Leave rules · 2026
Annual leave and sick leave rules in Japan (2026)
Employees in Japan get at least 10 days of paid annual leave a year on a 5-day week (2 weeks). Sick leave: not paid.
Rules as of September 2026 · page built Monday, September 28, 2026Statutory minimums
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10 days a year (80 hours)
Statutory minimum 10 days on a 5-day week at 0 years of service.
This is the legal floor for Japan; the contract can give more.
| Service | Minimum (5-day week) | In weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Starting entitlement | 10 days | 2 weeks |
| After 1.5 years | 11 days | 2.2 weeks |
| After 2.5 years | 12 days | 2.4 weeks |
| After 3.5 years | 14 days | 2.8 weeks |
| After 4.5 years | 16 days | 3.2 weeks |
| After 5.5 years | 18 days | 3.6 weeks |
| After 6.5 years | 20 days | 4 weeks |
10 days after 6 months with at least 80% attendance, rising with service to 20 days after 6.5 years (Labor Standards Act art. 39).
Worked exampleA full-time employee on a 5-day week gets at least 10 days a year; after 1.5 years, 11 days, rising to 20 days after 6.5 years.
What the rules mean in practice
In Japan, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 10 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 2 weeks, rising to 20…
In Japan, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 10 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 2 weeks, rising to 20 days after 6.5 years of service. The legal wording: 10 days after 6 months with at least 80% attendance, rising with service to 20 days after 6.5 years (Labor Standards Act art. 39).
Compared with the other 37 jurisdictions LeaveCalc covers, that starting minimum is higher than 4, the same as 11 and lower than 22. Across all of them the range runs from 5 days (the Philippines) to 30 days (the United Arab Emirates). 10 days is about 3.8% of a 260-day working year.
Length of service raises the floor six times: 11 days after 1.5 years, 12 days after 2.5 years, 14 days after 3.5 years, 16 days after 4.5 years, 18 days after 5.5 years and 20 days after 6.5 years.
National holidays are not part of annual paid leave. For 2026, the public holiday calendar for Japan lists 18 holidays, 17 of them on working days. An employee who has all 17 weekday holidays off on top of the 10-day minimum is away from work on at least 27 weekdays in 2026.
Sick leave: No statutory paid sick leave; health insurance pays an injury and sickness allowance from the 4th day. LeaveCalc rates this entry High confidence, based on the official sources listed below as of September 2026.
Public holidays
National holidays are not part of annual paid leave. See the 2026 and 2027 public holiday dates for Japan, with .ics downloads.
Sources
As of September 2026. Statutory minimums only: contracts, collective agreements and local rules can give more.
Questions about leave in Japan
The statutory minimum is 10 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (2 weeks).
How many days of annual leave do employees get in Japan?
The statutory minimum is 10 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (2 weeks). 10 days after 6 months with at least 80% attendance, rising with service to 20 days after 6.5 years (Labor Standards Act art. 39).
Does annual leave increase with length of service in Japan?
Yes. The minimum starts at 10 days a year and steps up with completed years of service: 11 days after 1.5 years, 12 days after 2.5 years, 14 days after 3.5 years, 16 days after 4.5 years, 18 days after 5.5 years and 20 days after 6.5 years.
Is sick leave paid in Japan?
No statutory paid sick days are recorded here. No statutory paid sick leave; health insurance pays an injury and sickness allowance from the 4th day.
Are public holidays part of annual leave in Japan?
National holidays are not part of annual paid leave. In 2026 the calendar for Japan has 18 public holidays, 17 of them on working days.