Watch the first sunrise of 2015 in Tokyo

The curtain's coming down on 2014, which means that it's time to draw up your plans for the new year and to go over all the great (and not so great) stuff that happened over the last twelve months. Then, there's also the small matter of figuring out how to welcome 2015 in style. Watching the first sunrise of the year is an integral part of New Year's celebrations in Japan, as people gather at various viewing locations to pray for a successful year to come. You could just head down to the beach or climb your local hill to watch the spectacle, but for those looking for something special, here's our list of great spots in and around Tokyo for catching the first rays of 2015, ranging from the obvious to the obscure.

Tokyo Tower First Sunrise

Tokyo Tower

You'll probably need to queue through the night to see the sunrise from Tokyo Tower's Special Observatory, as only 80 lucky individuals will be let in and ticket distribution will start at 4am on the day. However, even if you do miss out, there's always the Main Observatory, which will be open from 6am without entrance limits.
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Sunshine 60 Observatory First Sunrise

Sunshine 60

With its 60th-floor, 360-degree views of the big city, Sunshine 60 is an extremely popular place to watch the first sunrise of the new year. There's going to be crowds, so get in early if you want to catch a glimpse of the main event.
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Telecom Centre First Sunrise

Telecom Centre Observatory

Watch the first sunrise of the year at this Odaiba observatory that opens its doors at 5am in preparation for the main event. No advance reservations or other fuss – just wear some seriously warm clothes and prepare for queues.
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Metropolitan Government Building Observatory First Sunrise

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatories

The Metropolitan Government Building's observatories (including stores and restaurants) open up for New Year's Day, but those hoping to catch the very first sunrise of the year have to head elsewhere – the ticket lottery is over.
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Narita First Flight and First Sunrise

Museum of Aeronautical Sciences

Basking in the first rays of the sun, watch Narita's first departing flight of the year at the Museum of Aeronautical Sciences observatory, and start planning your travels for 2015.
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Other recommended viewing locations

Haneda Airport

The fifth-floor observation deck at Haneda's Terminal 2 is a great place to watch planes landing and taking off, and it's also not a bad spot to catch the first sunrise. They tell us that even Mt Fuji can be seen from here when the weather's nice, and the services aren't anything to scoff at either: 24-hour restaurants and cafés are readily available. To get there, take the Tokyo Monorail's special 'First Sunrise Train' on January 1. Venue details

Sangenjaya Sky Carrot

The top floor of this extremely orange-coloured 26-storey building is a great place to enjoy amazing views toward the Bay Bridge while lounging on one of the comfy sofas. If you're looking for a (relatively) laidback spot for sunrise-watching, consider this one. Venue details

Kasai Rinkai Park

This spacious park, located on the waterfront at the eastern edge of the city, is one of the less heavily advertised places to catch the first rays of the new year. Head down to the beach and watch the sun emerge from Tokyo Bay and rise over Disneyland's Cinderella Castle, or take a ride on the park's Ferris wheel for an even more spectacular view. Venue details

Osanbashi Yokohama Terminal

Yokohama residents like to head out to the Osanbashi Terminal to catch the first sunrise, and we sure see why: as if the amazing views weren't enough, there will also be free concerts and film screenings in the area to keep visitors entertained throughout the night. Venue details