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Public holidays in Japan: 2026 and 2027, with long weekends
The official holiday list, the long weekends it creates, and the three peak periods when Japan travels at once.
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Public holidays decide when Japan travels. Hotels and Shinkansen seats around Golden Week (late April to early May), Obon (mid-August) and New Year sell out weeks ahead and prices rise; museums and theme parks are at their busiest. The tables below come from the Cabinet Office list and show every holiday and the long weekends they create.
2026
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | Thu | New Year's Day 元日 |
| 2026-01-12 | Mon | Coming of Age Day 成人の日 |
| 2026-02-11 | Wed | National Foundation Day 建国記念の日 |
| 2026-02-23 | Mon | The Emperor's Birthday 天皇誕生日 |
| 2026-03-20 | Fri | Vernal Equinox Day 春分の日 |
| 2026-04-29 | Wed | Showa Day 昭和の日 |
| 2026-05-03 | Sun | Constitution Memorial Day 憲法記念日 |
| 2026-05-04 | Mon | Greenery Day みどりの日 |
| 2026-05-05 | Tue | Children's Day こどもの日 |
| 2026-05-06 | Wed | Substitute Holiday 振替休日 |
| 2026-07-20 | Mon | Marine Day 海の日 |
| 2026-08-11 | Tue | Mountain Day 山の日 |
| 2026-09-21 | Mon | Respect for the Aged Day 敬老の日 |
| 2026-09-22 | Tue | Citizens' Holiday (bridge day) 国民の休日 |
| 2026-09-23 | Wed | Autumnal Equinox Day 秋分の日 |
| 2026-10-12 | Mon | Sports Day スポーツの日 |
| 2026-11-03 | Tue | Culture Day 文化の日 |
| 2026-11-23 | Mon | Labor Thanksgiving Day 勤労感謝の日 |
Long weekends in 2026
- January 10–12 — 3 days off in a row (Coming of Age Day)
- February 21–23 — 3 days off in a row (The Emperor's Birthday)
- March 20–22 — 3 days off in a row (Vernal Equinox Day)
- May 2–6 — 5 days off in a row (Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, Children's Day)
- July 18–20 — 3 days off in a row (Marine Day)
- September 19–23 — 5 days off in a row (Respect for the Aged Day, Autumnal Equinox Day)
- October 10–12 — 3 days off in a row (Sports Day)
- November 21–23 — 3 days off in a row (Labor Thanksgiving Day)
2027
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 2027-01-01 | Fri | New Year's Day 元日 |
| 2027-01-11 | Mon | Coming of Age Day 成人の日 |
| 2027-02-11 | Thu | National Foundation Day 建国記念の日 |
| 2027-02-23 | Tue | The Emperor's Birthday 天皇誕生日 |
| 2027-03-21 | Sun | Vernal Equinox Day 春分の日 |
| 2027-03-22 | Mon | Substitute Holiday 振替休日 |
| 2027-04-29 | Thu | Showa Day 昭和の日 |
| 2027-05-03 | Mon | Constitution Memorial Day 憲法記念日 |
| 2027-05-04 | Tue | Greenery Day みどりの日 |
| 2027-05-05 | Wed | Children's Day こどもの日 |
| 2027-07-19 | Mon | Marine Day 海の日 |
| 2027-08-11 | Wed | Mountain Day 山の日 |
| 2027-09-20 | Mon | Respect for the Aged Day 敬老の日 |
| 2027-09-23 | Thu | Autumnal Equinox Day 秋分の日 |
| 2027-10-11 | Mon | Sports Day スポーツの日 |
| 2027-11-03 | Wed | Culture Day 文化の日 |
| 2027-11-23 | Tue | Labor Thanksgiving Day 勤労感謝の日 |
Long weekends in 2027
- January 1–3 — 3 days off in a row (New Year's Day)
- January 9–11 — 3 days off in a row (Coming of Age Day)
- March 20–22 — 3 days off in a row (Vernal Equinox Day)
- May 1–5 — 5 days off in a row (Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, Children's Day)
- July 17–19 — 3 days off in a row (Marine Day)
- September 18–20 — 3 days off in a row (Respect for the Aged Day)
- October 9–11 — 3 days off in a row (Sports Day)
The three peak periods
Golden Week runs from Showa Day (29 April) to Children’s Day (5 May) and is the single busiest travel week of the year for domestic trips. Obon (around 13–16 August) is not a public holiday, but most companies close and families travel home, so trains and flights fill up. New Year (29 December to 3 January) shuts offices, many restaurants and some attractions; department stores reopen on 2 January with “lucky bag” sales. If your dates are flexible, the weeks either side of these periods are quieter and cheaper.
Two rules explain the oddities in the list: a holiday that falls on a Sunday moves to the next working day, and several holidays are fixed to a Monday to create three-day weekends. Shops, restaurants and attractions mostly stay open on public holidays; banks, post offices and government offices close.
Frequently asked questions
Are shops open on Japanese public holidays?
Almost all shops, restaurants and attractions open as usual, often with Sunday hours. Banks, post offices, city halls and embassies close. The exception is New Year (1–3 January), when many independent restaurants and shops close.
Should I avoid Golden Week?
If you can. Domestic travel peaks, Shinkansen reserved seats sell out, hotel prices rise sharply and popular spots are crowded. Foreign visitors who come anyway do best staying in one city and booking trains in advance.
Sources
Official and primary sources used for this page. Checked October 8, 2026.
To cite or link to this page: Public holidays in Japan: 2026 and 2027, with long weekends — Japan Pocket Guide, https://japanpocketguide.com/tools/holidays/