The Year of the Snake in Japan

Although the ancient twelve-year cycle traditionally marked by twelve different animals is generally called the Chinese Zodiac in English, it’s an important part of Japanese culture as well, even now that Japan follows a more international 12-month calendar. So when January 1st, 2025 rolled around, it marked the first day of the Year of the Snake, visible throughout the country in the form of snake-themed decorations and snake-themed New Year’s cards. After the New Year’s season winds down, Japan’s temporary snake mania will also fade away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the Year of the Snake throughout 2025! Whether you harbor a deep interest in the zodiac, or you just want something fun to do in Japan, these three themed activities will help you make the most of the Year of the Snake in Japan!

① Visit a Snake-Themed Shinto Shrine

Japan’s traditional Shinto religion is deeply connected to the land, worshipping an illustrious pantheon of eight million gods, which represent everything from historic scholars to looming mountains. So it should come as no great surprise to find that the humble snake – white snakes in particular – has been associated with Japan’s gods of wealth (usually the goddess Benzaiten) since ancient times. In modern times, the white snake has become a symbol of good fortune, and there are a handful of Shinto shrines around Japan that are devoted to snakes, with many more featuring small snake statues or altars, like the one (seen above) at Otoyo Shrine in Kyoto.

One of Japan’s most popular snake-themed shrines, and perhaps the easiest to access for travelers, is the Hebikubo Shrine in Tokyo. Snake imagery is everywhere at this little sanctuary, and the shrine celebrates auspicious Snake Days throughout the year with special festivities. Lean into the Year of the Snake, and check the calendar to catch Hebikubo Shrine’s unique snake dances performed in white snake costumes!

Hebikubo Shrine (蛇窪神社)
4-4-12 Futaba, Shinagawa City, Tokyo
Shrine Office Hours: 9:00 – 17:00
Official Website (jp)

② Relax at Tokyo’s Snake Cafe

If you want to spend 2025 with some real live snakes, then a visit to Tokyo’s snake cafe is in order! Located in the heart of fashionable Harajuku, the Tokyo Snake Center is many things – a source for snake care information, and even a herpetological pet hotel – but visitors are usually there for their snake cafe facilities. Inside, snakes can be found in all directions, lazily slithering around their enclosures, staring down nearby customers… or more often contentedly napping with a coil or two resting in a water dish.

The snake cafe entry fee will get you a seat at a table surrounded by snakes and a drink from the cafe menu, along with a small “attendant” snake that joins you at your table in a travel tank. Most visitors pay a little extra to choose a few snakes to hold and take pictures with as well – Tokyo Snake Center staff have carefully picked out the snakes that like being held, but if you’re nervous, they can even recommend the calmest ones of the bunch! For the Year of the Snake, the cafe has collected some of their most auspicious white snakes in the enclosures by the entrance, to welcome you into 2025 with a little extra luck!

▶︎ More on the Tokyo Snake Center snake cafe.

Tokyo Snake Center: Cafe & Snake (東京スネークセンター)
Sanpo Bldg. 8F, 6-5-6 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo
Hours: 11:00 – 20:00 (closed Tuesdays)
Admission: 1,650 yen (drink included)
Official Website (jp/en)

③ Snake Through the Mountains of Japan

If you’ve ever wondered what it might feel like to slither along a mountainside like a snake, it’s Japan’s car drivers who can tell you about the country’s famous curvy roads, which let you slip up and down in the foothills in smooth S-curves. Embrace your inner snake with a trip to Irohazaka in Nikko, Tochigi! The steep curves of this snaking road connect some of the city’s most popular sightseeing destinations, so you can enjoy spots like Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Lake Chuzenji while you’re there.

▶︎ More on Nikko, Tochigi.

Irohazaka Slope (いろは坂)
Chugushi, Nikko, Tochigi

In 2025, Enjoy Japan in a Whole New Way

You don’t have to be obsessed with the zodiac, or even a big fan of snakes, to enjoy the Year of the Snake in Japan. Our favorite Year of the Snake activities are really just excuses to enjoy some of the best of Japan, from ancient Shinto shrines to fun themed cafes, along with the breathtaking natural landscapes found outside Japan’s bustling cities. Check them out for yourself, and make your Year of the Snake trip to Japan the best one yet!

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