There are many places where department stores, restaurants, and roadside shops are closed during the New Year's holidays in Japan. If you visit Japan without knowing this, you might end up screaming "nothing to do!". Especially on the first day of New Year, the 1st January, the busy downtown areas are quiet. For those planning to visit Japan using their Christmas and New year vacation this time, we will introduce a must-read article!
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Department Stores and Shopping Malls Closed on 1st January (New Year)
New Year’s day (元旦) is an important day celebrating the New Year for the Japanese people. It is a national holiday even on the calendar. Almost all of the department stores in Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, etc. are closed on 1st January. The majority of them shorten their closing time earlier on New Year's Eve, the 31st December. The day business' start for the first time at the beginning of the year is called "Hatsu-uri (first sale)". The first sale of department stores and department stores is early on 2nd January, the latest for most of the cases is on 5th January. The first selling day is crowded with many customers aiming for lucky bags.
Business Hours of Japan Department Stores and Shopping Malls During New Year Holiday? (Based on the actual situation in 2025-2026)
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Ginza Mitsukoshi
- 2025/12/31: 9:30-20:00 (B1 Food Floor, 1F Ootoshinoichi/Year-End Market)
- 2025/12/31: 10:00-17:00, 9:30- 17:00 (B1 Food Floor, 1F Ootoshinoichi/Year-End Market)
(Note: There appear to be conflicting hours for 12/31 in the original text.) - 2026/01/01: Entire store closed
- 2026/01/02: 10:00-18:00
Shinjuku Isetan
- 2025/12/31: 10:00-17:00, 09:00-17:00 (Main Building 6F Event Space), 09:00-17:00 (B1 Food Floor)
- 2026/01/01: Entire store closed
- 2026/01/02: 10:00-18:00
Shinjuku Takashimaya
- 2025/12/31: 10:00-18:00, 09:30-18:00 (B1)
- 2026/01/01: Entire store closed
- 2026/01/02: Entire store closed
- 2026/01/03: Entire store open, 09:30-18:30
Laforet HARAJUKU
- 2025/12/31: 11:00-18:00
- 2026/01/01: 11:00-18:00
MARRONNIER GATE GINZA ※Last year's schedule (for reference)
- 2024/12/31：10:00-18:00、11:00-21:00（restaurant）
- 2025/01/01：The entire building is closed
- 2025/01/02：11:00-20:00、11:00-21:00（restaurant）
Tokyo Solamachi ※Last year's schedule (for reference)
- 2024/12/31：10:00-20:00（Shop）、11:00-21:00（Restaurant）
- 2025/01/01：10:00-21:00（Shop）、11:00-23:00（Restaurant）
- 2025/01/02：10:00-21:00（Shop）、11:00-23:00（Restaurant）
LaLaport
※Business hours vary by store.
Seibu・Sogo
- 2026/01/01: Entire store closed ※Other operating hours vary by store.
Tokyo Midtown ※Last year's schedule (for reference)
- 2024/12/31：11:00-18:00（Shop）、11:00-21:00（Restaurant）
- 2025/01/01：The entire building is closed
- 2025/01/02：11:00-19:00（Shop）、11:00-21:00（Restaurant）
Keio Department Store Shinjuku Store ※Last year's schedule (for reference)
- 2024/12/31：10:00-18:00
- 2025/01/01：The entire building is closed
- 2025/01/02：9:30-20:00
PARCO
2026/01/01: Entire store closed ※Other operating hours vary by store.
SHIBUYA109／MAGNET by SHIBUYA109 ※Last year's schedule (for reference)
- 2024/12/31：10:00-21:00
- 2025/01/01：The entire building is closed
- 2025/01/02：10:00-21:00
GINZA SIX
- 2026/01/01: Entire store closed
- 2026/01/02: Entire store closed
Omotesando Hills
- 2005/12/31: 11:00-19:00, 11:00-21:00 (Restaurants)
(Note: The year 2005 seems like a typo in the original text and is likely intended to be 2025.) - 2026/01/01: Entire store closed
Roppongi Hills ※Last year's schedule (for reference)
- 2024/12/31：11:00-19:00、11:00-21:00（Restaurant）
- 2025/01/01：The entire building is closed
- 2025/01/02：11:00-19:00、11:00-21:00（Restaurant）
LUMINE
- 2026/01/01: Entire store closed ※Other operating hours vary by store.
Hanshin Department Store Umeda Main Store
- 2025/12/31: 09:30-20:00 (B1, 1F)
- 2026/01/01: Entire store closed
- 2026/01/02: Entire store closed
- 2026/01/03: 09:30-18:00 (B1, 1F), 10:00-18:00 (2F-8F), 11:00-18:00 (B2, 9F)
Hankyu Department Store Umeda Main Store
- 2025/12/31: 09:30-18:00 (B1, B2), 10:00-18:00 (1F-11F)
- 2026/01/01: Entire store closed
- 2026/01/02: Entire store closed
- 2026/01/03: 09:30-19:00 (B2-11F), 10:30-20:00 (Restaurants)
Restaurants and shops are closed not only at the beginning of the year but also at the end of the year!
Department stores often operate until 31st December, but restaurants are going to close on 30th or 31st December. Some restaurants are closed until 5th January during New Year's holiday. Visiting the restaurant without knowing that is a big risk! let's do some homework in advance so that you won’t face problems like “nothing to eat” when you reach the restaurant.
2025-2026 New year holiday Popular Restaurant's operation hour】
Umegaoka Sushi no Midori Ginza branch Shop (Tokyo)
- 2025/12/31: 11:00-19:00 (LO 18:30)
- 2026/01/01: Closed
- 2026/01/02: 11:00-21:00 (LO 20:30)
Umegaoka Sushi no Midori Shibuya branch Shop (Tokyo)
- 2025/12/31: 11:00-19:00 (LO 18:30)
- 2026/01/01: Closed
- 2026/01/02: 11:00-20:00 (LO 19:30)
Ningyocho Imahan Ningyocho Main branch (Tokyo)
- 2025/12/31 - 2026/01/02: Closed
- 2026/01/03: 12:00-21:00 (LO 20:00)
Asakusa Imahan Kokusai Dori Main branch (Tokyo)
- 2025/12/29 - 2026/01/03: 11:30-20:30 (LO 19:30)
Sukiyabashi Jiro (Tokyo)
- 2025/12/28 - 2026/01/07: Closed
Asakusa Mugitoro (Tokyo)
- 2025/12/28: 11:00-17:00
- 2025/12/29: 11:00-17:00
- 2025/12/30: 11:00-21:00
- 2025/12/31: 11:00-20:00
- 2026/01/01 - 2026/01/04: 11:00-21:00
Unagi Hitsumabushi Bincho Mitsukoshi Ginza Ten (Tokyo)
- 2025/12/31: 11:30-16:00 (LO 15:00)
- 2026/01/01: Closed
- 2026/01/02: Closed
Yakiniku Motoyama Shinjuku Ten (Tokyo)
- 2025/12/31 - 2026/01/03: Closed
Unagi Komagata Maekawa Asakusa Honten (Tokyo)
- Regular Operating Hours
Private room Gyuu no Tatsujin Shinjuku Honten (Tokyo)
- 2025/12/31 - 2026/01/02: Closed
Shabuzen Umeda branch (Osaka)
- 2025/12/30 - 2026/01/01: Closed
The majority of sightseeing spots in Tokyo are open for New Year's Day (元旦)!
Not like department stores and restaurants, many of Tokyo's popular tourist attractions, which are popular with tourists visiting Japan, are open on the 1st of January. Shrines and temples such as Sensoji Temple and Meiji Jingu shrine are crowded more than usual with first-time visitors (初詣客). Also, Tokyo Sky Tree (R) and Tokyo Tower are also crowded with first-day customers. Bathing facilities such as Odaiba Tokyo Ooedo-Onsen Monogatari (東京お台場大江戸温泉物語) and Tokyo Dome City LaQua, amusement facilities such as Sanrio Puroland and Tokyo Disney Resort are also open.
👉 Related Article: Summary of Tokyo New Year's Eve & Countdown Events. Introducing Hatsumode & New Year's Sunrise Spots.
👉 Related Article: Selected by Locals! Osaka Year-End Countdown & New Year's Events.
Japanese Terms and Customs to Remember for New Year's Eve and New Year's
仕事納め (Shigoto-osame) and 仕事はじめ (Shigoto-hajime)
仕事納め (Shigoto-osame) refers to the practice of concluding all work and business operations for the year at the end of December.
仕事はじめ (Shigoto-hajime) refers to the first day of work in early January.
The dates for Shigoto-osame and Shigoto-hajime are set in advance at most companies, stores, and commercial facilities.
大晦日 (Ōmisoka) - New Year's Eve
Since the last day of every month is called Misoka, the final day of the year, December 31st, is called Ōmisoka (New Year's Eve).
Traditionally, it is believed that Toshigami-sama (the deity of the New Year) visits homes on New Year's Day. Therefore, there is a custom on Ōmisoka to stay awake and wait for the deity's arrival.
Typical activities on New Year's Eve include ringing or listening to the Joya no Kane (New Year's Eve bells) and eating Toshikoshi Soba (Year-Crossing Noodles).
大掃除 (Ōsōji) - Year-End Cleaning
One theory suggests that the custom of Ōsōji (major cleaning) originated from Susu-harai (soot sweeping), an essential event held in the Imperial Court in December during the Heian period.
The purpose is to clean up a year's worth of dirt from one's home and prepare for the welcoming of the deities.
正月元日 (Shōgatsu Ganjitsu) and 元旦 (Gantan)
元日 (Ganjitsu) refers to the first day of the new year, January 1st.
元旦 (Gantan) specifically refers to the morning of January 1st, the morning of Ganjitsu.
正月三が日 (Shōgatsu Sanganichi) - The First Three Days of the New Year
This refers to the three days of the New Year: January 1st (Ganjitsu), 2nd, and 3rd.
Although only January 1st is an official public holiday, and January 2nd and 3rd are technically weekdays, it is common for Japanese government offices, general businesses, and shops to take a New Year's holiday, with Shigoto-hajime typically falling on January 4th.
(If January 4th is a Saturday, Shigoto-hajime is usually January 6th. If it is a Sunday, it is usually January 5th.)
初詣 (Hatsumōde) - The First Shrine/Temple Visit
初詣 (Hatsumōde) is the custom of visiting a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple at the beginning of the year.
The purpose is to express gratitude to the deities or Buddha for the past year and pray for good health and safety in the new year.
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