Japan public holidays

Next holiday:

Culture Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Labour Thanksgiving Day, Monday, November 23, 2026
New Year's Day, Friday, January 1, 2027
Coming of Age Day, Monday, January 11, 2027
National Foundation Day, Thursday, February 11, 2027
The Emperor's Birthday, Tuesday, February 23, 2027
Vernal Equinox Day (substitute day), Monday, March 22, 2027
Showa Day, Thursday, April 29, 2027
Constitution Memorial Day, Monday, May 3, 2027
Greenery Day, Tuesday, May 4, 2027
Children's Day, Wednesday, May 5, 2027
Marine Day, Monday, July 19, 2027
Mountain Day, Wednesday, August 11, 2027
Respect for the Aged Day, Monday, September 20, 2027
Autumnal Equinox Day, Thursday, September 23, 2027
Sports Day, Monday, October 11, 2027
Culture Day, Wednesday, November 3, 2027
Labour Thanksgiving Day, Tuesday, November 23, 2027
New Year's Day, Saturday, January 1, 2028
Coming of Age Day, Monday, January 10, 2028
National Foundation Day, Friday, February 11, 2028
The Emperor's Birthday, Wednesday, February 23, 2028
Showa Day, Saturday, April 29, 2028
Constitution Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 3, 2028
Greenery Day, Thursday, May 4, 2028
Children's Day, Friday, May 5, 2028
Marine Day, Monday, July 17, 2028
Mountain Day, Friday, August 11, 2028
Respect for the Aged Day, Monday, September 18, 2028
Sports Day, Monday, October 9, 2028
Culture Day, Friday, November 3, 2028
Labour Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23, 2028

National holidays (国民の祝日) and holidays under the Act on National Holidays17 days in 2026

Japan holidays 2026

Date	Holiday	Note
Thu, Jan 1	New Year's Day
Mon, Jan 12	Coming of Age Day
Wed, Feb 11	National Foundation Day
Mon, Feb 23	The Emperor's Birthday
Fri, Mar 20	Vernal Equinox Day
Wed, Apr 29	Showa Day
Mon, May 4	Greenery Day
Tue, May 5	Children's Day
Wed, May 6	Constitution Memorial Day (substitute day)	May 3 is a Sunday
Mon, Jul 20	Marine Day
Tue, Aug 11	Mountain Day
Mon, Sep 21	Respect for the Aged Day
Tue, Sep 22	Citizens' Holiday
Wed, Sep 23	Autumnal Equinox Day
Mon, Oct 12	Sports Day
Tue, Nov 3	Culture Day
Mon, Nov 23	Labour Thanksgiving Day

Japan holidays 2027

Date	Holiday	Note
Fri, Jan 1	New Year's Day
Mon, Jan 11	Coming of Age Day
Thu, Feb 11	National Foundation Day
Tue, Feb 23	The Emperor's Birthday
Mon, Mar 22	Vernal Equinox Day (substitute day)	March 21 is a Sunday
Thu, Apr 29	Showa Day
Mon, May 3	Constitution Memorial Day
Tue, May 4	Greenery Day
Wed, May 5	Children's Day
Mon, Jul 19	Marine Day
Wed, Aug 11	Mountain Day
Mon, Sep 20	Respect for the Aged Day
Thu, Sep 23	Autumnal Equinox Day
Mon, Oct 11	Sports Day
Wed, Nov 3	Culture Day
Tue, Nov 23	Labour Thanksgiving Day

Japan holidays 2028

Date	Holiday	Note
Sat, Jan 1	New Year's Day	On a Saturday, not moved (computed from the rule)
Mon, Jan 10	Coming of Age Day	(computed from the rule)
Fri, Feb 11	National Foundation Day	(computed from the rule)
Wed, Feb 23	The Emperor's Birthday	(computed from the rule)
Sat, Apr 29	Showa Day	On a Saturday, not moved (computed from the rule)
Wed, May 3	Constitution Memorial Day	(computed from the rule)
Thu, May 4	Greenery Day	(computed from the rule)
Fri, May 5	Children's Day	(computed from the rule)
Mon, Jul 17	Marine Day	(computed from the rule)
Fri, Aug 11	Mountain Day	(computed from the rule)
Mon, Sep 18	Respect for the Aged Day	(computed from the rule)
Mon, Oct 9	Sports Day	(computed from the rule)
Fri, Nov 3	Culture Day	(computed from the rule)
Thu, Nov 23	Labour Thanksgiving Day	(computed from the rule)

Not yet announced for 2028: Vernal Equinox Day, Autumnal Equinox Day, a Citizens’ Holiday, only if the equinox leaves a single day between two holidays.

About Japan’s public holidays

Japan’s national holidays under the Act on National Holidays. A holiday on a Sunday gives a substitute holiday (振替休日) on the next day that is not a holiday, and a day squeezed between two holidays becomes a holiday too.

In 2026, 17 holiday days are listed; 1 is taken on another day because the date falls on a weekend. 8 are taken on a Monday or Friday, making a three-day weekend.

Weekends and substitute days

Art.3(2): when a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the nearest following day that is not a national holiday is a holiday (振替休日). Art.3(3): a day between two national holidays is a holiday.

Legal basis: Act on National Holidays (国民の祝日に関する法律, Act No. 178 of 1948), Art.2-3.

Source

Dates were checked against this source on 2 November 2026. Governments can add or move holidays by proclamation; the source is authoritative.

Questions

How many public holidays does Japan have?

17 national holiday days in 2026, 16 national holiday days in 2027, 14 national holiday days in 2028 (3 not yet announced), counting each day taken once.

What happens when a holiday falls on a weekend in Japan?

Constitution Memorial Day on Sun, May 3, 2026: day off Wed, May 6; Vernal Equinox Day on Sun, Mar 21, 2027: day off Mon, Mar 22; New Year's Day on Sat, Jan 1, 2028: not moved; Showa Day on Sat, Apr 29, 2028: not moved. The rule: Art.3(2): when a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the nearest following day that is not a national holiday is a holiday (振替休日). Art.3(3): a day between two national holidays is a holiday.

Where do these dates come from?

From Cabinet Office, checked on 2 November 2026. Legal basis: Act on National Holidays (国民の祝日に関する法律, Act No. 178 of 1948), Art.2-3.