Japan Public Holidays
Japan observes a mix of public, national, and regional holidays throughout the year.
Overview
Japan observes a mix of public, national, and regional holidays throughout the year.
Some holidays are observed nationwide, while others may apply only to specific regions or communities.
Explore the holiday calendar for Japan by year below.
2026 holidays
A quick look at upcoming holidays in Japan.
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Thursday | New Year's Day |
| Jan 12 | Monday | Coming of Age Day |
| Feb 11 | Wednesday | Foundation Day |
| Feb 23 | Monday | The Emperor's Birthday |
| Mar 20 | Friday | Vernal Equinox Day |
| Apr 29 | Wednesday | Shōwa Day |
| May 4 | Monday | Constitution Memorial Day |
| May 4 | Monday | Greenery Day |
| May 5 | Tuesday | Children's Day |
| Jul 20 | Monday | Marine Day |
| Aug 11 | Tuesday | Mountain Day |
| Sep 21 | Monday | Respect for the Aged Day |
| Sep 23 | Wednesday | Autumnal Equinox Day |
| Oct 12 | Monday | Sports Day |
| Nov 3 | Tuesday | Culture Day |
Holiday calendar by year
Years are listed in ascending order.
About public holidays in Japan
HolidayCalendar lists public holidays for Japan by calendar year. From this hub you can open a full year view with every dated entry, or jump to individual holiday pages for more context.
Public holidays (national holidays) are official rest days established under Japanese law when many workplaces and schools close. For how we separate public holidays from awareness observances on this site, see public holidays and country calendars.
Our Japan listing reflects national holidays in our dataset, including movable equinox days and Golden Week entries. Open a year calendar for the full dated list.
Major public holidays in 2026
These are widely recognized anchor holidays in our 2026 Japan calendar. Open each link for dates in other years and related calendar details.
Additional 2026 public holidays in our data include The Emperor's Birthday, Shōwa Day, Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, Mountain Day, Autumnal Equinox Day, Sports Day, and Labour Thanksgiving Day. See the 2026 holiday table for exact dates.
- New Year's Day — 1 January 2026. Opens the calendar year and anchors the New Year period.
- Coming of Age Day — 12 January 2026. Honors young people who reached adulthood in the past year (second Monday in January).
- Foundation Day — 11 February 2026. Commemorates the founding of the nation and the imperial line.
- Vernal Equinox Day — 20 March 2026. A movable national holiday marking the spring equinox.
- Children's Day — 5 May 2026. Closes Golden Week and celebrates children's health and happiness.
- Marine Day — 20 July 2026. Honors the ocean's importance to Japan (third Monday in July).
- Respect for the Aged Day — 21 September 2026. Honors elderly citizens (third Monday in September).
- Culture Day — 3 November 2026. Promotes culture, the arts, and academic endeavor.
Planning around holidays
Use the year calendars on this hub when you schedule time off, travel, or staffing. Pick a year from the buttons above to see every dated public holiday.
- New Year: The first days of January are a major travel and closure period. Check your chosen year calendar for adjacent holidays.
- Golden Week: Late April and early May public holidays often cluster into an extended break. Confirm exact dates on the year view each year.
- Summer: Marine Day and Mountain Day anchor mid-year travel. Movable Monday holidays shift annually.
- Year-end: There is no Christmas public holiday in Japan, but late November holidays and New Year planning still affect domestic travel—confirm on the year calendar.
Plan Your Year Around JP Holidays
View Japan holidays in calendar mode
Explore public holidays in a visual calendar layout and plan ahead more easily.