School holidays in Japan in 2025–2026

School breaks are the perfect time to have fun and quality time with your children. For parents, knowing these dates is crucial for planning holidays, family visits, and exciting activities. It’s also important to arrange any childcare in advance if you’ll be working on these days.

Here’s what you need to know:

An overview of school holidays in Japan

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT – 文部科学省) sets Japan’s school holidays (育児) 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.

Schools typically have three main holidays throughout the year, including during Winter, Spring, and Summer. Students also get additional vacation days; 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)

Most International schools in Japan follow a completely different calendar. These schools often have two semesters (rather than three), with four holidays, including during Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer. 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.

Be sure to check with your child’s school for full details.

When are Japan’s school holidays in 2025–2026?

Check with your school in case of variations.

Holiday	Dates
First day of school	7 April 2025
Summer holiday	19 July – 24 August 2025
Winter holiday	24 December 2025 – 6 January 2026
Spring holiday	24 March – 4 April 2026

Other important dates in 2025–2026

The additional holiday dates for the 2025–2026 school year are:

Holiday	Dates	Weekday
Shōwa Day	29 April 2025	Tue
Greenery Day observance	6 May 2025	Mon
Children’s Day	5 May 2025	Mon
Sea Day	21 July 2025	Mon
Mountain Day	11 August 2025	Mon
Respect for the Aged Day	15 September 2025	Mon
Sports Day	13 October 2025	Mon
Culture Day	3 November 2025	Mon
Labor Thanksgiving Day observance	24 November 2025	Mon
Coming of Age Day	12 January 2026	Mon
National Foundation Day	11 February 2026	Wed
The Emperor’s Birthday	23 February 2026	Mon

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

The school holidays are a popular time for Japanese families to travel, especially during Golden Week (29 April – 6 May 2025). Also popular is Obon (お盆), 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 Japanese school holidays

Your children’s school holidays may clash with your work schedule. Fortunately, you can access a range of childcare options in Japan, including:

• Daycare centers
• Kindergartens
• Au pairs/nannies
• Childminders
• Babysitters
• Parents’ helpers

10 fun summer camps in Japan

For longer school 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
• EdVenture Niseko Summer Camp
• English Adventure Camp
• Evergreen Outdoor Center
• Jinseki Summer Camp
• Kspace International School Summer Program
• Laurus School Science Summer Camp
• LTL Language School Summer Camp
• Tokyo Coding Club Summer Camp
• UTREK International Summer Camp