Holidays in Japan

January 1-New Year (Shogatsu-National holiday)
The most important holiday in Japan. Though January 1 is the official designated national holiday, many businesses remain closed until January 3. Special decor for homes and special New Years food is prepared as families gather to hope for good luck for the coming year. Many people visit shrines and temples as well to pray for good luck for the new year.

Second Monday of January-Coming of Age
(Seijin no Hi-National holiday)
Males and females turning 20 years old are celebrated dressing up formally on this national holiday. At the age of 20, they are now considered adults and may legally drink, vote, and smoke.

February 3-Beginning of Spring
(Setsubun-Not a national holiday)
Celebrated at shrines and temples nationwide. For many centuries, people on this day have been performing rituals to chase away the evil spirits at the start of spring. The one ritual that is still performed today in Japan is the throwing of roasted beans around one’s house and at shrines and temples across the country. While throwing the beans, you are supposed to shout “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” (“Devil out, Happiness in”). After, you are to pick up and eat the number of beans, which corresponds to your age.

February 11-National Foundation Day
(Kenkoku Kinenbi-National holiday)
Japanese history records that on this day in the year 660 BC, the first Japanese emperor was crowned.

February 14-Valentine’s Day (Not a National holiday)
In Japan, only women give chocolates to men on Valentine’s Day. Don’t worry guys…see White Day below.

March 3-Doll’s Festival
(Hina Matsuri-National holiday)
Girl’s festival celebrated by families who have daughters to wish them a successful and happy life. Beautiful dolls are decorated in the house and sweet sake and chirashi rice is eaten.

March 14-White Day (Not a National holiday)
The opposite of Valentine’s Day: Men give cakes or chocolates to women to those they like or to those who gave them presents on Valentine’s Day.

Around March 20-Spring Eqinox Day
(Shunbun no Hi-National holiday)
Cemeteries are visited during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day.

April 29-May 5-Golden Week (National holiday)
A collection of 4 national holidays within a weeks span. Many Japanese take advantage of this week and plan way ahead to travel abroad. Aside from New Years and Obon, Golden week is one of the busiest holiday seasons.

April 29-Showa Day (Showa no Hi-National holiday)
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 Golden Week.

May 3-Constitution Day
(Kenpo Kinenbi-National holiday)
A holiday remembering the new constitution, which was put into effect after the war. Kenpo no Kinenbi is part of Golden Week.

May 4-Greenery Day (Midori no Hi-National holiday)
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 Golden Week.

May 5-Childrens Day/Boy’s Day
(Kodomo no Hi/Tango no Sekku-National holiday)
Children as well as boys are celebrated by displaying carps streamers and samurai dolls to symbolize strength, health, and success.

July 7 –Star Festival (Tanabata)
Sometimes celebrated on August 7th in different regions of Japan due to the formal lunar calendar, this is a festival rather than a national holiday. It is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month. It is said that on this day, 2 stars that are usually separated come together to meet. So tradition is to write one’s wish on a piece of paper and hang it from a bamboo tree in hopes that when the 2 stars meet, a person’s wish will come true.

Third Monday of July-Ocean Day
(Umi no Hi-National holiday)
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 13-15 Obon
Sometimes celebrated in August due to lunar calendar, obon is a Buddhist festival that commemorates ancestors who have passed on. It is said that once a year during obon, the ancestor’s spirit returns to visit their living relatives. Paper lanterns are displayed outside of homes in order for the spirits to find their way home. Obon dances are performed throughout cities and cemeteries are visited and food offerings are given to local temples and shrines. At the end of obon, the lanterns are released at a nearby river to return the spirit back to their world.

Third Monday of September-Respect for the Aged Day
(Keiro no Hi-National holiday)
Respect for the elderly and longevity is celebrated

Around September 23-Autumn Equinox Day
(Shubun no Hi-National holiday)
Cemetaries are visited during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day.

Second Monday of October-Health and Sports Day
(Taiku no Hi-National holiday)
On this day in 1964, the Olympic Games were held in Tokyo. Many schools and businesses hold a sports day where teams are created with a friendly competition of various events and prizes usually useful household items are given to winners. This is usually a family event where they come out enjoying their homemade lunches to show their support to whoever is competing.

November 3-Culture Day
(Bunka no Hi-National holiday)
A day for promotion of culture and the love of freedom and peace. On this day, schools and the government award selected persons for their special, cultural achievements.

November 15-Seven-Five-Three
(Shichi Go San-Not a National holiday)
This is a festival for children. Odd numbers are considered lucky in Japan. Girls who are turning three or seven and boys who are turning three or five are prayed for for their health and growth. Families dress their child in kimonos and visit local Shinto shrines. Long candy inside bags decorated with candy, turtles, and cranes which all represent longevity are also given to these children.

November 23-Labour Thanksgiving Day
(Kinro Kansha no Hi-National holiday)
A day to commemorating labor, production and giving one another thanks. Often early elementary kids draw pictures and bring them to local police stations as gifts.

December 23-Emperor’s Birthday
(Tenno no Tanjobi-National holiday)
The birthday of the current emperor of Japan, Emperor Akihito. If the emperor changes, the national holiday will change to the birthday date of the new emperor.

December 24-25-Christmas Eve/Day
(Not a National holiday)
Introduced in the 16th century by Europeans, this day is now celebrated by many in Japan even though Christians make up only about 2% of the population. Many celebrate by traditional house and tree decorating. Many stores have sales as well during this time. A must during Christmas is a Christmas cake made from yellow sponge cake, strawberries and whip cream.


December 31-New Year’s Eve
(Oomisoka-Not a National holiday)
On this day, Toshikoshi Soba or a buckwheat noodle based soup is served. This symbolized longevity. More recently, there are many TV specials that are televised during this day. One of the most popular, highly anticipated year end shows is a music show called “Kouhaku Uta Gassen” which is a concert of many popular singers of all genres on one stage performing.