Japan Public Holidays 2027
Japan's official 2027 national holidays and substitute holiday, as published by the Cabinet Office, with an ICS download.
Japan Public Holidays 2027
| Date | Day | Holiday | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Friday | New Year's Day | — |
| Jan 11 | Monday | Coming of Age Day | 2nd Monday of January |
| Feb 11 | Thursday | National Foundation Day | — |
| Feb 23 | Tuesday | Emperor's Birthday | Emperor Naruhito born Feb 23, 1960 |
| Mar 21 | Sunday | Vernal Equinox Day | Official national holiday |
| Mar 22 | Monday | Substitute Holiday (for Vernal Equinox Day) | In lieu of Vernal Equinox Day |
| Apr 29 | Thursday | Showa Day | Birthday of Emperor Showa |
| May 3 | Monday | Constitution Day | Golden Week |
| May 4 | Tuesday | Greenery Day | Golden Week |
| May 5 | Wednesday | Children's Day | Golden Week |
| Jul 19 | Monday | Marine Day | 3rd Monday of July |
| Aug 11 | Wednesday | Mountain Day | — |
| Sep 20 | Monday | Respect for the Aged Day | 3rd Monday of September |
| Sep 23 | Thursday | Autumnal Equinox Day | Date confirmed annually by National Observatory |
| Oct 11 | Monday | Sports Day | 2nd Monday of October |
| Nov 3 | Wednesday | Culture Day | — |
| Nov 23 | Tuesday | Labour Thanksgiving Day | — |
The Cabinet Office's published list confirms Vernal Equinox Day on Mar 21, its substitute holiday on Mar 22, and Autumnal Equinox Day on Sep 23. Last verified: 2026-10-13.
About Japan Public Holidays
Japan's national public holidays are called Shukujitsu (祝日) and are governed by the Act on National Holidays. In 2027, Japan observes 16 designated national holidays. Vernal Equinox Day falls on Sunday, 21 March, so Monday, 22 March becomes a Furikae Kyujitsu (振替休日 — substitute holiday). January 2 and 3 are common New Year closure dates for many organisations but are not national holidays and are therefore not included in the table or ICS file.
For planning, the 2027 calendar has a useful late-spring break: the four Golden Week holidays run from Thursday, April 29 through Wednesday, May 5. Taking leave on Friday, April 30 creates a seven-day break. This calendar lists statutory national holidays only; company closures, school terms, municipal observances and bank holidays may differ.
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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This page lists 17 distinct dates for 2027. Published 2027 national holiday list, including the 22 March substitute holiday.
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Vernal Equinox Day is Sunday, 21 March 2027. Under the Holiday Act, Monday, 22 March is the official substitute holiday. January 2 and 3 may be customary business closures, but they are not national holidays.
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The status widget at the top of this page automatically detects today's date using Asia/Tokyo timezone and checks only the 2027 dates listed on this page; it cannot determine holiday status for a different year.
Long weekends in 2027
Calculated from the holidays listed on this page and a Saturday–Sunday weekend. Regional schedules and employer rules may differ.
Calculating…