Year-End in Japan: What Closes, What Stays Open, and How to Survive the New Year Shutdown

Your first New Year in Japan can catch you off guard. One day you’re squeezing through the year-end crowds at the supermarket, and a few days later you’re standing in front of a locked bank, a dark ward office, and a sign on your favorite ramen shop that says it’s closed until January 4. Meanwhile, the trash you put out two days ago is still sitting there.

Welcome to oshogatsu, Japan’s New Year. It’s the biggest holiday of the year, a quiet, family-centered stretch when much of the country slows down for several days. It’s also wonderful, once you know what to expect. Here’s what closes, what stays open, and how to get through the 2026-2027 holidays like a pro.

 

The Year-End Dates You Need to Know

Only January 1 is an official public holiday, but in practice, Japan shuts down for much longer. Here’s how the calendar falls this year.

• Monday, December 28: Last working day for government offices, including ward offices and immigration. Many companies wrap up around now too (this day is called goyōosame, the year’s last day of work).
• Tuesday, December 29 to Sunday, January 3: Government offices closed.
• Wednesday, December 30: Last day bank counters are open.
• Thursday, December 31 to Sunday, January 3: Banks and post office counters closed.
• Monday, January 4, 2027: Most things reopen. Expect long lines.

 

The good news? Because January 4 falls on a Monday this time, the shutdown is a little shorter than last year’s. The bad news? It still lands right when you’re most likely to need cash, paperwork, or a doctor.

 

Year-End Closures to take note of

Ward offices and immigration

City and ward offices close from December 29 to January 3. That means no residence registration, no My Number paperwork, no tax certificates, and no help at the counter. Immigration bureaus follow the same schedule, so if your residence card expires in early January, sort out your renewal well before the break.

One thing to keep in mind if you’re moving: you’re supposed to file your moving-in notification at your new ward office within 14 days of moving. If you move in late December, count the days carefully, since the holiday closure eats into that window.

 

Banks and post offices

Bank counters close after December 30 and reopen January 4. ATMs mostly keep running, including the ones in convenience stores, but there are two catches:

• Many banks charge weekend or holiday ATM fees during the break, usually around ¥110 to ¥220 per withdrawal.
• Maintenance pauses. Some banks briefly stop certain ATM services around New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Japan Post Bank, for example, paused some services overnight last year.

 

Post office counters close from December 31 to January 3. Larger post offices often keep a yuyu madoguchi (after-hours counter) open for picking up and sending parcels, so look up the closest one before you need it. Mail delivery doesn’t fully stop, though. Nengajo (New Year’s greeting cards) are still delivered on January 1, and if you want yours to arrive on New Year’s Day, the usual advice is to mail them by around December 25.

 

Clinics and hospitals

Most regular clinics close for several days, typically from around December 29 or 30 until January 3 or 4. If you take regular medication, it’s best to refill your prescription in advance.

If you get sick during the break, don’t panic. Local governments run holiday clinics (kyūjitsu shinryō) on a rotating schedule, and your ward’s website will list which ones are open each day. In Tokyo, you can call #7119, the emergency medical consultation line, if you’re not sure whether you need an ambulance.

For help finding an English-speaking clinic, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s medical information service, Himawari, is a good place to start. And for a true emergency, call 119 as usual.

 

Small restaurants and local shops

Family-run restaurants, bakeries, and neighborhood shops often close for anywhere from a few days to a full week. Many put up a handwritten notice with their holiday dates in December, so keep an eye out at your favorite spots.

 

Garbage collection

This one surprises everyone. Most Tokyo wards pause garbage collection over the New Year, usually from around December 31 to January 3, though the exact days vary by ward. Check your ward’s garbage calendar or app, and plan your big end-of-year clean-up (ōsōji) so you’re not stuck with a mountain of bags on your balcony until January.

 

What stays open

It’s not all doom and locked doors. Plenty of places keep going:

• Convenience stores. Your local konbini is open as usual, 24 hours a day in most cases. They’re your lifeline for snacks, ATMs, bill payments, and even some ready-made New Year foods.
• Big chains and shopping malls. Chain restaurants, fast food, family restaurants, and most malls stay open, sometimes with shorter hours.
• Many close on January 1 or run shortened hours over the first few days of January. December 30 and 31 are packed, and prices for New Year staples like crab, sashimi, and mochi tend to climb. Shop early if you can.
• Department stores. The big ones like Isetan, Mitsukoshi, and Takashimaya usually close on January 1, then reopen on January 2 with huge sales and fukubukuro (lucky bags). It’s a whole experience.
• Shrines and temples. These are the busiest places in the country. More on that below.
• Trains run all through the holidays, usually on a weekend or holiday timetable from around December 30 to January 3.

 

New Year’s Eve: getting around

If you want to ring in the new year at a shrine or countdown event, check the train schedule ahead of time. Last year, JR East ran all-night trains on several major Tokyo lines, including the Yamanote Line, while Tokyo Metro and Toei subways didn’t run all night. This year’s plans are usually announced in late November or December, so check the train companies’ websites or your route app before you head out, especially if you live outside central Tokyo.

Also, don’t expect big fireworks shows. Japan’s New Year’s Eve is more about eating toshikoshi soba (year-crossing noodles), watching TV specials, and listening to temple bells ring 108 times at midnight. It’s cozy, not chaotic.

 

How to Survive the Shutdown

A little planning in mid-December makes the holidays so much easier. Here’s your checklist:

• Get cash before December 30. Withdraw enough to cover a week, so you don’t pay holiday ATM fees or get caught by a maintenance window.
• Finish your paperwork by December 28. Ward office, immigration, tax documents, anything with a stamp. Do it early, because the last few days before the closure are always crowded.
• Refill prescriptions and stock your medicine cabinet. Painkillers, cold medicine, and anything you take regularly.
• Look up your ward’s holiday clinic list and save it on your phone.
• Stock up on groceries before December 30. Rice, frozen food, and easy meals are your friends. Many people also pre-order osechi (traditional New Year’s food boxes) from department stores, supermarkets, or convenience stores in November and December.
• Check your garbage schedule and plan your ōsōji around it.
• Send packages early. International and domestic delivery services get very busy in late December, so mail gifts home well before the break.
• Moving soon? Real estate agencies, moving companies, and utility companies usually take time off too. Gas usually needs someone at home to turn it on, so book your utility start dates and moving day before the holidays, and expect year-end moving prices to be higher.

Make the most of it

Once you’re prepared, the New Year shutdown is honestly one of the best times to be in Japan. The usual rush disappears, the streets get quiet, and the whole country seems to take a deep breath.

Here are a few ways to enjoy it:

• Go for hatsumōde, the first shrine or temple visit of the year. Meiji Jingu and Sensoji draw huge crowds in the first days of January, so go early or pick a smaller neighborhood shrine for a calmer experience. Buy an omikuji (fortune slip) and see what the year has in store.
• See the first sunrise of the year, called hatsuhinode. Popular spots fill up early, so dress warmly.
• Visit the Imperial Palace for the Emperor’s New Year Greeting, usually held on January 2. It’s one of the few days the inner palace grounds open to the public.
• Try the food. Ozōni (mochi soup), osechi, and toshikoshi soba on the 31st. Even a convenience store version counts.
• Hit the fukubukuro sales on January 2 if you like a bargain.

 

If you’re spending your first New Year away from home, it can feel a little lonely when everyone around you heads back to their hometown. Reach out to friends, join a community event, or just enjoy a slow, quiet week. Japan’s New Year is a fresh start, and there’s something special about beginning the year in a country that takes it so seriously.

Plan ahead, keep some cash in your wallet, and happy New Year! Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!

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