If you enjoy holidays in your own country, then you’re sure to enjoy holiday celebrations and ceremonies in Japan. Whether it’s a major holiday like the Japanese New Year (Shōgatsu 正月) or a more quiet day of appreciation like Mountain Day (Yama no Hi 山の日), there’s something special to look forward to every month of the year.
Here, you can find a complete list of Japan’s public holidays in addition to a few other culturally significant celebrations. While only public holidays guarantee a day off, the whole country comes together to observe holidays like Valentine’s Day.
As you learn about Japanese culture, consider getting your start in the Japanese language! Rosetta Stone’s immersive, bite-sized lessons are a fun way to learn something new and they fit into any schedule. Take the new holiday vocabulary you learn here and apply it to your first lessons in Japanese!
- New Year (Shōgatsu 正月)
- Coming of Age Day (Seijin no Hi 成人の日)
- Setsubun (節分, Seasonal Division)
- National Foundation Day (Kenkoku Kinen no Hi 建国記念の日)
- Valentine’s Day
- Emperor’s Birthday (Tennō Tanjōbi 天皇誕生日)
- Hinamatsuri (雛祭り, Doll’s Day)
- White Day
- Vernal Equinox Day (Shunbun no Hi 春分の日)
- Shōwa Day (Shōwa no Hi 昭和の日)
- Constitution Memorial Day (Kenpō Kinenbi 憲法記念日)
- Greenery Day (Midori no Hi みどりの日)
- Children’s Day (Kodomo no Hi 子供の日)
- Ocean Day (Umi no Hi 海の日)
- Mountain Day (Yama no Hi 山の日)
- Respect for the Aged Day (Keirō no Hi 敬老の日)
- Autumnal Equinox Day (Shūbun no Hi 秋分の日)
- Health and Sports Day (Taiiku no Hi 体育の日)
- Culture Day (Bunka no Hi 文化の日)
- Shichigosan (七五三)
- Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinrō Kansha no Hi 勤労感謝の日)
- New Year’s Eve (Ōmisoka 大晦日)
1. New Year (Shōgatsu 正月)
When: January 1
What to expect: Japan kicks off the new year with its most important holiday. Families visit loved ones, children receive gifts of money called otoshidama (お年玉), and the nation’s Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples welcome vast numbers of people coming to offer prayer and wishes for the new year. Meiji Shrine in Tokyo typically has over 3 million visitors for the new year!
Most businesses are closed on the days surrounding January 1, but you can and should take the opportunity to partake in the unique New Year festivities. Get up early (or stay up late!) to see the first sunrise of the year, watch rice cakes being pounded at breakneck speeds, or even visit the Imperial Palace.
Fun fact: While Japan does not celebrate Lunar New Year as a country, they still honor the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon!
2. Coming of Age Day (Seijin no Hi 成人の日)
When: Second Monday of January
What to expect: It’s Japan’s national Sweet Sixteen party, but for people who turned twenty in the past year! Twenty is historically the age when people become “adults” in Japan. Laws have changed in recent years to lower the age to eighteen for certain rights, such as voting or entering a lease without parental consent, but Coming of Age Day is staying right where it is.
Culturally speaking, this is a day for new adults to look to the future and celebrate their youth. After attending the formal ceremony known as seijin shiki (成人式, coming of age ceremony) held by the local government, the celebration continues among family and friends.
Fun fact: Dressing for the occasion is a big deal. The cost of renting a kimono for this day can be upwards of ¥200,000 (or approximately $1,300)!
3. Setsubun (節分, Seasonal Division)
When: Between February 2 and 4
What to expect: Watch out for flying beans! Setsubun is all about driving away evil spirits and bringing in good fortune. To this end, lucky roasted soybeans (fukumame 福豆) are thrown out the front door in a ritual called mamemaki (豆撒き, bean throwing) while shouting, “Devils out! Fortune in!” (Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! 鬼は外！福は内！). In some cases, a person will wear a demon mask and allow themselves to be pelted with fukumame as part of the ritual.
Fun fact: While the Gregorian calendar is the primary calendar in use today, Setsubun is celebrated on the day before the beginning of spring on the Japanese lunar calendar.
4. National Foundation Day (Kenkoku Kinen no Hi 建国記念の日)
When: February 11
What to expect: If there is a day for Japanese people to share their pride for their country, this is it. Celebrations are more subdued than those held on other major Japanese holidays. Still, you will still find more Japanese flags flying than usual and people reflecting on their country’s history as they enjoy a day off.
National Foundation Day has was originally known as Empire Day (Kigensetsu 紀元節) when it was founded at the beginning of Emperor Meiji’s reign in 1872. At the time, it commemorated the ascension of the first Japanese emperor, Emperor Jimmu, and therefore Japanese history itself. Empire Day was abolished following World War II but brought back in 1966 as National Foundation Day.
Fun fact: Amaterasu, the sun goddess, is said to be the ancestor of Emperor Jimmu, meaning the entire Japanese imperial line would be her descendants.
5. Valentine’s Day
When: February 14
What to expect: Valentine’s Day in Japan is celebrated much the same as other countries. It does have one notable distinction: this is the day when women are expected to dole out the chocolate. Whether they hand out giri-choco (義理チョコ, obligation chocolate) for their classmates and family or honmei-choco (本命チョコ, true feeling chocolate) for their significant others or crushes, Valentine’s Day comes with an expectation that girls are doing the providing.
This has become much more relaxed in recent years as younger generations push back on the forced gender roles and sense of obligation. Some young men are even opting to give their own gifts of chocolate on Valentine’s Day rather than White Day, which is a month later and intended as a day for boys to give back.
Fun fact: Some people also treat themselves on Valentine’s Day with jibun-choco (自分チョコ, self chocolate). They’ve earned it!
6. Emperor’s Birthday (Tennō Tanjōbi 天皇誕生日)
When: February 23
What to expect: The date for this holiday changes whenever a new emperor takes the throne. Since 2019, Japan has celebrated Emperor Naruhito’s birthday after the previous emperor, Emperor Akihito, abdicated. The Imperial Palace has tours all year round, but the inner grounds are only open on the emperor’s birthday and January 2 (for the imperial family’s New Year’s greeting).
Fun fact: Emperor Akihito’s birthday is on December 23, meaning Japan used to have a public holiday (and day off work) merely a week before New Year celebrations.
7. Hinamatsuri (雛祭り, Doll’s Day)
When: March 3
What to expect: Hinamatsuri is a festival celebrating the health and joy of young girls. As such, it is also known as Girls’ Day. All kinds of treats are made for this holiday, including sweet ichigo daifuku (いちご大福, strawberry and adzuki bean paste-filled mochi) and konpeitō (金平糖, star-shaped candy).
The centerpiece of the decorations is a seven-tier doll altar. The dolls, called hina-ningyō (雛人形), include an emperor and empress and their court attendants. They are all traditionally dressed in clothes from the Heian Period (794–1185 CE). Still, a full set can be costly, so many families opt for smaller, simpler sets.
Fun fact: The colors of the seasons are used for Girls’ Day decorations. Expect to see lots of green, pink, yellow, and white.
8. White Day
When: March 14
What to expect: White Day is the day to reciprocate gifts received on Valentine’s Day. Typically a day reserved for men to give back, the sweets they choose can symbolize the nature of the relationship they have with the person who gave them Valentine’s Day chocolate. Giving chocolate in return implies they reciprocate the feelings expressed on Valentine’s Day (platonic or romantic), while cookies can be used to say “Let’s remain friends.”
Fun fact: The first White Day sweets were chocolate-stuffed marshmallows, and the holiday was originally known as “Marshmallow Day.”
9. Vernal Equinox Day (Shunbun no Hi 春分の日)
When: March 20 or 21
What to expect: For the first day of spring, Japanese people tend to enjoy their day off outside enjoying parks and the nice weather. Hanami (花見, flower viewing) are especially popular because Japan’s famous cherry blossoms are usually in bloom. People set up picnics outside while appreciating spring’s beauty with family and friends.
Fun fact: Hanami dango (花見団子, flower viewing mochi) are a particularly popular snack. Three dango are skewered on a stick and each represents one color of spring: pink, white, and green.
>> Get the insider scoop on the best places to see cherry blossoms across Japan!
10. Shōwa Day (Shōwa no Hi 昭和の日)
When: April 29
What to expect: Commemorating the birthday of Emperor Shōwa, Shōwa Day has a somewhat controversial history. Emperor Shōwa was known as Emperor Hirohito in life, and he was the emperor during Japan’s imperialistic era and World War II. His direct involvement during that time is a matter of debate, but his birthday is now a day to reflect on the events during his reign and the future Japan has built since.
Fun fact: Shōwa Day is also the beginning of Golden Week: a week jam-packed with holidays and an excuse for vacations.
11. Constitution Memorial Day (Kenpō Kinenbi 憲法記念日)
When: May 3
What to expect: Like Shōwa Day, Constitution Memorial Day is a more solemn holiday used for reflection. People contemplate and learn about Japanese history through public lectures and tours of government buildings.
Fun fact: Japan’s constitution has not been amended since it was enacted in 1947, making it the world’s oldest unamended constitution.
12. Greenery Day (Midori no Hi みどりの日)
When: May 4
What to expect: Greenery Day is a day for celebrating nature. It resembles many other holidays around the world known by other names, like Arbor Day. People visit parks and plant trees to appreciate the beauty of nature.
Fun fact: Greenery Day was originally held on April 29 as a replacement for Shōwa Day.
13. Children’s Day (Kodomo no Hi 子供の日)
When: May 5
What to expect: While Hinamatsuri is a day to celebrate girls, Children’s Day celebrates all children. Koinobori (鯉のぼり, carp-shaped windsocks) fly in the wind, little boys (for whom the holiday was originally reserved) make models of samurai armor, and children are measured to see how much they’ve grown over the past year.
Fun fact: Children’s Day is the last holiday of Golden Week.
>> Check out our complete guide to Japan’s Golden Week.
14. Ocean Day (Umi no Hi 海の日)
When: Third Monday of July
What to expect: For an archipelago nation like Japan, the ocean has a lasting influence on national culture. Ocean Day is a fairly new holiday—having been officially declared a public holiday in 1995—so traditions are fairly loose. Many people decide to take a trip to the beach for Ocean Day to appreciate the object of the holiday in person. It’s a perfect way to enjoy the summer sun in the middle of July.
Fun fact: Before becoming a public holiday, Ocean Day was known as Marine Memorial Day.
15. Mountain Day (Yama no Hi 山の日)
When: August 11
What to expect: Mountain Day is Japan’s newest public holiday, first observed in 2016. Like Ocean Day, Mountain Day does not have any long-standing traditions, but it is generally agreed that it is a good day to take a hike or walk among Japan’s many mountains.
Fun fact: August was chosen for this holiday because it is the eighth month, and the Japanese character for eight, 八, resembles a mountain.
16. Respect for the Aged Day (Keirō no Hi 敬老の日)
When: Third Monday of September
What to expect: As the name implies, Respect for the Aged Day is a day to express gratitude for the elderly. People celebrate this holiday in their own way, usually spending time with the older people in their lives.
Fun fact: The record for oldest man in the world is currently held by a Japanese man, Jiroemon Kimura, who lived to 116 years and 54 days.
17. Autumnal Equinox Day (Shūbun no Hi 秋分の日)
When: September 22 or 23
What to expect: Unlike Vernal Equinox Day, where the new life of spring is celebrated, Autumnal Equinox Day welcomes the coming of fall. Autumn leaves (kōyō 紅葉) may be starting to fall, making up some of the most beautiful landscapes of the year. There are also people who observe it by visiting family graves (ohaka mairi お墓参り).
Fun fact: Just as people go out for hanami in the spring, enjoying the scenery of kōyō is a popular seasonal activity.
18. Health and Sports Day (Taiiku no Hi 体育の日)
When: Second Monday in October
What to expect: On your marks, get set, go! Health and Sports Day is a popular holiday that emphasizes physical activity and celebrating health. Communities hold track meets, field days, and other activities to get people out and moving.
Fun fact: Health and Sports Day commemorates the 1964 Summer Olympics, which was held in Tokyo.
19. Culture Day (Bunka no Hi 文化の日)
When: November 3
What to expect: Japan is exceptionally proud of its culture and holds tight to its traditions, and Culture Day is a day to celebrate that. In fact, the entire week from November 1 to November 7 is observed as Education and Culture Week, but Culture Day itself is the highlight. Some museums offer free admission, and you may find martial arts demonstrations or calligraphy workshops. It is also a perfect day to enjoy a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
Fun fact: Culture Day was originally a celebration of Emperor Meiji’s birthday.
20. Shichigosan (七五三)
When: November 15
What to expect: Meaning “Seven-Five-Three,” Shichigosan is another day to celebrate children. It is more formal than Children’s Day, and you will find three- and five-year-old boys and three- and seven-year-old girls adorned in traditional clothing going to Shinto shrines with their families to pray for good health and happy childhoods.
Little girls are typically dressed in kimono, while boys will wear haori (羽織) jackets and hakama (袴) trousers. This dates back to medieval times when children reached these ages and were allowed to dress more like adults.
Fun fact: Hie Shrine and Meiji Shrine in Tokyo are some of the most popular destinations for Shichigosan.
21. Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinrō Kansha no Hi 勤労感謝の日)
When: November 23
What to expect: You won’t find any turkeys at this Thanksgiving. Japan’s Labor Thanksgiving Day is about appreciating workers specifically, rather than a general sense of gratitude. Its origins are in a ritual called Niinamesai (新嘗祭) that began in the seventh century. It was a day to celebrate the harvest at the time.
In modern Japan, workers enjoy the day off and may attend union events. Children make cards or small gifts to give to public service workers, like police officers, hospital staff, and firefighters.
Fun fact: With the popularity of Western culture, some Japanese people have taken to holding potlucks in a semblance of American Thanksgiving feasts.
22. New Year’s Eve (Ōmisoka 大晦日)
When: December 31
What to expect: Like most of the world, Japan finishes off the year with a day to celebrate the end of one year and greet the next. Traditions abound, and you’ll find reminders of the imminent new year wherever you look.
Rather than “spring cleaning,” Japanese people make sure their homes and businesses are squeaky clean before the new year begins in a tradition called ōsōji (大掃除). By the last day of the year, it is expected that decorations are already up to welcome the god of the new year, toshigami (年神).
Don’t forget the food! As families wait for the year to end, they eat buckwheat noodles called toshikoshi soba (年越しそば) and mochi soup (ozōni お雑煮). Be careful when eating the mochi warmed by the broth: it’s incredibly stretchy and can be quite a mouthful if you take too big a bite.
Fun fact: Kouhaku Uta Gassen (紅白歌合戦), the live musical competition held annually on New Year’s Eve, has been broadcast every year since 1953.
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Keep your eye on the calendar if you ever get the opportunity to visit Japan: you might just be visiting during a holiday. Don’t miss the chance to experience these events for yourself and offer a cheery omedetō (“congratulations” or “best wishes”) for celebrations like Coming of Age Day and Shichigosan.
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Written by Alexa Bevan
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