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National holidays Japan

Japan Fact File


[factfile]

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS IN JAPAN 2008 / 2009 / 2010


2008

January

  1 (Tuesday) New Year's Day (gantan): Only 1st January is an official national holiday, but the New Year period (shogatsu) is considered to last until the 3rd, and many business re-open on the 4th or 5th.
  2-3 Officially a holiday for bank and government employees only.
  14 (Monday) Coming of Age Day (seijin no hi): all young people who turn 20 this year are celebrated on this national holiday.

February

  3 (Sunday) Beginning of Spring (setsubun): traditional holiday
  11 (Monday) National Foundation Day (kenkoku kinen no hi)

March

  3 (Monday) Girls' or Dolls' Festival (hina matsuri): not a national holiday.
  20 (Thursday) Spring Equinox (shunbun no hi)

April

  29 (Tuesday) Showa Day (Showa no hi): the birthday of the Showa Emperor (Hirohito). Due to the way the weekdays fall in 2008, Showa Day is an isolated holiday and not really part of Golden Week.

May

  3 (Saturday) Constitution Day (kenpo kinenbi)
  4 (Sunday) Greenery Day (midori no hi)
  5 (Monday) Childrens' Day (Boys' Day) (kodomo no hi) and taken for Greenery Day too, as it falls on Sunday *

July

  7 (Monday) Tanabata (Star Festival) is not a national holiday
  13-15 Obon (Festival of Souls): although this is not an official national holiday, many offices are closed (Tokyo celebrates in July)
  21 (Monday) Marine Day (umi no hi)

August

  13-15 Obon (Festival of Souls): although this is not an official national holiday, many offices are closed (most of the country celebrates in August)

September

  15 (Monday) Respect for the Aged Day (keiro no hi)

October

  13 (Monday) Sports Day (taiku no hi)

November

  3 (Monday) Culture Day (bunka no hi)
  15 (Saturday) Shichi-go-san (7/5/3 Festival): not a holiday but a traditional festival
  24 (Monday) Labour Thanksgiving Day (kinro kansha no hi)

December

  23 (Tuesday) Emperor's Birthday (Tenno tanjobi)
  25 (Thursday) not a national holiday
  31 (Wednesday) New Years Eve (omisoka): officially a holiday for bank and government employees only. But for many offices, 26th will be the last working day until 5th January.

2009

January

  1 (Thursday) New Year's Day (gantan): Only 1st January is an official national holiday, but the New Year period (shogatsu) is considered to last until the 3rd, and many business re-open on the 4th or 5th.
  2-3 Officially a holiday for bank and government employees only.
  12 (Monday) Coming of Age Day (seijin no hi): all young people who turn 20 this year are celebrated on this national holiday.

February

  1 (Sunday) Beginning of Spring (setsubun): traditional holiday
  11 (Wednesday) National Foundation Day (kenkoku kinen no hi)

March

  2 (Monday) Girls' or Dolls' Festival (hina matsuri): not a national holiday.
  20 (Friday) Spring Equinox (shunbun no hi)

April

  29 (Wednesday) Showa Day (Showa no hi): the birthday of the Showa Emperor (Hirohito). Due to the way the weekdays fall in 2009, Showa Day is an isolated holiday and not really part of Golden Week.

May

  3 (Sunday) Constitution Day (kenpo kinenbi)
  4 (Monday) Greenery Day (midori no hi)
  5 (Tuesday) Childrens' Day (Boys' Day) (kodomo no hi)
  6(Wednesday) Taken for Constitution Day, as it falls on Sunday *

July

  7 (Tuesday) Tanabata (Star Festival) is not a national holiday
  13-15 Obon (Festival of Souls): although this is not an official national holiday, many offices are closed (Tokyo celebrates in July)
  20 (Monday) Marine Day (umi no hi)

August

  13-15 Obon (Festival of Souls): although this is not an official national holiday, many offices are closed (most of the country celebrates in August)

September

  21 (Monday) Respect for the Aged Day (keiro no hi)

October

  12 (Monday) Sports Day (taiku no hi)

November

  3 (Tuesday) Culture Day (bunka no hi)
  15 (Sunday) Shichi-go-san (7/5/3 Festival): not a holiday but a traditional festival
  23 (Monday) Labour Thanksgiving Day (kinro kansha no hi)

December

  23 (Wednesday) Emperor's Birthday (Tenno tanjobi)
  25 (Friday) not a national holiday
  31 (Thursday) New Years Eve (omisoka): officially a holiday for bank and government employees only. But for many offices, 25th will be the last working day until 4th January.

2010

January

  1 (Friday) New Year's Day (gantan): Only 1st January is an official national holiday, but the New Year period (shogatsu) is considered to last until the 3rd, and many business re-open on the 4th or 5th.
  2-3 Officially a holiday for bank and government employees only.
  11 (Monday) Coming of Age Day (seijin no hi): all young people who turn 20 this year are celebrated on this national holiday.

February

  3 (Wednesday) Beginning of Spring (setsubun): traditional holiday
  11 (Thursday) National Foundation Day (kenkoku kinen no hi)

March

  3 (Wednesday) Girls' or Dolls' Festival (hina matsuri): not a national holiday.
  21 (Sunday) Spring Equinox (shunbun no hi)

April

  29 (Thursday) Showa Day (Showa no hi): the birthday of the Showa Emperor (Hirohito). Due to the way the weekdays fall in 2008, Showa Day is an isolated holiday and not really part of Golden Week.

May

  3 (Monday) Constitution Day (kenpo kinenbi)
  4 (Tuesday) Greenery Day (midori no hi)
  5 (Wednesday) Childrens' Day (Boys' Day) (kodomo no hi)

July

  7 (Tuesday) Tanabata (Star Festival) is not a national holiday
  13-15 Obon (Festival of Souls): although this is not an official national holiday, many offices are closed (Tokyo celebrates in July)
  19 (Monday) Marine Day (umi no hi)

August

  13-16 Obon (Festival of Souls): although this is not an official national holiday, many offices are closed (most of the country celebrates in August)

September

  20 (Monday) Respect for the Aged Day (keiro no hi)

October

  11 (Monday) Sports Day (taiku no hi)

November

  3 (Wednesday) Culture Day (bunka no hi)
  15 (Monday) Shichi-go-san (7/5/3 Festival): not a holiday but a traditional festival
  23 (Tuesday) Labour Thanksgiving Day (kinro kansha no hi)

December

  23 (Thursday) Emperor's Birthday (Tenno tanjobi)
  25 (Friday) not a national holiday
  31 (Thursday) New Years Eve (omisoka): officially a holiday for bank and government employees only. But for many offices, 25th will be the last working day until 4th January.

* If a national holiday falls on Sunday, the following day will be taken as the holiday instead.
If a day lies between two national holidays, that day will also be a holiday.
Actual national closing days shown in bold.
Follow the links to find out more about the traditional festivals shown.
denotes Japan's "Golden Week". Best to avoid travelling in Japan at this time.
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