🎌 Japan Public Holiday Checker (祝日)

Japan has 16 public holidays (祝日, shukujitsu) - one of the highest numbers among developed countries. They range from New Year's Day and the Emperor's Birthday to seasonal markers like the equinox days and cultural holidays such as Culture Day.

Several holidays move around the calendar. The Happy Monday system shifted some holidays to a fixed weekday: Coming-of-Age Day (2nd Monday of January), Marine Day (3rd Monday of July), Respect-for-the-Aged Day (3rd Monday of September), and Sports Day (2nd Monday of October). Two holidays - the Vernal and Autumnal Equinox - fall on a computed date each year (around 20/21 March and 22/23 September).

When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes a substitute holiday (振替休日, furikae-kyūjitsu) - unless that Monday is already a holiday. This rule is what creates many of Japan's three-day weekends. Our tool lists every holiday for your chosen year, marks substitute holidays, and counts the long weekends. For choosing event dates, combine it with the rokuyō checker.

The checker computes each holiday for the year you enter. Fixed-date holidays are straightforward. Happy Monday holidays use the rule "the Nth Monday of month M": find the first Monday, then add (N−1) weeks. The equinox days use the standard astronomical approximation used by the National Astronomical Observatory: Vernal Equinox ≈ floor(20.8431 + 0.242194×(Y−1980)) − floor((Y−1980)/4) of March, and Autumnal Equinox ≈ floor(23.2488 + 0.242194×(Y−1980)) − floor((Y−1980)/4) of September.

After listing the 16 holidays, the tool checks each: if a holiday lands on Sunday, the next day that is neither a holiday nor a Sunday becomes the substitute holiday (furikae kyūjitsu) — e.g. in 2026, May 3 falls on Sunday and May 4–5 are already holidays, so May 6 becomes the substitute. The summary counts how many substitute holidays the year contains, which is useful for trip planning.

The equinox formula is accurate for the 20th and 21st centuries; occasionally the observatory announces a one-day adjustment, so for legal precision always cross-check the official Cabinet Office announcement. You can also see how holidays interact with eras via our era converter.

1. Enter a year (e.g. 2026).
2. Click List Holidays to see all 16 祝日 with dates and weekdays.
3. Substitute holidays (Sunday → Monday) are marked automatically.
4. Check the count of three-day weekends for trip planning.
5. Cross-check any equinox date with the official announcement for legal use.

How many public holidays does Japan have?

Japan has 16 public holidays (祝日). They include New Year's Day, Coming-of-Age Day, the Emperor's Birthday, the two equinox days, Golden Week holidays, and several Happy Monday holidays.

What is a substitute holiday (振替休日)?

When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes a day off instead. This is why many Japanese holidays create a three-day weekend. If the Monday is already a holiday, no extra day is added.

What are the Happy Monday holidays?

Coming-of-Age Day (2nd Mon Jan), Marine Day (3rd Mon Jul), Respect-for-the-Aged Day (3rd Mon Sep), and Sports Day (2nd Mon Oct) are all fixed to a Monday.

How are the equinox holidays dated?

They use a standard astronomical formula accurate for the 20th-21st centuries (around 20/21 March and 22/23 September). The observatory may announce a one-day tweak, so check the official source for legal use.

When is Golden Week?

Golden Week runs from 29 April (Shōwa Day) through 5 May (Children's Day), often extended by substitute holidays into a week-long break.

Does Saturday count for a substitute holiday?

No - only holidays that fall on Sunday get a substitute Monday. A holiday on Saturday is simply a Saturday off.

Japan's biggest holiday cluster is Golden Week (late April to early May: Shōwa Day 29 Apr, Constitution Memorial Day 3 May, Greenery Day 4 May, Children's Day 5 May). With substitute holidays this often becomes a 5-day+ break. Another is the stretch from Marine Day through Obon in mid-August. Plan travel and reservations early - domestic flights and hotels sell out.

If a holiday falls on Saturday, there is no substitute Monday (only Sunday holidays get one). And if two holidays with a single weekday between them occur, that weekday can become a 国民の休日 (a "citizen's holiday") - another three-day weekend. Use the year's list to spot these clusters ahead of time, and pair it with the rokuyō checker if you are scheduling a wedding or ceremony around a holiday.