So what’s the difference?

It’s Obon period.

For those of you who don’t know what Obon is, you can read more about Obon from this article: Japanese Obon.

If you need to drive anywhere in Japan during Obon, avoid the major highways and toll roads. They will be most traveled.

To get anywhere you want to go faster, drive on smaller highways. While the speeds may not be the fastest, you will most likely get to your destination much quicker nonetheless…even with all the stoplights!

During Obon, traffic on major highways and toll roads can take hours to travel as short a distance as 20 kilometers because of congestion.

Drive safely, or as they say in Japanese English, Safety Drive!

Years ago, ATMs used to closed from before January 1st and wouldn’t be available for use until around the 4th or 5th. If you needed money, you had to get it out of the bank before then, otherwise you’d be without money for almost a whole week. Nowadays, ATMs are open 24 hours at convenient stores, and some are open at other locations. But banks are generally still closed during the New Year holiday period.

Another place that closes down on the 1st is gas stations. If you wish to get gas on January 1st, good luck. You can find some on major highways, but ones in local townships are generally closed for at least on day.

Anyone traveling to Japan during the New Year holiday period should remember this and make sure to have enough cash available because stores, even large ones, sometimes don’t take credit cards. If you don’t have cash, you’re stuck, especially at restaurants!

Locations - Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka

In front of Osaka City Hall, Miotsukushi Promenade road and surrounding area, Osaka Central Public Hall to Nakanoshima Park(Rose garden, Kensaki Park) and the north public square of Osaka Science Museum.

Osaka Hikari Renaissance

Dates – Saturday December 11 to Christmas Day, Saturday December 25, 2010

Hours – 17:00 – 22:00

The H1N1 virus is the culprit. It’s taking its toll on the Japanese students. But who’s complaining? The students aren’t. That’s for sure. What student doesn’t enjoy a day off from school.

Week after week, students are getting days off from school. This week it’s the 2nd grade class out for 2 or 3 days. Last week it was the 5th grade class. Before that it was another grade out. Groups of students are being hit one by one around the country. Public and private schools are canceling classes as levels of students sick with the virus reach more than 30%. The H1N1 virus is so widespread the education system is trying to keep entire schools from being victims.

While children seem to be getting the brunt end of the virus, it is not just a virus for kids. Adults can contract the virus just as well, and education officials know this. Teachers need a break from all the sick students traipsing the halls.

Tags: H1N1, H1N1 virus, Japan, Japanese, viruses, japan school system, japanese school system, holidays, days off

Before 2007, Showa Day was called Greenery Day. Before it was called Greenery Day, it was celebrated as The Emperor’s Birthday. And before 1985, it was not considered a national holiday, but it is now even though the name of the holiday has been changed several times over the past decade.

When the holiday was known as The Emperor’s Birthday, it was considered a day of rest. Now that the holiday is no longer known as Greenery Day, but Showa Day, it is back to being considered a holiday of rest.

And this year, as it happens, because the day is right smack in the middle of the week this year, Wednesday, there are really no other options but to stay home and rest for tomorrow it is back to work.

However, historians have yet to find evidence of either the significance of celebrating the holiday on this date or the existence of Emperor Jimmu outside of the Nihonshoki.

Originally, the holiday was named Empire Day or kigensetsu in Japanese. Kigensetsu was considered one of the four major holidays of Japan, but was abolished after World War II. Later in 1966, the holiday was re-established as National Foundation Day.

Current customs include the raising of Japanese flags and reflection on the meaning of Japanese citizenship although most people use the holiday to travel about the country or relax away from work.

Even though the main reason for Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, many people, however, cannot deny feeling the need to focus on shopping for presents to give their loved ones, coworkers and friends. There are many other things to do besides shopping for gifts. There are parties to prepare for, lights to put up and out, decorations to make and set out, places to go and people to see and foods to be bought and eaten.

Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year, and it is getting busier here in Japan as more and more people implement the holiday into their lives.

Less than 5 years ago, Christmas wasn’t as popular as it is today. Very few people decorated their homes with lights or put up Christmas trees. Nowadays, you can find Christmas trees and ornaments in many, if not most, “Do-It-Yourself” home craft and home centers like Musashi, Kohnan, Royal, Komeri and Joyful home centers. My personal favorite is Musashi. They have a huge assortment of things from building supplies to interior as well as tons of art and craft supplies. And when I say art and craft supplies, I don’t mean just a few. If you are having a hard time finding something to do your next craft or art project, go to Musashi. They’ll probably have it along with a few others to choose from. And their prices? Most of the things I buy there are less there than anywhere else; just one more reason to shop there. Besides that, their products are also well made, some from China, but many things made in Japan.

So if you are in need of Christmas supplies, find the nearest Musashi, or any other DIY home center and you should be able to find what you’re looking for. And when Christmas Day arrives, take some time to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday, if not allow it to carryover into all the days thereafter. Have a very Merry Christmas!

The roads during Golden Week are more crowded than anyother time of the year. Someone once told me it took 12 hours to drive from Osaka to Okayama because of the traffic that jams up at the bottleneck just outside Osaka between Takarazuka and Sanda. The normal driving time is two and a half hours from Minoh City.

A better way to travel, if you have no other alternative vacation plans in the area, is to travel at night when most people choose to sleep. Traffic is usually a lot less and many traffic lights are activated to flashing yellow lights. A friend and I traveled at night from Kyoto to Wakayama in record time this way going backroads. We drove it in just under 3 hours.

Hopefully, some good advice is to travel a few days before or after Golden Week. That way you can beat the traffic and the higher costs that come with the holiday period.

For those of you who don’t have a good idea of what to do, here are a few suggestions of things you probably shouldn’t do.

Don’t…

• …visit Universal Studios Japan – It doesn’t matter how many people leave the Kansai area because many people outside the Kansai area will probably come to the Kansai area to USJ.
• …drive through Takarazuka or Sanda area on the Chugoku Expressway during rush hour traffic, on the first day or last day of a long weekend or holiday. Traffic is at its worst then.
• …go out to popular family restauarants during Golden Week because too many people in Japan go there with the family and relatives during this time. Visit a restaurant that is not family style or is ethnic food. You have a better chance of finding parking and a seat.
• …expect a large majority of shops and/or banks to be open. Most close down during Golden Week, or at least they usually do. Things are changing all the time in Japan, so it wouldn’t be surprising if more shops begin to stay open during the holidays. Most are closed on Mondays though, even without the holidays.
• …buy an airplane ticket, abroad or domestic. It’s the secondmost expensive time of the year to travel other than summer during Obon. Most airfare is double if not triple the average cost.

Hopefully these few tips will help you make wise decisions for your Golden Week. Choose something outside these Don’ts and you may do well with the little time Golden Week vacation truly offers since it isn’t really a full week of vacation time.