Tokyo really knows how to end the year in style. December in Japan’s capital is a magical time full of good food, family gatherings, and mesmerizing display of lights. But that’s just the beginning of everything that the city can offer you during this time.

Although we often associate December with winter, in Japan, the month still lingers with a cool and dry autumn. End December is definitely a busy and expensive time to travel around Japan, with many stores close for a few days and people visiting family, but it has nothing to do with Christmas. Christmas isn’t actually a public holiday in Japan, and today it’s more thought of as something for couples, almost like a second Valentine’s Day. It’s easy to see why: in December, Tokyo’s public spaces are always illuminated by thousands of LED lights, turning the city into a romantic dreamland.

But that's not to say Tokyo doesn’t get into a Christmas-like spirit/festive mood/holiday spirit around this time. The oshogatsu period (which roughly starts from December 28 and lasts up to January 5) is a time to visit families, sit back, and enjoy traditional Japanese food known as osechi ryori, which includes food like black soybeans, fish cake, red sea bream, and many more delicacies. With ice-skating and temple holiday events also available, December in Tokyo is a time that you won’t forget easily.

Shibuya has always been a forefront runner for fashion and culture that attracts youth from all generations. With its ever youthfulness, recent years, plans to make Shibuya as the country’s new business and innovation center are underway. Let's look forward to this new side of Shibuya.

The upcoming SHIBUYA FUKURAS complex will open sequentially from November, 2019 where the former Tokyu Plaza, Tokyoite's perennial favorite shopping complex used to stand right next to Shibuya Station. Besides a selection of commercial facilities, it will bring with it three important changes to the entire area. The first one is a new, expanded bus terminal with Airport Limousine bus service running between Shibuya and Haneda and Narita airports. With this, it will become much easier for foreign and domestic tourists to move quickly and easily from the airplane to their accommodations.

Following that, the first floor of SHIBUYA FUKURAS will house an art gallery and a tourist information center which will be named as “shibuya-san” will be stationed with multinational foreign concierges to assist travelers. Besides offering services such as information about tourist spots in the capital, currency exchange, and luggage storage, shibuya-san will exhibit pieces of bold and exciting art that transcends borders, while holding various information on art-related courses. The information center will close at 11pm which means assistance will be within reach for those who love exploring the nightlife of Tokyo.

Finally, on the 17th floor of the building, you’ll find Business Airport Shibuya FUKURAS, a new business workshare area. By opening the space to Japanese and foreign businesses, Business Airport aims to attract new entrepreneurial talent to Shibuya, setting the stage and turning the entire area into Tokyo’s leading commercial hub.
In addition, the new "Tokyu Plaza Shibuya" will also reopen in the commercial zone of the SHIBUYA FUKURAS.

shibuya-san https://shibuyasan.jp/en/

With its unique blend of traditional arts and flashy pop-culture, Tokyo attracts a diverse group of travelers. Tokyo embraces all its visitors with its many niche hotels and other accommodations that suit any style of adventuring, from recreational glamping among Japan’s serene nature at Lake Okutama to keeping it minimal in a cozy capsule hotel in the city.

Being so densely populated, Tokyo uses space very economically, which led to the popularity of capsule hotels. One near Ningyo-cho called hotel zen tokyo offers the full Japanese experience in a small package. Unlike cramped business capsule hotels, the luxurious hotel zen tokyo is surprisingly spacious with minimalistic rooms resembling tea houses and other classic Japanese designs.
It’s easy to forget one of the key purposes of vacationing — relaxation. The borderless concept of Theater Zzz in Sumida seamlessly connects tradition, style, and hospitality. The open, nature-themed hotel offers spaces that act as a theater and traditional tearoom where you can meet new people and truly kick-back while experiencing Japan.

The newly opened Hotel Tavinos in Hamamatsucho allows guests to stay between the pages of Japanese manga. This pop-culture-themed accommodation has a striking visual style that is sure to leave an impact and produce captivating Instagram posts.
Other boutique hotels in Tokyo offer unique experiences like BOOK AND BED TOKYO, where you can curl up with your favorite stories; like that of the guest house toco., Tokyo Heritage Hostel, a refurbished classic Japanese townhouse; and SADOU HOSTEL, which offers a “once in a lifetime experience” near Tokyo’s quaint shitamachi (downtown). Other kinds of accommodations like the unmanned Temple Hotel Shoden-ji use an online check-in service for easy access outside the busy city.

hotel zen tokyo https://www.hotelzen.jp/
Theater Zzz http://theaterzzz.com/index.html (Japanese)
Hotel Tavinos https://hoteltavinos.com/en/
BOOK AND BED TOKYO http://bookandbedtokyo.com/en/index.html
toco. https://backpackersjapan.co.jp/toco/english.html
SADOU HOSTEL https://www.sadouhostel.com/
Temple Hotel Shoden-ji https://oterastay.com/shodenji/en/

As the host of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Tokyo has been working to make the city accessible to anyone who is interested in the stunning beauty and rich culture of Japan. Tokyo is prepared to welcome all guests, but it’s always best to be prepared. Fortunately, the city’s openness to differently-abled individuals and barrier-free tours make exploring Tokyo a comfortable and enjoyable experience.　

Wheelchair Accessible Tours
The one-day barrier-free tour by OMAKASE covers some of Tokyo’s most iconic landmarks, including Asakusa, Shibuya, and Harajuku. Led by an interpreter and professional caretaker, the tour puts convenience first to ensure a smooth journey. Also, be sure to check out the Tokyo Metropolitan Government website for more information on accessible tourist sites and important travel tips.

Accessible Toilets
Many train stations and tourist spots provide wheel-chair friendly and impeccably clean facilities. These accessible toilets are conveniently wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs, families with small children, and those with an accompanying caretaker. These toilets, along with most others in the city, also feature easy-to-use bidet toilet with simple button controls.

Universal Design Room
Wheelchair accessible accommodations are available, even in the confined spaces of Tokyo. Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo offers spacious rooms equipped with bathrooms with safety bars and non-slip mats, closets with an adjustable bar for easy use, and, electronical reclining beds. Other features such as a panel near the headboard to control curtains, lights, and more are all part of Keio Plaza Hotel’s mission to create a barrier-free environment for all guests.

Tokyo accessible tourism portal website
http://www.sangyo-rodo.metro.tokyo.jp/tourism/accessible-tourism-tokyo/en/

OMAKASE
https://omakase-tour.com/tours/barrier-free/one-day-barrier-free-tokyo-tour-for-wheelchair-users.html

Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo https://www.keioplaza.com/rooms/universal.html
Contact: Marketing & PR keiko-kawashima@keioplaza.co.jp

The futuristic Ariake and Toyosu areas are located near Odaiba on an artificial island in Tokyo bay. Known for its exciting views of the city’s skyline and famous Tokyo landmarks like Tokyo Tower, TOKYO SKYTREE®, and Rainbow Bridge, these areas host a variety of educational museums, shopping malls, scenic bridges, imaginative architecture, and sports centers. And also, Ariake area is the main venue of Tokyo Bay zone for the Tokyo 2020 Games. After 2020, this arena will become a new sporting and cultural center in Tokyo.

The Olympic games Tokyo 2020 indoor Volleyball event and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Game’s Wheelchair Basketball event which will be held in the new Ariake Arena, is scheduled for completion in December, 2019. In addition, this waterfront sports area includes the Ariake Tennis Park, Tatsumi Water Polo Centre, and the Olympic Aquatics Centre. The 10,000 seat Ariake Coliseum in Ariake Tennis Park is also a venue that hosts a variety of spectacular events. Such events include the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Tennis events and the Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis events. For a bit more action, the 48 tennis courts on the beautifully groomed lawn are open for enthusiasts to take a swing and playing tennis.

One of the largest fish market in the world since 1935, Tsukiji Fish Market, has attracted visitors from around the world with its exciting atmosphere and fresh seafood. However, the market has recently migrated to a much larger facility in Toyosu, located on a man-made island near Odaiba, and taken schools of hungry tourists with it. You can see the market in action between 5am-5pm. It is highly recommended to see the market in action early morning. It’s easy to get there by taking the Yurikamome Line to Shijomae Station, but since the Yurikamome Line doesn't begin running until about 5:30am, you'll need to use a different transportation if you wish to arrive at the market when it opens.　Be sure to catch the exciting tuna auction and try some delicious food in the restaurants within the complex.

Tokyo Ariake Arena https://www.ariake-arena.tokyo

https://www.2020games.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/eng/taikaijyunbi/taikai/kaijyou/kaijyou_07/index.html

Though it may come as a surprise to some, many museums and art galleries in Tokyo keep their doors open late and have extended hours during certain seasons or on weekends. This practice makes it easy for visitors to get acquainted with art all around the city even after the sun has gone down. Included among these art spaces are Haretara Sora ni Mame Maite and The Artcomplex Center of Tokyo which both have opening hours that extend into the evening. Some places like The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo even offer special programs and tours just for night visitors.

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo https://www.momat.go.jp/english/am/