New Year in Japan: What to Book, and What Is Closed (2026–27)
Over New Year, every Nozomi is reserved-only from December 25 to January 5, JR warns that JR Pass seat reservations may not be available on December 29 to January 3, and many museums, gardens and castles close for a few days (the list is below).
It is still a good time to visit if you plan for it. Book every Shinkansen at 10:00 Japan time exactly one month before, check the closing days below before you fix your sightseeing, and leave the first days of January for shrines and walks.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. Agencies also sell JR tickets; we say when booking direct is just as good.
How do I book trains over New Year?
Book early, and book everything. On the main Shinkansen line, every Nozomi becomes reserved-only from December 25 to January 5. If you have no reservation, you cannot sit on a Nozomi; you can only stand in the deck areas.
- Find the date one month before each ride. Seats go on sale at 10:00 Japan time on the same date one month earlier. For a January 2 ride, that is December 2.
- Book the outbound and return on their own dates. Your return a week later opens a week later. Set two alarms.
- If Nozomi is full, try Hikari or Kodama. They keep non-reserved cars even in the all-reserved period. Hikari is about 25 minutes slower to Kyoto.
- With a JR Pass, reserve the moment you can. JR says seat reservations may not be available on Dec 29–Jan 3. Some JR Pass exchange offices also close over New Year, so exchange before the 29th.Agencies also sell Shinkansen tickets in English. Compare their price with the JR fare before you pay.Shinkansen on Klook ↗
Other lines change too: the limited express Hida to Takayama is all-reserved from Dec 25 to Jan 5. More on peak rules: Shinkansen peak seasons →
What is closed over New Year?
These are the official closing days we found for 2026–27. If a place is not listed, check its own site for its year-end and New Year closing days.
What stays open, or is free?
teamLab Planets
Dec 31–Jan 2, 8:00–20:00. Tickets are released month by month and not sold on site.
Itsukushima Shrine
Open 0:00–18:30 on Jan 1, and 6:30–18:30 on Jan 2–3. ¥300, cash only.
Can I join the first shrine visit of the year?
Yes. Hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year, needs no ticket. Check each shrine's own site for its New Year hours.
If you plan to be out late on December 31, check each rail operator's year-end and New Year timetable before you go.
What else is worth booking in early January?
Shirakawa-go winter light-up
The village lit up in the snow. You need a stay, an event parking ticket or a tour. Nohi Bus tours from Takayama cost ¥13,000–¥16,000. Agency light-up tours are listed from Dec 2, 2026, 13:00 Japan time; make sure the listing says light-up 2027.
Affiliate links. Full rules: [Shirakawa-go guide →](/tickets/shirakawago)Mt Fuji day trip
A day tour from Tokyo saves booking holiday highway buses yourself. Fuji views depend on the weather.
Affiliate linksWhat if…?
…every Shinkansen on my date is full?
Look at Hikari and Kodama non-reserved cars, a different day, or the highway bus. Tokyo to Osaka options →
…the place I wanted is closed?
Swap it for a shrine, a walk or an open alternative from the list above, and move the closed one to after January 4.
…I need to send luggage over New Year?
Check the delivery service's year-end and New Year schedule before you rely on it. Luggage delivery →
Is a JR Pass a good idea over New Year?
Only if the numbers work anyway. The pass does not get you a seat when trains are full, and JR warns that reservations may not be available on Dec 29–Jan 3. Price your trips first.
The official site is cheaper than agencies (7 days ¥50,000 vs ¥53,000). Affiliate link on the last button.
What we checked
JR Central: the FY2026 Nozomi all-reserved periods, including Dec 25, 2026–Jan 5, 2027. smartEX: EX Hayatoku 21 not sold at New Year. Japan Rail Pass site: reservation and exchange office notes.
touristpass.jp: Hida all-reserved period. Official sites of Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo National Museum, Ueno Zoo, Osaka Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Gion Corner, Nintendo Museum, Himeji Castle, the Peace Memorial Museum, Takayama Jinya and SHIBUYA SKY for closing days.
teamLab Planets, Kenrokuen, Itsukushima Shrine and Churaumi for New Year hours. Fushimi Inari access page. Shirakawa-go Tourist Association and Nohi Bus for the light-up.
Meiji Jingu's 2026–27 New Year hours and the 2027 Imperial greeting were not published yet, so the page gives no times for them.
Planning a New Year trip?
Put the Shinkansen release dates in your calendar today, then build your sightseeing around the closing days. We will add the 2027 shrine and greeting details when they are published.
Affiliate link