What are the national holidays in Japan?

A clear list of Japan's 16 national holidays with their dates, how substitute holidays work, and what the days off mean for sightseeing, transport and closures.

Published October 21, 2026 at 7:47 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Japan has 16 national holidays: New Year's Day, Coming of Age Day, National Foundation Day, the Emperor's Birthday, Vernal Equinox Day, Showa Day, Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, Children's Day, Marine Day, Mountain Day, Respect for the Aged Day, Autumnal Equinox Day, Sports Day, Culture Day and Labor Thanksgiving Day. A holiday on a Sunday moves to the next weekday.

The 16 national holidays

Japanese law designates 16 national holidays each year, according to the Cabinet Office, which publishes the official overview. Each has a stated purpose, such as celebrating, giving thanks or commemorating. In calendar order, they are New Year's Day on January 1, Coming of Age Day on the second Monday of January, National Foundation Day on February 11, and the Emperor's Birthday on February 23.

The list continues with Vernal Equinox Day around March 20 or 21, Showa Day on April 29, Constitution Memorial Day on May 3, Greenery Day on May 4 and Children's Day on May 5. Later come Marine Day on the third Monday of July, Mountain Day on August 11, Respect for the Aged Day on the third Monday of September, Autumnal Equinox Day around September 22 or 23, Sports Day on the second Monday of October, Culture Day on November 3 and Labor Thanksgiving Day on November 23.

What the holidays celebrate

Several holidays are easy to understand from their names. Coming of Age Day celebrates young people who have reached adulthood and is known for ceremonies where many wear formal clothing. Children's Day on May 5 celebrates children, often with carp streamers, while Respect for the Aged Day honors older people. Culture Day on November 3 encourages appreciation of culture, and Labor Thanksgiving Day on November 23 recognizes work and production.

Others relate to nature or the calendar. Vernal and Autumnal Equinox Days fall near the spring and autumn equinoxes, so the exact date changes slightly from year to year. Mountain Day, first observed in 2016, lets people appreciate mountains and sits in the Obon season. Sports Day was established in 1966 as Health and Sports Day, and some English-language lists still use that older name.

Substitute holidays and bridge days

Two rules add extra days off. If a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the next day that is not a national holiday becomes a substitute holiday, called furikae kyujitsu. If a weekday falls between two national holidays, it also becomes a holiday, sometimes called a citizens' holiday. The Cabinet Office notes that the second case happens irregularly, every few years.

The Cabinet Office gives examples from 2026: because Constitution Memorial Day on May 3 fell on a Sunday, May 6 became a substitute holiday, and September 22 became a holiday because it sat between Respect for the Aged Day on September 21 and Autumnal Equinox Day on September 23. Such days can create long weekends, which are popular travel times. Check the official calendar for the year of travel, because the pattern changes.

The Happy Monday system and long weekends

From around 2000, Japan moved several holidays to Mondays to create three-day weekends, known as the Happy Monday system. Today Coming of Age Day and Sports Day fall on the second Monday of their months, and Marine Day and Respect for the Aged Day fall on the third Monday. Because of this, the exact dates of these holidays differ each year, and their long weekends are predictable.

For travel, this matters because domestic tourists use these weekends for short trips, so popular destinations can be busy. Golden Week in late April and early May is the largest cluster, while September can also form a run of holidays that people sometimes call Silver Week when the calendar lines up. Check dates when planning, and consider booking transport and hotels early for these weekends.

How holidays affect travel and closures

National holidays are not the same as closures. Convenience stores, department stores, malls and many tourist attractions generally stay open, and some convenience stores and chains operate around the clock including on holidays, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. Government offices, banks and many companies are typically closed, so errands such as paperwork or currency exchange are best done on other days.

Transport may be busier. Trains, highways and flights are crowded at the start and end of long weekends, and some operators run holiday timetables. Tourist sights can see more visitors, and popular restaurants may need reservations. The New Year holiday, Golden Week and Obon cause particularly long closures at smaller businesses, so research those periods separately. This guide shares general information; rules change, so confirm details with the official agency or provider before you act.

Common mistakes

One mistake is assuming that every date is fixed. Several holidays move to Mondays, and the equinox holidays are set annually, so the day can differ. Another is forgetting substitute holidays, which can surprise travelers who thought a Monday was a working day. A third is assuming a holiday means everything is closed, when tourism businesses often operate and may be busier.

Visitors also sometimes confuse national holidays with local festivals, which are not days off but can be major events. For example, large summer festivals in many cities take place on ordinary dates. In addition, laws can change, with new holidays occasionally created or dates adjusted, as happened with Mountain Day and the renaming of Sports Day. Always check the current list of public holidays for the year of the trip.

Planning tips and next steps

Before booking, look up the national holiday calendar for your travel year and mark long weekends. If you prefer quiet sightseeing, schedule popular sights on weekdays that are not holidays. If you enjoy festivals, holidays such as Children's Day and Culture Day are good times for local events and museum activities.

Book accommodation and reserved seats early for long weekends, and check each venue's opening days. Keep a flexible schedule around Golden Week, Obon and New Year. A simple approach is to download the official calendar published by the Cabinet Office, compare it with the dates of attractions you want to visit, and leave a buffer day for transport delays.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many public holidays does Japan have?

Japan has 16 national holidays each year, according to the Cabinet Office. Substitute holidays and holidays that fall between two others can add extra days off in some years, so the total number of days off can vary. Check the official calendar for your travel year.

Are shops open on national holidays in Japan?

Many are. Convenience stores, department stores and malls generally stay open, and some operate around the clock. Government offices and banks are usually closed. Hours at individual businesses vary, so check their official pages before visiting, especially during New Year, Golden Week and Obon.

What happens when a holiday falls on a Sunday?

The next day that is not a national holiday becomes a substitute holiday, so Monday is usually a day off. This rule is set out in the law on national holidays. If a weekday sits between two holidays, it also becomes a holiday. Check the official calendar for details.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Japanese Culture and Customs is available on Amazon.

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More guides from Tokyo Paul: What is Silver Week in Japan?, When is Golden Week in Japan and how does it affect travel? and The Emperor's Birthday: Japan's National Holiday Explained.