As we say in LA - What's The Deal? (New User)

[Alecksander]

Hey All! I'm Alecksander, from Los Angeles, California! Just wanted to introduce myself and see what's what. I will be vacationing in Japan from late December to early January so I'm looking to meet some people who will be there during that time and learn a bit about where I'm going and what to do whilst there! If anyone wants to chat, please feel free to message me anytime! I look forward to meeting some of you

 

[thomas]

Welcome aboard, Alecksander! What are your plans, and what's your itinerary?

 

[Alecksander]

Thanks thomas! I will be there from Dec 19 to Jan 2 and will be starting in Kyoto , going up north to Sapporo then back down to Tokyo to finish off the trip. My friend and I are still planning on what to do. Any suggestions?

 

[Mike Cash]

Are you aware that you will be traveling during one of the heaviest travel times in Japan? We don't take vacations on an individual basis here. What we do instead is about three times a year the whole country essentially shuts down for a few days and seemingly the entire nation is on the move at once. That includes a period lasting from the final days of December until the first few days of January. The highways experience jams you have to see to believe, and public transpiration is booked solid and overflowing....as are hotels.

Please make sure you have confirmed reservations for any important travel and lodging requirements.

 

[zoomingjapan]

Hello and welcome! ^__^

From my personal experience winter is not as bad as Golden Week or summer vacation (obon ) @ Mike Cash, but it depends on where you go.
I guess in Kyoto it will always be crowded.
I agree with Mike, though, that you should definitely make hotel reservations in advance!

For winter I'd suggest Nagano's "snow monkeys".

 

[Mike Cash]

I'm more concerned with making it back down to Tokyo to catch his return flight. The 1st or 2nd shouldn't be too crowded, as people will mostly be coming back after that.

Still, people visiting during the big three should be made aware that it is a big travel season. Forewarned is forearmed.

 

[zoomingjapan]

That and the fact that many touristy things will be closed around that time. Very common is from December 29th - January 1st. Even some tourist information centers are closed during that time.
I usually try to plan my trip so that I can visit things that are "available" during that period of time.

 

[Mike Cash]

Yes, planning is definitely recommended. Nothing worse than traveling to some specific spot you wanted to see and staring at a "Closed" sign.

I recently needed a hotel room in Yamagata city and found myself knowing what Joseph and Mary must have felt like. I couldn't get a room anywhere and finally found one in another city about twenty kilometers away. I learned a big lesson.

 

[Alecksander]

Wow, I had no idea! So glad I joined the forums Thank you everybody for the feedback, it is much appreciated. I have booked all of my hostels in advance so hopefully everything goes smoothly. I knew it wasn't the best time to visit but I also didn't want to be home for the holidays so I decided it was time to see Japan. I'm planning on purchasing a Japan Rail Pass from JR. Any tips for this? I plan on getting the 7 day pass.

 

[Davey]

I guess one of the nicest things is that because everyone is going back to their home towns the big cities are less crowded than normal.

Don't expect too much from Japanese Christmas and New year though!