You dirty rat: Zodiac window cleaners set Tokyo sparkling for New Year

Dangling more than 50 metres above a busy Tokyo street, window cleaners dressed up as a boar and a rat on Thursday scrubbed windows at a downtown hotel ahead of the country's New Year festivities.

Workers wearing a pig and rat costume clean windows on a building in Tokyo.

In its seventh year at the Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo, the tradition echoes the custom of sprucing up the house at year-end, and comes as the international spotlight falls squarely on Japan as it prepares to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

Much of Asia and the world celebrated the Lunar New Year of the Pig in 2019 and will welcome in the Year of the Rat in early 2020.

With the Year of the Boar coming to a close, Tokyo stores are replete with Zodiac decorations featuring mouse motifs ahead of the Year of the Rat, traditionally a time for making wishes for the year ahead.

Tokyo stores are replete with Zodiac decorations featuring mouse motifs ahead of the Year of the Rat.

"Next year I hope to spend time with my family. It was a really busy year so I hope for a little calm next year," said hotel employee Yuriko Sakaue, who gave birth to a daughter in May and was watching the costumed cleaners.

The tradition echoes the custom of sprucing up the house at year-end.

The event closes out a year in which Japan saw a new emperor ascend the throne and hosted the Rugby World Cup, which featured a break-out performance by the national team.

Reuters