How to move during the Holidays? – Christmas edition

If you decide to move during the holidays, consider where you are planning to move. Relocating your family during the winter has its difficulties, so be ready in advance. With this being said, this doesn’t mean that you will necessarily have any issues during your move. It is just a good practice always to be ready. Whether you are moving from Toronto to Japan or vice versa, you can expect cold weather. Moving during the holidays is often accompanied by heavy traffic since everyone is going somewhere. This is why we urge you to be ready for any situation possible.

Time to be with your family

Christmas is the time to be with your family. Even if you are moving abroad, you have to keep the holiday spirit up. This can be quite difficult if you are packing and preparing for a move. There is not much time to enjoy with your loved ones if you are busy over making arrangements for the move.
One of the reasons why you should hire a professional moving company might be to save time so you could be with your family. Your move during the holidays will be much easier if you don’t have to think about every little detail.

Move to Japan with the best

If you are planning to move during the holidays to Japan, there are a couple of things that you should know. Last week of December and the first week of January are the busiest time of the year. Planning your move before or after this period would be smart. Our best advice is to go with Kokusai Express Japan.
As one of the best moving companies in the business, they offer a wide range of services. Whether you are in need of international moving, cargo transportation, logistics or storage units, Kokusai Express Japan is here to deliver. With office locations in Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Haneda, and Kobe, including the main headquarters, you can choose any destination you desire.
One of the great options on the website is the moving estimate over video survey. Whether you are moving from 1 room or 4+ rooms, you have the option to show your place over the video chat. Moving estimate has never been this easy.

What to expect when moving to Japan during the holidays

Know that Japanese people do not celebrate Christmas the same way like in the US. Since it is not a Japanese holiday, they work as usual, and schools are open unless Christmas falls on the weekend. This is why moving to Japan during Christmas is not so bad as one might think.
Nevertheless, Christmas is still celebrated in Japan, mostly as a romantic holiday for couples. Japanese people are very spiritual and family oriented, so expect for streets to be empty during the holidays. However, shrines and temples are extremely busy. They use the holidays to focus on life and spirituality.
Japan is quite cold during the winter. Still, know that the December is not as cold as you would think. It reminiscences of fall more than winter, so you can expect dry weather without snow. Pack your usual winter clothes and bring earmuffs or a warm hat to protect from the wind. Also, pay special attention if you are moving with pets during the winter.

Events in Japan

There are many festivals in Japan during the year, but there are three main events during December:

• Chichibu Yomatsuri
• Sanpoji Daikon Festival
• Akou Gishisai

Chichibu Yomatsuri is on the December 2nd, and it a night festival. You can see floats lit by lanterns pulled through the town.
Sanpoji Daikon Festival is during the December 9th – 10th. It happens in Kyoto, and it is dedicated to daikon radish that becomes available during the fall. This is the main festival food, and all people eat boiled radish during the celebration.
Akou Gishisai is celebrated on the December 14th, and it is a memorial to 47 ronin who committed suicide to avenge their master. You can see fantastic warrior parades and traditional dance.

Keeping Christmas cheer

Move during the holidays should be happy and cheerful. Still, if you are packing and movers are strolling in and out of your home it is somewhat hard to keep the Christmas spirit up. There is no time for Christmas tree or a family lunch. However, there are ways that you keep the festive atmosphere on.
Find a few holiday decorations that can move with you. Something easy and small that you don’t have unpack and re-pack for the move. Everyone will be delighted and happy, which is especially crucial at this time.
Your move is a happy occasion, but holidays can make you sad sometimes. You can feel homesick, and keeping the cheer up when you move during the holidays is the number one task. Your relocation should be enjoyable at all times.
You can also take your family to dinner in a restaurant. It will be much easier than to cook at home if all of your kitchenware is already in moving boxes.

Another bright idea is to take your Christmas celebration on the road with you. Search for any hotels or motels that have Christmas events or dinners. That is an excellent way to stay a part of the celebration.
One of our final advice is to explore your new town during Christmas. If you are already there, it can be a bit depressing to be in a new city during the holidays. Nonetheless, there is no reason to be unhappy. Spend some time meeting locals and find out how are they spending Christmas, and that can turn into an adventure!

Move during the Holidays made easy!

We genuinely hope that you will find this small guide useful. There is no reason not to celebrate even if you decide to move during the holidays. There is not much more to say, but have a happy and safe moving, and have a Mary Christmas!