New Year in Japan: Traditions, Closures & Travel Tips (2026-2027)

New Year in Japan, or Oshogatsu, is the most important celebration of the year — far bigger than Christmas. From December 31 to January 3, the whole country slows down, families gather, and millions of people crowd the shrines for the first prayer of the year. This guide covers the traditions worth knowing, what actually closes during these days, the crowds to expect at Meiji Jingu or Fushimi Inari, and how to stay connected when much of Japan shuts its doors for three days.

Oshogatsu: what New Year in Japan really is

In Japan, the turn of the year has nothing to do with the loud Western countdown. In most cities there are no giant fireworks at midnight and no packed streets toasting with champagne. New Year in Japan is a time of reflection, rest and family reunion, spread over several days around January 1 (Ganjitsu).

The key window runs from December 31 (Omisoka) to January 3. This is the Shogatsu Sanganichi, the "first three days", when much of economic life comes to a halt. People travel back to their home region, deep-clean the house (osoji), decorate the entrance with a kadomatsu of bamboo and pine, and eat food prepared in advance so no one has to cook during the holidays.

For a traveler, understanding this calendar changes everything. Landing in Tokyo on January 1 without knowing the neighborhood restaurants will be shut, or trying to withdraw cash on January 2 when the banks are closed, ruins a day fast. Handled well, though, it is one of the most authentic times to discover Japan: calm streets, shrines buzzing with spiritual energy, an atmosphere out of time.

New Year is also deep winter. Tokyo hovers around 4 to 10 °C during the day, Kyoto can freeze at night, and Sapporo and the Niseko resorts are already under snow. Dress accordingly and plan for daylight fading early, around 4:30 p.m.

The essential traditions: hatsumode, osechi, mochi and joya no kane

The heart of Oshogatsu is hatsumode: the first shrine or temple visit of the year. People pray for health and success, draw an omikuji (paper fortune), buy an omamori charm and burn the previous year's one. Meiji Jingu in Tokyo, Fushimi Inari in Kyoto and Senso-ji in Asakusa rank among the busiest sites in the country during these days.

On the evening of December 31, temples ring their bell 108 times: this is joya no kane, meant to wipe away the 108 earthly desires of Buddhism. Many families listen while eating toshikoshi soba, buckwheat noodles whose length symbolizes a long life.

At the table, osechi ryori is the signature meal: an assortment of dishes served in lacquered jubako boxes, each food carrying a wish (shrimp for longevity, black beans for health, herring roe for offspring). It's made ahead precisely because people don't cook during the first days. Mochi, pounded rice cake, is everywhere: in ozoni soup on the morning of January 1, or stacked as a decorative kagami mochi topped with a mandarin.

Children receive otoshidama, a small envelope of money, and families exchange greeting cards, the nengajo, delivered by Japan Post right on January 1. Joining a hatsumode, tasting osechi and hearing the midnight bells: that's the trio that defines the New Year experience in Japan.

"In Japan, January 1 isn't celebrated in the street at midnight — it's lived at dawn, in front of a shrine."

What closes (and what stays open) during the holidays

This is the point that surprises travelers most. Contrary to the image of a Japan open around the clock, a large share of shops and services close during Oshogatsu, especially on January 1, 2 and sometimes 3.

Commonly closed: small neighborhood restaurants and family izakaya, many museums, offices, government services, clinics, markets, and above all banks and counters. Some big restaurant chains and independent shops post "closed Jan 1–3" with no further detail. Bank ATMs may also cut their hours.

What stays open: konbini (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) run almost non-stop, and so do their ATMs — vital for withdrawing cash. Large malls and department stores often open on January 2 with their famous fukubukuro (discounted lucky bags). Fast-food chains, station cafés and major tourist attractions stay accessible.

In practice: don't count on dining at the small place you spotted the day before on January 1, and don't arrive without some cash on hand. Planning meals and withdrawals ahead avoids 80% of the season's bad surprises.

To organize meals and confirm the real opening hours of the period, continuous data makes the difference: checking Google Maps, calling a restaurant through its website, or reading up-to-date reviews saves you from wandering a deserted district. It's also the right moment to re-read our guide on paying in Japan with cash and cards.

Packed shrines and strained transport

The flip side of the calm streets is record crowds at places of worship. Hatsumode draws numbers that are hard to picture. Meiji Jingu shrine in Tokyo alone welcomes around 3 million visitors over the first three days of the year, and Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto and Senso-ji in Asakusa also count in the millions. Expect one- to two-hour queues to reach the main altar at peak times.

Transport goes through two waves. Around December 29-30, people leave the big cities for their hometowns: the Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo-Osaka) runs at 150 to 200% occupancy with standing passengers. The flow reverses around January 3-4 for the return. Narita and Haneda airports also see a peak in international traffic over this window.

If you plan to move by train during these dates, book your reserved Shinkansen seats as early as possible — they sell out weeks ahead. Our guide on staying connected on the Shinkansen explains how to keep signal throughout the ride to track your connections in real time.

To prepare your hatsumode, the Japan National Tourism Organization page on New Year traditions lists the major shrines and how to reach them. For rail, the special holiday timetables are published by JR East a few weeks in advance.

Staying connected during the Oshogatsu closures

This is where connectivity becomes a real asset. When shops close and crowds saturate the shrines, your phone becomes your best ally: finding the nearest open konbini, checking whether a museum opens on January 2, getting your bearings in a crowd of thousands, translating a sign with special hours.

A PlanJapan eSIM is a data-only plan: no Japanese number, no calls or SMS over the network, but stable internet on the NTT Docomo network. Your messaging apps like WhatsApp, iMessage or Signal keep working with your usual number, kept on your main SIM in dual-SIM mode. So you call loved ones for the new year without changing a thing.

On arrival, the eSIM switches to the network automatically the moment you land at Narita or Haneda: Google Maps works while you make your way to your hotel, even on a January 1 when Wi-Fi rental counters may be closed. Our article on activating your eSIM at Narita and Haneda covers the first minutes after landing.

Hotspot sharing is unlimited with PlanJapan: one traveler can connect a companion's phone, a tablet or a laptop at no extra cost — handy when only one person in the group bought an eSIM. For the holiday crowds, our dedicated guide to staying connected during peak periods gives the same reflexes as Golden Week. And if you're staying in Tokyo for hatsumode at Meiji Jingu, see our eSIM in Tokyo page too.

Which eSIM plan to pick by trip length

A New Year trip often lasts one to three weeks, between the holidays and the return to work in early January. The right plan mostly depends on your length of stay and real usage. Here are the PlanJapan benchmarks, keeping in mind that the standard data plans (10, 20 and 50 GB) are valid for 30 days after activation.

For a ten-day New Year across Tokyo and Kyoto with lots of photos, social sharing and a bit of hotspot, the 50 GB plan is our most versatile recommendation. If you travel longer, work remotely between the holidays, or refuse to watch your usage, the unlimited eSIM (available from 10 to 30 days) is the stress-free choice — with unlimited hotspot too. To fine-tune by app, our guide on how many GB you need for Japan breaks down each use case.

On timing, a standard data eSIM can be activated freely up to 180 days after purchase: you can buy it now and only trigger it on landing. The details are in our article on when to activate your Japan eSIM.

Practical tips for a 2026-2027 New Year trip

The 2026-2027 window follows the same rhythm: December 31, 2026 falls on a Thursday and January 1, 2027 on a Friday, which stretches the weekend and intensifies transport movements around December 30 and January 3-4. Book accommodation and Shinkansen seats early, and lock in flights before autumn: this is high season. Here's the sequence to arrive relaxed.

One last tip: carry a power bank. Between the cold that drains batteries, the hours spent finding your way through crowds and the hatsumode photos, a phone rarely lasts the whole day at New Year. With an active PlanJapan eSIM and a power bank in your pocket, you get through Oshogatsu without ever losing the thread.

FAQ

What actually happens for New Year in Japan?

Japanese New Year (Oshogatsu) is a family and spiritual celebration, not a party countdown. From December 31 to January 3, families gather, visit a shrine for hatsumode and eat osechi. Many shops and banks close during these three days.

Do shops and restaurants close during New Year in Japan?

Yes, largely. Small restaurants, banks, government offices and many shops close mainly on January 1, 2 and 3. Konbini (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) stay open almost everywhere, and department stores often reopen on January 2 with fukubukuro lucky bags.

Do I need to book the Shinkansen in advance for New Year?

Strongly recommended. Shinkansen are saturated around December 29-30 (departures to hometowns) and January 3-4 (returns), with occupancy above 150% including standing passengers. Book your reserved seats several weeks ahead.

Does an eSIM work even when everything is closed?

Yes. A PlanJapan eSIM runs on the NTT Docomo network regardless of shops. You keep Google Maps, translation and your bookings, even on a January 1 when Wi-Fi rental counters may be shut. Activation takes about 5 minutes.

Can I keep my number to call loved ones at midnight?

Yes. The PlanJapan eSIM is data-only: your usual number stays active on your main SIM in dual-SIM. You use WhatsApp, iMessage or FaceTime over data to wish a happy new year, with no roaming charges.

Which plan should I pick for a two-week New Year trip?

For two weeks with photos, social media and some hotspot, the 50 GB plan is the most versatile. If you want zero data monitoring or work remotely between the holidays, the unlimited eSIM (10 to 30 days) is more relaxed.