Japanese National Holidays: A Traveller & Learner’s Guide to Japan’s 16 Shukujitsu 🎌🗓️
Planning a trip to Japan? Knowing when Japan’s 16 official national holidays (祝日 - shukujitsu) fall can mean the difference between joining vibrant local festivals or getting stuck on standing-room-only bullet trains!
Whether you want to experience unique seasonal traditions or avoid packed peak-travel crowds, here is a quick guide to Japan’s biggest holiday peaks, unique celebrations, and practical travel tips.
1. The Big Travel Peaks: Golden Week, Silver Week & New Year
Three major holiday periods dominate the Japanese travel calendar. Here is a quick look at when they happen and what to expect:
Golden Week (ゴールデンウィーク)
🗓️ When: Late April to Early May (Apr 29 – May 5)
🎯 What it is: 4 national holidays clustered in a single week (Showa Day, Constitution Day, Greenery Day, Children's Day). It is Japan's busiest spring holiday week, so expect packed bullet trains and fully booked hotels.
Silver Week (シルバーウィーク)
🗓️ When: Mid-September (occurs every few years when dates align—the next 5-day Silver Weeks occur September 19–23, 2026 and September 18–22, 2032)
🎯 What it is: A rare 5-day long weekend created when Respect for the Aged Day and Autumnal Equinox Day fall back-to-back with a national bridge holiday between them. A popular time for local autumn travel.
New Year (Oshougatsu - お正月)
🗓️ When: Dec 29 to Jan 3 (Official national holiday on Jan 1)
🎯 What it is: Japan’s most important family holiday. Millions of people travel back to their hometowns (kisei), making bullet trains (Shinkansen) extremely crowded— advance seat reservations are essential! Unlike Western party-centred New Year's Eve, Japanese New Year is quiet and traditional, focused on shrine visits (初詣 - hatsumode) and special festive meals (osechi).
💡 Practical Tips for Travelling During Peak Seasons:
Book Reserved Seats Early: During Golden Week, Silver Week, and New Year, bullet trains (Shinkansen) and express buses fill up weeks in advance. Always reserve seats as early as possible.
Check Store Hours: While convenience stores (conbini) and major chain restaurants stay open year-round, family-run restaurants, boutique shops, and some museums close over New Year or Golden Week.
Enjoy Seasonal Events: Holidays often bring special shrine markets, food stalls, and seasonal light displays (illuminations).
2. Holidays Unique to Japan
Many Japanese national holidays celebrate nature, age, and personal milestones. Here is when they occur and why they matter:
Coming of Age Day (成人の日 - Seijin no Hi)
🗓️ When: 2nd Monday of January
🎯 What it is: A day celebrating young adults who turned 20 during the past year. You will see young adults wearing formal suits and gorgeous long-sleeved kimonos (furisode) heading to shrine ceremonies.
Marine Day (海の日 - Umi no Hi) & Mountain Day (山の日 - Yama no Hi)
🗓️ When: 3rd Monday of July (Marine Day) & August 11 (Mountain Day)
🎯 What it is: Twin summer holidays honouring Japan's ocean geography and mountain landscapes. People head to coastal beaches or travel into the Alps for summer hiking.
Respect for the Aged Day (敬老の日 - Keirou no Hi)
🗓️ When: 3rd Monday of September
🎯 What it is: A holiday dedicated to honouring elderly citizens and celebrating longevity, reflecting the deep cultural respect for elders in Japanese society.
Full List of Japan’s 16 National Holidays
Here is a complete overview of all 16 official national holidays throughout the calendar year:
Date | Holiday Name (English) | Japanese Name | Romaji | Theme / Background |
Jan 1 | New Year's Day | 元日 | Gantan / Ganjitsu | Celebrating the start of the new year |
2nd Mon of Jan | Coming of Age Day | 成人の日 | Seijin no Hi | Congratulating new adults reaching maturity |
Feb 11 | National Foundation Day | 建国記念の日 | Kenkoku Kinen no Hi | Commemorating the founding of the nation |
Feb 23 | Emperor's Birthday | 天皇誕生日 | Tennou Tanjoubi | Celebrating the reigning Emperor's birthday |
Around Mar 20/21 | Vernal Equinox Day | 春分の日 | Shunbun no Hi | Welcoming spring and appreciating nature |
Apr 29 | Showa Day | 昭和の日 | Shouwa no Hi | Remembering the Showa Era (Showa Emperor's birthday) |
May 3 | Constitution Memorial Day | 憲法記念日 | Kenpou Kinenbi | Commemorating the 1947 Constitution |
May 4 | Greenery Day | みどりの日 | Midori no Hi | Expressing gratitude for nature and environment |
May 5 | Children's Day | こどもの日 | Kodomo no Hi | Wishing happiness and health for children |
3rd Mon of Jul | Marine Day | 海の日 | Umi no Hi | Giving thanks for the ocean's blessings |
Aug 11 | Mountain Day | 山の日 | Yama no Hi | Appreciating Japan's mountains and peak nature |
3rd Mon of Sep | Respect for the Aged Day | 敬老の日 | Keirou no Hi | Honouring elderly citizens and longevity |
Around Sep 22/23 | Autumnal Equinox Day | 秋分の日 | Shuubun no Hi | Honouring ancestors and marking seasonal change |
2nd Mon of Oct | Sports Day | スポーツの日 | Supōtsu no Hi | Promoting health, sports, and active minds |
Nov 3 | Culture Day | 文化の日 | Bunka no Hi | Celebrating peace, culture, and artistic freedom |
Nov 23 | Labour Thanksgiving Day | 勤労感謝の日 | Kinrou Kansha no Hi | Honouring labour, production, and mutual thanks |
💡 Japanese Holiday Vocabulary Box
Here are a few handy terms related to holidays and time off in Japan:
祝日 (しゅくじつ - shukujitsu): National holiday
ゴールデンウィーク (gooruden wiiku): Golden Week
シルバーウィーク (shirubaa wiiku): Silver Week
お正月 (おしょうがつ - oshougatsu): New Year period
初詣 (はつもうで - hatsumode): First shrine visit of the New Year
🚀 Plan Your Next Japanese Journey with Confidence!
Understanding seasonal holidays helps you plan better travel itineraries and lets you join in natural conversations about weekend plans, travel spots, and seasonal traditions.
At Nihongo Journey, our 1-on-1 online lessons build your conversational skills through real-life cultural context—helping you chat effortlessly about your upcoming trips, favourite seasons, and daily life.
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