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Asia-Pacific2026
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Japan

16 national holidays

Japan has 16 national holidays, several of which move year-to-year (Coming-of-Age Day, Marine Day, etc.). When a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed — that rule produces a couple of substitute Mondays each year.

Public holidays

DateDayHolidayScope
1 JanuaryThursday元日 (New Year)National
12 JanuaryMonday成人の日 (Coming of Age Day)National — 2nd Mon of January
11 FebruaryWednesday建国記念の日 (National Foundation Day)National
23 FebruaryMonday天皇誕生日 (Emperor’s Birthday)National
21 MarchSaturday春分の日 (Vernal Equinox)National
29 AprilWednesday昭和の日 (Shōwa Day)National
3 MaySunday憲法記念日 (Constitution Day)National
4 MayMondayみどりの日 (Greenery Day)National
5 MayTuesdayこどもの日 (Children’s Day)National
6 MayWednesday振替休日 (Substitute Holiday)Substitute for 3 May
20 JulyMonday海の日 (Marine Day)National — 3rd Mon of July
11 AugustTuesday山の日 (Mountain Day)National
21 SeptemberMonday敬老の日 (Respect for the Aged Day)National — 3rd Mon of September
23 SeptemberWednesday秋分の日 (Autumnal Equinox)National
12 OctoberMondayスポーツの日 (Sports Day)National — 2nd Mon of October
3 NovemberTuesday文化の日 (Culture Day)National
23 NovemberMonday勤労感謝の日 (Labour Thanksgiving)National

Notes

  • When a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the next non-holiday weekday is observed (振替休日, 'transfer holiday').
  • Golden Week (late April – early May) clusters several national holidays and is the highest-travel week in Japan.
  • The Vernal and Autumnal Equinox dates are determined astronomically; the cabinet announces the exact date in early February of the previous year.
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Inside Vacation Flow, public holidays show up automatically on each connected calendar. For external use, an .ics file ships with this page once the data set is finalised.