New Year’s Day in Asakusa 2026 #1 Tobu Asakusa Station Before Entering the Crowd

I visited Asakusa on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2026.
There was so much to observe that I decided to divide my experience into several reports.

This article focuses on what I saw before reaching Asakusa Temple — starting at Tobu Asakusa Station.

1:04 PM at Tobu Asakusa Station

It was 1:04 PM on New Year’s Day at Tobu Asakusa Station.

There were definitely more people flowing through the platform than usual, but not as many as I had expected.
For a brief moment, I felt relieved.

“Maybe it won’t be that bad,” I thought.

Before heading out, I decided to use the restroom.

That’s when I noticed something I had never seen here before.

An Unexpectedly Long Restroom Line

A long line had formed in front of the restroom.
People kept gathering, and before I knew it, the area felt crowded.

I’ve visited Asakusa many times, but this was the first time I had ever seen such a line just to use the toilet.

When I looked around, the seating area at Tully’s Coffee was completely full.
Every single seat was taken.

I also noticed many people carrying large suitcases.

Why Were So Many People Waiting?

Tobu Railway runs trains from Asakusa every ten minutes, since this station is the starting point.
Normally, there’s no reason to wait around for long.

So why were so many people staying here?

Then it clicked.

There is a bus that goes directly from Asakusa to Haneda Airport.
They were likely waiting for that bus.

Some parents were passing the time by feeding their children melon bread or karaage (Japanese fried chicken).

A Quiet, Tired Atmosphere

Despite the crowd, the station wasn’t noisy at all.
People were surprisingly quiet, and many of them looked exhausted.

They had probably already been through the intense crowds at Asakusa Temple.

Nearby, the coin lockers were completely full.
Every single locker was in use.

A Moment of Fear

As I stood there, observing everything, a thought crossed my mind.

“I’m heading straight into that crowd now.”

To be honest, it made me feel a little nervous.

But still, I went.

Because I want to remember Asakusa exactly as it is —
especially on New Year’s Day.

New Year’s Day in Asakusa 2026 #3

New Year’s Day in Asakusa 2026 #2 Avoiding Kaminarimon — and What I Found Instead

New Year’s Day Motuni in Asakusa: The Ultimate Winter Comfort Food

Asakusa Ningyoyaki: Watching Fresh Ningyoyaki Being Made on Nakamise Street

Two Strollers I Noticed in Asakusa

Takoyaki Stalls at Senso-ji: What Asakusa Looks Like at the End of the Year