The New Year's holiday season is one of the rare occasions when the hustle and bustle of Tokyo comes to a temporary halt as dwellers of the metropolis leave in droves.

It's a time when those left behind get to enjoy a relatively quiet spell in the capital.

For such people, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will open seven facilities on Jan. 2 and 3 that are usually closed during the yearend and New Year periods.

Metro officials said they decided to open them following the unexpectedly large number of visitors to Ueno Zoo when it was opened on the same dates this year as a special millennium event. The 53,000 people who turned up was double the regular weekend crowd, the officials said.

The following is a list of metro-run facilities that will open on Jan. 2 and 3. Admission is free for those younger than junior high school age and those 65 and over.

Hamarikyu Gardens is a typical Edo-style garden that features a seawater pond and two duck-hunting areas. It was built in the late 1660s and designated a national special scenic and historic spot in 1952.

Its seawater pond is the only one in Tokyo, taking in water-flows from Tokyo Bay.

During the two days, a falconer will perform and artisans will demonstrate traditional Edo crafts.

Admission is 300 yen for adults as well as junior high and high school students.

The garden, which is a 15-minute walk from JR Shimbashi Station, will open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., with the entrance gate closing at 4:30 p.m.

Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens was erected on the rolling Koishikawa hills in the early Edo Period in a Chinese fashion.

Located beside the Tokyo Dome, the garden offers an otherworldly atmosphere with colorful foliage and the refreshing sound of water running through brooks.

The garden, which has been designated a national cultural asset, is the only one in Tokyo that has a rice field. Local schoolchildren plant rice seedlings in May and harvest them in September.

The garden is an eight-minute walk from JR Iidabashi Station and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the entrance gate closing at 4:30 p.m. Admission is 300 yen for adults as well as junior high and high school students.

Rikugien Gardens was built in the middle of the Edo Period by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu, a close aide to Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi.

A fine, sober Japanese garden, it is said to reflect Yanagisawa's profound knowledge of literature.

In the garden, large trees were planted in an artistic fashion to create a sense of harmony, and visitors can find an oasis from city life here.

Many wild birds also revel in its beauty. They include bamboo partridges, bush warblers, white eyes and great tits.

Like the two gardens above, visitors will be able to sample barreled sake from bamboo cups during the two days.

The garden will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the entrance gate closing at 4:30 p.m. Admission is 300 yen for adults as well as junior high and high school students.

It is a five-minute walk from JR Komagome Station.

Ueno Zoological Gardens opened in 1882 and is the oldest zoo in Japan. It keeps 1,731 animals of 366 species. It has recently been working to preserve and breed rare species.

The zoo opens at 9:30 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m., with the entrance gate closing at 4 p.m. Admission is 600 yen for adults and high school students and 200 yen for junior high students.

It is a five-minute walk from JR Ueno Station.

Tama Zoological Park is about four times the size of Ueno zoo. Taking advantage of its hilly location, the zoo exhibits animals such as lions and chimpanzees in situations close to their natural habitat.

The zoo opens at 9:30 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m., with the entrance gate closing at 4 p.m. Admission is 600 yen for adults and high school students and 200 yen for junior high students.

It is located near Tamadobutsukoen Station on the Keio Line.

Kasai Rinkai Sea Life Park was opened in 1988 and exhibits 62,000 animals of 540 species. The aquarium is the world's first such facility to exhibit a school of tuna.

It opens from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the entrance gate closing at 4 p.m. Admission is 700 yen for adults and high school students and 250 yen for junior high students.

It is a five-minute walk from JR Kasairinkaikoen Station.

Jindai Botanical Gardens opened in 1961 as the first botanical garden in Tokyo. The 46-hectare garden has some 100,000 plants of 4,500 varieties. During the New Year season, visitors can enjoy the beauty of the winter peony.

The garden opens at 9:30 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m., with the entrance gate closing at 4 p.m. Admission is 500 yen for adults and high school students and 200 yen for junior high students.

Take the Jindaishokubutsukoen-bound bus from Chofu Station on the Keio Line.