School holidays in Japan: 2024–2025

The education system in Japan is considered to be one of the best in the world and contributes to the country’s hard-working business culture. However, if you are a working parent, you will want to ensure that you have childcare to cover any discrepancies between your schedule and the school calendar.

Moreover, vacations and public holidays can provide the perfect opportunity to introduce your children to Japanese culture and show them all the beautiful and historical places to visit.

So to help you plan your year, here is everything you need to know about school holidays in Japan:

An overview of school holidays in Japan

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT – 文部科学省) sets the Japanese school holidays across the country. The school year begins in April and concludes in March of the following year.

Interestingly, the calendar coordinates with the fiscal year, which also runs from April to March and aligns with Japanese business holidays.

When are Japan’s school holidays in 2024–2025?

Public school holidays in 2024–2025

Generally, all public and private Japanese schools follow the same schedule, with slight regional variation. Primary and secondary schools have three trimesters, which tend to fall on the same dates each year (or close to these). Typically, the holiday periods are:

• Summer holiday (夏休み)
• Winter holiday (冬休み)
• Spring holiday (春休み)

Preschools often have longer school breaks. Therefore, younger children can expect to have half-days or extra holidays at the beginning and end of each term. For example, while almost all elementary and secondary schools begin around the second week of April, preschools will begin the following Monday (i.e., the third week of 10 April).

Throughout the year, students will get multiple days off:

Holiday	Dates
First day of school	8 April 2024
Summer holiday	20 July – 25 August 2024
Winter holiday	25 December 2024 – 7 January 2025
Spring holiday	25 March – 5 April 2025

International school holidays in 2024–2025

International schools in Japan usually have significantly different school calendars than public schools, following their associated countries’ curriculums and academic years.

Most international schools have two semesters, beginning in late August and ending in June. Holidays typically include:

• A long weekend in October
• A four-day weekend in November
• A three-week winter holiday
• Another long weekend or week-long break in February
• A spring break of one or two weeks in March or April

Of course, some international schools may also give the children days off on their home country’s festive days; for example, American schools celebrate American Thanksgiving.

When are the public holidays in Japan?

In addition to the regular school holidays in Japan, children get the day off on national and local holidays. Depending on your area, some schools may be closed for local festivals as well. 

You can find out more by reading our article on public holidays in Japan.

Busy holiday travel times

Some Japanese public holidays line up to give students a short vacation. For example, the Golden Week (ゴールデンウィーク) begins with Showa Day on 29 April, followed by:

• Constitution Memorial Day (3 May)
• Greenery Day (4 May)
• Children’s Day (5 May)

This week is a popular time for Japanese families to travel.

In addition, Obon (お盆) is a summer holiday when ancestors’ spirits are thought to return to Japan. In practice, you can expect heavy traffic from 13 to 16 August, as many people visit their ancestral towns and villages. Bear this in mind when you book hotel accommodation or train travel during this holiday period.

Some years, both Respect for the Aged Day and Autumnal Equinox Day also align for a long weekend. This is called Silver Week (シルバーウィーク) and is another popular time to travel.

Another busy holiday period is around New Year’s Day (正月) and at the end of the school year in late March. Accordingly, be sure to plan travel and accommodations well in advance.

Tips for expat parents in Japan

Childcare during school holidays

You’ll need to find childcare if you have to work during the school holidays (育児, ikuji). Fortunately, many schools in Japan offer some form of childcare during holidays. For example, younger children may enjoy either half-day programs or day camps.

If you only need childcare for a short time, you can also hire a babysitter or parents’ helper. You can ask friends, neighbors, or members of expat social media groups for personal recommendations, or your child’s international school may have a list of older students who can babysit.

Unfortunately, public schools don’t have this system. However, you might want to consider hiring a nanny or au pair if your work schedule differs significantly from the school holidays in Japan.

Fun summer camps in Japan

For longer breaks, there are numerous holiday camps available throughout Japan. These provide them with the opportunity to socialize and make new friends while learning some valuable new skills.

Some of the popular holiday camps include:

• Dream Seeds Camp
• Evergreen Outdoor Center
• Jinseki Summer Camp
• Laurus International School of Science STEAM Summer Camp
• Sports Camp of America
• Tokyo Coding Club