Japan New Year Business Hours Guide: What’s Open & Closed Dec 29 – Jan 5 for Foreign Tourists

“I’m visiting Japan for New Year — will everything be closed?” “What if I run out of cash and the banks are shut?” “Is it safe to plan a trip during this period?” These are the most common worries from foreign visitors planning a Japan trip in late December or early January. The truth is mixed: Japan does shut down significantly more than Western countries during this period, but the closures are not uniform. Convenience stores, transit, and major chain restaurants stay open, while small independent shops, banks, and government offices close for 4–5 days.

This guide gives you the actual 2025–2026 calendar, a sector-by-sector schedule, and practical tactics for cash, food, transport, and shopping. By the end, you’ll know exactly what your options are on each day of your trip — and how to avoid the rookie mistake of expecting things to work like a normal Tuesday.

Table of Contents

1. 2025–2026 New Year calendar
2. Open/closed schedule by sector
3. Convenience stores and supermarkets
4. Restaurants and reservation tips
5. Banks, post offices, and currency exchange
6. Transit special schedules
7. Common pitfalls for foreign tourists
8. How to plan based on your stay length
9. Common misconceptions
10. FAQ
11. Cited sources
12. Summary

2025–2026 New Year Calendar

The 2025–2026 New Year period runs from December 27 (Sat) to January 4 (Sun) — a 9-day stretch when many businesses pause operations. Most actual shutdowns concentrate around December 29 to January 3.

Open/Closed Schedule by Sector

Convenience Stores and Supermarkets

If you’re in Japan during New Year, convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson) are your best friend. The big three operate 24/7 nationwide and offer hot food, sandwiches, bento, coffee, free Wi-Fi, ATMs accepting foreign cards, postage, and even concert ticket pickup. They never close.

Convenience store essentials during san-ga-nichi

• 7-Eleven ATMs accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB, China UnionPay, and Discover — withdraw yen 24/7
• FamilyMart and Lawson ATMs also support foreign cards
• Oden (hot stewed dishes) often sells out by Dec 31 evening — buy early
• Most konbini have eat-in spaces open even on Jan 1

Supermarket hatsuuri

Major chains like AEON, Ito-Yokado, and Life launch discount sales from January 2. Fresh seafood and meat get heavy markdowns, plus New Year leftover food (osechi, mochi, otoso) goes on clearance. Most supermarkets close on January 1; small format stores at train stations may stay open.

Restaurants and Reservation Tips

Restaurants vary widely. Family-run kitchens close from Dec 29 to Jan 3, while chain restaurants stay mostly open. Safe bets for foreign tourists:

If you’re hoping to dine at a high-end spot during san-ga-nichi, use OpenTable, TableCheck, or the “open now” filter on Tabelog. Hotel restaurants often offer special New Year menus and reliable English service — a safer choice for foreign visitors.

Banks, Post Offices, and Currency Exchange

Banks fully close Dec 31 to Jan 3, and ATMs partially shut down. If you need cash:

If you arrive with ¥10,000–30,000 (~$67–200) on hand, you’ll have no cash issues during san-ga-nichi. Card acceptance has improved — convenience stores, chains, taxis all take credit cards — but shrine food stalls, offerings (saisen), and small shops remain cash-only.

Transit Special Schedules

JR, major private railways, and subways run all-night service on New Year’s Eve to support the hatsumode (first shrine visit) tradition. New Year’s Day uses holiday timetables or special schedules.

• JR East: Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku run from ~11 PM Dec 31 through dawn Jan 1
• Tokyo Metro: Ginza, Marunouchi lines run all night
• Keio, Odakyu: All-night runs to Meiji Shrine, Mt. Takao
• Shinkansen runs on regular timetable plus extra trains — book reserved seats early
• Local buses: many regional services suspend Dec 31–Jan 1; check in advance

Common Pitfalls for Foreign Tourists

1. Hotel prices spike like Chinese New Year

Popular areas (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hokkaido) see 2–3× normal rates at New Year. Sunrise viewing spots (around Mt. Fuji, Mt. Takao) often sell out a month ahead. Book early or pivot to less famous spots.

2. Government services are completely impossible

If you need a residence card update, juminhyo (residency certificate), or any government paperwork — finish it by December 25. City halls reopen January 5. Mobile carrier sign-ups requiring residency proof become impossible during san-ga-nichi.

3. Hospitals: emergency yes, regular no

Emergency rooms (kyukyu-gairai) operate 24/7, but routine outpatient services close. Refill prescriptions by December 25. Cold medicine and OTC drugs are available at Matsumoto Kiyoshi and other drugstores (often shorter hours).

4. That famous noodle shop is closed

“I came all the way to Japan for that one ramen spot…” — only to find it shut from Dec 29 to Jan 3. Always confirm hours via Google Maps or the shop’s official site.

How to Plan Based on Your Stay Length

If you’re only here for san-ga-nichi, prioritize hatsumode shrine visits + onsen + chain restaurants + festival food stalls. If your stay extends past January 4, save shopping and independent restaurants for later. The January 2 department store hatsuuri is a uniquely Japanese spectacle — well worth experiencing.

Common Misconceptions

Misconception 1: “Everything closes during Japan New Year”

Half-true at best. Independent shops, banks, and government close, but konbini, transit, chain restaurants, and tourist sites stay normal. You won’t be stranded.

Misconception 2: “Foreigners can’t go to hatsumode”

Wrong. Major shrines like Meiji Jingu (Tokyo), Fushimi Inari (Kyoto), and Sumiyoshi Taisha (Osaka) welcome international visitors. Many provide multilingual guides. A ¥5–100 offering is plenty.

Misconception 3: “Mt. Fuji is the only sunrise spot”

Mt. Fuji is iconic, but Mt. Takao (Tokyo), Tokyo Tower, Skytree, Mt. Rokko (Kobe), Kushiro Wetlands (Hokkaido) all offer great views. Mt. Fuji-area lodging sells out a month ahead — pivot to alternatives.

Misconception 4: “Department store fukubukuro = best deal”

Fukubukuro (lucky bags) often deliver ¥30,000 of goods for ¥10,000, but you can’t choose contents. The trend is shifting to “see-through fukubukuro” — check the department store websites in advance.

FAQ

Q1. Can I dine out on January 1?

Yes. Chain restaurants (gyudon, family restaurants, cafes, hotel dining) are reliable. Independent restaurants are mostly closed.

Q2. Can I withdraw yen from ATMs?

7-Bank ATMs (in 7-Eleven stores) operate 24/7 and accept foreign Visa, Mastercard, JCB, China UnionPay cards. No issue during san-ga-nichi.

Q3. Is parcel delivery operating?

Yamato and Sagawa close Jan 1–3. Pickup requests must be in by Dec 28.

Q4. Can I rent a car on January 1?

Yes. Toyota Rent-a-Car, Nissan Rent-a-Car branches operate, but reservations are essential — Dec 31 and Jan 1 are peak demand.

Q5. Are souvenir shops open?

Airport, major station, and tourist-area souvenir shops stay open. Independent confectioners in shotengai may close.

Summary

• 2025–2026 New Year shutdown spans up to 9 days (Dec 27 – Jan 4)
• Konbini, chain restaurants, and tourist sites stay open; independents, banks, govt close
• Department stores closed Jan 1; hatsuuri sales begin Jan 2
• JR/subway runs all-night service on Dec 31 for shrine visits
• 7-Bank ATMs operate 24/7 — foreign cards work fine
• San-ga-nichi: stick to shrines + chains. Jan 4 onward: shop and explore
• Independent restaurants: always confirm hours via Google or official sites

※ Information current as of April 2026. For 2026–2027 season, confirm current schedules with each business.