🎊Here's 3 quick suggestions on how to spend your New Year's Eve in Japan!🎊

The Club Method

Many clubs in Japan have their own countdown events. Tickets may be sold in advance, but walk-ins are always welcome (at least in Osaka they are, not sure about Tokyo). I would suggest pre-gaming, especially if it's cold and especially if you're on a budget. Most clubs will be charging a premium to get in, with only a drink ticket or two included in the entry price.

Clubs in Osaka with NYE Events

(all of these events are on iflyer.tv)

WORLDOUT -Countdown Party-

Hilton Osaka

1-8-8 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi
Tickets: 5,500 yen (presale tickets available for 4,500 yen)
Hours 8:00 PM (first act at 9:00 PM) until 4:00 AM
https://iflyer.tv/en/worldout/


This seems to be a fairly big party. The event page says there will be about 2000 people there, and they'll have a lot of famous DJs like ☆Taku Takahashi (M-Flo). The cost is quite high, compared to smaller club events, but I think you're more or less guaranteed a good time.

TRIANGLE COUNTDOWN 2016-2017

Triangle
3F-5F Ribia Bldg 2-18-5 Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo-Ku, Osaka
Tickets: 2,500 yen(+1 drink) / 2,000 yen (+1D) in adv.
Hours: 8:00 PM (first act at 9:00 PM) until 4:00 AM
https://iflyer.tv/en/event/278918/ 


I wandered into club Triangle's Halloween event (mostly because non-Japanese got in free and we were cold), and they were playing some solid dance tunes on the the 5th floor. I would recommend this event for people that actually want to dance. According to the event page, they'll be spinning drum & bass, as well as hip hop, plus there will be food for sale inside.

The people here are really chill and they don't mind throwing a little extra in your drink. One of clubs I visit quite often throughout the calendar year.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN

2-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohan-ku, Osaka-shi
Tickets: 12,800 yen (Party Pass)
Hours: 7:00 PM until 2:00 AM (park open until 9:00 PM January 1st)
https://iflyer.tv/en/event/278516/


Universal Studios will be having its own countdown party within the park. I've never been to this event, but according to the event page, you're invited to hang out inside the park from 7:00 PM on the 31st until 9:00 PM on the 1st. Season pass holders are allowed to stay in the park until 5:00 PM on the 31st, after which only party pass holders will be allowed in. I'm not sure of the crowd sizes involved with this event, but with music guests like M-Flo and Daishi Dance, I imagine that it will be pretty packed. The music portion of the event will run until 2:00 AM.

JOULE COUNTDOWN 2016 - 2017

Club Joule
2F,3F Minami Sumiyamachi Bld, Nishi-Shinsaibashi Chuo-Ku Osaka-shi
Tickets: 2,500 yen (2,500 yen in adv.) +600 yen drink at the door
Hours: 10:00 PM until 5:00 AM
https://iflyer.tv/en/event/278777/



I had a Club Joule countdown a few years back when my bestie visited me in Japan. I wouldn't say it was the best countdown party, but I wasn't disappointed or bored, so that's a win? This event is nice because it's fairly cheap (compared to the other events listed, quite cheap), but they will make you wait outside, even if it doesn't look busy. I wouldn't advise trying to get in right before the countdown begins, but at least they don't raise the price after the new year.

Tickets:
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM       MEN 4,000 YEN ｜ LADIES 2,000 YEN
11:00 PM - 1:00 AM      MEN 5,000 YEN ｜ LADIES 3,000 YEN
1:00 AM - LAST            MEN 3,500 YEN ｜ LADIES 1,500 YEN
Hours: 9:00 PM until LATE (around 4/5:00 AM)
https://iflyer.tv/en/event/276602/

★★★

While hanging out with some friends, I was informed that Music Circus, an annual EDM festival, was letting non-Japanese attendees in for free. Not one to pass up a little free, I snatched up a ticket for myself, a few for my friends, and set out to have a rather intoxicated afternoon.

About

Music Circus is a dance music festival that takes place in Tokyo and Osaka every year. This event features famous DJs from all over the world (this year's headliners were AFROJACK and Nicky Romero) as well as famous Japanese DJs and producers (Nakata Yasutaka played a set this year!).

Official Site Here (JPN Only)

 Access

大阪泉南・タルイサザンビーチ
Osaka Sennan Tarui Southern Beach
Nankai Tarui Station


[From Osaka City]
Board the Semi-Express Nankai Train bound for Wakayama City or the Rapid to Nankai Izumisano Station, then change to to the local or Semi-Express for Nankai Tarui Station. The rapid route is only 10 minutes faster.

Though the venue is 1.5 hrs outside of Osaka City, it's fairly easy to find if you follow the young people dressed for a music festival. Also, you'll have to walk 10-15 minutes to the venue, so wear comfortable shoes!

Main Stage

Tickets

1 Day Ticket - 10,000 yen
2 Day Ticket - 18,000 yen
Music Circus '16 International Invitation - FREE (1,000 yen drink ticket purchase required)

Food and drinks are served with tickets and cash. You do get a set of tickets with your 1000 yen drink fee (separate from the ticket fee), but once those run out, using cash is fine. If you want to drink alcohol, be sure to bring your ID so you can get a wristband. Also, this year, non-Japanese attendees were able to enter the event for free except for the 1,000 yen drink purchase. That's a pretty good deal to see some of the biggest DJs in Japan.

Nakata Yasutaka Set

Impression

The only other music festival I've ever been to is Summer Sonic ('11 and '12), so trying to compare the rock vibe of SS to the dance music scene at EDM would really be an exercise in futility, but I can say that the people at this fest seem more laid back. At SS, it's a bit of a rush trying to see bands as there are a LOT of stages and good international acts tend to overlap (while Japanese acts seem to get better timetables).

At MC, it was easy to bounce between the two main stages and even the food and drinking areas. The bathrooms aren't the cleanest and the line the ladies fluctuates like crazy. If you think you gotta go, and the line is short, GO.

Area closer to the beach

Overall

This fest was a lot of fun, though my opinion of it may be skewed for quite a few reasons (limited dance fest exp, free tickets, good compny, etc.), but if a ticket happens to fall into your hands, I would definitely recommend that you check it out. Don't forget to bring your towel (always bring a towel), a little sunscreen, and maybe a little liquor if you can sneak it in. ;)

Check out more event photos here!

★ Peaces★