Hi all, I’m planning a trip to Japan during the New Year time and I’m trying to finalize my days in Tokyo right before the new year. I know that during that time there are lots of closures, so I’m trying to plan things in advance. More specifically, I have these locations below that I wanted to check out and wasn’t sure whether there are lots of closures.
**Dec 29:** Takeshita Street and Akihabara. Do you know if there are gonna be lots of closures at these two places on that day?
**Dec 30:** Nakamise-dori Street, and probably again Akihabara. How about these locations?
**Dec 31:** I’m wondering between exploring Ginza (Hibiya Park and Tsukiji) versus exploring Ueno (Ameyoko Shopping Street). Let me know what you think about these two or even alternatives if this is not a good day to check these. (btw, I’m leaving Tokyo probably around 4-5 PM on this day, so I only have half a day)
P.S. I’m still visiting some temples/parks besides the above ones, but I’m hopeful to visit these as well (if not closed or worth visiting during that period)
4 comments
Most things like shops/tourist attractions close from the 29th and stay closed until the 4th.
Probably wouldn’t want to plan a lot of shopping during this time frame unfortunately. I know you said that you know that there would be closures but then you just list a lot of shopping centric plans/locations…. I’d probably stick to parks and stuff and not plan to do a whole lot of shopping those dates.
Ameyoko will be exceedingly crowded on the last two days of the year not only because it is always so on those days but because they fall on a weekend. It’ll be crowded to the point of not being able to walk on Saturday.
As u/Its5somewhere suggests, it would be best to do outdoor activities during this period.
Most stores are open until Dec. 31.
I looked up Ginza and Akihabara, the major stores only close on January 1.
A lot of people go to Asakusa at midnight on New Year’s eve, so Nakamise street should definitely be open.
Honestly, the closures aren’t as severe as I had expected. Major stores and restaurants will be open. Only smaller / independent businesses tend to be closed, with the exception of New Year’s Day. I was in Kyoto for the 3 days either side of New Year’s Day , which I expected to be more severely affected by closures than Tokyo but was pleasantly surprised to see many stores, restaurants and even tourist sites operating. The slowest days were the 1st and 2nd, but even then managed to find enough to keep us entertained.