New Year's at Kyu Iwasaki-tei

Built in 1896 for Hisaya Iwasaki, son of the founder of the Mitsubishi conglomerate, the fin-de-siecle Kyu Iwasaki-tei House and its gardens in Ueno will be jazzed up for New Year's. There will be a seasonal flower exhibit alongside short concerts in the main residence (first-come, first-served, up to 100 participants for each). You can also take part in tours of the Josiah Conder-designed building and, weather permitting, tour the pretty gardens. The surrounds could hardly be more appropriate for those looking to start 2017 in Meiji-era style.