Public holidays in Japan
Japan has sixteen public holidays. The dates on this page are calculated each year, including the ones that move to a Monday, the equinoxes that shift with astronomy, substitute days when a holiday falls on a Sunday, and the weekdays that become holidays by being caught between two of them.
- 1/1 New Year's Day元日The start of the year. New Year is the biggest holiday season in Japan.
- 1/12 Coming of Age Day成人の日For those reaching adulthood. Ceremonies are held in every city.
- 2/11 National Foundation Day建国記念の日A day to reflect on the founding of the nation, dated from an ancient chronicle.
- 2/23 the Emperor's Birthday天皇誕生日The reigning emperor's birthday. The date changes when the throne passes.
- 3/20 Vernal Equinox Day春分の日A day for nature and living things. It falls in the middle of the equinox week.
- 4/29 Showa Day昭和の日A day to look back on the Showa era. It was the Showa emperor's birthday.
- 5/3 Constitution Memorial Day憲法記念日The day the postwar constitution took effect, in 1947.
- 5/4 Greenery Dayみどりの日A day for nature, placed in the middle of the spring holiday run.
- 5/5 Children's Dayこどもの日A day for children's happiness, on the same date as the old Boys' Festival.
- 5/6 a substitute holiday for Constitution Memorial Day振替休日A substitute day off, because a holiday fell on a Sunday.
- 7/20 Marine Day海の日A day of thanks for the sea, for a country surrounded by it.
- 8/11 Mountain Day山の日A day for mountains. It began in 2016 and is the newest holiday.
- 9/21 Respect for the Aged Day敬老の日A day to honor older people and celebrate long life.
- 9/22 a public holiday between Respect for the Aged Day and Autumnal Equinox Day国民の休日A weekday sandwiched between two holidays also becomes a day off.
- 9/23 Autumnal Equinox Day秋分の日A day to honor ancestors, in the middle of the autumn equinox week.
- 10/12 Sports Dayスポーツの日A day for sport. It was renamed from Health and Sports Day in 2020.
- 11/3 Culture Day文化の日A day for freedom, peace and culture. The constitution was promulgated on this date.
- 11/23 Labor Thanksgiving Day勤労感謝の日A day to value work, celebrate production and give thanks to one another.
2027
- 1/1 New Year's Day元日The start of the year. New Year is the biggest holiday season in Japan.
- 1/11 Coming of Age Day成人の日For those reaching adulthood. Ceremonies are held in every city.
- 2/11 National Foundation Day建国記念の日A day to reflect on the founding of the nation, dated from an ancient chronicle.
- 2/23 the Emperor's Birthday天皇誕生日The reigning emperor's birthday. The date changes when the throne passes.
- 3/21 Vernal Equinox Day春分の日A day for nature and living things. It falls in the middle of the equinox week.
- 3/22 a substitute holiday for Vernal Equinox Day振替休日A substitute day off, because a holiday fell on a Sunday.
- 4/29 Showa Day昭和の日A day to look back on the Showa era. It was the Showa emperor's birthday.
- 5/3 Constitution Memorial Day憲法記念日The day the postwar constitution took effect, in 1947.
- 5/4 Greenery Dayみどりの日A day for nature, placed in the middle of the spring holiday run.
- 5/5 Children's Dayこどもの日A day for children's happiness, on the same date as the old Boys' Festival.
- 7/19 Marine Day海の日A day of thanks for the sea, for a country surrounded by it.
- 8/11 Mountain Day山の日A day for mountains. It began in 2016 and is the newest holiday.
- 9/20 Respect for the Aged Day敬老の日A day to honor older people and celebrate long life.
- 9/23 Autumnal Equinox Day秋分の日A day to honor ancestors, in the middle of the autumn equinox week.
- 10/11 Sports Dayスポーツの日A day for sport. It was renamed from Health and Sports Day in 2020.
- 11/3 Culture Day文化の日A day for freedom, peace and culture. The constitution was promulgated on this date.
- 11/23 Labor Thanksgiving Day勤労感謝の日A day to value work, celebrate production and give thanks to one another.
The equinox holidays are set astronomically and are officially announced the previous February. This page calculates them with an approximation, so distant years may differ from the official announcement.