Japan public holidays 2026 and 2027: dates and closures
Japan has 16 national holidays. With substitute holidays added, there are 18 days off in 2026 and 17 in 2027. The longest break in 2027 is Golden Week: 5 days off in a row, from Saturday 1 May to Wednesday 5 May 2027.
- Days off in 2026
- 18
- Days off in 2027
- 17
- Breaks of 3 days or more
- 15
- Golden Week 2027
- 1–5 May
All the dates at a glance
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day元日 | Thu 1 Jan | Fri 1 Jan |
| Coming of Age Day成人の日 | Mon 12 Jan | Mon 11 Jan |
| National Foundation Day建国記念の日 | Wed 11 Feb | Thu 11 Feb |
| Emperor's Birthday天皇誕生日 | Mon 23 Feb | Tue 23 Feb |
| Vernal Equinox Day春分の日 | Fri 20 Mar | Sun 21 Mar |
| Showa Day昭和の日 | Wed 29 Apr | Thu 29 Apr |
| Constitution Memorial Day憲法記念日 | Sun 3 May | Mon 3 May |
| Greenery Dayみどりの日 | Mon 4 May | Tue 4 May |
| Children's Dayこどもの日 | Tue 5 May | Wed 5 May |
| Marine Day海の日 | Mon 20 Jul | Mon 19 Jul |
| Mountain Day山の日 | Tue 11 Aug | Wed 11 Aug |
| Respect for the Aged Day敬老の日 | Mon 21 Sep | Mon 20 Sep |
| Autumnal Equinox Day秋分の日 | Wed 23 Sep | Thu 23 Sep |
| Sports Dayスポーツの日 | Mon 12 Oct | Mon 11 Oct |
| Culture Day文化の日 | Tue 3 Nov | Wed 3 Nov |
| Labor Thanksgiving Day勤労感謝の日 | Mon 23 Nov | Tue 23 Nov |
| Substitute holiday振替休日 | Wed 6 May | Mon 22 Mar |
| Citizens' Holiday国民の休日 | Tue 22 Sep | None |
Show
By year2
Every day off in the year with its weekday, and the long weekends.
Final dates
- Days off
- 18
- 3-day weekends
- 6
- Longest break
- 5 days
- Golden Week
- 2–6 May
Japan has 18 days off in 2026: the 16 national holidays plus a substitute holiday on Wednesday 6 May 2026 and a Citizens' Holiday on Tuesday 22 September 2026.DetailsClose
- New Year's Day
- Thursday 1 January
- Coming of Age Day
- Monday 12 January
- National Foundation Day
- Wednesday 11 February
- Emperor's Birthday
- Monday 23 February
- Vernal Equinox Day
- Friday 20 March
- Showa Day
- Wednesday 29 April
- Constitution Memorial Day
- Sunday 3 May
- Greenery Day
- Monday 4 May
- Children's Day
- Tuesday 5 May
- Substitute holiday
- Wednesday 6 May
- Marine Day
- Monday 20 July
- Mountain Day
- Tuesday 11 August
- Respect for the Aged Day
- Monday 21 September
- Citizens' Holiday
- Tuesday 22 September
- Autumnal Equinox Day
- Wednesday 23 September
- Sports Day
- Monday 12 October
- Culture Day
- Tuesday 3 November
- Labor Thanksgiving Day
- Monday 23 November
Final dates
- Days off
- 17
- 3-day weekends
- 6
- Longest break
- 5 days
- Golden Week
- 1–5 May
Japan has 17 days off in 2027: the 16 national holidays plus a substitute holiday on Monday 22 March 2027.DetailsClose
- New Year's Day
- Friday 1 January
- Coming of Age Day
- Monday 11 January
- National Foundation Day
- Thursday 11 February
- Emperor's Birthday
- Tuesday 23 February
- Vernal Equinox Day
- Sunday 21 March
- Substitute holiday
- Monday 22 March
- Showa Day
- Thursday 29 April
- Constitution Memorial Day
- Monday 3 May
- Greenery Day
- Tuesday 4 May
- Children's Day
- Wednesday 5 May
- Marine Day
- Monday 19 July
- Mountain Day
- Wednesday 11 August
- Respect for the Aged Day
- Monday 20 September
- Autumnal Equinox Day
- Thursday 23 September
- Sports Day
- Monday 11 October
- Culture Day
- Wednesday 3 November
- Labor Thanksgiving Day
- Tuesday 23 November
Long breaks4
New Year, Golden Week, Obon and Silver Week: dates, closures and the busiest trains.
New Year 2026–27Shogatsu
Banks closed 4 days
- Days off
- 3 days
- Banks closed
- 31 Dec – 3 Jan
- Nozomi reserved
- 25 Dec – 5 Jan
- Peak-day riders
- 350,000
New Year's Day, Friday 1 January 2027, is the only national holiday, but banks close from 31 December to 3 January and many sights close for several days.DetailsClose
- New Year's Day
- Friday 1 January 2027
- Banks closed
- 31 December to 3 January
- Every Nozomi reserved-only
- 25 December 2026 to 5 January 2027
- Busiest day last winter
- Sunday 4 January 2026, 350,000 passengers heading to Tokyo
5 days off
- Days off
- 5 days
- Dates
- 1–5 May
- Showa Day
- Thu 29 April
- Peak day 2026
- 311,000
Golden Week 2027 gives 5 days off in a row, from Saturday 1 May to Wednesday 5 May 2027, after Showa Day on Thursday 29 April.DetailsClose
- Showa Day
- Thursday 29 April 2027
- Constitution Memorial Day
- Monday 3 May 2027
- Greenery Day
- Tuesday 4 May 2027
- Children's Day
- Wednesday 5 May 2027
- Busiest day in 2026
- Wednesday 6 May 2026, 311,000 passengers heading to Tokyo
Not a public holiday
- Holidays
- 0
- Mountain Day
- Wed 11 August
- JR period 2026
- 7–16 August
- Peak day 2026
- 294,000
Obon is a family custom, not a public holiday.DetailsClose
- Mountain Day 2027
- Wednesday 11 August 2027
- JR Central's Obon period in 2026
- 7 to 16 August 2026
- Busiest day in 2026
- Sunday 16 August 2026, 294,000 passengers heading to Tokyo
Not every year
- Days off in 2026
- 5 days
- Dates in 2026
- 19–23 September
- Days off in 2027
- 3 days
- Equinox 2027
- Thu 23 September
No five-day Silver Week in 2027.DetailsClose
- Respect for the Aged Day
- Monday 21 September 2026
- Citizens' Holiday
- Tuesday 22 September 2026
- Autumnal Equinox Day
- Wednesday 23 September 2026
- Respect for the Aged Day
- Monday 20 September 2027
- Autumnal Equinox Day
- Thursday 23 September 2027
By month12
The holidays in each month of 2026 and 2027, with the number of visitors that month.
- Days off in 2026
- 2
- Days off in 2027
- 2
- Visitors in 2025
- 3,781,629
- Rank in 2025
- 3rd of 12
New Year's Day, Coming of Age Day.DetailsClose
- New Year's Day
- Thursday 1 January 2026
- Coming of Age Day
- Monday 12 January 2026
- New Year's Day
- Friday 1 January 2027
- Coming of Age Day
- Monday 11 January 2027
- Days off in 2026
- 2
- Days off in 2027
- 2
- Visitors in 2025
- 3,258,491
- Rank in 2025
- 12th of 12
National Foundation Day, Emperor's Birthday.DetailsClose
- National Foundation Day
- Wednesday 11 February 2026
- Emperor's Birthday
- Monday 23 February 2026
- National Foundation Day
- Thursday 11 February 2027
- Emperor's Birthday
- Tuesday 23 February 2027
- Days off in 2026
- 1
- Days off in 2027
- 2
- Visitors in 2025
- 3,497,755
- Rank in 2025
- 7th of 12
Vernal Equinox Day, Substitute holiday.DetailsClose
- Vernal Equinox Day
- Friday 20 March 2026
- Vernal Equinox Day
- Sunday 21 March 2027
- Substitute holiday
- Monday 22 March 2027
- Days off in 2026
- 1
- Days off in 2027
- 1
- Visitors in 2025
- 3,909,128
- Rank in 2025
- 1st of 12
Showa Day.DetailsClose
- Showa Day
- Wednesday 29 April 2026
- Showa Day
- Thursday 29 April 2027
- Days off in 2026
- 4
- Days off in 2027
- 3
- Visitors in 2025
- 3,693,587
- Rank in 2025
- 4th of 12
Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, Children's Day, Substitute holiday.DetailsClose
- Constitution Memorial Day
- Sunday 3 May 2026
- Greenery Day
- Monday 4 May 2026
- Children's Day
- Tuesday 5 May 2026
- Substitute holiday
- Wednesday 6 May 2026
- Constitution Memorial Day
- Monday 3 May 2027
- Greenery Day
- Tuesday 4 May 2027
- Children's Day
- Wednesday 5 May 2027
No holidays
- Days off in 2026
- 0
- Days off in 2027
- 0
- Visitors in 2025
- 3,377,985
- Rank in 2025
- 10th of 12
No national holidays.DetailsClose
- Holidays
- None in 2026 or 2027
- Days off in 2026
- 1
- Days off in 2027
- 1
- Visitors in 2025
- 3,437,118
- Rank in 2025
- 8th of 12
Marine Day.DetailsClose
- Marine Day
- Monday 20 July 2026
- Marine Day
- Monday 19 July 2027
- Days off in 2026
- 1
- Days off in 2027
- 1
- Visitors in 2025
- 3,428,406
- Rank in 2025
- 9th of 12
Mountain Day.DetailsClose
- Mountain Day
- Tuesday 11 August 2026
- Mountain Day
- Wednesday 11 August 2027
- Days off in 2026
- 3
- Days off in 2027
- 2
- Visitors in 2025
- 3,267,228
- Rank in 2025
- 11th of 12
Respect for the Aged Day, Citizens' Holiday, Autumnal Equinox Day.DetailsClose
- Respect for the Aged Day
- Monday 21 September 2026
- Citizens' Holiday
- Tuesday 22 September 2026
- Autumnal Equinox Day
- Wednesday 23 September 2026
- Respect for the Aged Day
- Monday 20 September 2027
- Autumnal Equinox Day
- Thursday 23 September 2027
- Days off in 2026
- 1
- Days off in 2027
- 1
- Visitors in 2025
- 3,896,524
- Rank in 2025
- 2nd of 12
Sports Day.DetailsClose
- Sports Day
- Monday 12 October 2026
- Sports Day
- Monday 11 October 2027
- Days off in 2026
- 2
- Days off in 2027
- 2
- Visitors in 2025
- 3,517,659
- Rank in 2025
- 6th of 12
Culture Day, Labor Thanksgiving Day.DetailsClose
- Culture Day
- Tuesday 3 November 2026
- Labor Thanksgiving Day
- Monday 23 November 2026
- Culture Day
- Wednesday 3 November 2027
- Labor Thanksgiving Day
- Tuesday 23 November 2027
No holidays
- Days off in 2026
- 0
- Days off in 2027
- 0
- Visitors in 2025
- 3,617,791
- Rank in 2025
- 5th of 12
No national holidays.DetailsClose
- Holidays
- None in 2026 or 2027
Nothing matched. Try a month name or Golden Week.
Long weekends in 2026 and 2027
15 breaks of three days or more. The longest are five days.
| Dates | Days off | From – to | Holidays in it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–12 January 2026 | 3 days | Sat – Mon | Coming of Age Day |
| 21–23 February 2026 | 3 days | Sat – Mon | Emperor's Birthday |
| 20–22 March 2026 | 3 days | Fri – Sun | Vernal Equinox Day |
| 2–6 May 2026 | 5 days | Sat – Wed | Constitution Memorial Day · Greenery Day · Children's Day · Substitute holiday |
| 18–20 July 2026 | 3 days | Sat – Mon | Marine Day |
| 19–23 September 2026 | 5 days | Sat – Wed | Respect for the Aged Day · Citizens' Holiday · Autumnal Equinox Day |
| 10–12 October 2026 | 3 days | Sat – Mon | Sports Day |
| 21–23 November 2026 | 3 days | Sat – Mon | Labor Thanksgiving Day |
| 1–3 January 2027 | 3 days | Fri – Sun | New Year's Day |
| 9–11 January 2027 | 3 days | Sat – Mon | Coming of Age Day |
| 20–22 March 2027 | 3 days | Sat – Mon | Vernal Equinox Day · Substitute holiday |
| 1–5 May 2027 | 5 days | Sat – Wed | Constitution Memorial Day · Greenery Day · Children's Day |
| 17–19 July 2027 | 3 days | Sat – Mon | Marine Day |
| 18–20 September 2027 | 3 days | Sat – Mon | Respect for the Aged Day |
| 9–11 October 2027 | 3 days | Sat – Mon | Sports Day |
What closes on public holidays
Banks close on every public holiday. Most national museums close on Mondays, but open on a Monday holiday and close the next day instead.
| Place | Usually closed | On a public holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Banks | Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays | Closed |
| Tokyo National Museum | Mondays | Open on a Monday holiday, closed the next day |
| National Museum of Western Art | Mondays | Open on a Monday holiday, closed the next day |
| Kyoto National Museum | Mondays | Open on a Monday holiday, closed the next day |
| The National Art Center, Tokyo | Tuesdays | Open on a Tuesday holiday, closed the next working day |
| Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden | Mondays | Closed the next weekday instead |
| Imperial Palace tours | Sundays and Mondays | No tours (unless the holiday is a Saturday) |
Shinjuku Gyoen opens every day, Mondays included, during the cherry blossom season (25 March – 24 April) and the Chrysanthemum Exhibition (1–15 November).
Year-end and New Year
| Place | Usually closed | On a public holiday | Year-end and New Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banks | Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays | Closed | 31 December – 3 January |
| Tokyo National Museum | Mondays | Open on a Monday holiday, closed the next day | 26–31 December 2026 |
| National Museum of Western Art | Mondays | Open on a Monday holiday, closed the next day | 28 December – 1 January |
| Kyoto National Museum | Mondays | Open on a Monday holiday, closed the next day | Closed over the year-end and New Year holidays |
| Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden | Mondays | Closed the next weekday instead | 29 December – 3 January |
| Imperial Palace tours | Sundays and Mondays | No tours (unless the holiday is a Saturday) | 28 December – 4 January |
When the Shinkansen is busiest
The New Year return is the busiest day on the Tokaido Shinkansen among the three peak seasons. JR Central makes every Nozomi reserved-seat only on the peak days.
Passengers on the busiest single days (Tokaido Shinkansen)
Leaving Tokyo means westbound trains to Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka. Heading to Tokyo means eastbound trains.
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 |
| Labor Thanksgiving Day weekend | 21–23 November 2026 | 3 days |
| Year-end and New Year | 25 December 2026 – 5 January 2027 | 12 days |
| Coming of Age Day weekend | 9–11 January 2027 | 3 days |
| Vernal Equinox Day weekend | 20–22 March 2027 | 3 days |
Source: JR Central and JR West — Days when every Nozomi is reserved-seat only, fiscal 2026 (21 May 2026)
How substitute holidays work
Article 3 of the Act on National Holidays adds days off in two cases.
The three extra days off in 2026 and 2027
- Wednesday 6 May 2026: Substitute holiday. Constitution Memorial Day fell on Sunday 3 May, so the next day that is not a holiday is off (Article 3, paragraph 2).
- Tuesday 22 September 2026: Citizens' Holiday. A weekday between two national holidays becomes a day off (Article 3, paragraph 3).
- Monday 22 March 2027: Substitute holiday. Vernal Equinox Day falls on Sunday 21 March, so Monday 22 March is off (Article 3, paragraph 2).
The Cabinet Office posts the 2028 holidays in February 2027. The equinox dates are set by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and published in the official gazette each February.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does Japan have?
The law sets 16 national holidays. With substitute holidays added, Japan has 18 days off in 2026 and 17 in 2027.
When is Golden Week 2027?
Showa Day is Thursday 29 April 2027. Then 5 days are off in a row, from Saturday 1 May to Wednesday 5 May 2027.
What happens when a holiday falls on a Sunday in Japan?
The next day that is not a holiday becomes a day off. In 2027 Vernal Equinox Day is Sunday 21 March, so Monday 22 March is off.
Are banks open on public holidays in Japan?
No. Banks close on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, and from 31 December to 3 January.
Are museums in Japan open on a Monday holiday?
The national museums in Tokyo and Kyoto close on Mondays, but they open on a Monday holiday and close on the next day instead. Shinjuku Gyoen does the same.
Which days are hardest to book on the Shinkansen?
JR Central makes every Nozomi reserved-seat only on its busiest days: 10–12 October 2026; 21–23 November 2026; 25 December 2026 – 5 January 2027; 9–11 January 2027; 20–22 March 2027. Its busiest single day last winter was Sunday 4 January 2026, with 350,000 passengers heading to Tokyo.
When are the 2028 public holidays announced?
The Cabinet Office posts them in February 2027. The equinox dates are published in the official gazette each February.
Are there public holidays in June or December?
No. June and December have no national holidays in 2026 or 2027.
Where these numbers come from
- Cabinet Office National holidays (国民の祝日について)checked October 1, 2026
- Cabinet Office National holidays 1955–2027 (CSV)checked October 1, 2026
- Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of Justice Act on National Holidays (official English translation)checked October 1, 2026
- National Astronomical Observatory of Japan Glossary on national holidayschecked October 1, 2026
- Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of Justice Enforcement Order of the Banking Act, Article 5 (official English translation)checked October 1, 2026
- JR Central Year-end and New Year 2025–26: passenger results (5 January 2026)checked October 1, 2026
- JR Central Golden Week 2026: passenger results (7 May 2026)checked October 1, 2026
- JR Central Obon 2026: passenger results (17 August 2026)checked October 1, 2026
- JR Central Silver Week 2026: reserved-seat bookings (4 September 2026)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
- JR East Year-end and New Year 2025–26: reserved-seat bookings (16 December 2025)checked October 1, 2026
- Tokyo National Museum Getting here, admission and hourschecked October 1, 2026
- National Museum of Western Art Visitchecked October 1, 2026
- Kyoto National Museum Visitchecked October 1, 2026
- The National Art Center, Tokyo Informationchecked October 1, 2026
- Ministry of the Environment Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden: admission and closed dayschecked October 1, 2026
- Imperial Household Agency Imperial Palace tourschecked October 1, 2026
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Visitor arrivals to Japan (released 16 September 2026)checked October 1, 2026
Japanese public holidays for 2026 and 2027 with weekdays, substitute holidays and long weekends, from the Cabinet Office; Tokaido Shinkansen passenger peaks from JR Central; closing days of banks and national museums from each operator.
Holiday dates come from the Cabinet Office list for 2026 and 2027. The 2028 dates are added when the Cabinet Office posts them in February 2027.
Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 2, 2026