Japan 2026 public holiday guide
Japan’s national holidays are defined by the Act on National Holidays. Some dates are fixed; others use Happy Monday rules. When a holiday falls on Sunday, a substitute holiday usually follows. Golden Week, Marine Day season, and the year-end/New Year period are the busiest travel windows.
For visitors, Golden Week means scarce seats and higher hotel rates. For business, expect slower replies during Golden Week and Obon (mid-August company leave that is widely observed even though it is not a single nationwide statutory holiday).
Confirm details with Cabinet Office publications when dates affect contracts or travel.
Planning tips
- Golden Week: book transport early.
- Marine Day / Mountain Day: summer travel markers.
- Respect for the Aged Day + Autumnal Equinox: common autumn breaks.
- Culture Day / Labor Thanksgiving Day: short autumn holidays.
Japan 2026 public holiday table
This 2026 view lists 17 public holiday dates for Japan. The earliest entry is 2026-01-01 (New Year's Day, Thu) and the latest is 2026-11-23 (Labor Thanksgiving Day). The longest consecutive block in the dataset is about 4 days (2026-05-03–2026-05-06). The table below is fully readable without JavaScript.
| Date | Weekday | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | Thu | New Year's Day |
| 2026-01-12 | Mon | Coming of Age Day |
| 2026-02-11 | Wed | National Foundation Day |
| 2026-02-23 | Mon | Emperor's Birthday |
| 2026-03-20 | Fri | Vernal Equinox Day |
| 2026-04-29 | Wed | Showa Day |
| 2026-05-03 | Sun | Labour Day / Constitution Memorial Day |
| 2026-05-04 | Mon | Labour Day / Greenery Day / Bank Holiday |
| 2026-05-05 | Tue | Labour Day / Children's Day |
| 2026-05-06 | Wed | Children's Day (substitute) |
| 2026-07-20 | Mon | Marine Day |
| 2026-08-11 | Tue | Mountain Day |
| 2026-09-21 | Mon | Respect for the Aged Day |
| 2026-09-22 | Tue | Autumn Equinox Day |
| 2026-10-12 | Mon | Sports Day / Columbus Day |
| 2026-11-03 | Tue | Culture Day |
| 2026-11-23 | Mon | Labor Thanksgiving Day |
Note: Compiled from public notices for planning. Confirm critical dates with official sources.
Cross-border planning notes
Unlike Mainland China’s tiaoxiu long breaks, Japan relies on the Act on National Holidays and substitute holidays. Golden Week is usually busier and pricier than China’s shorter Qingming breaks. Korean Seollal/Chuseok do not line up with Japanese dates.
Japan FAQ
What is a substitute holiday?
When a national holiday falls on Sunday, the next working day is usually off.
Is Obon a national holiday?
Not as one nationwide statutory holiday, but many companies shut down in mid-August.
Do banks close?
Banks usually close on national holidays; convenience stores often stay open.