Public holidays in Japan in 2024–2025

If you’ve just moved to Japan, you’ll want to mark the country’s public holidays in your calendar. Not only are these days off perfect for exploring Japan’s diverse cities, but you can also use them to delve into the local cuisine and culture.

To help you plan your vacation, here are the Japanese public holidays for 2024 and 2025:

The 2024 Japanese calendar

Public holidays in Japan in 2024

Officially, there are 16 public holidays in a year, though many Japanese regions celebrate additional festivals and dates.

Many of the holidays in Japan have ties to the lunar calendar or Shinto religion (神道). Unlike many other countries, it does not observe Christian feasts like Easter and Christmas (クリスマス).

Below are Japan’s national holidays for 2024:

Date	Public holiday
1 January (Monday)	New Year’s Day (元日)
8 January (Monday)	Coming of Age Day (成人の日)
12 February (Monday)	National Foundation Day Holiday (建国記念の日)
23 February (Friday)	The Emperor’s Birthday (天皇誕生日)
20 March (Wednesday)	Vernal Equinox Day (春分の日)
29 April (Monday)	Shōwa Day (昭和の日)
3 May (Friday)	Constitution Memorial Day (憲法記念日)
4 May (Saturday)	Greenery Day (みどりの日)
5 May (Sunday)	Children’s Day (こどもの日)
15 July (Monday)	Marine Day (海の日)
12 August (Monday)	Mountain Day Holiday (山の日)
16 September (Monday)	Respect for the Aged Day (敬老の日)
23 September (Monday)	Autumnal Equinox Day Holiday (秋分の日)
14 October (Monday)	Health and Sports Day (スポーツの日)
4 November (Monday)	Culture Day Holiday (文化の日)
23 November (Saturday)	Labour Thanksgiving Day (勤労感謝の日)

Regional holidays and festivals in 2024

Japan’s regions govern with a fair amount of autonomy. Because of this, many holidays and festivals are only observed in particular Japanese cities.

In some regions, grocery stores, attractions, museums, and banks will close for the occasion, but this is not always the case. So check with your Japanese employer about whether you have the day off. If it is a major public holiday in your local prefecture, remember to also stock up on food and plan some fun things to do.

Here are a few key regional dates to remember:

Date	Holiday	Region
4–11 February (Sunday–Sunday)	Sapporo Yuki Matsuri Snow Festival (さっぽろ雪まつり)	Sapporo
14–15 April (Sunday–Monday)	Takayama Spring Festival (春の高山祭)	Takayama
15 May (Wednesday)	Aori Matsuri (葵祭)	Kyoto
7–17 June (Friday–Monday)	Sannō Matsuri (山王まつり)	Tokyo
All of July	Gion Matsuri (祇園祭)	Kyoto
24–25 July (Wednesday–Thursday)	Tenjin Matsuri (天神祭)	Osaka
27 July (Saturday)	Katsushika Noryo Fireworks Festival (葛飾納涼花火大会)	Tokyo
27 July (Saturday)	Sumidagwa Fireworks Festival (隅田川花火大会)	Tokyo
2–7 August (Friday–Wednesday)	Nebuta Matsuri (青森ねぶた祭)	Aomori
3 August (Saturday)	Edogawa Fireworks Festival (江戸川花火大会)	Tokyo
3 August (Saturday)	Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival (なにわ淀川花火大会)	Osaka
12–15 August (Monday–Thursday)	Awa Odori (阿波踊り)	Shikoku
13–15 August (Tuesday–Thursday)	Hokkai Bon Odori (北海盆踊り)	Sapporo
16 August (Friday)	Kyoto Gozan Okuribi (Daimonji Festival – 京都五山送り火/大文字焼き)	Kyoto
9–10 October (Wednesday–Thursday)	Takayama Fall Festival (秋の高山祭)	Takayama
22 October (Tuesday)	Kurama Fire Festival (鞍馬の火祭) + Jidai Matsuri (時代祭)	Kyoto
5 + 7 + 29 November (Tuesday + Thursday + Thursday)	Asakusa Torinochi Fair (浅草 酉の市)	Tokyo
2-3 December (Monday–Tuesday)	Chichibu Yomatsuri (秩父夜祭)	Saitama

Important dates in Japan in 2024

Japan marks numerous festivals and occasions throughout the year, and though these are not official public holidays, the nation still commemorates these across the country. Most businesses, restaurants, banks, and schools will not close for the day.

Here are a few important dates to remember:

Date	Holiday	Celebration
3 February (Saturday)	Setsubun (節分)	The Eve of the First Day of Spring
3 March (Sunday)	Hina Matsuri (ひな祭り)	Doll’s Festival
17–20 March (Sunday – Wednesday)	Ohigan (お彼岸)	Equinoctial Week
20 March – 14 April (depending on your region)	Hanami (花見)	Cherry Blossom Festival
8 April (Monday)	Kanbutsu-e/Hanamatsuri (灌仏会/花まつり)	Buddha’s Birthday/Flower Festival
7 July (Sunday)	Tanabata (七夕)	Star Festival
13–15 August (Saturday – Monday)	Obon Festival (お盆)
15 November (Friday)	Shichi-go-san (七五三)	Seven-Five-Three

The 2025 Japanese calendar

Public Japanese holidays in 2025

Date	Public holiday
1 January (Wednesday)	New Year’s Day
13 January (Monday)	Coming of Age Day
11 February (Monday)	National Foundation Day Holiday
24 February (Friday)	The Emperor’s Birthday holiday
20 March (Thursday)	Vernal Equinox Day
29 April (Tuesday)	Shōwa Day
3 May (Saturday)	Constitution Memorial Day
5 May (Monday)	Children’s Day
6 May (Tuesday)	Greenery Day holiday
21 July (Monday)	Marine Day
11 August (Monday)	Mountain Day Holiday
15 September (Monday)	Respect for the Aged Day
23 September (Tuesday)	Autumnal Equinox Day Holiday
13 October (Monday)	Health and Sports Day
3 November (Monday)	Culture Day Holiday
24 November (Saturday)	Labour Thanksgiving Day holiday

Regional holidays and festivals in 2025

Date	Holiday	Region
4–11 February (Sunday–Sunday)	Sapporo Yuki Matsuri Snow Festival	Sapporo
14–15 April (Monday–Tuesday)	Takayama Spring Festival	Takayama
15 May (Thursday)	Aori Matsuri	Kyoto
All of July	Gion Matsuri	Kyoto
24–25 July (Thursday–Friday)	Tenjin Matsuri	Osaka
26 July (Saturday)	Katsushika Noryo Fireworks Festival + Sumidagwa Fireworks Festival	Tokyo
2–7 August (Saturday–Thursday)	Nebuta Matsuri	Aomori
2 August (Saturday)	Edogawa Fireworks Festival	Tokyo
2 August (Saturday)	Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival	Osaka
12–15 August (Tuesday–Friday)	Awa Odori	Shikoku
Mid-August (date to be confirmed)	Hokkai Bon Odori	Sapporo
16 August (Saturday)	Kyoto Gozan Okuribi (Daimonji Festival)	Kyoto
9–10 October (Thursday–Friday)	Takayama Fall Festival	Takayama
22 October (Wednesday)	Kurama Fire Festival + Jidai Matsuri	Kyoto
Three dates throughout November, to be confirmed	Asakusa Torinochi Fair	Tokyo
2-3 December (Tuesday–Wednesday)	Chichibu Yomatsuri	Saitama

Important dates in Japan in 2025

Date	Holiday	Celebration
2 February (Sunday)	Setsubun	The Eve of the First Day of Spring
3 March (Monday)	Hina-atsuri	Doll’s Festival
23 March – 5 April (depending on your region)	Hanami	Cherry Blossom Festival
8 April (Tuesday)	Kanbutsu-e/Hanamatsuri	Buddha’s Birthday/Flower Festival
7 July (Monday)	Tanabata	Star Festival
13–15 August (Wednesday – Friday)	Obon Festival
15 November (Saturday)	Shichi-go-san	Seven-Five-Three

Japanese school holidays

Planning a family holiday? Don’t forget to mark the school holidays in Japan (学校休暇) in your calendar. Local schools typically begin the academic year in April and end in March, operating on a trimester system. In between, there are two vacations – the summer and winter holidays – plus semester breaks and public holidays.

Of course, some regional variations may be across schools in different cities and prefectures. What’s more, international schools may have breaks or days off. To ensure you have the correct dates – and to organize any necessary childcare – check with your children’s school.