Japan New Year Holidays (Dec 29–Jan 3) for Travellers: What's Closed, Trains and Luggage
Japan's New Year holidays (nenmatsu nenshi) usually mean 29 December to 3 January: government offices close by law, banks close from 31 December to 3 January, and many museums and small restaurants shut for a few days, while convenience stores and large malls mostly stay open. It is also Japan's peak week for homecoming and domestic travel, and every Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi is reserved-seat only from 25 December 2026 to 5 January 2027. If you change cities, keep your suitcase out of the crowded stations.
Key takeaways
- By law, 29 December to 3 January are holidays for government offices; banks close from 31 December to 3 January under the Banking Act Enforcement Order.
- 1 January (New Year's Day) is a national holiday; the next one in 2027 is 11 January (Coming of Age Day).
- JR Central says every Nozomi is reserved-seat only from 25 December 2026 to 5 January 2027; Hikari and Kodama keep unreserved cars but get very crowded.
- Museums, temples and shrines set their own hours, and many close at the end of December and reopen from New Year's Day, so check each official site before you go.
- LuggAgent operates as normal over the holidays, with bookable dates and time slots shown on the booking page; bags move between airports and hotels the same day.
When are the Japan New Year holidays? Year-end calendar
There is no single nationwide shutdown rule, but government offices close from 29 December to 3 January under the Act on Holidays of Administrative Organs, and most companies follow. The table lists the dates travellers notice most.
| Date | What happens | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 25–Jan 5 | Every Nozomi is reserved-seat only (2026–27) | No unreserved seats without a reservation |
| Dec 29–Jan 3 | Government offices closed, most companies off | Homecoming and holiday crowds; high hotel rates |
| Dec 31 | Omisoka (New Year's Eve) | Some lines run late-night trains; check each operator |
| Dec 31–Jan 3 | Banks closed | No bank counters; ATM hours vary by bank |
| Jan 1 | New Year's Day (national holiday) | The day most shops close; hatsumode crowds begin |
| Jan 2–3 | Hatsumode and New Year sales | Busy shrines and malls; return-travel rush begins |
| Jan 11 (2027) | Coming of Age Day (three-day weekend) | Nozomi is reserved-only again Jan 9–11 |
Holidays are from the Cabinet Office national holidays page; the Nozomi periods are from JR Central.
What's closed in Japan over New Year? Shops, banks and museums
Japan does not shut down completely over New Year, but small shops, banks and some sights close, and places that stay open often shorten their hours. As a rule, the bigger and more tourist-facing a place is, the more likely it is to be open.
| Type | Usual pattern | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Convenience stores | Mostly open as normal | Your backup for breakfast and cash |
| Large malls and department stores | Many close on Jan 1; New Year sales (lucky bags) draw crowds from Jan 2 | Check each store's holiday hours |
| Independent restaurants and small shops | Often closed for 1–3 days or longer | Chains and hotel restaurants are more likely to be open |
| Banks | Closed Dec 31–Jan 3 | Get cash early; ATM hours vary by bank |
| Museums and galleries | Many close in late December and reopen on Jan 1 or 2 | Check each official site |
| Kyoto temples and sights | Many change hours or close | See the Kyoto City tourism year-end closure list |
The Tokyo National Museum, for example, is closed from 26 to 31 December 2026 and reopens on 1 January 2027 (12:00–20:00 that day), usually with a special New Year exhibition; details are on the official site.
Getting around over New Year: reserved-only Nozomi and late-night trains
Trains run as normal over New Year, but they are packed and some rules change. The two things to watch are Shinkansen seat reservations and late-night service on New Year's Eve.
Shinkansen: reserved-only Nozomi, and big bags need a reservation
From 25 December 2026 to 5 January 2027, every Nozomi between Tokyo and Hakata is reserved-seat only; reserved tickets go on sale at 10:00 one month before the travel date. Hikari and Kodama keep unreserved cars, but JR Central warns that they get very crowded.
On the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen, luggage over 160 cm in combined length, width and height (up to 250 cm) also needs a "seat with oversized baggage area" reservation at any time of year. Those seats are harder to get over New Year; see Shinkansen Oversized Baggage Reservation: Do You Need One? 2026 Rules for the details.
New Year's Eve late-night trains: only some lines
Not every line runs through the night on 31 December. In 2025–26, for example, JR East ran late-night trains on five Tokyo-area lines including the Yamanote Line, while Tokyo Metro did not run overnight. The 2026–27 plans are usually announced in December; check JR East and each operator's notices.
Hatsumode crowds: Meiji Jingu, Sensoji and Fushimi Inari
Hatsumode, the first shrine or temple visit of the year, draws Japan's biggest New Year crowds. From 1 to 3 January, Meiji Jingu and Sensoji in Tokyo and Fushimi Inari Taisha and Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto usually have long queues, and nearby stations often restrict entry.
- With a suitcase you will barely move, and station coin lockers fill up fast.
- To avoid the worst crowds, go from 4 January or very early in the morning.
- Check each shrine or temple's official site for visiting hours and crowd controls.
Hatsumode crowds at Sensoji on New Year's Day. Photo: Dick Thomas Johnson / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
Hotels and changing cities over New Year: what to know
Hotels cost more and fill up earlier over New Year, so if you plan to move between cities, book early. On moving day, luggage is the real headache: after checkout you haul your suitcase onto a full Shinkansen and then look for somewhere to leave it at the next stop.
- Booking: popular areas of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka fill first from late December to 3 January.
- After checkout: hotel front desks usually hold bags, but many guests are doing the same over the holidays.
- Changing cities: send your bags from one hotel to the next and ride with just a daypack; crowded stations and trains become far easier.
Kadomatsu at a Tokyo temple entrance, the classic Japanese New Year decoration. Photo: nesnad / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
Meeting LuggAgent at Haneda or Kansai Airport
There is no LuggAgent counter at the airport. After baggage claim, go to the meeting point named in your booking confirmation; an agent holding a LuggAgent sign meets you in person and photographs your bags.
| Airport | Meeting point published on our site (your confirmation is final) |
|---|---|
| Haneda (shared by Terminals 1, 2 and 3) | Terminal 3, 1F departures drop-off lane, out through Exit D |
| Kansai (shared by Terminals 1 and 2) | Terminal 1, 4F international departures, drop-off lane opposite Exit A |
- Choosing a time: we recommend choosing a pickup time 1 hour after your flight lands, so you have enough time for immigration and baggage claim. Airport handovers run 09:00–18:00.
- Running late: we wait 30 minutes free from your booked time, then a waiting fee applies; flight delays of up to 1 hour are adjusted to your actual arrival.
- Can't find us: contact customer service right away.
Details for each airport: Haneda meeting point, Kansai meeting point.
Luggage over New Year: airport to hotel, Tokyo to Kyoto
Over New Year, a suitcase is more trouble than usual: the Nozomi is reserved-only, big bags need their own reservation, hatsumode crowds fill station lockers early, and there is little space to leave bags after checkout.
LuggAgent takes bags from the airport to your hotel, or from one hotel to a hotel in the next city, delivering by 21:00 the same day (18:00 with priority delivery) and photographing them at pickup and delivery. LuggAgent operates as normal over the holidays (Dec 29–Jan 3); bookable dates and time slots are shown on the booking page. See the Tokyo luggage delivery page for coverage.
How to use LuggAgent (3 steps)
- Choose your route and date: pick the airport or hotel, date and number of bags, and check that your date can be selected on the booking page. Most services need to be booked at least 24–72 hours in advance; the exact cutoff is shown on the booking page, and around New Year earlier is better. For pickups from an Airbnb or guesthouse, the driver meets you in person at the pickup time you chose (09:00–11:00); for deliveries there, send the full address and entry details by 13:00 local time on the service day.
- Hand over your bags: give them to our agent at the airport meeting point (09:00–18:00); from a hotel, choose a 09:00–11:00 pickup time when booking, leave your bags at the front desk before then and send a photo to customer service.
- Go hands-free: visit shrines and New Year sales, then collect your bags at the next hotel. See how it works for the full flow and the luggage rules for size limits.
Landing at Haneda? Hand over your bags and head into the city:
Moving from Tokyo to Kyoto over New Year? Send your bags ahead to your Kyoto hotel and ride the Shinkansen with just a daypack:
Arriving at Kansai Airport for Osaka:
On your flight home, we recommend choosing a delivery time at least 2 hours before your flight departs.
FAQ
When are the New Year holidays in Japan?
Usually 29 December to 3 January: government offices close by law and most companies take the week off. The only national holiday is New Year's Day on 1 January, but banks close from 31 December to 3 January.
Is everything closed in Japan over New Year?
No. Convenience stores, large malls and tourist areas mostly stay open, but many department stores close on 1 January, and independent restaurants and small shops often close for 1 to 3 days or longer. Check museum and temple hours on each official site.
Are there unreserved seats on the Shinkansen over New Year?
Not on the Nozomi: from 25 December 2026 to 5 January 2027 every Nozomi is reserved-seat only. Hikari and Kodama keep unreserved cars but get very crowded, and reserved tickets go on sale at 10:00 one month before travel.
Do trains run all night on New Year's Eve in Tokyo?
Only some lines. In 2025–26, JR East ran late-night trains on five Tokyo-area lines including the Yamanote Line, and Tokyo Metro did not run overnight. Check each operator's December announcement for 2026–27.
Can I use luggage delivery over New Year?
Yes. LuggAgent operates as normal over the holidays; bookable dates and time slots are shown on the booking page. Hand your bags over at the airport or hotel and they reach your hotel by 21:00 the same day; most services need to be booked at least 24–72 hours in advance, and the exact cutoff is shown on the booking page.
This article offers general travel tips for reference only. For actual services and conditions, please rely on the booking page and the latest official announcements.
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