Public holidays in Japan in October 2026 and 2027
October has 1 day off in 2026 and 1 in 2027: Sports Day. 3,896,524 visitors arrived in Japan in October 2025.
Public holidays in October
2026 and 2027 together, by date.
| Holiday | Date | Days off in a row |
|---|---|---|
| Sports Dayスポーツの日 | Monday 12 October 2026 | 3 days (10–12 October) |
| Sports Dayスポーツの日 | Monday 11 October 2027 | 3 days (9–11 October) |
Long weekends in October
Weekends and holidays that join up into three days off or more.
| Dates | Days off | From – to | Holidays in it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–12 October 2026 | 3 days | Sat – Mon | Sports Day |
| 9–11 October 2027 | 3 days | Sat – Mon | Sports 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sports Day weekend | 10–12 October 2026 | 3 days |
Source: JR Central and JR West — Days when every Nozomi is reserved-seat only, fiscal 2026 (21 May 2026)
How busy October is with visitors
3,896,524 visitors arrived in October 2025, the 2nd 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 October?
Yes. Sports Day is Monday 12 October 2026. Sports Day is Monday 11 October 2027.
How many tourists visit Japan in October?
3,896,524 visitors arrived in October 2025, the 2nd highest of the 12 months (JNTO final figures).
Which days in October are hardest to book on the Shinkansen?
Every Nozomi is reserved-seat only on these days: 10–12 October 2026 (Sports Day weekend).
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