Tsushima Island: Obon Closures & August 2026 Travel Tips
Heading to Tsushima Island in August 2026? Don't get caught off guard! Learn about Obon restaurant and store closures, and how to plan for an amazing trip.
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Heading to Tsushima Island in August 2026? Don't get caught off guard! Learn about Obon restaurant and store closures, and how to plan for an amazing trip.
Gwangbokjeol Holiday Tsushima Island Travel Precautions Restaurant Closure Information for Obon Festival, August 15th to 20th © Text & Photos by Ms. Oh Rai |
Are you planning a trip to Tsushima Island during the Gwangbokjeol long weekend?
If you're envisioning a journey during this time,
there's something crucial you absolutely must consider.
And that's restaurant operating information!
During this period, many people travel back to their hometowns
to spend cherished time with their families.
Because of this, from August 13th to 20th,
a significant number of restaurants will be closed.
It's not just restaurants; even supermarkets
might have reduced hours or be closed entirely.
So, if you're planning a Tsushima Island adventure during the Gwangbokjeol long weekend,
don't just prepare a list of places to see.
You'll also need to check restaurant closures and even pack some emergency food supplies.
Wondering where to get this information?
Don't worry, I'll break it down for you!
01. Planning a Tsushima Island Trip for the Gwangbokjeol Long Weekend? Start by Checking Restaurants!
Tsushima Island is conveniently close to Busan,
making it a popular Japanese destination many travelers visit by ferry.
Typically, when you're preparing for a trip to Tsushima,
Tsushima Ferry Tickets
Tsushima Accommodation
Tsushima Car Rental
Tsushima Must-Try Restaurants
Tsushima Travel Itineraries
These are usually the first things you look up.
However, if you're planning your Tsushima trip for August 15th to 20th, 2026,
you absolutely need to add one more thing to your checklist.
And that's checking Tsushima restaurant closures!
That's because this period overlaps with Japan's Obon (お盆) holiday.
The Obon period in Japan for 2026
is from August 13th to August 16th.
As a result, many local restaurants
will be closed around the Obon period.
02. What Exactly is Japan's Obon Period, and Why Do Restaurants Close?
Obon is a traditional holiday period in Japan where people honor their ancestors
and families spend time together.
While it's not exactly the same concept as Korea's Chuseok,
it shares similarities in that families visit their hometowns
and spend time together.
Therefore, during this period, many people return to their hometowns,
and depending on the region, restaurants and shops
might operate on different schedules than usual.
Tsushima Island is no exception.
Particularly, privately-run local restaurants
often take a few days off for Obon.
So, don't assume that a restaurant you saw praised as a must-try
in regular Tsushima travel reviews will automatically be open this time.
In fact, looking at the restaurant operating schedule provided this time,
a significant number of places are closed
on August 15th and 16th.
03. Expect Especially Many Tsushima Restaurant Closures on August 15th!
If I had to pick the dates you need to pay the most attention to
during your Tsushima trip over the Gwangbokjeol long weekend,
I'd say it's August 15th and 16th.
This is because these days fall right in the middle of the Obon period.
Just looking at the Izuhara area,
there are quite a few restaurants that will be closed.
For instance:
Haccho is listed as closed from August 13th to 16th,
and Tsushinyan Kitchen is also closed during the same period.
Otako is closed from August 14th to 16th,
while Izakaya Meshiya and Izakaya Issha are also marked as closed from August 14th to 16th.
But there's an even more surprising case!
Senkintan is listed as closed from August 15th to 23rd.
This means some places aren't just taking a short break on August 15th;
there are businesses closed for a whopping nine days!
So, for those staying on Tsushima Island from August 15th to 20th,
don't just assume, "Obon ends on the 16th, so everything should be fine from the 17th onward."
04. Traveling from August 17th? Checking is Still Essential!
If your travel dates are from August 17th to 20th,
you might think it's fine since the Obon period has ended.
Since each restaurant has different closing periods,
some places are still closed even after the 17th.
For example, Rokakudo in Izuhara
is separately marked as closed not only on August 15th-16th,
but also on August 17th.
As mentioned earlier,
Senkintan will be closed until August 23rd.
So, for your Tsushima trip during this Liberation Day long weekend,
Travelers on August 15th → Please pay extra attention
Travelers on August 16th → Please pay extra attention
Travelers on August 17th-20th → Check each restaurant individually
You can think of it this way.
05. Izuhara Isn't the Only Place to Check!
Tsushima is a long, stretched-out island,
so the restaurants you'll find vary by the region you're exploring.
In this guide, we'll cover not only Izuhara
but also Mitsushima, Toyotama, Mine, Kamiagata,
Kamitsushima, and other areas.
We'll compile restaurant operating hours for each of these regions
right here for you.
Over in Mitsushima, the Soba Dojo Mitsushima branch is
listed as closed from August 13th to 16th, and
Tsushimatei Sato is also taking a break from August 13th to 16th.
Moving on to Toyotama,
Yoshiei will be closed from August 12th to 15th, and
Anagotei is
scheduled to be closed from August 13th-16th, then open on the 17th-18th
as announced.
If you're heading north to Kamitsushima and
planning to eat there, it's the same story.
Tsushima Restaurant Hotel Plaza is
closed from August 14th-16th,
and Fisherman's Restaurant Tachibana is
announced as closed from August 12th-15th.
06. Don't Forget to Check Hitakatsu's Hotspots in Advance!
Since many people enter Tsushima through Hitakatsu Port,
and often eat lunch there
before moving on, it's good to know that
the Hitakatsu area also
has restaurants closed during the Obon period.
Yae Restaurant is
announced as closed on August 15th and 16th,
Café AMASE, on the other hand,
is indicated as closed from August 13th to 16th.
On the other hand, MADO Hitakatsu,
CHINGUYA Hitakatsu,
TSUSHIMA CAFÉ, Marufuku Ramen, and more,
are all indicated as operating normally during this period.
With more places closed than usual,
it's super important to confirm the operating hours
of any restaurant you plan to visit in advance.
07. And Now, a Truly Important Tsushima Travel Tip!
But wait, there's more!
For those of you planning a trip to Tsushima during this period,
there's one crucial tip I absolutely want to share.
It's this: make sure to stock up on food from convenience stores
and supermarkets in advance.
"If restaurants are closed, I'll just eat at a convenience store!"
It's easy to think that, right?
And many people actually do that.
But here's the catch: during Obon,
with so many restaurants closed,
people will naturally flock to convenience stores and supermarkets,
meaning food items can sell out much faster than you'd expect.
If restaurants are closed, and you think
you'll just pop to a convenience store in the evening, you might be too late!
"Let's just grab something to eat from the convenience store!"
But imagine going to a convenience store late in the evening,
and finding all the lunchboxes and easy meals are already sold out?
If you face a situation like this while traveling,
it would certainly be a huge hassle and quite frustrating!
Especially if it's a family trip with kids,
this is even more true.
If you find out that a restaurant
you planned to visit during your trip
is closed, make sure to stop by
a supermarket or convenience store beforehand to buy food.
If your accommodation has a refrigerator or microwave,
it would be great to make use of them.
Preparing simple breakfast items, late-night snacks,
or easy meals for when restaurants are closed
will make you feel much more at ease.
08. Tsushima Trip During Gwangbokjeol Holiday: A List of Great Restaurants Isn't Enough
If you're visiting during this period, I recommend preparing not just a 'Tsushima Must-Try Restaurants' list,
but also an 'Emergency Meal List'.
1st Priority
Tsushima Restaurant you wanted to visit
↓
2nd Priority
Alternative restaurants operating in the same area
↓
3rd Priority
Food purchased in advance from a supermarket or convenience store
If you prepare like this,
even if a restaurant unexpectedly closes,
you can handle it much more smoothly.
Tsushima isn't a place with many restaurants
like a big city, so
if one restaurant is closed,
finding the next one right away isn't easy.
It's best to find restaurants that are open
along your travel route in advance.
09. Before Traveling to Tsushima from August 15-20, Check This!
If you're heading to Tsushima during this Gwangbokjeol holiday period,
be sure to check restaurant closures before you depart.
In case the restaurant you plan to visit is closed,
find alternative restaurants in the same area in advance.
If you can't find an alternative restaurant, check where
supermarkets and convenience stores are
around your accommodation in advance.
If you plan to buy food from a supermarket or convenience store,
make sure to buy it quickly.
Even with just this much preparation,
you'll significantly reduce the chances of being flustered by mealtime issues during your trip.
10. Final Thoughts
If you're planning a trip to Tsushima
from August 15th to 20th,
be sure to check the restaurant operating status when you're making your plans.
I'll attach a file with more detailed information,
so be sure to download and check it.
However, schedules may change without prior notice
due to store circumstances.
If you're planning a Tsushima trip from August 15-20,
save this post!
And if you have friends going to Tsushima
during the Gwangbokjeol holiday, be sure to share this with them.
Get 10% off reliable data roaming in Tsushima ↓↓↓↓
According to the article, August 15th and 16th fall in the middle of the Obon period during the Gwangbokjeol holiday trip to Tsushima Island, so many restaurants are expected to be closed. After August 17th, closure periods may vary by restaurant, so individual confirmation is recommended.
Obon is a traditional holiday in Japan where families honor their ancestors and return to their hometowns to spend time together. During this period, many people travel back home, and local, independently operated restaurants often close for several days to observe Obon.
According to the article, Senkintan in the Izuhara area is announced to be closed from August 15th to August 23rd. This corresponds to a 9-day closure period.
During the Obon period, since many restaurants are closed, people tend to flock to convenience stores and supermarkets, leading to food items selling out faster than usual. If you go to a convenience store late in the evening, bentos and instant meals might already be sold out, so it's advisable to purchase them in advance.
During this period, it is recommended to prepare a prioritized list: 1st priority for Tsushima Island restaurants you wanted to visit, 2nd for alternative restaurants operating in the same area, and 3rd for food purchased in advance from supermarkets or convenience stores. It is best to find restaurants that are open along your travel route beforehand.
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