Public holidays
Japan: 18 public holiday dates in 2026 (18 days off) and 17 in 2027 (17 days off), with 244 working days in 2026 and 245 in 2027. National holidays only: regional ones are not included.
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 1 January 2026 | 2026-W01 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Monday 12 January 2026 | 2026-W03 | Coming of Age Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 11 February 2026 | 2026-W07 | Foundation Day | Yes |
| Monday 23 February 2026 | 2026-W09 | Emperor's Birthday | Yes |
| Friday 20 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Vernal Equinox Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 29 April 2026 | 2026-W18 | Showa Day | Yes |
| Sunday 3 May 2026 | 2026-W18 | Constitution Day | Yes |
| Monday 4 May 2026 | 2026-W19 | Greenery Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 5 May 2026 | 2026-W19 | Children's Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 6 May 2026 | 2026-W19 | Substitute Holiday | Yes |
| Monday 20 July 2026 | 2026-W30 | Marine Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 11 August 2026 | 2026-W33 | Mountain Day | Yes |
| Monday 21 September 2026 | 2026-W39 | Respect for the Aged Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 22 September 2026 | 2026-W39 | National Holiday | Yes |
| Wednesday 23 September 2026 | 2026-W39 | Autumnal Equinox Day | Yes |
| Monday 12 October 2026 | 2026-W42 | Sports Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 3 November 2026 | 2026-W45 | Culture Day | Yes |
| Monday 23 November 2026 | 2026-W48 | Labor Thanksgiving Day | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Monday 11 January 2027 | 2027-W02 | Coming of Age Day | Yes |
| Thursday 11 February 2027 | 2027-W06 | Foundation Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 23 February 2027 | 2027-W08 | Emperor's Birthday | Yes |
| Sunday 21 March 2027 | 2027-W11 | Vernal Equinox Day | Yes |
| Monday 22 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Substitute Holiday | Yes |
| Thursday 29 April 2027 | 2027-W17 | Showa Day | Yes |
| Monday 3 May 2027 | 2027-W18 | Constitution Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 4 May 2027 | 2027-W18 | Greenery Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 5 May 2027 | 2027-W18 | Children's Day | Yes |
| Monday 19 July 2027 | 2027-W29 | Marine Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 11 August 2027 | 2027-W32 | Mountain Day | Yes |
| Monday 20 September 2027 | 2027-W38 | Respect for the Aged Day | Yes |
| Thursday 23 September 2027 | 2027-W38 | Autumnal Equinox Day | Yes |
| Monday 11 October 2027 | 2027-W41 | Sports Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 3 November 2027 | 2027-W44 | Culture Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 23 November 2027 | 2027-W47 | Labor Thanksgiving Day | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Substitute Holiday | Wednesday 6 May 2026 | Monday 22 March 2027 | −45 days, changes month |
| Coming of Age Day | Monday 12 January 2026 | Monday 11 January 2027 | −1 day |
| Vernal Equinox Day | Friday 20 March 2026 | Sunday 21 March 2027 | +1 day |
| Marine Day | Monday 20 July 2026 | Monday 19 July 2027 | −1 day |
| Respect for the Aged Day | Monday 21 September 2026 | Monday 20 September 2027 | −1 day |
| Sports Day | Monday 12 October 2026 | Monday 11 October 2027 | −1 day |
A shift ignores the year: +19 days means 19 days later in the calendar.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20 | 19 | −1 |
| February | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| March | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| April | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| May | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| June | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| July | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| August | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| September | 19 | 20 | +1 |
| October | 21 | 20 | −1 |
| November | 19 | 20 | +1 |
| December | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| Q1 | 59 | 59 | 0 |
| Q2 | 61 | 61 | 0 |
| Q3 | 61 | 62 | +1 |
| Q4 | 63 | 63 | 0 |
| Year | 244 | 245 | +1 |
Weekdays by the local weekend (Sunday and Saturday), minus the public holidays most people have off.
The first day of the calendar year in the Gregorian calendar, 1 January. Cultures and religions that follow a lunisolar or lunar calendar celebrate their New Year at other points of the year. Japan celebrates New Year on 1 January, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, instead of with the Chinese calendar that was in use until 1873.
At work: Fine to mention, and a natural moment to wish colleagues well.
Held on the second Monday of January, it congratulates and encourages young people who have become adults, with coming-of-age ceremonies (seijin-shiki) at local and prefectural offices, and parties among family and friends. The legal age of adulthood has been 18 since 2022.
At work: Fine to mention. A Monday off right after the New Year break, so a long weekend.
National Foundation Day (Kenkoku Kinen no Hi) marks the accession of Japan's legendary first emperor, Jimmu, which tradition places in 660 BC. 11 February was also the date of the 1889 promulgation of the Meiji constitution. It has been a holiday since 1967.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off in mid-February.
Celebrates the birthday of the reigning emperor. Since Emperor Naruhito took the throne it has been held on 23 February, his birthday.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off in February; keep it about the break.
Shunbun no Hi falls on the day of the March equinox, usually 20 or 21 March, and the date is announced each February for the following year. It became a holiday in 1948, replacing a Shinto ceremony as a non-religious public holiday.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
Shōwa no Hi, on 29 April, marks the birthday of Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito), who reigned from 1926 to 1989. The holiday encourages reflection on the turbulent years of his reign, from totalitarianism to postwar reconstruction. It starts Golden Week.
At work: Fine to mention; keep it about the break. Much of Japan is away for Golden Week, so plan around it.
Constitution Memorial Day, on 3 May, celebrates the enactment of the 1947 Constitution of Japan. It is part of Golden Week.
At work: Fine to mention. It is part of Golden Week, when much of Japan is away for several days.
Midori no Hi, on 4 May, is a day to be close to nature and give thanks for its blessings. Until 2006 it was held on 29 April, which became Showa Day in 2007. It is one of the holidays of Golden Week.
At work: Fine to mention. It sits in the middle of Golden Week, when much of Japan is away.
Children's Day (Kodomo no Hi), on 5 May, is a day set aside to respect children's personalities and to celebrate their happiness. It was designated a national holiday in 1948, though it has been a day of celebration since ancient times. It is the final celebration in Golden Week, and koinobori, carp-shaped windsocks, are flown to celebrate it.
At work: Welcome to mention. It is the last day of Golden Week.
Furikae kyūjitsu. When a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the next working day becomes a holiday instead, so that the day off is not lost.
At work: Check the calendar: the extra day off is easy to miss, and colleagues in Japan will not be at work.
Umi no Hi, on the third Monday of July, is a day to give thanks to the ocean for its bounty and to consider its importance to Japan as a maritime nation. Many people take a beach trip.
At work: Fine to mention. A Monday off, so a long weekend.
Yama no Hi, on 11 August, was added in 2016 at the request of the Japanese Alpine Club, so that people could appreciate Japan's mountains. It is meant to coincide with the Bon Festival holidays, when many people take time off.
At work: Fine to mention. Mid-August is Bon season, when many people are away, so expect slower replies.
Keirō no Hi, on the third Monday of September, honours elderly citizens. It began in 1947 in a village in Hyōgo Prefecture and became a national holiday in 1966. The media often feature older people and the oldest people in the country.
At work: Fine to mention. A Monday off, so a long weekend.
In Japan, a day between two other public holidays becomes a holiday itself (kokumin no kyūjitsu). It appears only in some years, most famously joining Respect for the Aged Day and Autumnal Equinox Day into a five-day "Silver Week".
At work: Fine to mention. A short break in the autumn, with many people travelling. It only counts in the years when it is in the calendar.
A day of remembrance around the autumn equinox. It is linked to Higan, a Japanese event that became a memorial service for ancestors. Some years it joins other holidays into the "Silver Week".
At work: Fine to mention. A day off in September.
Supōtsu no Hi, on the second Monday of October, remembers the opening of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and promotes sport and an active lifestyle. It was formerly called Health and Sports Day.
At work: Fine to mention. A Monday off, so a long weekend.
Bunka no Hi, held on 3 November, promotes culture, the arts and academic endeavour. There are art exhibitions and award ceremonies for distinguished artists and scholars.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
Kinrō Kansha no Hi, on 23 November, is a day to respect labour, celebrate production and for people to thank each other. If it falls on a Sunday, the holiday moves to Monday.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
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