End of year's holidays in Japan
Nov 10th, 2007 | 07:44 AM
#1
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Joined: Nov 2007
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End of year's holidays in Japan
Hi everyone
I'm travelling to Japan at the end of December and I've just realized that these dates are national holidays there:
December 23: Emperor's birthday
January 1: New Year
January 2: coming of age
Are all places closed on those dates? How bad is it? I'll be oin Tokyo.
Thanks for sharing.
Veromar
I'm travelling to Japan at the end of December and I've just realized that these dates are national holidays there:
December 23: Emperor's birthday
January 1: New Year
January 2: coming of age
Are all places closed on those dates? How bad is it? I'll be oin Tokyo.
Thanks for sharing.
Veromar
Nov 10th, 2007 | 10:27 AM
#2
Joined: Jan 2003
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Emperor's Birthday of Dec 23 will be kept on Mo0nday 24th, and 2nd Jana (and 3rd Jan) is part of three-day New Year's holidays. You will find streets and shops busy right to the end of the year (though 'official' holiday starts on 28th). January 1st is one day left in the year when virtually everything will be closed - the only places open are temples and shrines (packed with worshippers), convenience stores and some fast-food chains. Department stores and some other big stores begin to open on 2nd and 3rd, but most family-owned places will be shut till 4th or till after the weekend. Most sights other than temples and shrines will also be closed for the first three days.
In Tokyo, you can endure enormous crowds at major shrines like Meiji-jingu and Asakusa's Sensoji temple to see in the New Year. A visit to Kamakura's many temples and shrines may be a good idea for 2nd or 3rd. Don't expect to do a lot of varied shopping until 3rd or later, and the same thing goes for smaller restaurants, some of which serve very good food. New Year (plus August's Obon) is one time in the year when many people try to get back to their home town to be with their (extended) family.
In Tokyo, you can endure enormous crowds at major shrines like Meiji-jingu and Asakusa's Sensoji temple to see in the New Year. A visit to Kamakura's many temples and shrines may be a good idea for 2nd or 3rd. Don't expect to do a lot of varied shopping until 3rd or later, and the same thing goes for smaller restaurants, some of which serve very good food. New Year (plus August's Obon) is one time in the year when many people try to get back to their home town to be with their (extended) family.
Nov 10th, 2007 | 11:34 AM
#3
Joined: Jun 2007
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I was there a couple years ago on the 1st and 2nd and didnt have any problems. We visited a temple on the 1st and it was PACKED, so i wouldnt really recommend it. It took us like 2 hours just to walk through. Anyway, i wouldnt really stress out. Im sure some places are closed, but not everything.
Nov 10th, 2007 | 04:10 PM
#5
Joined: Jul 2006
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Kamakura on 2nd or 3rd Jan is still a bad idea, with lots of worshippers. It's so crowded near main temples and train stations.
They do bonfire around midnight on NYE at Meiji Shrine, though I would avoid the area during the day on 1-3 Jan.
Trains/subways should be running pretty much as usual. Some museums may be closed 1-3 Jan. Trains leaving Tokyo (as well as departure from Narita) would be crowded 29-30 Dec, coming back to Tokyo would be crowded 2-3 Jan. Banks may be closed, so get extra cash on 31st (though 7-11 ATMs should be open throughout that period).
They do bonfire around midnight on NYE at Meiji Shrine, though I would avoid the area during the day on 1-3 Jan.
Trains/subways should be running pretty much as usual. Some museums may be closed 1-3 Jan. Trains leaving Tokyo (as well as departure from Narita) would be crowded 29-30 Dec, coming back to Tokyo would be crowded 2-3 Jan. Banks may be closed, so get extra cash on 31st (though 7-11 ATMs should be open throughout that period).
Nov 15th, 2007 | 11:08 PM
#6
Joined: Mar 2003
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Am also planning to spend New Year's in Tokyo, arriving Dec 29 and staying till Jan 4 - my fear is that there will be nothing for us to do for 3 whole days, and our trip will be a waste. Will majority of the good restaurants and shops be closed during Jan 1-3? Please help - I need alternative New Year plans.
Nov 16th, 2007 | 12:52 AM
#7
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'Will majority of the good restaurants and shops be closed during Jan 1-3?'
You'll have to make an individual inquiry to be sure, but generally, family-run places (rather than those in large hotels or part of a big corporation) tend to remain shut for those days because of staffing - most would like to go to their home towns or be with their families, and also because most of their regular customers will be away.
Department stores (and many other major stores) reopen on 2nd with fukubukuro (lucky dip) sales. But you can assume that individual specialist, craft or antique shops will be closed.
You'll have to make an individual inquiry to be sure, but generally, family-run places (rather than those in large hotels or part of a big corporation) tend to remain shut for those days because of staffing - most would like to go to their home towns or be with their families, and also because most of their regular customers will be away.
Department stores (and many other major stores) reopen on 2nd with fukubukuro (lucky dip) sales. But you can assume that individual specialist, craft or antique shops will be closed.
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Nov 16th, 2007 | 04:52 AM
#8
Joined: Jan 2003
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Bonjour everyone,
I'll be in Tokyo too, and I plan on visiting smaller temples and shrines on the 1st, like Nezu Jinja (Sendagi station on Chiyoda subway line) where there's a fleamarket where I made excellent purchases a few years ago (prices are lowered for "good luck"
.
In the remaining traditional areas of Tokyo, many family-run stores remain open since they are owned by "Edokko" ("children of Edo", "real Tokyoites".
In Yanaka for example, many small stores and craft studios were open last time I was there on Jan. 1st, and there were lots of people following the itinerary leading to the temples dedicated to the "7 gods of fortune" (Shichi Fukujin). You can get a map of the route at the small temple on the island on Shinobazu pond (near Ueno park), and get it stamped at each station. Fun to do, lots of people watching, good food along the way.
I'll be in Tokyo too, and I plan on visiting smaller temples and shrines on the 1st, like Nezu Jinja (Sendagi station on Chiyoda subway line) where there's a fleamarket where I made excellent purchases a few years ago (prices are lowered for "good luck"
.In the remaining traditional areas of Tokyo, many family-run stores remain open since they are owned by "Edokko" ("children of Edo", "real Tokyoites"
. In Yanaka for example, many small stores and craft studios were open last time I was there on Jan. 1st, and there were lots of people following the itinerary leading to the temples dedicated to the "7 gods of fortune" (Shichi Fukujin). You can get a map of the route at the small temple on the island on Shinobazu pond (near Ueno park), and get it stamped at each station. Fun to do, lots of people watching, good food along the way.
