Tokyo, planned around your family
Tokyo is big, fast and a little overwhelming, and you want it to feel easy.
Seasons and when to go
Japan's year-end and New Year closures
Your family break falls over the year-end, and you want to know what will be shut.
Over the year-end and New Year, plan for closures at shops, restaurants and attractions, and book meals, hotels and trains early. The holidays generally run from about 29 December to 3 January, and many businesses close for at least part of that time 1. Shrines are the busy places, and transport keeps running but gets crowded.
What closes over the holiday?
JNTO says many businesses close for at least part of the period, although some restaurants and department stores have begun staying open 1. Small shops, family restaurants and some attractions may be shut for several days. Government offices close too.
Each place sets its own dates, so do not assume. Check the holiday notice for any attraction or restaurant that matters to your plan.
Which transport still runs?
Trains and buses mostly keep running, but timetables can differ over the holidays and services can be crowded. Many people travel home at the year-end, so long-distance trains are busy. Reserve seats early, and check holiday timetables with each operator.
Read last bus times and service gaps if your plan includes rural areas.
How does a Malaysian year-end break collide with it?
Malaysian school holidays at the year-end overlap with Japan’s own holiday. Hotels and flights are expensive and busy, and some attractions are closed. Read Malaysian school holidays and Japan seasons and school holiday timing.
For a two-week plan that works around this, see the school holiday two-week plan.
How should you plan meals and activities?
- Book key restaurants well ahead and confirm their opening dates.
- Choose hotels with breakfast included.
- Keep convenience stores and station restaurants as a backup.
- Visit shrines, illuminations and large parks, which stay open.
Our guide on restaurant reservations explains how to book.
What is the simple plan?
Pick a base in a big city such as Tokyo, where more places stay open. Book early, keep days light and confirm every opening. Send us your dates, and we will check what is open each day.
If your trip crosses the year-end, send us your dates and cities. We will check what is open on each day and plan around the closures.
Keep planning
Match Malaysian school holidays to Japan's seasons
Each school break lands in a different Japanese season, and you want to know what you will meet.
Do you need restaurant reservations in Japan?
You are afraid of arriving hungry and finding every table taken, with no Japanese to ask.
Malaysian school holidays and Japan trip timing
The school break is fixed, and you want to know which weeks in Japan will be the hardest.
A two-week Japan plan inside school holidays
The school break is fixed, and you want fourteen days in Japan that fit inside it.
The night before an early flight home
Your flight to Kuala Lumpur leaves early, and you do not want to sprint across Tokyo with children.
Questions travellers ask
What is closed in Japan around New Year?
JNTO says the holidays generally run from about 29 December to 3 January, and many businesses close for at least part of that period. Some restaurants and department stores now stay open. Check each place's own holiday notice, because shrines are busy while shops and offices may be shut.
Do trains and buses still run?
Mostly yes, but timetables can change over the holiday period and services may be reduced or crowded. Long-distance trains are busy as people travel home. Check holiday timetables with each operator and reserve seats early.
How should we plan meals over New Year?
Do not assume your usual restaurants are open. Book key meals ahead, choose hotels with breakfast and keep convenience-store and hotel options as backup. Large stations and some chains often stay open. Ask your planner to confirm restaurant opening before you travel.
Sources
Figures are checked against these sources and dated so you can see how current they are.
- JNTO, New Year's in Japanaccessed 2026-10-20
Ready to shape your Japan trip?
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