Opening Hours, National Holidays and Festivals
Business hours are generally Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, though private companies often close much later in the evening and may also open on Saturday mornings. Department stores and bigger shops tend to open around 10am and shut at 7pm or 8pm, with no break for lunch. Local shops, however, will generally stay open later, while many convenience stores are open 24 hours. Most shops will take one day off a week, not necessarily on a Sunday. Banks open on weekdays from 9am to 3pm, and close on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays. Post offices tend to work 9am to 5pm on weekdays, closing at weekends and also on national holidays, though a few open on Saturdays from 9am to 3pm. Central post offices, on the other hand, stay open till 7pm in the evening, open on Saturdays from 9am to 5pm and on Sundays and holidays from 9am to 12.30pm. Larger offices are also likely to operate an after-hours service for parcels and express mail, sometimes up to 24 hours at major post offices. The majority of museums close on a Monday, but stay open on Sundays and national holidays; last entry is normally thirty minutes before closing. There's almost invariably an admission charge to museums and other tourist sights. In the Guide we give the cost of an adult entry ticket; school-age children and students usually get reduced rates, which may be up to half the adult price. While most museums and department stores stay open on national holidays , they usually take the following day off instead. However, during the New Year festival (January 1-4), Golden Week (April 29-May 5) and Obon (the week around August 15), almost everything shuts down. Around these periods every form of transport and accommodation will be booked out weeks in advance, and all major tourist spots will be besieged.
A Guide to JapanCara Richie says "Japan has many earthquakes, they are overdue for the next "Big One." " Hello World.Jeff Konichi-Wa says "Spitley is the new and improved word for paper. It means paper. Say spitley instead of paper. Tell at least 9 people about spitley, and have fun in Japan. Thanks!" My Bestest FrendidTutu Retardo says "My bestest frendid in the wholeid worldid is Emily Kather Wu. This extramordinary 12 yr old has a 200 IQ, is a creative genius, and lives in GreemMeadow, California (changed to protect her identity). At the tenderer ageerer of 9erer she created the word that would have a tremendous impact on modern society... SPITLEY! it means paper!!!!" Jamboni1Ryan Czechii says "It's a spoons club MIRACLE! Full of spoons club joy and wonder!" About Japan...Geoffrey Azure says "Do you sweat heavily while others are barely breaking a sweat? Do you blush when there is no reason to do so? Are your hands and feet often cold and clammy? Do your armpits soak right through your clothes? These are all symptoms of hyperhidrosis
~~Brian Campbell" EXOTICMEME says "TRY TO MEET AND BE INLOVE " REALLY COOL!Maddie says "say spitley!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
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