HoliWiki

Public Holidays & Calendar Data Worldwide · JP

2026 Holidays in Japan

Japan's 18 national holidays and statutory days off in 2026, including substitute and citizen's holidays.

Official-source dataVerified:
Quick answer

In 2026, Japan has 18 national holidays and statutory days off. The full-year calendar below marks the official dates and relevant notes.

2026

Year

Japan JP

Current country/region

18

Total holiday days

July 20, 2026Marine Day

Next holiday

2026 holiday calendar

A 12-month calendar. Hover over a marker or focus it with the keyboard to read the details.

★Statutory holiday

January 2026

2 items
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
New Year's DayThursday, January 1, 2026Statutory holiday
Coming of Age DayMonday, January 12, 2026Statutory holiday

February 2026

2 items
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
National Foundation DayWednesday, February 11, 2026Statutory holiday
Emperor's BirthdayMonday, February 23, 2026Statutory holiday

March 2026

1 items
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
Vernal Equinox DayFriday, March 20, 2026Statutory holiday

April 2026

1 items
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
Showa DayWednesday, April 29, 2026Statutory holiday

May 2026

4 items
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
Constitution Memorial DaySunday, May 3, 2026Statutory holiday
Greenery DayMonday, May 4, 2026Statutory holiday
Children's DayTuesday, May 5, 2026Statutory holiday
Substitute holidayWednesday, May 6, 2026A substitute holiday under Article 3, paragraph 2 of Japan's Public Holiday Law.Statutory holiday

June 2026

0 items
S
M
T
W
T
F
S

July 2026

1 items
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
Marine DayMonday, July 20, 2026Statutory holiday

August 2026

1 items
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
Mountain DayTuesday, August 11, 2026Statutory holiday

September 2026

3 items
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
Respect for the Aged DayMonday, September 21, 2026Statutory holiday
Citizen's holidayTuesday, September 22, 2026A citizen's holiday between two national holidays under Article 3, paragraph 3 of Japan's Public Holiday Law.Statutory holiday
Autumnal Equinox DayWednesday, September 23, 2026Statutory holiday

October 2026

1 items
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
Sports DayMonday, October 12, 2026Statutory holiday

November 2026

2 items
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
Culture DayTuesday, November 3, 2026Statutory holiday
Labor Thanksgiving DayMonday, November 23, 2026Statutory holiday

December 2026

0 items
S
M
T
W
T
F
S

Holiday list

18 results, sorted by date.

Export CSV
DateWeekdayHoliday nameType
ThursdayNew Year's DayNational holiday
MondayComing of Age DayNational holiday
WednesdayNational Foundation DayNational holiday
MondayEmperor's BirthdayNational holiday
FridayVernal Equinox DayNational holiday
WednesdayShowa DayNational holiday
SundayConstitution Memorial DayNational holiday
MondayGreenery DayNational holiday
TuesdayChildren's DayNational holiday
WednesdaySubstitute holidayA substitute holiday under Article 3, paragraph 2 of Japan's Public Holiday Law.Statutory day off
MondayMarine DayNational holiday
TuesdayMountain DayNational holiday
MondayRespect for the Aged DayNational holiday
TuesdayCitizen's holidayA citizen's holiday between two national holidays under Article 3, paragraph 3 of Japan's Public Holiday Law.Statutory day off
WednesdayAutumnal Equinox DayNational holiday
MondaySports DayNational holiday
TuesdayCulture DayNational holiday
MondayLabor Thanksgiving DayNational holiday

Official source and scope

This page is based on Cabinet Office, Government of Japan Check the official source again for travel, payroll or legal decisions.

Frequently asked questions

How many public holidays and statutory days off does Japan have in 2026?

Japan's Cabinet Office lists 18 national holidays and statutory days off for 2026.

Why is May 6, 2026 a holiday in Japan?

Constitution Memorial Day falls on Sunday, May 3, creating a substitute holiday on May 6 under the Public Holiday Law.

Why is September 22, 2026 a holiday in Japan?

It falls between Respect for the Aged Day and Autumnal Equinox Day, making it a statutory citizen's holiday.

Holiday Stories

New Year (Shogatsu)

The Japanese New Year, or Shogatsu, is Japan's most important holiday. From January 1 to 3, families gather to welcome the new year with centuries-old traditions: visiting Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples for hatsumode (the first prayer of the year), eating osechi ryori (elaborate boxed meals prepared in advance), and sending nengajo (New Year's greeting postcards) to friends and colleagues. Temple bells ring 108 times on New Year's Eve — once for each earthly desire in Buddhist teaching — to purify the soul for the year ahead. Children receive otoshidama, monetary gifts in decorated envelopes.

Golden Week

Golden Week, spanning late April to early May, is one of Japan's busiest holiday periods, clustering four national holidays: Showa Day (April 29), Constitution Memorial Day (May 3), Greenery Day (May 4), and Children's Day (May 5). Children's Day is marked by flying koinobori — colorful carp-shaped windsocks symbolizing strength and perseverance. Families display samurai dolls (gogatsu ningyo) to wish for their sons' healthy growth. Many Japanese take the entire week off, making it a peak period for domestic and international travel.

祭

Obon (Festival of the Dead)

Obon is a Buddhist-Confucian custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors, typically observed in mid-August (though some regions celebrate in July). According to tradition, ancestral spirits return to the earthly world during this period. Families clean and decorate graves, light welcoming fires (mukaebi), and hang paper lanterns (chochin) to guide the spirits home. The Bon Odori — a folk dance performed in summer yukata — is the festival's most recognizable tradition, with communities gathering in circles around a wooden tower. The festival concludes with toro nagashi, floating lanterns sent down rivers to guide the spirits back.

Coming of Age Day

Held on the second Monday of January, Coming of Age Day celebrates young people who have turned 20 — the legal age of adulthood in Japan — during the previous year. Municipal governments host formal ceremonies where new adults receive congratulations and words of encouragement from local officials. Young women traditionally wear elaborate furisode (long-sleeved kimono) with ornate obi sashes and fur wraps, while young men wear formal suits or traditional hakama. The day is one of Japan's most photographed events, with vibrant displays of traditional fashion at shrines and city halls across the country.