Braving the cold: Tokyo’s New Year’s ritual of ice baths, in photos

Participants prepare to bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte) Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

By Louise Delmotte, The Associated Press

Posted Jan 11, 2026 06:15:42 AM.

Last Updated Jan 11, 2026 06:31:30 AM.

TOKYO, Japan (AP) — Participants gather at the Teppuzu Inari Shrine in Tokyo to bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year’s ritual.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Louise Delmotte, The Associated Press













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