On an ordinary public holiday in Japan, most tourist attractions stay open, so you can usually carry on with your sightseeing plans. You’ll also find plenty of places to eat, and public transport keeps running. With more people off work, it can be a bit like sightseeing on a busy Sunday.
I suggest leaving some extra time for a place you’re particularly looking forward to, so a longer queue doesn’t mean you have to rush the visit. New Year is the main exception: many businesses close for several days, so your choice of places to visit and eat will be smaller. If you’re still choosing dates, my guide to the best time to visit Japan also covers how holidays fit with the different seasons.
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At a Glance
- Usually open: Convenience stores, shopping malls, many restaurants, and most tourist attractions.
- Usually closed: Banks and government offices. Most post office counters also close, while small businesses vary.
- Things to do: Most usual sightseeing plans still work. Allow more time for crowds, or use the holiday to explore somewhere less busy.
- Long holiday periods: New Year brings more closures as well as busy domestic travel. Golden Week and Obon also need earlier booking.
What’s Usually Open on Public Holidays in Japan?
You’ll generally have plenty of options for food and shopping. Convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and Lawson usually stay open. Shopping malls and department stores often welcome people spending their day off out shopping, with many restaurants open for them too.
The same goes for many tourist attractions, from observation decks such as Tokyo Tower to museums such as Tokyo National Museum. Parks and gardens, including Ueno Park and Shinjuku Gyoen, are options too. Opening days vary, especially for museums and gardens: some open on a Monday public holiday and take their weekly day off afterward. A quick look at the calendar for the place you’re visiting is usually enough.
Shrines and temples generally welcome visitors on public holidays as well, though the grounds and indoor areas may keep different opening hours.
Getting around is much the same as on a weekend. Trains and buses still run, though local services may follow a weekend or holiday timetable. When looking up a journey, use your actual travel date so you get the right departure times.
What’s Usually Closed on Public Holidays in Japan?
Banks and government offices generally close for public holidays. Most post office counters close too, though some larger branches still offer postal services if you want to send something home. The Japan Post branch finder lets you check what’s available nearby.
ATMs can remain available even when a bank or post office counter is closed, though access and holiday service hours vary. I recommend having enough cash for meals and small purchases before a long holiday, so finding an ATM doesn’t interrupt your day.
Small shops and independent restaurants each decide when to take time off. Some welcome the extra customers, while others close or shorten their hours. Markets vary too: at Tsukiji Outer Market, for example, some businesses close on public holidays and others open. Its calendar gives you a starting point, but individual shop hours can differ. Toyosu, the separate wholesale market, generally closes on public holidays.
What to Do on a Busy Public Holiday
On an ordinary public holiday, most of your usual sightseeing options are still available. Expect more people at popular places, though. You may spend longer waiting to get into an attraction because more locals are off work. A day trip can also involve a crowded journey, even if the place you’re visiting has plenty of space.
If your dates are flexible, I recommend saving the busiest attractions for a regular weekday. That’s particularly helpful for a theme park, where queues can take up a large part of the visit. You could spend the public holiday exploring a neighborhood instead, perhaps stopping at a smaller temple along the way. You might still come across crowds, but you’ll have more freedom to move on than if you’re waiting for a ride you’ve already paid for.
If the holiday is your only chance to visit somewhere you’re looking forward to, I’d still go. Leave the rest of the day fairly open so a longer visit doesn’t make you late for something else. Buying admission in advance can save a wait at the ticket counter, though you’ll still share the attraction with the holiday crowds. If you’re eating out afterward, allow for a wait at the restaurant too.
Golden Week and Obon
Golden Week, in late April to early May, and Obon, usually in mid-August, bring much more domestic travel than an ordinary one-day holiday. Obon is a traditional period for remembering ancestors and visiting family, rather than a national public holiday itself.
If your trip falls during either period, you’ll still have plenty of things to do. I do recommend booking accommodation and long-distance journeys earlier than usual, because many people will be traveling at the same time. My guide to what to book in advance for Japan explains which reservations to prioritize. Check these periods while planning your Japan trip, before deciding which days to move between cities.
New Year in Japan: What’s Open from January 1 to 3?
New Year is when you’ll notice more closed doors, even in big cities. Small businesses often take several days off, and some tourist attractions close for a holiday break too. Closures can begin in late December and extend beyond January 3, while department stores may close on January 1 and reopen on different dates.
For these few days, I recommend checking the holiday hours of places you really want to visit. Convenience stores are useful for a quick meal, but it’s nice to have a restaurant in mind for dinner too. If you have dietary requirements, sorting out a few meals beforehand will make this much easier.
A shrine or temple visit can be one of the best things to do at this time of year. Hatsumode is the first shrine or temple visit of the year, when people pray for good fortune. Many also buy omamori (protective amulets) or draw omikuji (paper fortunes). If you draw an unlucky fortune, you can leave it tied to a designated rack at the shrine or temple.
I think hatsumode is well worth considering if you’d enjoy taking part in a New Year tradition. Expect long queues at famous sites such as Tokyo’s Senso-ji or Meiji Shrine. Naritasan Shinsho-ji in Narita and Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto also draw large crowds. I recommend wearing warm clothes for the wait and leaving plenty of time for the visit.
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