Making Reservations
These are some things to take into consideration when making reservations in Kyoto:
There are 3 major holiday seasons:
- New Year’s Holiday Season – from late December until early January.
- Golden Week – a collection of 4 national holidays within a 7 day period (April 29 – Green Day; May 3 – Constitution Day; May 4 – Between Day; May 5 – Children’s Day).
- “Obon” (festival of the dead) – held in the middle of August, this is a Buddhist event celebrating the return of one’s ancestors to Earth.
During these holiday seasons, ryokan accommodation prices increase and rooms have been booked well in advance.
Another busy season is School Trip Season, which occurs in Spring and Autumn in popular tourist destinations such as Kyoto and Nara. Thousands and thousands of school children arrive from all over Japan to go sightseeing and learn first-hand about their cultural heritage. During this period many of the ryokans are fully booked, and it is often very difficult to find accommodation.
Here is a list of national public holidays in Japan:
- New Year – January 1
- Coming of Age Day – January 15
- National Foundation Day – Feb 11
- Vernal Equinox – March 21
- Green Day – April 29
- Constitution Memorial Day – May 3
- Children’s Day – May 5
- Maritime Day – July 20
- Respect for the Aged Day – September 15
- Fall Equinox Day – September 23
- Health Sports Day – the 2nd Monday in October
- Culture Day – November 3
- Labor Day – November 23
- Emperor’s Birthday – December 23