In Japan, there are 16 public holidays set each year. Additionally, due to the special rules surrounding holidays, there are cases where non-holiday days become holidays. It’s important to be aware of this when planning trips or business trips, as some holidays may not be supported by features like Google Calendar’s holiday function.
It affects various aspects such as work holidays, the operating hours of airplanes, buses, and trains, as well as the level of congestion in restaurants (ease of making reservations).
The calendar provided by Japan Business Platform allows you to import only Japan’s holidays into your own calendar, please click here.
List of National Holidays in Japan
| Day | Name | Name in Japanese | Note |
| January 1 | New Year’s Day | 元日（がんじつ、Ganjitsu） | Celebrates the beginning of the year. |
| Second Monday of January | Coming of Age Day | 成人の日（せいじんのひ、Seijin-no-hi） | Celebrates and encourages young people who have reached adulthood. |
| February 11 | National Foundation Day | 建国記念の日（けんこくきねんのひ、Kenkoku-kinen-no-hi） | Commemorates the founding of the nation and fosters a love for the country. |
| February 23 | Emperor’s Birthday | 天皇誕生日（てんのうたんじょうび、Tennō Tanjōbi） | Celebrates the birthday of the Emperor. |
| Day of the Vernal Equinox (March 20 or 21) | Vernal Equinox Day | 春分の日（しゅんぶんのひ、Shunbun-no-hi） | Praises nature and cherishes living things. |
| April 29 | Showa Day | 昭和の日（しょうわのひ、Shōwa-no-hi） | Reflects on the Showa Era, a period of recovery after turbulent times, and considers the future of the country. |
| May 3 | Constitution Memorial Day | 憲法記念日（けんぽうきねんび、Kenpō-kinenbi） | Commemorates the enactment of the Constitution of Japan and hopes for the growth of the nation. |
| May 4 | Greenery Day | みどりの日（みどりのひ、Midori-no-hi） | Celebrates nature, expresses gratitude for its blessings, and nurtures a rich spirit. |
| May 5 | Children’s Day | こどもの日（こどものひ、Kodomo-no-hi） | Respects children’s personalities, promotes their happiness, and expresses gratitude to mothers. |
| Third Monday of July | Marine Day | 海の日（うみのひ、Umi-no-hi） | Expresses gratitude for the blessings of the sea and wishes for the prosperity of Japan as a maritime nation. |
| August 11 | Mountain Day | 山の日（やまのひ、Yama-no-hi） | Provides opportunities to get familiar with mountains and expresses gratitude for their blessings. |
| Third Monday of September | Respect for the Aged Day | 敬老の日（けいろうのひ、Keirō-no-hi） | Respects the elderly who have contributed to society over many years and celebrates their long lives. |
| Day of the Autumnal Equinox(September 22, 23 or 24) | Autumnal Equinox Day | 秋分の日（しゅうぶんのひ、Shūbun-no-hi） | Respects ancestors and commemorates the deceased. |
| Second Monday of October | Sports Day | スポーツの日（スポーツのひ、Supōtsu-no-hi） | Encourages the enjoyment of sports, fosters a spirit of respect for others, and aims for a healthy and active society. |
| November 3 | Culture Day | 文化の日（ぶんかのひ、Bunka-no-hi） | Loves freedom and peace, and promotes culture. |
| November 23 | Labor Thanksgiving Day | 勤労感謝の日（きんろうかんしゃのひ、Kinrō-kansha-no-hi） | Honors labor, celebrates production, and expresses mutual gratitude among the people. |
Special Rules for National (Public) Holiday in Japan
In Japan, there are rules regarding the setting of holidays.
- When a “national holiday” falls on a Sunday, the closest non-holiday following that day shall be designated as a holiday.
- A day (that is not a national holiday) between two “national holidays” shall also be designated as a holiday.
The calendar provided by Japan Business Platform allows you to import only Japan’s holidays into your own calendar, please click here.
Annual Events to Note
In Japan, there are seasons when people mainly take time off work even if they are not officially designated as holidays. This could be useful when planning business trips.
| Day | Name | Name in Japanese | Note |
| December 29 to January 3 | New Year’s Holiday Season | 年末年始（ねんまつねんし、Nenmatsu Nenshi） | A period where businesses and schools typically close to celebrate the New Year. |
| Late April to early May | Golden Week | ゴールデンウィーク（Golden Week） | A series of consecutive holidays, making it one of the busiest travel seasons in Japan. |
| August 13 to 15 or 16 | Obon | お盆（おぼん、Obon） | A time when people return to their hometowns to honor their ancestors. |
National public servants in regular service are granted year-end and New Year holidays as follows.
The Act Partially Amending the Act on Salaries of Regular Service Employees and Other Related Laws Article 14: Employees shall not be required to work during regular working hours on holidays as defined by the Act on National Holidays (Act No. 178 of 1948), except for those who are specifically ordered to work. The same applies to the days from December 29th to January 3rd of the following year (excluding holidays defined by the aforementioned Act on National Holidays, hereinafter referred to as ‘Year-End and New Year Holidays’).
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