Originally Posted by
michaelpowell44
I made a visit to Japan shortly after christmas, 2016 and through the early part of 2017 (~January 8). I recall a huge portion of small business being closed as a time for break/rest or some other tradition. There were so many cool parts of tokyo, osaka, kyoto with small lanes and intricate shops that I couldn't enter. I plan to go back around that time next year but hoping to avoid the closures.
What exactly are those dates where most business close?
Hard to pin down exactly, as different business have different schedules. Museums and such also take breaks around then.
Christmas means nothing to most companies, though couple often go out for dinner then.
Some people will take off the last few days of December, since kids are generally out of school for about 2 weeks, starting from 25/26/27 (depending on the calendar year).
Generally first 3 days of the new year, but you have to might add in a Saturday and Sunday.
This past Christmas many of the places we wanted to go to in Tokyo were closed, but a lot of that were places taking a break due to business being slowed by Covid.
The shōgatsu season runs through January 7, or January 15 in some regions. While New Year’s Day, or ganjitsu, is the only date recognized as a national holiday, government offices as well as many businesses close their doors from December 29 to January 3. Typically, neighborhood shops and supermarkets are closed on the first day of the year, while convenience stores and many restaurants can be expected to remain open.