Originally Posted by spike74
I am planning a trip to Japan for September and am wondering how much the two national holidays during the second half of the month might affect my plans. The Third monday of September (the 20th) is Respect for the Aged Day (keiro no hi) and September 23 is Autum Equinox Day (shubun no hi).
How hard will it be to make train reservations, sightsee on those days? are most things closed? if so, would I be able to see an interesting side of Japan that I wouldn't get to see if I traveled when there were no holidays?
Bottom line: should I move my trip to October to avoid these holidays?
Not sure where you want to visit but generally speaking, I don't think you would face any difficulties for train reservations. It's the 'bon' mid-August holidays and year-end/new year holiday seaasons (maybe plus this coming holiday-studded 'Golden Weeks' in late April and early May) that will see massive 'exodus' from metropolises.
Shopes will be open during those shubun-no-hi and keiro-no-hi, just like any other Sundays.
Late September and October are IMHO a very nice season to visit Japan. (Until mid-September, summer heat lingers in Tokyo.)