Japanese Holidays


This Is A List Of Japanese Holidays!
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  • January 1 (national holiday) 
    New Year (shogatsu): 
    This is the most important holiday in Japan. While only January 1 is designated as a national holiday, many businesses remain closed through January 3. More information is available on the New Year page.
  • Second Monday of January (national holiday) 
    Coming of Age (seijin no hi): 
    The coming of age of 20 year old men and women is celebrated on this national holiday. More information is available on the Coming of Age page.
  • February 3 
    Beginning of spring (setsubun): 
    Setsubun is not a national holiday, but celebrated at shrines and temples nationwide. More information is available on the Setsubun page.
  • February 11 (national holiday) 
    National Foundation Day (kenkoku kinenbi): 
    According to the earliest Japanese history records, on this day in the year 660 BC the first Japanese emperor was crowned.
  • February 14 
    Valentine's Day: 
    In Japan, women give chocolates to men on Valentine's Day. It is not a national holiday. More information is available on the Valentine's Day page.
  • March 3 
    Doll's Festival (hina matsuri): 
    Also called girl's festival. More information is available on the Doll's Festival page.
  • March 14 
    White Day: 
    The opposite of Valentine's Day: Men give cakes or chocolates to women. It is not a national holiday. More information is available on the White Day page.
  • Around March 20 (national holiday) 
    Spring Equinox Day (shunbun no hi): 
    Graves are visited during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day.
  • April 29 (national holiday) 
    Showa Day (Showa no hi): 
    The birthday of former Emperor Showa. Before 2007, April 29 was known as Greenery Day (now celebrated on May 4). Showa Day is part of the Golden Week.
  • May 3 (national holiday) 
    Constitution Day (kenpo kinenbi): 
    A national holiday remembering the new constitution, which was put into effect after the war. More information is available on the Golden Week page.
  • May 4 (national holiday) 
    Greenery Day (midori no hi): 
    Until 2006, Greenery Day was celebrated on April 29, the former Emperor Showa's birthday, due to the emperor's love for plants and nature. It is now celebrated on May 4 and is part of theGolden Week.
  • May 5 (national holiday) 
    Children's Day (kodomo no hi): 
    Also called boy's festival. More information is available on the Golden Week page.
  • July/August 7 
    Star Festival (tanabata): 
    Tanabata is a festival rather than a national holiday. More information is available on theTanabata page.
  • Third Monday of July (national holiday) 
    Ocean Day (umi no hi): 
    A recently introduced national holiday to celebrate the ocean. The day marks the return of Emperor Meiji from a boat trip to Hokkaido in 1876.
  • July/August 13-15 
    Obon: 
    Obon is a festival to commemorate deceased ancestors. More information is available on theObon page.
  • Third Monday of September (national holiday) 
    Respect for the Aged Day (keiro no hi): 
    Respect for the elderly and longevity are celebrated on this national holiday.
  • Around September 23 (national holiday) 
    Autum Equinox Day (shubun no hi): 
    Graves are visited during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day.
  • Second Monday of October (national holiday) 
    Health and Sports Day (taiiku no hi): 
    On that day in 1964, the Olympic games of Tokyo were opened.
  • November 3 (national holiday) 
    Culture Day (bunka no hi): 
    A day for promotion of culture and the love of freedom and peace. On culture day, schools and the government award selected persons for their special, cultural achievements.
  • November 15 
    Seven-Five-Three (shichigosan): 
    A festival for children, Shichigosan is not a national holiday. More information is available on theShichigosan page.
  • November 23 (national holiday) 
    Labour Thanksgiving Day (kinro kansha no hi): 
    A national holiday for honoring labour.
  • December 23 (national holiday) 
    Emperor's Birthday (tenno no tanjobi): 
    The birthday of the current emperor is always a national holiday. If the emperor changes, the national holiday changes to the birthday date of the new emperor.
  • December 24-25 
    Christmas: 
    Christmas is not a national holiday, but it is celebrated by an increasing number of Japanese. More information is available on the Christmas page.
  • December 31 
    New Year's Eve (omisoka): 
    December 31 is not a national holiday. More information is available on the New Year page.
If a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will also be a holiday. If a day lies between two national holidays, the day will also be turned into a holiday.