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The following is a table of Japan’s national holidays observed every year.
| DATE | NAME OF HOLIDAY | DESCRIPTION |
| 1 January | New Year’s Day
(Ganjitsu) |
A celebration of the start of Japan’s New Year season or Shogatsu (consists of the first one, three, or seven days of the new year) |
| Second Monday of January | Coming of Age Day
(Seijin no Hi) |
A holiday dedicated to men and women who have reached the age of 20 years (Japan’s age of maturity) during the year |
| 11 February | Foundation Day
(Kenkoku Kinen no Hi) |
A holiday established to commemorate the ascension to the throne of the first Japanese emperor in 660 BC |
| 20 March | Vernal Equinox Day (Shunbun no Hi) | A day devoted for the appreciation of all living things |
| 29 April | Showa Day
(Showa no Hi) |
A holiday established to honor Emperor Showa of the Showa Period who died in 1989 |
| 3 May | Constitution Memorial Day (Kenpo Kinenbi) | A day of commemoration for the effective date of the postwar constitution of Japan |
| 4 May | Greenery Day (Midori no Hi) | To show gratitude for all the blessings nature has brought to the country |
| 5 May | Children’s Day
(Kodomo no Hi) |
Established in 1948, this day is also known as the “boy’s festival”, where families pray and ask for good health and future for their sons through samurai doll displays and carp streamers |
| Third Monday of July | Marine Day
(Umi no Hi) |
A holiday established to thank the oceans for all the blessings and to wish for a more bountiful marine habitat |
| 11 August | Mountain Day
(Yama no Hi) |
For the appreciation for all the mountains in Japan |
| Third Monday of September | Respect for the Aged Day (Keiro no Hi) | Started in 1966 to pay tribute to the elderly and the value of long life |
| 23 September | Autumnal Equinox Day (Shubun no Hi) | A day to remember the dead and remember the ancestors |
| Second Monday of October | Health and Sports Day (Taiiku no Hi) | A holiday dedicated to the enjoyment of various sports and promote the importance of a healthy body and mind |
| 3 November | Culture Day
(Bunka no Hi) |
The anniversary of the announcement of Japan’s Constitution and a celebration of culture, freedom, and peace in the country |
| 23 November | Labour Thanksgiving Day (Kinro Kansha no Hi) | To honour the significance of production and labour, as well as to express gratitude to one’s fellow men |
| 23 December | The Emperor’s Birthday (Tenno Tanjobi) | A day to celebrate reigning Emperor Akihito’s date of birth, 23 December 1933 |
Notes:
With tourism at record levels, Japan’s own holiday peaks are now the difference between a pleasant trip and a squeeze. Golden Week, the run of holidays from late April into early May, is the big one: trains sell out, hotels double in price and the famous sights heave. Obon in mid August and the New Year period do the same. None of this makes travel impossible, but book everything early if your dates overlap, or better, shift your trip a week either side and enjoy the same weather with half the elbows. The upside of a holiday overlap is atmosphere: koinobori carp streamers in May and the homecoming buzz of Obon are Japan at its most festive.
Ensure you get the most out of your trip to the land of the rising sun with our comprehensive 249-page Japan Travel Guide.