Public holidays in Japan in April 2026 and 2027
April has 1 day off in 2026 and 1 in 2027: Showa Day. 3,909,128 visitors arrived in Japan in April 2025.
Public holidays in April
2026 and 2027 together, by date.
| Holiday | Date | Days off in a row |
|---|---|---|
| Showa Day昭和の日 | Wednesday 29 April 2026 | 1 day |
| Showa Day昭和の日 | Thursday 29 April 2027 | 1 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Week | 24 April – 6 May 2026 | 13 days |
Source: JR Central and JR West — Days when every Nozomi is reserved-seat only, fiscal 2026 (21 May 2026)
Busiest Shinkansen days: Golden Week 2026
JR Central's results for 24 April to 6 May 2026.
- Total passengers
- 4,932,000
- Days counted
- 13 days
- Busiest from Tokyo
- 297,000 · Sat 2 May
- Busiest to Tokyo
- 311,000 · Wed 6 May
How busy April is with visitors
3,909,128 visitors arrived in April 2025, the 1st busiest month of the year. The figure for April 2026 is 3,692,364 (provisional or estimated).
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 April?
Yes. Showa Day is Wednesday 29 April 2026. Showa Day is Thursday 29 April 2027.
How many tourists visit Japan in April?
3,909,128 visitors arrived in April 2025, the 1st highest of the 12 months (JNTO final figures).
Which days in April are hardest to book on the Shinkansen?
Every Nozomi is reserved-seat only on these days: 24 April – 6 May 2026 (Golden 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
- JR Central Golden Week 2026: passenger results (7 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