National Holidays in Japan 2018-2019
Japanese typically take fewer paid holidays than workers in other countries, but to make up for it, the government provides plenty of statutory days off.
2018
| January |
| Jan 1 (Monday) |
New Year’s Day (Oshogatsu) |
| Jan 8 (Monday) |
Coming of Age Day (Seijin no hi). The day on which 20 year olds get drunk and celebrate the start of adulthood. |
| February |
| Feb 11 (Sunday) |
National Foundation Day (Kenkoku kinen no hi) |
| March |
| Mar 21 (Wednesday) |
Spring Equinox (Shunbun no hi) |
| April |
| Apr 29 (Sunday) |
Showa Day (Showa no hi). The birthday of the Hirohito, the Showa emperor. |
| May |
| May 3 (Thursday) |
Constitution Day |
| May 4 (Friday) |
Greenery Day (midori no hi) |
| May 5 (Saturday) |
Childrens’ Day (Boys’ Day) (kodomo no hi) |
| July |
| July 16 (Monday) |
Marine Day (umi no hi) |
| August |
| August 11 (Saturday) |
Mountain Day |
| September |
| September 17 (Monday) |
Respect-for-the-Aged Day (keiro no hi) |
| September 23rd (Sunday) |
Autumn Equinox |
| October |
| October 8 (Monday) |
Sports Day (taiiku no hi) |
| November |
| November 3 (Thursday) |
Culture Day (bunka no hi) |
| November 23 (Friday) |
Labour Thanksgiving Day (kinro kansha no hi). |
| December |
| December 23 (Sunday) |
Emperor’s Birthday (Tenno tanjobi) |
| December 31 (Monday) |
New Years Eve (omisoka) (not actually a public holiday) |
2019
| January |
| Jan 1 (Tuesday) |
New Year’s Day (Oshogatsu) |
| Jan 2 (Wednesday) |
Day after New Year’s Day |
| Jan 14 (Monday) |
Coming of Age Day (Seijin no hi). The day on which 20 year olds get drunk and celebrate the start of adulthood. |
| February |
| Feb 11 (Monday) |
National Foundation Day (Kenkoku kinen no hi) |
| February 23 (Saturday) |
Emperor’s Birthday (Tenno tanjobi) |
| March |
| Mar 21 (Thursday) |
Spring Equinox (Shunbun no hi) |
| April |
| Apr 29 (Monday) |
Showa Day (Showa no hi). The birthday of the Hirohito, the Showa emperor. |
| May |
| May 3 (Friday) |
Constitution Day |
| May 4 (Saturday) |
Greenery Day (midori no hi) |
| May 5 (Sunday) |
Childrens’ Day (Boys’ Day) (kodomo no hi) |
| July |
| July 15 (Monday) |
Marine Day (umi no hi) |
| August |
| August 11 (Sunday) |
Mountain Day |
| September |
| September 16 (Monday) |
Respect-for-the-Aged Day (keiro no hi) |
| September 23 (Monday) |
Autumn Equinox |
| October |
| October 14 (Monday) |
Sports Day (taiku no hi) |
| November |
| November 3 (Sunday) |
Culture Day (bunka no hi) |
| November 23 (Saturday) |
Labour Thanksgiving Day (kinro kansha no hi). |
| December |
| December 31 (Tuesday) |
New Years Eve (omisoka) (not actually a public holiday) |
Questions or comments about this article? Start a thread on our community forum