Public Holidays in Japan in 2026
Complete list of official public holidays and observances
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Official Public Holidays
18 holidays in Japan for 2026
| Holiday | Date | Day | Applies To |
|---|---|---|---|
|
New Year's Day
New Year’s Day is the first day of the year, or January 1, in the Gregorian calendar.
|
January 01 | Thursday | Nationwide |
|
Coming of Age Day
Coming of Age Day is a national holiday in Japan
|
January 12 | Monday | Nationwide |
|
National Foundation Day
National Foundation Day is a national holiday in Japan
|
February 11 | Wednesday | Nationwide |
|
Emperor's Birthday
Emperor's Birthday is a national holiday in Japan
|
February 23 | Monday | Nationwide |
|
Spring Equinox
Spring Equinox is a national holiday in Japan
|
March 20 | Friday | Nationwide |
|
Shōwa Day
Shōwa Day is a national holiday in Japan
|
April 29 | Wednesday | Nationwide |
|
Constitution Memorial Day
Constitution Memorial Day is a national holiday in Japan
|
May 03 | Sunday | Nationwide |
|
Greenery Day
Greenery Day is a national holiday in Japan
|
May 04 | Monday | Nationwide |
|
Children's Day
Children's Day is a national holiday in Japan
|
May 05 | Tuesday | Nationwide |
|
Constitution Memorial Day observed
Constitution Memorial Day is a national holiday in Japan
|
May 06 | Wednesday | Nationwide |
|
Sea Day
Sea Day is a national holiday in Japan
|
July 20 | Monday | Nationwide |
|
Mountain Day
Mountain Day is a national holiday in Japan
|
August 11 | Tuesday | Nationwide |
|
Respect for the Aged Day
Respect for the Aged Day is a national holiday in Japan
|
September 21 | Monday | Nationwide |
|
Bridge Public holiday
Bridge Public holiday is a national holiday in Japan
|
September 22 | Tuesday | Nationwide |
|
Autumn Equinox
Autumn Equinox is a national holiday in Japan
|
September 23 | Wednesday | Nationwide |
|
Sports Day
Sports Day is a national holiday in Japan
|
October 12 | Monday | Nationwide |
|
Culture Day
Culture Day is a national holiday in Japan
|
November 03 | Tuesday | Nationwide |
|
Labor Thanksgiving Day
Labor Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in Japan
|
November 23 | Monday | Nationwide |
Legal Notice: This information is for guidance only and should not be considered legal advice. Always validate with local authorities or legal practitioners in Japan.
Why HR Teams Choose Leavetrack
Everything you need for seamless leave management
-
Automatic Public Holiday Import
- All public holidays for Japan and 180+ other countries automatically loaded. No manual data entry required.
-
Save 5+ Hours Per Week
- Eliminate manual leave calculations and reduce administrative overhead by up to 80%.
-
Compliance Made Easy
- Built-in compliance tracking ensures you meet local employment laws and holiday entitlements.
-
Team Visibility
- Everyone sees who's off when, preventing scheduling conflicts and ensuring adequate coverage.
Trusted by HR teams worldwide
"With a team of over 50 employees, keeping track of absences and holidays using a paper based system used to be time consuming and prone to errors. Since introducing Leavetrack, the whole process has become a lot simpler and easier."
How It Works
Simple, powerful leave management in four steps
Employees Request Leave
Simple, intuitive interface lets employees request time off in seconds. Public holidays are automatically excluded from calculations.
- Book leave in under 30 seconds
- See available leave balance instantly
- Mobile-friendly for on-the-go requests
Managers Approve Instantly
Managers see all request details including conflicts with public holidays and other team members' leave.
- Approve/reject directly from email
- See team coverage at a glance
- Complete audit trail of decisions
Plan Team Coverage
Beautiful visual calendar shows exactly who's off when, including public holidays, so you can plan optimal team coverage.
- Color-coded wall chart
- Filter by department or team
- Spot conflicts before they happen
Generate Reports
Comprehensive reporting gives you insights into leave patterns, costs, and compliance - all exportable to Excel.
- Full audit trail of all leave
- Export to CSV for further analysis
- Track entitlements and accruals
Ready to streamline your leave management?
Join hundreds of HR teams who've eliminated spreadsheet chaos and saved hours every week with Leavetrack.
About Public Holidays in Japan
Public holidays in Japan, known as "shukujitsu," are an integral part of the country's cultural and social fabric. Established by the Public Holiday Law, these holidays are designed to promote the spirit of the Japanese people and encourage a sense of community. Japan observes 16 national holidays throughout the year, including New Year's Day, Showa Day, and Constitution Memorial Day. Many businesses and schools close during these holidays, allowing employees to enjoy time off and spend quality moments with family and friends. Understanding public holidays is essential for effective staff leave planning and absence management, ensuring that businesses can maintain productivity while respecting employees' time off.