Japan public holidays 2026 and 2027
国民の祝日
Golden Week 2026
May 2 to May 6
5 days off in a row. The busiest travel week of spring: book trains and rooms early.
Silver Week 2026
September 19 to September 23
5 days off in a row, which only happens in some years.
2026 holidays2026年
| Thu, Jan 1 | New Year’s Day | 元日 |
| Mon, Jan 12 | Coming of Age Day | 成人の日 |
| Wed, Feb 11 | National Foundation Day | 建国記念の日 |
| Mon, Feb 23 | The Emperor’s Birthday | 天皇誕生日 |
| Fri, Mar 20 | Vernal Equinox Day | 春分の日 |
| Wed, Apr 29 | Showa Day | 昭和の日 |
| Sun, May 3 | Constitution Memorial Day | 憲法記念日 |
| Mon, May 4 | Greenery Day | みどりの日 |
| Tue, May 5 | Children’s Day | こどもの日 |
| Wed, May 6 | Substitute holiday | 休日 |
| Mon, Jul 20 | Marine Day | 海の日 |
| Tue, Aug 11 | Mountain Day | 山の日 |
| Mon, Sep 21 | Respect for the Aged Day | 敬老の日 |
| Tue, Sep 22 | Substitute holiday | 休日 |
| Wed, Sep 23 | Autumnal Equinox Day | 秋分の日 |
| Mon, Oct 12 | Sports Day | スポーツの日 |
| Tue, Nov 3 | Culture Day | 文化の日 |
| Mon, Nov 23 | Labor Thanksgiving Day | 勤労感謝の日 |
2027 holidays2027年
| Fri, Jan 1 | New Year’s Day | 元日 |
| Mon, Jan 11 | Coming of Age Day | 成人の日 |
| Thu, Feb 11 | National Foundation Day | 建国記念の日 |
| Tue, Feb 23 | The Emperor’s Birthday | 天皇誕生日 |
| Sun, Mar 21 | Vernal Equinox Day | 春分の日 |
| Mon, Mar 22 | Substitute holiday | 休日 |
| Thu, Apr 29 | Showa Day | 昭和の日 |
| Mon, May 3 | Constitution Memorial Day | 憲法記念日 |
| Tue, May 4 | Greenery Day | みどりの日 |
| Wed, May 5 | Children’s Day | こどもの日 |
| Mon, Jul 19 | Marine Day | 海の日 |
| Wed, Aug 11 | Mountain Day | 山の日 |
| Mon, Sep 20 | Respect for the Aged Day | 敬老の日 |
| Thu, Sep 23 | Autumnal Equinox Day | 秋分の日 |
| Mon, Oct 11 | Sports Day | スポーツの日 |
| Wed, Nov 3 | Culture Day | 文化の日 |
| Tue, Nov 23 | Labor Thanksgiving Day | 勤労感謝の日 |
Golden Week, Obon and New Year大型連休
Golden Week strings together Showa Day (April 29), Constitution Memorial Day (May 3), Greenery Day (May 4) and Children’s Day (May 5). In 2026 the run is May 2 to May 6. In 2027 the run is May 1 to May 5.
Obon is not a national holiday, but many people take the week of August 13 to 16 off to visit family, so trains, flights and highways are packed. Bon odori dances and lantern festivals fill the month; see festivals.
New Year (shōgatsu) is Japan’s biggest holiday. Government offices close from December 29 to January 3, and the first days of January bring hatsumode crowds to shrines and temples. See what’s on in December and January.
Quick answers
- How many public holidays does Japan have in 2026?
- 18 days off, counting substitute holidays: 16 named holidays plus 2 substitute days.
- When is Golden Week 2026?
- May 2 to May 6: 5 days off in a row with the weekend, plus Showa Day on April 29. In 2027 it runs May 1 to May 5.
- Is there a Silver Week in 2026?
- Yes: September 19 to September 23, 5 days off in a row, when Respect for the Aged Day and the autumnal equinox fall close together.
- Is Obon a public holiday in Japan?
- No. Obon, the mid-August festival of the dead (usually August 13 to 16), is not a national holiday, but many businesses close and trains and highways are at their busiest. Mountain Day, August 11, is the only holiday that month.
- What is closed over New Year in Japan?
- Government offices close from December 29 to January 3. Many shops, restaurants and museums close for some of January 1 to 3 too, while shrines and temples are at their busiest for hatsumode, the first visit of the year.
What’s on by month
From the Cabinet Office’s holiday page and its official date list, checked 2026-11-03.