National Holidays in Japan

There are 18 national holidays in Japan excluding Obon holidays which are a Buddhist event for commemorating one's ancestors. Here are the national holidays in 2020.

January 1st New Year’s Day（元日）

January 13th Coming-of-Age Day（成人の日）

February 11th National Foundation Day（建国記念の日）

February 23rd The Emperor’s Birthday（天皇誕生日）

February 24th The Emperor’s Birthday Holiday（振替休日）

March 20th Vernal Equinox Day（春分の日）

April 29th Showa Day（昭和の日）

May 3rd Constitution Memorial Day（憲法記念日）

May 4th Greenery Day（みどりの日）

May 5th Children’s Day（こどもの日）

May 6th Constitution Memorial Day（振替休日）

July 23rd Marine Day（海の日）

July 24th Health-Sports Day（スポーツの日）

August 10th Mountain Day（山の日）

(August 13th Obon)

(August 14th Obon)

(August 15th Obon)

September 21st Respect for the Age Day（敬老の日）

September 22nd Autumnal Equinox Day（秋分の日）

November 3rd Culture Day（文化の日）

November 23rd Labor Thanksgiving Day（勤労感謝の日）

An interesting thing about Japan’s holiday is that in Japan, the present emperor’s birthday is a holiday. Therefore while the former emperor was still the emperor for 30 years, his birthday which is December 23rd had been a national holiday. There are a few emperor’s birthdays that still remain as a national holidays. Showa Day was used to be Showa emperor’s birthday. Culture Day was used to be Meiji emperor’s birthday. Although Taisho emperor and the previous emperors’ birthdays are back to a normal working day.