can-drink champagne, live accompaniment and a refined atmosphere. Welcoming 2015 high above the city sure doesn't sound too shabby. Read more

Hooters Countdown Party

Where: Hooters Shibuya
If keeping it classy isn't a central part of your MO, there sure are worse ways to celebrate New Year's Eve than spending the night shaking it to dance tunes together with the Hooters girls. Taking place at the well-endowed restaurant chain's Shibuya and Ginza locations, the Hooters Countdown is sure to provide more than its fair share of thrills. Read more

Mado Lounge Final & Countdown Party

Where: Mado Lounge
Welcome 2015 while saying farewell to Roppongi's Mado Lounge, which is unfortunately closing down for good after this night. Determined to go out with a bang, the joint has booked a star-studded cast of performers for its NYE party, welcoming names like the Kyoto Jazz Massive's Shuya Okino, acid jazz virtuoso Toshio Matsuura and DJ Tomoyuki Tanaka. Read more

2015 Liquid

Where: Liquidroom
The wildest and longest year-end party in the city will be back at Liquidroom again this year. Extended sets by Takkyu Ishino and Fumiya Tanaka have become annual affairs, and both Nobu and Yoshinori Sunahara will return to build on last year's appearances, bringing up-and-coming star Licaxxx with them. Visuals come courtesy of Dommune's Naohiro Ukawa and Krak – both true masters of their trade. Read more

Air New Year's Eve Party

Where: Air
Daikanyama's top club ends a highly successful 2014 with a night that's bound to live up to the NYE occasion: headlined by house legend Timmy Regisford, one of the founders of and resident at New York's renowned Shelter parties, Air's 'Countdown' will be fuelled by both barrels of sake and certifiably groovy beats. Read more

A Guy Called Gerald x Daniel Bell – Countdown to 2015

Where: Origami
2014 sure was a good year for Aoyama's Origami: this flashy, house- and techno-focused joint managed to nab plenty of world-class DJs from the clutches of the city's megaclub promoters, and also sneaked in a couple of inspiring hip-hop gigs and no-holds-barred Balearic nights. They finish 2014 by welcoming acid house big shot Gerald Rydel Simpson aka A Guy Called Gerald, and have also managed to secure the services of American minimal techno master Daniel Bell. Read more

Sound Museum Vision Countdown to 2015

Where: Sound Museum Vision
Quality music is nowhere close to a certainty at all of Tokyo's many NYE parties, but this one looks like a pretty safe bet: Canadian electro house pioneer and world-class remixer Tiga headlines Vision's all-night beat extravaganza. Still, we're almost as excited by the joint appearance of two Tokyo legends, Shinichi Osawa and Ken Ishii, both of whom embody reliability and class. Read more

Womb Presents New Year Countdown

Where: Womb
Despite his obvious hell-raising merits, Philadelphia dance icon and Womb veteran Josh Wink alone wouldn't exactly merit the ¥5,000 entrance fee for this one. However, as an entire army of Maruyamacho residents, from Sodeyama to Masda and Kabuto, will also turn up for the occasion, you just might get your money's worth. Read more

Count Down & Count Up Party

Where: Oath
For an underground take at New Year's Eve, look no further than the Oath & Tunnel 'Countdown Party', which boasts an impressive lineup of lesser-known Tokyo dance floor favourites. Disco veterans Force of Nature join DJs Chida, Masda and Kiyama on the list of guests, while residents like Chikashi Ishizuka and Max Essa should also have something special hidden up their sleeves. Read more

Unit/Saloon/Unice New Year's Party

Where: Unit
Daikanyama's Unit opens up all three floors for its traditional New Year's party that bucks the trend by offering top-quality music at a very reasonable price – ¥2,000 if you enter before 2am. The lineup includes names like barnstorming hip-hop trio Sick Team, minimalist art rockers Mouse On The Keys, beat virtuoso Gonno and veteran Tokyo spinner David Dicembre. Read more

AgeHa Countdown

Where: AgeHa
Mega-club AgeHa's NYE bash always offers a little something special, and this time that something is up-and-coming Dutch EDM prince R3hab, who'll be flanked by superstar producer Yasutaka Nakata, regular Countdowner DJ Kaori and many more. There's even a shrine set up on the premises – club-style hatsumode works just fine, we suppose. Read more

Ele Tokyo New Year's Eve Countdown

Where: Ele Tokyo
Azabu-Juban's 'exclusive entertainment venue' rings in the new year with EDM-heavy tunes and sexy dancers. Revellers can participate in a raffle for the chance to win 'luxurious prizes', while women get in for free before 10pm. Read more

WWW Countdown 2014-2015

Where: WWW
A beefy and diverse lineup of domestic acts will be ringing in the new year at Shibuya's WWW, with highlights including 'rural rap' heroes Stillichimiya, wonky synth innovator Seiho and rebellious techno provocateurs Nature Danger Gang. If you're looking for an all-in-one intro to the Japanese underground scene, this one should do the trick. Read more

Countdown Japan 14/15

Where: Makuhari Messe
Chiba's Makuhari Messe again hosts its annual Countdown Japan, a four-day music fest running from December 28 to New Year's Eve. The all-star lineup consists of domestic names both big and small – this year's selection ranges from Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and punk heroes Okamoto's to Yokohama hip-hop veterans Rhymester and dance-pop jokesters Denki Groove. With over 180 artists appearing, this one should have something for everyone. Read more