Passport & entry

Japan New Year Closures 2026–2027: What Is Open?

What is open in Japan during New Year 2026–2027? Check the confirmed NOZOMI reservation period, bank and government holidays, and current local schedules.

Last updated: September 8, 2026

10-second answer

What to do right now

Confirmed for 2026–2027: all NOZOMI trains between Tokyo and Hakata use reserved seats only from December 25 through January 5; national government offices are generally closed December 29–January 3, and ordinary bank counters December 31–January 3. Check the exact post office, hospital, attraction and local transport notice separately.

1Reserve peak trains early
2Prepare essential services before closures
3Use dated local notices

Show the Japanese phrase Open official help

Detailed steps

Follow these steps

Reserve peak trains early

All NOZOMI trains between Tokyo and Hakata are scheduled to have reserved seats only from December 25, 2026 through January 5, 2027. A nationwide Japan Rail Pass requires a separate NOZOMI/MIZUHO ticket.

Prepare essential services before closures

Keep medicine, a sensible yen backup and a second payment method ready before ordinary government, bank, clinic and pharmacy schedules are reduced.

Use dated local notices

Post offices, hospitals, museums, shops and local transport do not share one nationwide holiday timetable. Confirm the exact location and date on its official page.

Useful Japanese phrase

Is this place open during the New Year holidays?

この場所は年末年始も開いていますか？

Kono basho wa nenmatsu nenshi mo aite imasu ka?

Confirmed for 2026–2027Reserve NOZOMI before the peak period.

Every NOZOMI between Tokyo and Hakata is scheduled to operate with reserved seats only from December 25, 2026 through January 5, 2027. Prepare cash, medicine and confirmed opening hours before ordinary services close.

2026–2027 practical timeline

The dates travelers should know

Dec 25

NOZOMI reserved-seat-only period begins

All NOZOMI trains between Tokyo and Hakata have no non-reserved seating through January 5. Reserve a seat; a ticket or rail pass alone does not guarantee one.

Dec 29

National government holiday period begins

National administrative agencies are generally closed from December 29 through January 3. Necessary public duties can still operate.

Dec 31

Statutory bank-counter holiday begins

Ordinary bank counters are closed through January 3. ATM, card and transfer availability varies—check your bank and card issuer.

Jan 1

The broadest closures and busiest shrine visits

Many independent businesses, attractions, clinics and pharmacies close or shorten hours. Major shrines and temples may be open but extremely crowded.

Jan 4

Many ordinary services begin returning

January 4 is a Monday in 2027, but every facility sets its own reopening date. Confirm the current notice before traveling.

Jan 5

Final day of the confirmed NOZOMI rule

The reserved-seat-only period continues through January 5. Check the exact train and seat before going to the platform.

Announcement tracker

What is confirmed for New Year 2026–2027?

Service	Status on September 8, 2026	What travelers should do
NOZOMI: Tokyo–Hakata	Confirmed: all seats reserved, December 25–January 5.	Reserve the exact train and seat. Other Shinkansen services have different seating rules.
National government offices	Confirmed by law: generally closed December 29–January 3.	Finish ordinary procedures beforehand; necessary public duties may still operate.
Ordinary bank counters	Confirmed rule: closed December 31–January 3.	Check ATM and card maintenance separately and keep a payment backup.
Post offices and Japan Post ATMs	Location-specific: counter and ATM hours differ; do not reuse an old holiday calendar.	Search the exact branch in Japan Post’s official locator and recheck close to the date.
Hospitals and pharmacies	Local schedule: there is no single nationwide holiday-opening list.	Use official medical information, confirm the department and call before traveling when possible.
Museums, attractions and shops	Facility-specific: closure and reopening dates differ.	Use the venue’s dated 2026–2027 notice, not ordinary weekly hours or an undated search result.

This tracker is intentionally conservative. A blank or unpublished local schedule is not proof that a place will close. It means you must check the exact operator or facility again after its dated holiday notice appears.

Plan as closed or reduced

Do not rely on normal hours

National and local government counters
Ordinary bank branches
Many clinics and dispensing pharmacies
Many independent restaurants and shops
Many museums, galleries and attractions

Often available—but verify

Useful backup options

Hotels and their front desks
Many convenience stores and chain restaurants
Public transport using a holiday timetable
Shrine and temple grounds with facility-specific hours
Some ATMs, holiday clinics and duty pharmacies

One check for every service

Confirm the date, location and backup

Need	Verify before December 29	If the first choice is closed
Medicine	Enough regular medicine, the exact pharmacy hours and whether a prescription refill is needed.	Ask the hotel, use the official medical search for an open pharmacy, or seek medical care when self-treatment is not appropriate.
Medical care	Insurer contact, nearby holiday or night service and how to reach it.	Search current official opening information. Call 119 only for a serious or life-threatening emergency.
Cash and payment	Your overseas-card ATM, issuer notice, planned maintenance and one-day cash backup.	Try a different supported ATM network or payment card; never assume every ATM follows bank-counter holidays.
Train or bus	The exact date’s holiday timetable, reservation and final return service.	Check the operator’s disruption page and a rail, bus, taxi or safe walking alternative before leaving.
Food and attractions	The venue’s own 2026–2027 notice, reservation and last admission or order time.	Use a confirmed hotel, convenience store, chain business or alternative attraction rather than relying on ordinary weekly hours.

Finish while ordinary services are open

December 28 preparation check

Cash: keep a sensible yen backup and a second payment method in a separate place.
Medicine: refill essentials early; do not wait for a holiday closure or run out before a prescription is available.
Transport: confirm reserved seats, holiday timetables and the last service back to the accommodation.
Opening hours: save the dated official notice—not only a search result or ordinary weekly schedule.
Offline backup: save the hotel address, booking numbers, insurer contact and the official medical search.

Already stuck on January 1?

Protect the urgent need first: medical safety, a place to sleep, food, transport back to the hotel, then sightseeing. Ask the accommodation desk, verify an open service through its official page and call the Japan Visitor Hotline when traveler assistance is needed. Do not travel across the city based only on an undated listing.

One answer for each problem

Use the guide that matches what is happening

Medical careFind holiday or night care and know when to call 119.Open doctor guide → MedicineExplain symptoms and find the right pharmacy or drugstore help.Open pharmacy guide → Cash and ATMsPlan a yen backup, check overseas-card ATM limits and understand possible fees.Open cash guide → Holiday transportCheck the operator, reserved ticket and holiday timetable.Open transport guide →

Life-threatening emergencyCall 119

Ambulance or fire. Do not use it merely because an ordinary clinic is closed.

Call 119 now

Visitor assistance050-3816-2787

JNTO’s 24-hour Japan Visitor Hotline supports English, Chinese and Korean.

Call the visitor hotline

2026–2027 New Year FAQ

What is open in Japan during New Year?

Are shops and restaurants open on January 1?

Some convenience stores, hotel facilities and chain businesses may open, while many independent shops and restaurants close or reduce hours. There is no nationwide schedule. Check the exact location’s dated 2026–2027 notice and keep one confirmed backup.

Can I withdraw cash when banks are closed?

Possibly. Bank-counter holidays do not automatically close every ATM. Availability depends on the ATM operator, card network, facility hours and maintenance. Withdraw a sensible backup early and check both the ATM operator and your card issuer.

Where can I find a doctor or pharmacy during the holiday?

Use the official medical-information search for a facility shown as open, then call before traveling when possible. Ask your hotel for local help. Call 119 for a serious or life-threatening emergency, not simply because an ordinary clinic is closed.

Do trains and buses stop during New Year?

Public transport usually continues on special or holiday timetables, but routes, reservation requirements and late-night services vary. Check the exact operator and date; do not rely on an ordinary weekday timetable.

Can I take a non-reserved NOZOMI during New Year 2026–2027?

There are no non-reserved seats on NOZOMI from December 25 through January 5. JR Central says a traveler holding the appropriate non-reserved limited-express ticket may stand on an ordinary-car deck, but cannot sit and may be unable to board when crowded. Reserving a seat is the reliable option. A nationwide Japan Rail Pass also requires a separate NOZOMI/MIZUHO ticket; see the Japan Rail Pass guide. Other train types and routes have their own rules.

Are post offices open during New Year?

Hours differ by branch, counter type and ATM. Use Japan Post’s official location search for the exact office and recheck close to the date; do not assume that postal delivery, a normal counter, a Yu-Yu counter and an ATM share one schedule.

Are museums and major attractions open on January 1?

There is no nationwide answer. Check the exact venue’s dated 2026–2027 holiday notice, last admission time and reservation page. Keep one confirmed alternative nearby.

JR Central, e-Gov, Financial Services Agency, Japan Post, Medical Information Net and JNTO guidance checked September 8, 2026. Individual 2026–2027 holiday schedules can be published or changed later, so always confirm the dated official notice for the exact facility and date.

Useful links

Check official holiday rules and backup services

Official resources come first. Links open in a new tab.

Official closure rule National government offices: December 29–January 3 Japan’s law defines December 29 through January 3 as holidays for national administrative agencies, while necessary duties may still operate. Read the official law → Official banking rule Bank counters: December 31–January 3 The Financial Services Agency lists December 31 through January 3 among bank-office holidays. ATM and card availability still depends on the provider and maintenance schedule. Read the official bank guidance → Confirmed 2026–2027 rail rule NOZOMI is reserved-seat only December 25–January 5 JR Central confirms that every NOZOMI between Tokyo and Hakata will operate without non-reserved seating during the 2026–2027 New Year peak period. Check the confirmed dates → Official location search Check one post office or ATM Japan Post’s official search shows the location-specific counter, Yu-Yu counter and ATM hours. Recheck the exact branch close to the date. Search Japan Post locations → Official medical search Find current holiday or night care Medical Information Net provides official facility information. Opening, department and acceptance still need confirmation with the facility. Search medical care → Official traveler guidance Check every business and attraction directly JNTO explains that New Year is a peak domestic travel period and many businesses may close or use reduced hours. Read JNTO holiday guidance → 24-hour visitor support Japan Visitor Hotline Call 050-3816-2787 for 24-hour assistance in English, Chinese or Korean with illness, accidents, disasters and other traveler emergencies. Open official hotline details →