Holidays in Japan 2026

Japan observes 17 public holiday entries in 2026, including the 16 statutory kokumin no shukujitsu, a furikae kyujitsu on 6 May, and a Citizens' Holiday on 22 September. 17 fall on a weekday and 0 land on a weekend, leaving 244eigyobi across the year. Both Golden Week and Silver Week produce extended breaks because of the substitute and Citizens' Holiday rules.

2026 kokumin no shukujitsu calendar

Date	Day	Holiday	Notes
Jan 1	Thursday	New Year's Day	Ganjitsu opens the oshogatsu break, with most banks and offices closed through 4 January under custom and the Banking Act.
Jan 12	Monday	Coming of Age Day	Seijin no Hi (Coming of Age Day) falls on the second Monday of January under the Happy Monday system.
Feb 11	Wednesday	National Foundation Day	Kenkoku Kinen no Hi marks the legendary founding of Japan in 660 BCE.
Feb 23	Monday	Emperor's Birthday	Tenno Tanjobi celebrates Emperor Naruhito's birthday on a Monday, producing a three-day weekend.
Mar 20	Friday	Vernal Equinox Day	Shunbun no Hi (Vernal Equinox Day) is gazetted by the Cabinet Office in February of the prior year based on NAOJ astronomical calculations.
Apr 29	Wednesday	Showa Day	Showa no Hi opens the Golden Week cluster.
May 4	Monday	Greenery Day	Midori no Hi (Greenery Day) sits in the middle of Golden Week.
May 5	Tuesday	Children's Day	Kodomo no Hi (Children's Day) closes the original three-day Golden Week trio.
May 6	Wednesday	Constitution Memorial Day (observed)	Furikae kyujitsu for Constitution Memorial Day, since 3 May lands on a Sunday and 4 to 5 May are also holidays.
Jul 20	Monday	Marine Day	Umi no Hi (Marine Day) on the third Monday of July under the Happy Monday system.
Aug 11	Tuesday	Mountain Day	Yama no Hi (Mountain Day) coincides with the start of the Obon migration.
Sep 21	Monday	Respect for the Aged Day	Keiro no Hi (Respect for the Aged Day) on the third Monday of September.
Sep 22	Tuesday	Citizens' Holiday	Kokumin no Kyujitsu (Citizens' Holiday), automatically created because Tuesday 22 September sits between two holidays.
Sep 23	Wednesday	Autumnal Equinox Day	Shubun no Hi (Autumnal Equinox Day), gazetted by the Cabinet Office.
Oct 12	Monday	Sports Day	Sports no Hi on the second Monday of October under the Happy Monday system.
Nov 3	Tuesday	Culture Day	Bunka no Hi (Culture Day) marks the promulgation of the post-war Constitution.
Nov 23	Monday	Labor Thanksgiving Day	Kinrokansha no Hi (Labor Thanksgiving Day) closes the major holiday calendar before the year-end break.

2026 year summary

Total days

365

Weekend days

104

Holidays on weekdays

Eigyobi (working days)

244

The eigyobi total is conservative against most Japanese employer calendars, which also close 31 December through 3 January under custom even though those dates are not statutory holidays. Add 31 December, 2 January, and 3 January under Advanced options if your scenario depends on the Zengin-Net interbank closure during oshogatsu.

Golden Week and Silver Week 2026

Golden Week 2026 stretches from Showa Day on Wednesday 29 April through the substitute holiday on Wednesday 6 May, with a working day Thursday 30 April and Friday 1 May falling between Showa Day and Constitution Memorial Day on Sunday 3 May. Most large employers close the entire intervening period, so plan vendor settlement and customs release with the full block in mind.

Silver Week 2026 produces a five-day break from Saturday 19 September through Wednesday 23 September because Tuesday 22 September automatically becomes a Citizens' Holiday under the sandwiched-weekday rule. The TSE remains closed for the full block, and Zengin-Net settlement runs only on the surrounding eigyobi.

← Japan Business Day Calculator Holidays in Japan 2027 →Working Days in 2026 →

Holidays in Japan 2026 - FAQ

How many public holidays does Japan have in 2026?

Japan observes 17 public holiday entries in 2026: the 16 statutory kokumin no shukujitsu, plus a furikae kyujitsu (substitute) for Constitution Memorial Day on Wednesday 6 May, plus a Kokumin no Kyujitsu (Citizens' Holiday) on Tuesday 22 September because that day sits between Respect for the Aged Day on Monday 21 September and Autumnal Equinox Day on Wednesday 23 September.

How does Golden Week play out in 2026?

Golden Week 2026 runs from Showa Day on Wednesday 29 April through Children's Day on Tuesday 5 May, with a furikae kyujitsu on Wednesday 6 May because Constitution Memorial Day on 3 May lands on a Sunday. The result is a six-day stretch from Wednesday 29 April through Wednesday 6 May once you factor in the weekend, with most companies closed for the full block.

What is the Silver Week pattern in September 2026?

Silver Week is the September equivalent of Golden Week, named after the cluster of Respect for the Aged Day, Autumnal Equinox Day, and any Citizens' Holiday that connects them. In 2026, Respect for the Aged Day lands on Monday 21 September and Autumnal Equinox Day on Wednesday 23 September, so Tuesday 22 September automatically becomes a Citizens' Holiday. The result is a five-day stretch from Saturday 19 September through Wednesday 23 September.