Watching the year's first sunrise is considered an auspicious event, which is why every year thousands of brave early risers (and late partiers) make the trek to the locale of their choice, to ooh and ah while the sun comes up. Since most trains will run all night on the 31st (with the exception of a ten-minute break imposed by JR to circumvent any potential Y2K problems) there's no need to camp out all night to catch the first rays of 2000. This year's kickoff time: approximately 6:50am. Don't forget your sunglasses! Maki Nibayashi

Miura Kaigan
Miura Kaigan (beach), a short journey south of Kamakura, is at the tip of the Miura Peninsula, which juts out into the Pacific. Free amazake (sweet sake) will be served.
How to get there: Take the Keihin Kyuko line from Shinagawa station to Miura Kaigan station. The beach is a 5 min walk. Parking available.

Year 2000 Millennium Event in Choshi
Choshi City's claim to fame is as the place where you can be the first to glimpse the first sunrise of the year in Japan. Lots of events, including 400 fireworks timed to go off at exactly midnight, along with taiko (Japanese drum) performances, and a light display message for the millennium. You can put your own special millennium messages in 7x10cm cans. Don't forget to bring spending money for the stalls that'll be lined up all over Kimigahama Shiosai Park.
From: 9pm Dec 31 to 9am Jan 1.
How to get there: Take the Shiosai line from Tokyo station to Choshi station. Change to the Choshi train line, platform no. 2, and head out towards Inubozaki. Although parking is available there is a limited amount of space.

Jyogashima
Jyogashima is a small island just off the tip of the Miura Peninsula (see above). Free miso soup with seaweed will be served to warm up the crowd.
How to get there: Take the Keihin Kyuko line from Shinagawa station to Kawasakiguchi station. There will be shuttle buses from the station to Jyogashima. Parking available.

Tokyo Bay Ferry
If you're lucky and get on the 6:50am ferry, you can see the sun come up twice during this two and a half hour cruise. You'll see the first one right after the ferry leaves the dock and the second one when the ferry gets close to Nokogiri mountain. Since it's first come, first served, it's best to be there really early.
How to get there: Take the Keihin Kyuko line from Tokyo to Kurihama station. A shuttle bus in front of the station departs for the ferry at 5:50am.

More sunny venues
Most of the following places limit the number of visitors, so go early!

Chiba Port Tower.
From 6-8:30am. First 200 people only. JY410. Minato 1, Chuo-ku, Chiba (043-241-0125).

Sunshine 60.
From 5:30am-6:30pm. Only the first 500 are allowed onto the sky deck; 2000 more can go to the observation deck. JY620. Ikebukuro 3-1, Taito-ku, Tokyo (03-3989-3331).

Telecom Center 21st floor.
From 5:30-8am. First 500 people only. JY600. Ome 2-38, Koto-ku (03-5500-0021).

Tokyo Big Sight roof.
From 5-8am. No limit. Free of charge. Ariake 3-21-1, Koto-ku, Tokyo (03-5530-1111).

Tokyo Tower.
From 6am-9pm. First 120 only can go to the "special observation deck;" no limits on the regular observation deck. JY820. Shiba Koen 4-2-8, Minato-ku, Tokyo (03-3433-5111).

Yokohama Bay Bridge.
From 6am-12pm. No limit but first 1000 receive a special commemorative sticker. JY600. Ichibanchi Daikoku Futo, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama. (045-506-0500).

Yokohama Marine Tower.
From 5-7am. No limit. JY1000. Yamashitacho 15, Chuo-ku, Yokohama (045-641-7838).