| Japanese holidays and Peak Travel Seasons - Holiday | | | | national holidays. Many Japanese take the entire |
| periods to avoid when visiting Tokyo. | | | | Golden Week off from work to celebrate these |
| Tokyo hotels often raise their rates during Japanese | | | | events. |
| holidays and peak travel seasons. They might also be | | | | - Japanese families usually travel during school |
| fully booked, so try to do your booking well in advance. | | | | vacations, which are from the end of March through to |
| The weekends before and after major Japanese | | | | the beginning of April and from July 20 to the end of |
| festivals are also likely to be crowded on trains and | | | | August. Tokyo tends to be less crowded at these |
| airports. | | | | times since many people go back to their home towns. |
| On the other hand, staying in Tokyo can be a pleasure, | | | | Booking hotels is not so tight during school holidays as |
| since many Tokyo people leave the city and it | | | | during the peak travel seasons, but I recommend you |
| becomes less crowded. | | | | make reservations in advance. |
| - Japanese New Year - December 27 to January 4, | | | | Tokyo festivals are tied to historic events, Shinto or |
| plus weekends before and after. Note that some | | | | Buddhism religion, and usually include processions, |
| museums, shops and restaurants in Tokyo close for | | | | native costumes and booths selling food and souvenirs. |
| several days. | | | | It's a good idea to come to Tokyo during Japanese |
| - "Golden Week" - Japanese vacation season (April | | | | celebrations. |
| 29th to May 5th). During this week there are three | | | | Why? |