Japan Public Holidays 2027
Japan has 16 national holidays in 2027. Vernal Equinox Day falls on Sunday 21 March, so Monday 22 March is a substitute holiday — 17 days off in total.
Last updated: 8 November 2026
| Date (2027) | Holiday | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 1 Jan | New Year's Day | |
| Mon 11 Jan | Coming of Age Day | Second Monday of January |
| Thu 11 Feb | National Foundation Day | |
| Tue 23 Feb | Emperor's Birthday | |
| Sun 21 Mar | Vernal Equinox Day | Date set by the Cabinet Office in February 2026 |
| Mon 22 Mar | Substitute holiday | Because 21 March is a Sunday |
| Thu 29 Apr | Showa Day | Start of Golden Week |
| Mon 3 May | Constitution Memorial Day | |
| Tue 4 May | Greenery Day | |
| Wed 5 May | Children's Day | |
| Mon 19 Jul | Marine Day | Third Monday of July |
| Wed 11 Aug | Mountain Day | |
| Mon 20 Sep | Respect for the Aged Day | Third Monday of September |
| Thu 23 Sep | Autumnal Equinox Day | |
| Mon 11 Oct | Sports Day | Second Monday of October |
| Wed 3 Nov | Culture Day | |
| Tue 23 Nov | Labour Thanksgiving Day |
How Japanese holidays work
Japan's national holidays are set by the Act on National Holidays. Four of them — Coming of Age Day, Marine Day, Respect for the Aged Day and Sports Day — sit on a Monday under the "Happy Monday" system, which guarantees several three-day weekends. The two equinox days are fixed each February by the Cabinet Office from astronomical calculations. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the next working day becomes a furikae kyūjitsu (substitute holiday); a holiday on a Saturday is not moved.
New Year (around 29 December to 3 January) and Obon in mid-August are not national holidays apart from 1 January, but many companies close, and trains and expressways are at their busiest.
Travel tips for 2027
Golden Week runs from Thursday 29 April to Wednesday 5 May 2027; one day of leave on 30 April gives seven days off. Hotels in Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo fill early, so book well ahead.
Long weekends in Japan in 2027
- Fri 1 – Sun 3 Jan: 3 days off
- Sat 9 – Mon 11 Jan: 3 days off
- Sat 20 – Mon 22 Mar: 3 days off
- Sat 1 – Wed 5 May: 5 days off
- Sat 17 – Mon 19 Jul: 3 days off
- Sat 18 – Mon 20 Sep: 3 days off
- Sat 9 – Mon 11 Oct: 3 days off
Best bridge days
- Take Friday 12 Feb off after Thu 11 Feb → 4 days off (Thu 11 – Sun 14 Feb)
- Take Monday 22 Feb off before Tue 23 Feb → 4 days off (Sat 20 – Tue 23 Feb)
- Take Friday 30 Apr off after Thu 29 Apr → 7 days off (Thu 29 Apr – Wed 5 May)
- Take Friday 24 Sep off after Thu 23 Sep → 4 days off (Thu 23 – Sun 26 Sep)
- Take Monday 22 Nov off before Tue 23 Nov → 4 days off (Sat 20 – Tue 23 Nov)
Calculated from the national holidays above with a Saturday–Sunday weekend; regional holidays and company rules can add days.
Frequently asked questions
- How many public holidays does Japan have in 2027?
- 16 national holidays plus one substitute holiday on Monday 22 March.
- When is Golden Week 2027?
- Thursday 29 April to Wednesday 5 May 2027.
- Is Obon a public holiday in Japan?
- No. Obon is a customary holiday; only Mountain Day (11 August) is a national holiday nearby.
Sources: Cabinet Office, Japan – National holidays · Japan National Tourism Organization