Japan has 18 public holidays in 2026 and 17 in 2027 on the official list we publish. In 2026, eight fall on a Monday or Friday, next to a weekend, and one on a Saturday or Sunday. Below: every date with its weekday, copied from the official source.
Every public holiday, 2026 and 2027
The list as we publish it on our Japan page, copied from the official source below. The weekday is worked out from the date.
2026
| Date | Holiday | Japanese name |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 January 2026 | New Year's Day | 元日 |
| Mon 12 January 2026 | Coming-of-Age Day | 成人の日 |
| Wed 11 February 2026 | National Foundation Commemoration Day | 建国記念の日 |
| Mon 23 February 2026 | Emperor's Birthday | 天皇誕生日 |
| Fri 20 March 2026 | Vernal Equinox Day | 春分の日 |
| Wed 29 April 2026 | Showa Day | 昭和の日 |
| Sun 3 May 2026 | Constitution Memorial Day | 憲法記念日 |
| Mon 4 May 2026 | Greenery Day | みどりの日 |
| Tue 5 May 2026 | Children's Day | こどもの日 |
| Wed 6 May 2026 | Public holiday (Constitution Memorial Day fell on a Sunday) | 休日 |
| Mon 20 July 2026 | Marine Day | 海の日 |
| Tue 11 August 2026 | Mountain Day | 山の日 |
| Mon 21 September 2026 | Respect for the Aged Day | 敬老の日 |
| Tue 22 September 2026 | Public holiday (between Respect for the Aged Day and Autumnal Equinox Day) | 休日 |
| Wed 23 September 2026 | Autumnal Equinox Day | 秋分の日 |
| Mon 12 October 2026 | Sports Day | スポーツの日 |
| Tue 3 November 2026 | Culture Day | 文化の日 |
| Mon 23 November 2026 | Labor Thanksgiving Day | 勤労感謝の日 |
2027
| Date | Holiday | Japanese name |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 1 January 2027 | New Year's Day | 元日 |
| Mon 11 January 2027 | Coming-of-Age Day | 成人の日 |
| Thu 11 February 2027 | National Foundation Commemoration Day | 建国記念の日 |
| Tue 23 February 2027 | Emperor's Birthday | 天皇誕生日 |
| Sun 21 March 2027 | Vernal Equinox Day | 春分の日 |
| Mon 22 March 2027 | Public holiday (Vernal Equinox Day fell on a Sunday) | 休日 |
| Thu 29 April 2027 | Showa Day | 昭和の日 |
| Mon 3 May 2027 | Constitution Memorial Day | 憲法記念日 |
| Tue 4 May 2027 | Greenery Day | みどりの日 |
| Wed 5 May 2027 | Children's Day | こどもの日 |
| Mon 19 July 2027 | Marine Day | 海の日 |
| Wed 11 August 2027 | Mountain Day | 山の日 |
| Mon 20 September 2027 | Respect for the Aged Day | 敬老の日 |
| Thu 23 September 2027 | Autumnal Equinox Day | 秋分の日 |
| Mon 11 October 2027 | Sports Day | スポーツの日 |
| Wed 3 November 2027 | Culture Day | 文化の日 |
| Tue 23 November 2027 | Labor Thanksgiving Day | 勤労感謝の日 |
When is Golden Week?
The Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual guide to Matsumoto Castle writes “During Golden Week (April 29–May 5)”, in a note that the castle can be crowded then.3 These are the public holidays on our list from 29 April to 6 May: In 2026: Showa Day (29 April), Constitution Memorial Day (3 May), Greenery Day (4 May), Children's Day (5 May), Public holiday (Constitution Memorial Day fell on a Sunday) (6 May). In 2027: Showa Day (29 April), Constitution Memorial Day (3 May), Greenery Day (4 May), Children's Day (5 May).
Which holidays fall next to a weekend?
2026. On a Monday or Friday: Coming-of-Age Day (Monday 12 January), Emperor's Birthday (Monday 23 February), Vernal Equinox Day (Friday 20 March), Greenery Day (Monday 4 May), Marine Day (Monday 20 July), Respect for the Aged Day (Monday 21 September), Sports Day (Monday 12 October), Labor Thanksgiving Day (Monday 23 November). On a Saturday or Sunday: Constitution Memorial Day (Sunday 3 May).
2027. On a Monday or Friday: New Year's Day (Friday 1 January), Coming-of-Age Day (Monday 11 January), Public holiday (Vernal Equinox Day fell on a Sunday) (Monday 22 March), Constitution Memorial Day (Monday 3 May), Marine Day (Monday 19 July), Respect for the Aged Day (Monday 20 September), Sports Day (Monday 11 October). On a Saturday or Sunday: Vernal Equinox Day (Sunday 21 March).
What this list covers
National holidays only, as listed on our Japan page; regional and local holidays are not included unless that page says so. Whether a holiday is a day off can depend on the employer or the job. For every country in one place, see the holiday calendar, which also shows school holidays where we publish them.
Key takeaways
- Japan: 18 public holidays in 2026 and 17 in 2027 on the official list we publish.
- In 2026, eight fall on a Monday or Friday and one on a Saturday or Sunday.
- Regional and local holidays are not included; check the official source for the latest list.
Sources
Dates copied from the official source our country page cites; weekdays worked out from the dates. See how we research.
- Holidays: 出典：「国民の祝日について」（内閣府）（https://www8.cao.go.jp/chosei/shukujitsu/gaiyou.html）, with the holiday list 「昭和30年（1955年）から令和9年（2027年）国民の祝日」 (CSV). Cabinet Office, Government of Japan: national holidays and public holidays, 2025–2027. Accessed 22 September 2026. Licensed under the Public Data License 1.0 (PDL1.0). 「国民の祝日について」（内閣府）を加工して作成 — edited by Gallivanting Gadabout (English wording, weekdays and selection).
- Holiday names: 出典：日本法令外国語訳データベースシステム（法務省）（https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4846/tb）. Ministry of Justice, Japan, Japanese Law Translation, Act on National Holidays (Act No. 178 of 1948, last version Act No. 57 of 2018), articles 2 and 3, English translation. Accessed 22 September 2026. Licensed under PDL1.0. The translation is not an official text; only the Japanese original has legal effect.
- Golden Week: Japan Tourism Agency, 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース (JTA Sightseeing Database), English entry “Matsumoto Castle: General Information”, mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db/en/R4-00213.html, accessed 6 October 2026. This English-language text was created by the Japan Tourism Agency. Quoted word for word; the database notes that details may have changed since writing.
Modified data: the weekdays, the “next to a weekend” lists and the month table are our own arrangement of the published dates and figures.