Public Holidays in Japan
Statutory public holidays in Japan, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Japan at a glance
Japan has sixteen national public holidays set by law, one of the most generous calendars in the developed world. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes a substitute holiday.
Golden Week in late April and early May, Obon in August and the New Year period are the three biggest travel peaks, when transport and hotels sell out months ahead.
Japan public holidays 2026
Japan has 18 public holidays in 2026 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| Coming of Age Day | Jan 12Mon | National |
| Foundation Day | Feb 11Wed | National |
| Emperor's Birthday | Feb 23Mon | National |
| Vernal Equinox Day | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Showa Day | Apr 29Wed | National |
| Constitution Day | May 3Sun | National |
| Greenery Day | May 4Mon | National |
| Children's Day | May 5Tue | National |
| Constitution Day (substituted) | May 6Wed | Substitute |
| Marine Day | Jul 20Mon | National |
| Mountain Day | Aug 11Tue | National |
Showing 12 of 18 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Japan
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Japan.
Tokyo
The world's largest metropolis, where shrine quiet sits minutes from neon districts.
Kyoto
Japan's classical capital of wooden temples, zen gardens and geisha districts.
Osaka
A lively merchant city known as the nation's kitchen, with a famously direct humour.
Sapporo
A Hokkaido city of beer, ramen, snow festivals and mountain trails.
Hiroshima
A city rebuilt after 1945, with the Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima nearby.
Nara
Japan's first permanent capital, where deer roam among great Buddhist temples.
Top attractions in Japan
The places that draw most visitors to Japan.
Mount Fuji
The country's sacred symmetrical volcano, climbed in summer and photographed year-round.
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Thousands of vermilion torii gates climbing a wooded mountainside.
Kinkaku-ji
The Golden Pavilion, a three-storey pavilion clad in gold leaf over a mirror pond.
Itsukushima Shrine
A shrine whose torii gate appears to float on the tide at Miyajima.
Todai-ji
A vast wooden hall housing one of the world's largest bronze Buddha statues.
Shirakawa-go
A mountain village of steep thatched gassho-zukuri farmhouses.
Festivals, food and getting around Japan
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
January 1 Bank Holiday
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
January 2 Bank Holiday
Falls on Jan 2
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🎉
January 3 Bank Holiday
Falls on Jan 3
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🎉
Coming of Age Day
Falls on Jan 12
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🎉
Setsubun
Falls on Feb 3
Food & drink
Getting around
The Shinkansen is the fastest way between cities; a Japan Rail Pass pays off for multi-city trips, but reserve seats around Golden Week and Obon.
Travelling around Japan’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Japan tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
Japan's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
Japan public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Japan have?
Japan has 18 public holidays in 2026, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Japan is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Japan's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, Japan typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Japan?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Japan?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Japan
The school year runs April to March and is formally divided by MEXT, but exact dates are set by each municipal board of education. Dates below are the official Nakano Ward (Tokyo) Board of Education calendar; Tokyo's 23 wards follow near-identical schedules.
2026
| Region | Holiday | Starts | Ends | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Summer break | 21 Jul 2026 | 31 Aug 2026 | official page |
| Tokyo | Autumn break | 10 Oct 2026 | 12 Oct 2026 | official page |
| Tokyo | Winter breakRuns into early January 2027. | 26 Dec 2026 | 7 Jan 2027 | official page |
2027
| Region | Holiday | Starts | Ends | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Spring breakEnd of the 2026 academic year; the new term begins 6 April 2027. | 26 Mar 2027 | 31 Mar 2027 | official page |
Official sources: Nakano Ward Board of Education (Tokyo) - official 2026 school event calendar (checked 10 Sep 2026) · Setagaya Ward Board of Education (Tokyo) - Reiwa 8 school terms (checked 10 Sep 2026)
School term dates in Japan
Term dates below are the periods when classes are in session.
2026
| Region | Term | Starts | Ends | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Term 1 (first semester) | 6 Apr 2026 | 9 Oct 2026 | official page |
| Tokyo | Term 2 (second semester) | 13 Oct 2026 | 25 Mar 2027 | official page |
Official sources: Nakano Ward Board of Education (Tokyo) - official 2026 school event calendar (checked 10 Sep 2026) · Setagaya Ward Board of Education (Tokyo) - Reiwa 8 school terms (checked 10 Sep 2026)
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.