Public holidays in Japan in September 2026 and 2027
September has 3 days off in 2026 and 2 in 2027: Respect for the Aged Day, Citizens' Holiday, Autumnal Equinox Day. 3,267,228 visitors arrived in Japan in September 2025.
Public holidays in September
2026 and 2027 together, by date.
| Holiday | Date | Days off in a row |
|---|---|---|
| Respect for the Aged Day敬老の日 | Monday 21 September 2026 | 5 days (19–23 September) |
| Citizens' Holiday国民の休日 | Tuesday 22 September 2026 | 5 days (19–23 September) |
| Autumnal Equinox Day秋分の日 | Wednesday 23 September 2026 | 5 days (19–23 September) |
| Respect for the Aged Day敬老の日 | Monday 20 September 2027 | 3 days (18–20 September) |
| Autumnal Equinox Day秋分の日 | Thursday 23 September 2027 | 1 day |
Long weekends in September
Weekends and holidays that join up into three days off or more.
| Dates | Days off | From – to | Holidays in it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19–23 September 2026 | 5 days | Sat – Wed | Respect for the Aged Day · Citizens' Holiday · Autumnal Equinox Day |
| 18–20 September 2027 | 3 days | Sat – Mon | Respect for the Aged Day |
Days when the Shinkansen is hardest to book
JR Central and JR West make every Nozomi reserved-seat only on these days.
Every Nozomi is reserved-seat only on these days. Passengers with an unreserved ticket cannot take a seat on a Nozomi. Hikari, Kodama, Mizuho and Sakura trains keep their unreserved cars.
| Period | Dates | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Week | 18–23 September 2026 | 6 days |
Source: JR Central and JR West — Days when every Nozomi is reserved-seat only, fiscal 2026 (21 May 2026)
How busy September is with visitors
3,267,228 visitors arrived in September 2025, the 11th busiest month of the year.
Visitor arrivals to Japan by month, 2025
Final figures. The highlighted bar is this month.
Source: Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) — Visitor arrivals to Japan (released 16 September 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Are there public holidays in Japan in September?
Yes. Respect for the Aged Day is Monday 21 September 2026. Citizens' Holiday is Tuesday 22 September 2026. Autumnal Equinox Day is Wednesday 23 September 2026. Respect for the Aged Day is Monday 20 September 2027. Autumnal Equinox Day is Thursday 23 September 2027.
How many tourists visit Japan in September?
3,267,228 visitors arrived in September 2025, the 11th highest of the 12 months (JNTO final figures).
Which days in September are hardest to book on the Shinkansen?
Every Nozomi is reserved-seat only on these days: 18–23 September 2026 (Silver Week).
Related items
Sources for this page
- Cabinet Office National holidays (国民の祝日について)checked October 1, 2026
- JR Central and JR West Days when every Nozomi is reserved-seat only, fiscal 2026 (21 May 2026)checked October 1, 2026
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Visitor arrivals to Japan (released 16 September 2026)checked October 1, 2026
Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 2, 2026