From Shizuko Mishima,
Your Guide to Japan Travel.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

If you are planning to visit Japan in December or January, try to avoid traveling during the last week of December and the first week of January. This period is the busiest travel season for Japanese people in the year. Many people are off work from the last weekend of December to the first weekend of January. It's hard to make reservations for transportations and accommodations during this time, so please plan ahead.

Traveling around Christmas Day in Japan isn't as bad as in western countries. One thing to remember is that Christmas Eve has become a night for young lovers to go out and spend a romantic time together at fancy restaurants or hotels in Japan. It is almost impossible to make reservations for a restaurant or hotel at the last minute on this day. Also, Christmas is not a Japanese national holiday. Unless it is Sunday, businesses and schools are open on the day. Also, remember that December 23 is a Japanese national holiday, Heisei Emperor's Birthday.

New Year's holidays are very important for Japanese people. People usually spend New Year's Eve rather quietly with the family. Most of businesses are closed from the 29th or 30th of December to 3rd or 4th of January, depending on the kind of business and day of week. Be aware that banks and hospitals are closed around this time of the year. Check their operation dates before the holidays begin. In recent years, many restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets, and department stores are open during holidays.

Since many people traveling out of Tokyo during this time, Tokyo is rather quiet than usual, except temples, shrines, and markets. It might be a good choice to stay in Tokyo during this time. You may get good deals for nice hotels. Hot springs and ski resorts throughout Japan are crowded by many visitors. You need to make reservation early to stay at those areas.

Helpful Links:

• How to Travel Cheap in Japan
• How to Find Discount Airfares to Japan
• Flight Search to Japan by Kayak
• Train Travel in Japan
• Cheap Hotels in Japan
• Japan Hotel Search by Kayak

Japan Picture Gallery