School holidays in Japan consist of public holidays with both national and cultural holidays such as New Year, National Foundation Day, and Christmas. However, Japan also has unique holidays which aren’t celebrated elsewhere in the world.
The Japanese school year in Japan begins in April. The next term starts in July and the final term begins in early January and ends in March.
For more updated information, please visit individual school websites.
| Dates | School Holiday |
|---|---|
| Feb 11, 2026 | National Foundation Day |
| Feb 23, 2026 | Emperor’s Birthday |
| May 6, 2026 | Constitution Memorial Day |
| May 5, 2026 | Children’s Day |
| Sep 21, 2026 | Respect for the Aged Day |
| Oct 12, 2026 | Health-Sports Day |
| Nov 3, 2026 | Culture Day |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Labor Thanksgiving Day |
New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day is celebrated as the first day of the Gregorian calendar. Most Japanese people visit temples and shrines for hatsumode or the first prayer of the year.
Coming-of-age Day
This holiday is celebrated every second Monday of January. This day celebrates freshly minted adults. During this holiday, 20-year old people dress up in traditional garments.
National Foundation Day
Celebrated every February 11, this is the day when the first emperor Jimmu ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne in 660BCE.
Showa Day
Showa Day is the first holiday of the Japanese year. It runs from April to March and remembers the birthday of the Showa emperor.
Constitution Memorial Day
May 3, 1947, is the date the current Japanese constitution was proclaimed.
Greenery Day
This day is marked to celebrate nature and give thanks to it.
Children’s Day
Tango no Sekku or Children’s Day is a holiday which celebrates kids and wishes them good luck on their journey to adulthood.
Marine Day
Marine Day or Ocean Day is a holiday that celebrates the sun and the ocean. Japanese people who worship the sun are also thankful for the bounty brought by the ocean.
Mountain Day
Another holiday to celebrate nature, Mountain Day celebrates the bounty brought by mountains in Japan.
Respect for the Aged Day
Japan honors the elderly, especially during this day. They send flowers and cards to their family members during this day.
Health-Sports Day
This holiday honors the importance of Health & Sports in Japan.
Culture Day
Culture Day is a day when Tokyo museums have discounts on entrance fees. It is a holiday that remembers the post-war constitution announcement and also the birthday of Emperor Meiji.
Labor Thanksgiving Day
This day is when labor union marches for their rights in Japan and also synonymous with the harvest festival in Japan.
For more details, please click here.
Please do not post:
Thank you once again for doing your part to keep Edarabia the most trusted education source.
This is one of the best favourite country in my life .
By Jahid hasan (Mar, 2021) |
Twitter
The holiday site was a game-changer! It had up-to-date information about events and festivals happening during our trip, allowing us to experience the destination's vibrant culture. Thank you for the valuable insights!
By Tanaka Keiko (Jan, 2023) |