Japan Public Holidays 2027
Complete list of all Japan public holidays 2027 with dates, day of week, and official names. Download .ics for calendar apps.
Japan Public Holidays 2027
| Date | Day | Holiday | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Friday | New Year's Day (元日 Ganjitsu) | — |
| Jan 2 | Saturday | New Year Holiday (正月休み) | Bank & public offices closed |
| Jan 3 | Sunday | New Year Holiday (正月休み) | Substitute observed Jan 4 |
| Jan 4 | Monday | Substitute Holiday (振替休日) | In lieu of Jan 3 (Sunday) |
| Jan 11 | Monday | Coming of Age Day (成人の日 Seijin no Hi) | 2nd Monday of January |
| Feb 11 | Thursday | National Foundation Day (建国記念の日 Kenkoku Kinen no Hi) | — |
| Feb 23 | Tuesday | Emperor's Birthday (天皇誕生日 Tenno Tanjobi) | Emperor Naruhito born Feb 23, 1960 |
| Mar 20 | Saturday | Vernal Equinox Day (春分の日 Shunbun no Hi) | Date confirmed annually by National Observatory |
| Apr 29 | Thursday | Showa Day (昭和の日 Showa no Hi) | Birthday of Emperor Showa |
| May 3 | Monday | Constitution Day (憲法記念日 Kenpo Kinenbi) | Golden Week |
| May 4 | Tuesday | Greenery Day (みどりの日 Midori no Hi) | Golden Week |
| May 5 | Wednesday | Children's Day (こどもの日 Kodomo no Hi) | Golden Week |
| Jul 19 | Monday | Marine Day (海の日 Umi no Hi) | 3rd Monday of July |
| Aug 11 | Wednesday | Mountain Day (山の日 Yama no Hi) | — |
| Sep 20 | Monday | Respect for the Aged Day (敬老の日 Keiro no Hi) | 3rd Monday of September |
| Sep 23 | Thursday | Autumnal Equinox Day (秋分の日 Shubun no Hi) | Date confirmed annually by National Observatory |
| Oct 11 | Monday | Sports Day (スポーツの日 Supotsu no Hi) | 2nd Monday of October |
| Nov 3 | Wednesday | Culture Day (文化の日 Bunka no Hi) | — |
| Nov 23 | Tuesday | Labour Thanksgiving Day (勤労感謝の日 Kinro Kansha no Hi) | — |
Equinox dates (Mar 20, Sep 23) are set annually by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and confirmed in the Official Gazette. Last updated: 2026-06-20.
About Japan Public Holidays
Japan's national public holidays are officially called Shukujitsu (祝日) and are governed by the Act on National Holidays (国民の祝日に関する法律), originally enacted in 1948. In 2027, Japan observes 16 designated public holidays. When any Shukujitsu falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is declared a Furikae Kyujitsu (振替休日 — substitute holiday), provided that Monday is not itself already a public holiday. In 2027, January 3 falls on a Sunday, so January 4 (Monday) becomes the substitute, resulting in a total of 17 official non-working days for the year. Additionally, any day sandwiched between two public holidays automatically becomes a holiday under the "Sandwich Rule" (国民の休日), though no such case arises in 2027.
Japan's holiday calendar features three notable cluster periods. Golden Week (late April to early May) groups Showa Day (Apr 29), Constitution Day (May 3), Greenery Day (May 4), and Children's Day (May 5) into one of the longest holiday stretches of the year. Obon (mid-August) is not a national public holiday by law, but Mountain Day (Aug 11) anchors a period when most Japanese businesses informally close for several days. Silver Week can occur in September when Respect for the Aged Day and the Autumnal Equinox are close enough together with a weekday gap to trigger a Sandwich Rule holiday — in 2027, they fall on September 20 and 23 with two working days between them, so no Silver Week applies this year.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Japan has 16 designated public holidays (Shukujitsu) in 2027. Because January 3 falls on a Sunday, a substitute holiday (Furikae Kyujitsu) is observed on Monday January 4, bringing the total number of official rest days to 17 for the year.
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Japan's New Year holiday period in 2027 spans January 1 (Friday), January 2 (Saturday), and January 3 (Sunday). Because January 3 falls on a Sunday, a substitute holiday is observed on Monday January 4, making it a four-day New Year break from January 1 to 4.
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The status widget at the top of this page automatically detects today's date using Asia/Tokyo timezone and checks against the official 2027 holiday list.