The Japanese are not in the habit of taking long periods of annual leave. However there are 15 national, government-recognised public holidays per year (compared to 8 public holidays in England & Wales). These public holidays in Japan mean that particular short periods are extremely busy with people travelling to be with family, or taking part in festivities. The period at the beginning of May when several public holidays fall on consecutive days is know as “Golden Week”.
Actual bank holidays are shown in bold.
January 2015
1st (Thursday): New Year’s Day (gantan): only 1st January is an official national holiday, but the New Year period (shogatsu) is considered to last until the 3rd, and many business re-open on the 5th. 2nd, 3rd: Officially holidays for bank and government employees only.
12th (Monday): Coming of Age Day (seijin no hi): all young people who turn 20 this year are celebrated on this national holiday.
February
3rd: Beginning of Spring (setsubun): traditional festival, but not national holiday.
11th (Wednesday): National Foundation Day (kenkoku kinen no hi)
March
3rd: Girls’ or Dolls’ Festival (hina matsuri): not a national holiday.
21st (Saturday): Spring Equinox (shunbun no hi)
April
29th (Wednesday): Showa Day (Showa no hi), the birthday of the Showa Emperor (Hirohito).
May
3rd (Sunday): Constitution Day (kenpo kinenbi) – will be observed on 6th
4th (Monday): Greenery Day (midori no hi)
5th (Tuesday): Childrens’ Day (Boys’ Day) (kodomo no hi)
6th (Wednesday): Constitution Day observed (as it actually falls on the preceding Sunday)
July
7th: Tanabata (Star Festival) is not a national holiday 15th: Obon (Festival of Souls): although this is not an official national holiday, many offices are closed (Tokyo celebrates in July)
20th (Monday): Marine Day (umi no hi)
August
15th: Obon (Festival of Souls): although this is not an official national holiday, many offices are closed (most of the country celebrates this festival in August)
September
21st (Monday): Respect for the Aged Day (keiro no hi)
22nd (Tuesday): This year has a “bridge public holiday”
23rd (Wednesday): Autumn Equinox
October
12th (Monday): Sports Day (taiku no hi)
November
3rd (Tuesday): Culture Day (bunka no hi) 15th: Shichi-go-san (7/5/3 Festival): not a holiday but a traditional festival
23rd (Monday): Labour Thanksgiving Day (kinro kansha no hi)
December
23rd (Wednesday): Emperor’s Birthday (Tenno tanjobi) 25th: Not a national holiday
31st (Thursday): New Years Eve (omisoka): officially a holiday for bank and government employees only. But for many offices, 30th will be the last working day until 4th January.
January 2016
1st (Friday): New Year’s Day (gantan): only 1st January is an official national holiday, but the New Year period (shogatsu) is considered to last until the 3rd, and many business re-open on the 4th or 5th. 2nd-3rd: Officially a holiday for bank and government employees only.
11 (Monday): Coming of Age Day (seijin no hi): all young people who turn 20 this year are celebrated on this national holiday.
February
3rd: Beginning of Spring (setsubun): traditional festival, but not national holiday.
11th (Thursday): National Foundation Day (kenkoku kinen no hi)
March
3rd: Girls’ or Dolls’ Festival (hina matsuri): not a national holiday.
20th (Sunday): Spring Equinox (shunbun no hi)
21st (Monday): Spring Equinox As Spring Equinox falls on a Sunday, Monday 21st is taken as a holiday instead.
April
29th (Friday): Showa Day (Showa no hi), the birthday of the Showa Emperor (Hirohito).
May
3rd (Tuesday): Constitution Day (kenpo kinenbi)
4th (Wednesday): Greenery Day (midori no hi)
5th (Thursday): Childrens’ Day (Boys’ Day) (kodomo no hi)
July
7th: Tanabata (Star Festival) is not a national holiday
13th-15th: Obon (Festival of Souls): although this is not an official national holiday, many offices are closed (Tokyo celebrates in July)
18th (Monday): Marine Day (umi no hi)
August
11th (Thursday): Mountain Day A new holiday which occurs for the first time in 2016 to lay off the pressure on businessmen
13th-15th: Obon (Festival of Souls): although this is not an official national holiday, many offices are closed (most of the country celebrates this festival in August)
September
19th (Monday): Respect for the Aged Day (keiro no hi)
22nd (Thursday): Autumn Equinox
October
10th (Monday): Sports Day (taiku no hi)
November
3rd (Thursday): Culture Day (bunka no hi)
15th: Shichi-go-san (7/5/3 Festival): not a holiday but a traditional festival
23rd (Wednesday): Labour Thanksgiving Day (kinro kansha no hi)
December
23rd (Friday): Emperor’s Birthday (Tenno tanjobi)
25th: Not a national holiday
31st: New Years Eve (omisoka): officially a holiday for bank and government employees only. But for many offices, 30th will be the last working day until 4th January.
January 2017
2nd (Monday): New Year’s Day (gantan): only 1st January is an official national holiday (which falls on Sunday, so 2nd will be taken instead). But the New Year period (shogatsu) is considered to last until the 3rd, and many business re-open on the 4th or 5th. 2nd-3rd: Officially a holiday for bank and government employees only.
9th (Monday): Coming of Age Day (seijin no hi): all young people who turn 20 this year are celebrated on this national holiday.
February
3rd: Beginning of Spring (setsubun): traditional festival, but not national holiday.
11th (Saturday): National Foundation Day (kenkoku kinen no hi)
March
3rd: Girls’ or Dolls’ Festival (hina matsuri): not a national holiday.
20th (Monday): Spring Equinox (shunbun no hi) As Spring Equinox falls on a Sunday, Monday 21st is taken as a holiday instead.
April
29th (Saturday): Showa Day (Showa no hi), the birthday of the Showa Emperor (Hirohito).
May
3rd (Wednesday): Constitution Day (kenpo kinenbi)
4th (Thursday): Greenery Day (midori no hi)
5th (Friday): Childrens’ Day (Boys’ Day) (kodomo no hi)
July
7th: Tanabata (Star Festival) is not a national holiday
13th-15th: Obon (Festival of Souls): although this is not an official national holiday, many offices are closed (Tokyo celebrates in July)
17th (Monday): Marine Day (umi no hi)
August
11th (Friday): Mountain Day A new holiday which occurs for the first time in 2016 to lay off the pressure on businessmen
13th-15th: Obon (Festival of Souls): although this is not an official national holiday, many offices are closed (most of the country celebrates this festival in August)
September
18th (Monday): Respect for the Aged Day (keiro no hi)
23nd (Saturday): Autumn Equinox
October
9th (Monday): Sports Day (taiku no hi)
November
3rd (Friday): Culture Day (bunka no hi)
15th: Shichi-go-san (7/5/3 Festival): not a holiday but a traditional festival
23rd (Thursday): Labour Thanksgiving Day (kinro kansha no hi)
December
23rd (Saturday): Emperor’s Birthday (Tenno tanjobi)
25th: Not a national holiday
31st: New Years Eve (omisoka): officially a holiday for bank and government employees only. But for many offices, 30th will be the last working day until 4th January.