Japan at New Years
Sep 16th, 2006, 05:22 PM
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Japan at New Years
We are planning to visit our 25 year old daughter at Christmas in Japan. Our 24 year old daughter will be traveling with us. We will have from Dec. 26 - Jan 1. Are planning to visit Kyoto and Tokyo and maybe one other place. Have not started to book hotels or anything. Any advice would be helpful. We have read that everything closes for New Years. What does that mean? Should we plan to stay in Tokyo that night? Will there be celebrations? Are three days in Kyoto and 3 days in Tokyo logical? What are the most important things to do and see? Does anyone have advice about lodging?
Any advice would be helpful.
Any advice would be helpful.
Sep 16th, 2006, 05:39 PM
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January 1, 2, 3 are the New Year holidays. Companies are mostly closed to give employees time off. Some museums and sightseeing spots are closed, but not all of them. Some stores close, but not all of them. There are special sales where you can buy a bag of mystery items for a set price of usually ¥5000, ¥10,000, ¥15,000. Public transportation runs on a holiday schedule for the first 3 days of the year.
New Year holidays are to spend with family. People visit a shrine and get their fortune for the year and pray for their hopes for the year. Most people go shopping because of the sales. On New Year's Eve, some temples/shrines ring bells at midnight - a few are live, many are tape recordings. Some people go to their local shrine/temple to greet the New Year and hear the bells at midnight.
In the time leading up to January 1 - 3, it's business as usual.
Before the New Year
New Year holidays are to spend with family. People visit a shrine and get their fortune for the year and pray for their hopes for the year. Most people go shopping because of the sales. On New Year's Eve, some temples/shrines ring bells at midnight - a few are live, many are tape recordings. Some people go to their local shrine/temple to greet the New Year and hear the bells at midnight.
In the time leading up to January 1 - 3, it's business as usual.
Before the New Year
Sep 17th, 2006, 08:28 AM
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KimJapan made very good explanation about it. Add to that,
Not all, but almost good restaurants are closed on between 31st December and 3rd Janurary. Especially on 1st January, if you want to eat at good foods, you have big problem. Fastfood restaurants are also opened on this days.
My suggestion is, take excellent hotel. Hotel restaurants are normally fully opened and may be they prepaire traditional Japanese foods only in New Year for guests.
Not all, but almost good restaurants are closed on between 31st December and 3rd Janurary. Especially on 1st January, if you want to eat at good foods, you have big problem. Fastfood restaurants are also opened on this days.
My suggestion is, take excellent hotel. Hotel restaurants are normally fully opened and may be they prepaire traditional Japanese foods only in New Year for guests.
Sep 19th, 2006, 04:49 AM
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I'm going to recommend Hirota Guest House. If you have four people you can get the cottage out back. I think it's around 8000yen per person, but you'll have more than two rooms.
We loved it and it's smack in the middle of Kyoto.
We stayed there in March with our 20 year old son. Finding places for 3 was difficult without paying an arm and a leg. While this is not cheap, it's not as much as two hotel rooms.
We loved it and it's smack in the middle of Kyoto.
We stayed there in March with our 20 year old son. Finding places for 3 was difficult without paying an arm and a leg. While this is not cheap, it's not as much as two hotel rooms.
