Japan at New Year: What Opens, What Closes and What to Do

Shogatsu is Japan's most important holiday. Learn what closes, what stays open, how trains run, and how to enjoy shrine visits, bells and New Year food.

Published October 18, 2026 at 3:27 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Japan's New Year holiday centers on January 1, and many government offices, banks and businesses close from about December 29 to January 3. Trains run holiday timetables, shrines draw large crowds for hatsumode, and ATMs and many convenience stores remain useful.

New Year, known as Shogatsu, is the most important holiday of the Japanese calendar, a time for family, fresh starts and shrine visits. For travelers, it is a fascinating season to visit, but it works differently from the Western holiday: many businesses close for several days, trains run on special schedules, and the traditions are quiet and family centered. This guide explains what to expect, which places usually close, how to get around, and the customs and activities that make the season memorable.

What Is Shogatsu and When Does It Happen?

Shogatsu is the Japanese New Year, centered on January 1, which is known as Ganjitsu. The celebration traditionally runs from December 31 to January 4, and Japan has followed the Gregorian calendar for it since 1873. Before that, the New Year followed lunisolar calendars, and a few places, such as Okinawa and the Amami Islands, once marked a lunar New Year around February. January 7 is the day for eating nanakusa-gayu, a rice porridge with seven spring herbs.

Unlike in many countries, the focus is not on loud parties but on welcoming the new year calmly with family. People clean their homes in late December, decorate entrances with pine and bamboo arrangements called kadomatsu, send New Year postcards (nengajo), and prepare special food. The mood is peaceful, and cities can feel unusually quiet in the early days of January.

What Closes During the New Year Holidays?

Many things close, so planning matters. Government offices are closed from about December 29 to January 3. Bank counters generally close from December 31 to January 3, although ATMs are normally available, and post office counters typically follow a similar schedule. Many companies and shops also take a break from around December 29 to January 3, though this is a custom rather than a law, and some businesses close only on January 1 or stay open. Department stores often open with adjusted hours, and many restaurants and small shops close for a few days.

Tourist facilities vary. Some museums, galleries and attractions close from late December into the first days of January, while others open for special New Year events. Medical services are limited too, with many public hospitals closed from December 29 to January 3, so private clinic hours should be checked in advance and your hotel can advise. Because details differ by business and by year, check the official website of any restaurant, museum or hotel before you go. Convenience stores and many hotel restaurants remain useful fallbacks, and it helps to buy some snacks ahead of time.

How Do Trains and Transport Run at New Year?

Most trains and buses switch to weekend or holiday timetables from late December through the first days of January, so services are less frequent than on weekdays. Long-distance transport is extremely busy at the start and end of the break, when many people travel to and from hometowns, so reserve Shinkansen seats and flights early. Traveling in the middle of the holiday is usually easier than on the first and last days.

On New Year's Eve, some lines run late or overnight so that people can visit temples and shrines at midnight. In Tokyo, for example, certain JR East lines, the Keisei line and some others operate through the night, while Tokyo Metro and Toei subways generally do not. The lists change every year, so confirm exact timetables on operator websites. A taxi or walking back to your hotel may be needed after midnight events.

What Traditions Should You Know?

On New Year's Eve (Omisoka), many families eat toshikoshi soba, buckwheat noodles, as a symbol of crossing from one year into the next. At midnight, Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times in a ceremony called Joya no Kane, said to symbolize and clear away the 108 earthly desires. The bell is rung 107 times before midnight and once after. Temples near big cities can be crowded that night, so follow staff instructions if you go.

On New Year's Day, families eat osechi, a set of colorful dishes often chosen to keep without refrigeration, and ozoni, a soup with mochi rice cake whose ingredients vary by region. Children traditionally receive small gifts of money in decorated envelopes called otoshidama. Another well-loved custom is hatsumode, the first shrine or temple visit of the year, usually made on January 1, 2 or 3. Visitors make wishes, buy new amulets called omamori, and draw omikuji fortunes.

Where Should You Go for Hatsumode?

Large shrines and temples attract enormous crowds in the first three days. Popular destinations include Meiji Shrine and Sensoji in Tokyo, Narita-san in Chiba, Kawasaki Daishi in Kanagawa, Fushimi Inari-taisha in Kyoto and Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osaka, all among the largest destinations. Meiji Shrine alone has been reported to draw around three million visitors in the first three days of January. Expect queues, one-way walking routes and extra security, so arrive early or visit later in the week to avoid the biggest crowds.

Smaller neighborhood shrines are calmer and equally meaningful, and they give you a closer look at local traditions. Dress warmly, since January nights are cold, and bring cash for offerings and charms. Stay patient and follow signs. If you buy an omikuji and receive a poor fortune, many people tie it to a designated spot on the shrine grounds, a gentle ritual rather than a cause for worry. You can read more about the custom in the Wikipedia article on hatsumode.

Once the shrine visits are done, the first days of January are also a lively time for shopping. Many department stores hold New Year sales, and mystery bags called fukubukuro, or lucky bags, are a popular tradition. Some shops stay closed until January 4 or later, so it is worth checking in advance. If you prefer a calm trip, hot spring towns and quiet gardens are a lovely way to spend the holiday, since onsen inns often welcome guests with special New Year meals.

Quick Takeaways: Planning a New Year Trip

Expect many closures from about December 29 to January 3, check the hours for restaurants, banks and attractions, and use cash and ATMs wisely. Book trains, flights and hotels early, travel mid-holiday if you can, and plan midnight events with transport in mind. Enjoy toshikoshi soba, temple bells, hatsumode and osechi, and bring warm clothes. As of autumn 2026, patterns like these are typical, but exact dates and timetables change, so verify on official sites.

New Year in Japan is a gentle, meaningful time to visit. If you accept the quieter pace and plan around the closures, you will be rewarded with serene shrines, warm food and a rare look at how the country celebrates a fresh start.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is closed in Japan at New Year?

Government offices are closed from about December 29 to January 3, bank counters from December 31 to January 3, and many companies, shops and restaurants take a similar break. ATMs usually work and department stores often open on adjusted hours. Check each venue's official site.

Do trains run on New Year's Day in Japan?

Yes, most trains and buses run on weekend or holiday timetables, so they are less frequent. Some lines run late or overnight on New Year's Eve for temple and shrine visits, but not all. Confirm timetables with operators, and reserve long-distance seats early.

What is hatsumode?

Hatsumode is the first shrine or temple visit of the new year, usually made on January 1, 2 or 3. Visitors make wishes, buy omamori charms and draw omikuji fortunes. Famous shrines are very crowded, so smaller neighborhood shrines are a calmer alternative.