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

11 Jan 2026 • 6:14 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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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.