Paid Annual Leave in Japan: How Yukyu Works Under Labor Law

Find out who qualifies for paid annual leave (yukyu kyuka) in Japan, how many days build up over time, how to request them, and what employers must do.

Published October 20, 2026 at 11:15 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Under Japan's Labor Standards Act, a worker employed continuously for six months who attended at least 80 percent of working days receives paid annual leave, starting at 10 days for a full-time worker. The entitlement rises with years of service up to 20 days. Employers must also make sure workers granted 10 or more days take at least five days a year.

What yukyu is

Yukyu kyuka, usually shortened to yukyu or nenkyu, means annual leave with pay. It is a legal right under Article 39 of the Labor Standards Act, not a favor from the employer, and it applies to full-time staff, part-time staff, and fixed-term workers who meet the conditions. The purpose is rest and refreshment, and the pay continues as if the worker had been at work.

The Osaka Labour Bureau's English summary, published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, states the starting rule: leave is given to workers who have been employed continuously for six months and who attended at least 80 percent of the working days in that period. Company holidays such as New Year breaks or summer closures are separate arrangements and depend on the employer's calendar.

In short, yukyu is a different thing from public holidays. National holidays are days off for almost everyone, while yukyu is time that each worker earns through service and chooses to use. The two can be combined, which is how many people create longer breaks around Golden Week, Obon, or the New Year.

How many days you receive

For a regular full-time worker, the standard schedule starts at 10 days after six months. The ministry's English summary from the Osaka Labour Bureau lists the pattern by length of service: 10 days at half a year, 11 days at one and a half years, 12 at two and a half, 14 at three and a half, 16 at four and a half, 18 at five and a half, and 20 days at six and a half years or more.

Part-time workers who work four or fewer fixed days a week and under 30 hours a week receive a proportional number of days based on how many days they work. For example, the same table shows seven days at the half-year point for someone working four days a week. Eligibility and the count are based on continuous service from the hire date, and contract renewals count toward that service.

Requesting leave

Workers choose when to take leave, within reason. The Osaka summary explains that leave can be taken whenever the worker wants, and that the employer may move the dates only when taking them would prevent the normal operation of the business. The employer cannot move leave to a date after the worker's resignation. A contract term that stops workers from requesting leave is not valid.

In practice, companies set a procedure in the work rules, such as submitting a form or a request through a system a certain number of days ahead. Following that procedure and talking with the team early makes approvals smoother. The work rules are the best place to check the exact steps and any notice period.

The five-day requirement

Since April 2019, employers have had a duty to make sure that workers who are granted 10 or more days in a year take at least five of them. The ministry's page for workers explains that this covers workers granted 10 or more days, including full-time, part-time, and shift workers, and that the 10-day count refers to the days newly granted that year, not carried-over days.

The five days can be reached in three ways: the worker requests and takes leave, the employer sets dates after hearing the worker's views and trying to respect them, or leave is taken under a planned-leave arrangement set by a labor-management agreement. Once five days have been taken by any route, the employer no longer needs to designate dates. Leave taken in hourly units does not count toward the five days.

Carry-over, expiry, and pay

Unused days are not lost at the end of the year. The Osaka summary says unused days carry over to the following year and expire after two years. This is why workers sometimes hold balances larger than the annual grant. Reading the pay slip or the company's leave system shows the current balance.

Pay during leave follows the work rules. The Osaka summary says the pay is either the normal wage for the scheduled hours or the average wage, as the rules provide, and that a labor-management agreement may use another standard set under the Health Insurance Law. Employers are also told not to treat workers unfavorably for using leave, for example by reducing their wages.

Half days, hourly leave, and special cases

The law's basic unit is a full day, so half-day leave is not required by statute but is allowed if the employer grants it. Hourly leave is possible under a labor-management agreement, up to five days a year. Companies often add their own leave types, such as summer holidays, condolence leave, or refresh leave, and these differ from statutory yukyu.

Workers who change from part-time to full-time, and those returning from childcare leave can have special calculations of attendance and service. Because these cases depend on the details, the personnel department or the Labour Standards Inspection Office can explain how they apply.

Practical tips for newcomers

New employees can ask when the first grant happens, how the balance is shown, and how requests are made. Keeping a note of the grant date helps, because the schedule moves along from that date rather than from the calendar year. Planning long trips around public holidays and company closures can make the most of the days available. Some people keep a few days in reserve for illness or family matters, since leave can generally be taken for any reason, and the purpose does not usually have to be explained.

Many workplaces encourage taking leave, and the five-day rule is intended to make planned use more common. If a question arises that the company cannot answer, a Labour Standards Inspection Office can offer consultation, and help in other languages is sometimes available, so check the ministry's pages. This guide shares general information; rules change, so confirm details with the official agency or provider before you act.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is entitled to paid annual leave in Japan?

Workers who have been employed continuously for six months and attended at least 80 percent of working days are entitled, including part-time workers in proportion to their working days. A full-time worker starts with 10 days. The right comes from Article 39 of the Labor Standards Act.

How many days does a full-time worker get?

The schedule rises with service: 10 days at six months, 11 at one and a half years, 12 at two and a half, 14, 16, 18, and 20 days at six and a half years or more. Unused days carry over and expire after two years. Check the work rules for details.

Can my employer refuse my leave request?

An employer can move the dates only if the leave would prevent normal business operations, and it cannot move leave past a worker's resignation date. Employers cannot treat workers unfavorably for taking leave. If a dispute arises, a Labour Standards Inspection Office can advise.

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