japanese holidays

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new year
shogatsu

This is the most important holiday in Japan. While only January 1 is designated as a national holiday, many businesses remain closed through January 3.

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coming of cge
seijin no hi

Japanese holiday held annually on the second Monday of January. It is held in order to congratulate and encourage all those who have reached or will reach the age of maturity 20 years old.

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beginning of spring
setsubun

Setsubun is not a national holiday, but celebrated at shrines and temples nationwide. The name literally means 'seasonal division', referring to the day just before the first day of spring

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national
foundation day
kenkoku kinenbi

According to the earliest Japanese history records, on this day in the year 660 BC the first Japanese emperor was crowned.

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valentine's day

In Japan, the custom that only women give chocolates to men may have originated from the translation error of a chocolate-company executive during the initial campaigns.

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emperor's birthday
tenno no tanjobi

The birthday of the current emperor is always a national holiday. If the emperor changes, the national holiday changes to the birthday date of the new emperor.

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doll's festival
hinamatsuri

On this day, families with girls wish their daughters a successful and happy life. Dolls are displayed in the house together with peach blossoms.

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white day

The opposite of Valentine's Day: Men give cakes or chocolates to women. It is not a national holiday. It began in Japan in 1978; since then, its observance has spread to several other Asian nations.

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spring equinox day
shunbun no hi

Graves are visited during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day.

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showa day
Showa no hi

The birthday of former Emperor Showa Hirohito. Before 2007, April 29 was known as Greenery Day (now celebrated on May 4).

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Constitution Day
kenpo kinenbi

A national holiday remembering the new constitution, which was put into effect after the war. is a national holiday in Japan. Its celebration of the enactment of the 1947 Constitution of Japan. It is a part of the collection of holidays known as Golden Week

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Greenery Day
midori no hi

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.

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Children's Day
kodomo no hi

Japanese national holiday which takes place annually on May 5 and is the final celebration in Golden Week. It is a day set aside to respect children's personalities and to celebrate their happiness.

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Ocean Day
umi no hi

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.

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Mountain Day
yama no hi

Newly introduced this national holiday celebrates mountains. In May 2014, it was announced that Mountain Day will be celebrated as a public holiday every August 11, beginning in 2016.

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Obon

Obon is a Buddhist event to commemorate deceased ancestors. It has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves

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Respect for the
Aged Day
keiro no hi

This national holiday was established in 1966 as a day public holiday celebrated annually to honor elderly citizens, longevity and celebrate long life.

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Autumn Equinox Day
shubun no hi

Graves are visited during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day. and visiting shrines and temples. People also celebrate the good weather and autumn harvest by enjoying outdoor activities

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Health and Sports Day
taiiku no hi

in Japan held annually on the second Monday in October. It commemorates the opening of the 1964 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, and exists to promote sports and an active lifestyle.

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Culture Day
bunka no hi

A day for promotion of culture and the love of freedom and peace. On culture day, schools and the government award selected persons for their special, cultural achievements.

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Seven Five Three
Shichi Go San

Girls of age three and seven and boys of age three and five are celebrated on Shichigosan around November 15, and it is prayed for their good health and growth.

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Labor or
Thanksgiving Day
kinro kansha no hi

A national holiday for honoring labor. On this day, school children prepare cards or gifts to distribute to police officers, firefighters, hospital staffs,…

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Christmas

While it isn't a national holiday in Japan, since only about 1 percent of the whole population in Japan is Christian, it's still felt throughout the country.

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New Year's Eve
omisoka

Japanese traditional celebration on the last day of the year. In preparation for a new year and a clean slate people purify their homes and remove last year’s clutter by cleaning from top to bottom.

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nr holiday celebrated more info
1 new year december 31 press
2 coming of age
seijin no hi		 second monday of january press
3 beginning of spring
setsubun		 february 3 press
4 national foundation day
kenkoku kinenbi		 february 11 press
5 valentine's day february 14 press
6 emperor's birtdday
tenno no tanjobi		 february 23 press
7 doll's festival
hina matsuri		 march 3 press
8 white day march 14 press
9 spring equinox day
shunbun no hi		 around march 20 press
10 showa Day
showa no hi		 april 29 press
11 constitution day
kenpo kinenbi		 may 3 press
12 greenery day
midori no hi		 may 4 press
13 children's day
kodomo no hi 		may 5 press
14 ocean day
umi no hi		 third monday
of july		 press
15 mountain day
yama no hi		 august 11 press
16 obon july/august 13-15 press
17 respect for the aged day
keiro no hi		 third monday
of september		 press
18 autumn equinox day
shubun no hi		 around september 23 press
19 healtd and sports day
taiiku no hi		 second monday
of october		 press
20 culture day
bunka no hi		 november 3 press
21 seven-five-three
shichigosan		 november 15 press
22 labor thanksgiving day
kinro kansha no hi		 november 23 press
23 christmas december 24-25 press
24 new year's eve
omisoka		 december 31 press