New Year’s Day in Asakusa 2026 #4: From Nakamise Street to Sensoji Main Hall
This is the final part of my New Year’s Day in Asakusa series.
I’ve been writing this report in several parts, and this last one records what was probably the most physically and mentally demanding section: the walk from Nakamise Street to the Sensoji main hall.
Finally Inside Kaminarimon: Relief, Then More Crowds
After somehow making it through Kaminarimon, I was finally able to see Nakamise Street at a slower pace.
Of course, it was still incredibly crowded, but compared to the stress of standing in that massive line earlier, I felt a huge sense of relief.
…or so I thought.
Once I passed the halfway point of Nakamise Street, the crowd thickened again.
New Year’s Day in Asakusa is not something to underestimate.
When you’re stuck in line, you start hearing all kinds of conversations.
One couple joked that they should have dressed up as police officers to get through more easily—and I found myself nodding vigorously in agreement.
Cash, No Signal, and New Year Reality Checks
That’s when I realized something serious:
I had only large coins with me.
I usually don’t carry cash at all, and this was the moment it came back to haunt me.
“Well, it’s New Year’s Day,” I told myself. “Let’s just offer 100 yen.”
I clutched that 100-yen coin with slightly watery eyes 🥹
To make things worse, the internet stopped working.
I couldn’t even load X (Twitter).
I wanted to search for a place to eat afterward, but that wasn’t happening either.
It reminded me of Disneyland—when too many people enter at once and everyone accesses the same networks, everything slows down or stops.
But this isn’t Disneyland.
This is Asakusa.
Police Announcements and Crowd Control at Hozomon Gate
Near Hozomon Gate, police officers stood on temporary platforms, desperately making announcements through speakers.
In short, they were saying:
“Once you pass through the gate, please spread out to the left and right.”
On New Year’s Day, the offering area is widened, and whether you throw your offering from the center or the sides, the blessings are the same.
They also repeatedly announced not to touch the large red lanterns.
They even said “Don’t touch!” in English, but many people still reached out.
Once someone nearby touches it, others seem to follow without thinking.
The police officers were really raising their voices, so that part left me with a slightly disappointing impression.
A Slow, Almost Ritual-Like Walk to the Main Hall
Even after passing through the gate, it wasn’t over.
There were omikuji stands on both sides, but there were so many people that moving left or right was almost impossible.
You had to inch sideways little by little, timing your movements with the slow forward flow of the crowd.
At some point, I started wondering what kind of training this was 😅
The incense burner (jokoro) and the purification fountain (temizuya) were both completely overwhelmed by people.
It honestly felt chaotic.
Reaching the Main Hall: Relief, Exhaustion, and Reflection
Still, little by little, the crowd moved forward.
And finally—I reached the front of the main hall.
I can’t describe how long I had been waiting for that moment.
It felt like a strange sense of achievement.
After finishing my offering, I turned around and was stunned by the sheer number of people behind me.
“I really stood in that line,” I thought.
Watching everyone take photos of the main hall, I naturally pulled out my phone and took a photo too.
That was my New Year’s Day in Asakusa.
If I had to sum it up in one sentence:
If you plan to visit Asakusa on New Year’s Day, come prepared.
I understand why people want to visit on January 1st—it’s special.
But next year, I think I’ll visit when things are a little calmer.
Freshly Boiled Shiratama Near Kaminarimon: A Popular Japanese Sweets Shop in Asakusa
New Year’s Day in Asakusa 2026 #1 Tobu Asakusa Station Before Entering the Crowd
New Year’s Day in Asakusa 2026 #2 Avoiding Kaminarimon — and What I Found Instead
