Japanese New Year (Oshogatsu) 2026: Traditions, What's Open, Hatsumode

Oshogatsu (Dec 31 - Jan 3) is Japan's most sacred holiday. Everything closes, families gather, shrines get millions of visitors. It's a fascinating time to be here IF you plan properly.

Key dates for 2026

What's CLOSED Jan 1-3

• ●Almost all restaurants except hotel restaurants + chains (McDonald's, Sushiro, Ichiran)
• ●Most museums + attractions (except major theme parks + illuminations)
• ●Small shops + boutiques on side streets
• ●Government offices, banks — no exchange, no post office
• ●Some train lines run reduced schedules Jan 1

What's OPEN (your survival guide)

• ●7-Eleven, Lawson, Family Mart — 24/7 always open
• ●Chain restaurants: Sushiro, McDonald's, Yoshinoya, Starbucks, Sukiya
• ●Major shrines: hatsumode is peak business — extended hours
• ●[Tokyo](https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?ss=Tokyo) Disney + USJ — open, but very crowded
• ●Hotel restaurants — many stay open for guests
• ●Depachika (department store food halls) — some open Jan 1 for osechi sales

Hatsumode (first shrine visit) — the tradition

Japanese people visit a shrine or temple in the first 3 days to pray for the year ahead. The most popular shrines get 3+ million visitors in 3 days. If you want the atmosphere, pick a mid-tier shrine (5-15 min wait) not the mega ones (2-4 hour waits).

Osechi ryori (New Year feast)

Osechi is the traditional NY meal — 3-tier box of symbolic foods, each with meaning (long-life, wealth, family). Home-made rare; most order from department stores ¥15,000-50,000. Try one at a hotel restaurant Dec 31 or Jan 1 to experience^PR it.

First sunrise (hatsuhinode) viewing

• ●Mt Takao ([Tokyo](https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?ss=Tokyo)) — most popular, cable car runs 5 AM Jan 1
• ●Enoshima (Shonan) — sea + Fuji sunrise
• ●Yokohama Marine Tower — city + sea view
• ●[Tokyo](https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?ss=Tokyo) Tower + Skytree — special early opening
• ●Any Kanto beach — Chiba's Kujukurihama is popular