Japan booking countdown

Thu 25 Mar 2027 – Mon 5 Apr 2027. 12 dates to put in your calendar. First: Disney Hotels (Tokyo Disney Resort), Wed 25 Nov 2026, 11:00 JST.

1. Open nowHard rule

   Shinkansen one-year hold (Smart EX)

   For Thu 25 Mar: opened Wed 25 Mar 2026, 05:30 JST

   … for Mon 5 Apr: opened Sun 5 Apr 2026, 05:30 JST

   Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu: from 5:30 JST on the same date a year earlier. Holds a place only; train and seat are fixed at 8:00 JST one month out. EX Hayatoku fares excluded. Source

   Too late? Plan BInstead: Book at the one-month general sale instead: seats only run short around Golden Week, Obon and New Year.

2. Book nowOur recommendation

   Hotels & ryokan

   Book by Sat 26 Sep 2026

   Peak dates: earlier deadline.

   Our recommendation, not a release date: 3 months out, 6 for sakura, Golden Week, Obon, November and New Year. Refundable rates. Source pending official check

   Too late? Plan BInstead: Book a refundable room today, then keep checking: rooms come back as others cancel.

3. Opens · in 47 daysHard rule

   Disney Hotels (Tokyo Disney Resort)

   For Thu 25 Mar: Wed 25 Nov 2026, 11:00 JST

   New York Tue 24 Nov, 21:00 · London Wed 25 Nov, 02:00 · Sydney Wed 25 Nov, 13:00

   … for Mon 5 Apr: Sat 5 Dec 2026, 11:00 JST

   New York Fri 4 Dec, 21:00 · London Sat 5 Dec, 02:00 · Sydney Sat 5 Dec, 13:00

   11:00 JST on the same date four months before check-in. Up to five nights per booking. Source

   Too late? Plan BInstead: Partner hotels around Maihama run their own calendars.

4. Opens · in 53 daysLottery

   Nintendo Museum (Uji, Kyoto)

   For Thu 25 Mar–Wed 31 Mar: Tue 1 Dec 2026 → Thu 31 Dec 2026

   For Thu 1 Apr–Mon 5 Apr: Fri 1 Jan 2027 → Sun 31 Jan 2027

   Lottery, not first-come: enter any day of the month three months before your visit; results by email on the 1st of the next month. Source

   Too late? Plan BInstead: Leftover tickets from cancellations go on first-come sale, up to two months ahead: watch the ticketing site.

5. Opens · in 77 daysHard rule

   Universal Studios Japan (+ Nintendo World)

   For Thu 25 Mar: Fri 25 Dec 2026

   … for Mon 5 Apr: Tue 5 Jan 2027

   Tickets from three months before the visit date (no time published; some passes differ). Express Passes with Nintendo World entry go first. Source

   Too late? Plan BInstead: No Express Pass? Get the free Area Timed Entry Ticket for SUPER NINTENDO WORLD in the official app on the day.

6. Opens · in 93 daysHard rule

   Ghibli Park (Nagoya)

   For Thu 25 Mar–Wed 31 Mar: Sun 10 Jan 2027, 14:00 JST

   New York Sun 10 Jan, 00:00 · London Sun 10 Jan, 05:00 · Sydney Sun 10 Jan, 16:00

   For Thu 1 Apr–Mon 5 Apr: Wed 10 Feb 2027, 14:00 JST

   New York Wed 10 Feb, 00:00 · London Wed 10 Feb, 05:00 · Sydney Wed 10 Feb, 16:00

   10th of the month at 14:00 JST, for the month after next. Boo-Woo Ticket, Lawson, or Klook from abroad. Source

   Too late? Plan BInstead: Check again for returns; weekday Standard passes last longest. No gate sales, no date changes.

7. Book by · in 107 daysOur recommendation

   teamLab Planets / Borderless

   Book by Sun 24 Jan 2027

   Peak dates: earlier deadline.

   Sold a month at a time, about two months ahead, with no fixed published rule: December 2026 goes on sale on 1 October at Borderless (12:00 JST, tentative) and in early October at Planets. Dynamic adult pricing: Borderless from ¥3,600, Planets from ¥4,200. Our call: 3 weeks out, 2 months (60 days) in March–May and November–December. Source

   Too late? Plan BInstead: Book now: late-evening slots hold out longest.

8. Opens · in 108 daysHard rule

   Tokyo Disney park tickets

   For Thu 25 Mar: Mon 25 Jan 2027, 14:00 JST

   New York Mon 25 Jan, 00:00 · London Mon 25 Jan, 05:00 · Sydney Mon 25 Jan, 16:00

   … for Mon 5 Apr: Fri 5 Feb 2027, 14:00 JST

   New York Fri 5 Feb, 00:00 · London Fri 5 Feb, 05:00 · Sydney Fri 5 Feb, 16:00

   14:00 JST on the same date two months earlier. No same date? The 1st of the next month. Source

   Too late? Plan BInstead: Sales pause when a daily limit is hit: try the other park or another day.

9. Opens · in 115 daysHard rule

   Pokémon Café (Tokyo & Osaka)

   For Thu 25 Mar–Wed 31 Mar: Mon 1 Feb 2027, 18:00 JST

   New York Mon 1 Feb, 04:00 · London Mon 1 Feb, 09:00 · Sydney Mon 1 Feb, 20:00

   For Thu 1 Apr–Mon 5 Apr: Mon 1 Mar 2027, 18:00 JST

   New York Mon 1 Mar, 04:00 · London Mon 1 Mar, 09:00 · Sydney Mon 1 Mar, 20:00

   1st of the month at 18:00 JST: every date of the following month opens at once. Announced month by month on the café news page. Source

   Too late? Plan BInstead: Refresh for cancellations; prime slots go in minutes.

10. Opens · in 124 daysHard rule

    Ghibli Museum (Mitaka)

    For Thu 25 Mar–Wed 31 Mar: Wed 10 Feb 2027, 10:00 JST

    New York Tue 9 Feb, 20:00 · London Wed 10 Feb, 01:00 · Sydney Wed 10 Feb, 12:00

    For Thu 1 Apr–Mon 5 Apr: Wed 10 Mar 2027, 10:00 JST

    New York Tue 9 Mar, 20:00 · London Wed 10 Mar, 01:00 · Sydney Wed 10 Mar, 12:00

    10th of the month at 10:00 JST, for the whole following month. Lawson Ticket only; nothing sold at the door. Source

    Too late? Plan BInstead: Refresh Lawson Ticket for returns in the last days, or a JTB Sunrise Tours day tour with entry. Never buy resale: names are checked.

11. Book by · in 137 daysOur recommendation

    Omakase & popular restaurants

    Book by Tue 23 Feb 2027

    Typical, not a rule: mid-tier counters 2–4 weeks out; the famous sushi bars 1–3 months. Each restaurant sets its own window (OMAKASE, TableCheck, byFood). Source pending official check

    Too late? Plan BInstead: Book lunch instead of dinner, or ask your hotel concierge.

12. Opens · in 139 daysHard rule

    Sagano Romantic Train (Kyoto)

    For Thu 25 Mar: Thu 25 Feb 2027, 00:00 JST

    New York Wed 24 Feb, 10:00 · London Wed 24 Feb, 15:00 · Sydney Thu 25 Feb, 02:00

    … for Mon 5 Apr: Fri 5 Mar 2027, 00:00 JST

    New York Thu 4 Mar, 10:00 · London Thu 4 Mar, 15:00 · Sydney Fri 5 Mar, 02:00

    00:00 JST on the same date of the previous month, official site only, ¥880. No same date? The 1st. No trains 30 Dec to end of February. Source

    Too late? Plan BInstead: Refresh for cancellations (free until 23:59 the day before), queue at Torokko Saga from about 08:35, or take the Hozugawa boat (walk-up, ¥6,000).

13. Opens · in 139 daysHard rule

    Shinkansen & JR reserved seats

    For Thu 25 Mar: Thu 25 Feb 2027, 10:00 JST

    New York Wed 24 Feb, 20:00 · London Thu 25 Feb, 01:00 · Sydney Thu 25 Feb, 12:00

    … for Mon 5 Apr: Fri 5 Mar 2027, 10:00 JST

    New York Thu 4 Mar, 20:00 · London Fri 5 Mar, 01:00 · Sydney Fri 5 Mar, 12:00

    10:00 JST one month before each train (Smart EX general sale, JR Pass reservation site, eki-net). No same date that month? The 1st. Source

    Too late? Plan BInstead: Hikari and Kodama keep non-reserved cars, even on all-reserved Nozomi days.

14. Opens · in 153 daysHard rule

    Shibuya Sky

    For Thu 25 Mar: Thu 11 Mar 2027, 00:00 JST

    New York Wed 10 Mar, 10:00 · London Wed 10 Mar, 15:00 · Sydney Thu 11 Mar, 02:00

    … for Mon 5 Apr: Mon 22 Mar 2027, 00:00 JST

    New York Sun 21 Mar, 11:00 · London Sun 21 Mar, 15:00 · Sydney Mon 22 Mar, 02:00

    Online from 00:00 JST two weeks before the visit. Sunset slots go first. Source

    Too late? Plan BInstead: Take a daytime slot, or try the counter on the day if slots remain.

15. Date TBAHard rule

    Sumo tournament tickets

    March 2027, Osaka, Edion Arena: Sun 14 Mar 2027–Sun 28 Mar 2027. On-sale date not announced yet.

    General sale at 10:00 JST, five to seven weeks before each 15-day tournament. Official English site: sumo.pia.jp/en. Source

    Too late? Plan BInstead: Official face-value resale, a tour with seats included, or a morning-practice visit.