Public holidays in Japan 2026

Counting Saturday and Sunday as the weekend, 17 of the 18 holiday dates in 2026 fall on a working day and 1 on a weekend. The most common weekday for a holiday is Monday, with 7 dates.

Eight of the 18 dates land on a Monday or Friday, next to the weekend, so they make a long weekend without using any leave: Coming of Age Day on Monday, January 12, Emperor's Birthday on Monday, February 23, Vernal Equinox Day on Friday, March 20, Greenery Day on Monday, May 4, Marine Day on Monday, July 20, Respect for the Aged Day on Monday, September 21, and 2 more. Three more holidays sit one working day away from the weekend, so a single day of leave turns each into a four-day break: New Year's Day on Thursday, January 1 (take Friday off), Mountain Day on Tuesday, August 11 (take Monday off) and Culture Day on Tuesday, November 3 (take Monday off).

May is the busiest month, with 4 holiday dates. June and December have no public holiday at all. The longest stretch between two holidays is 75 days, from Substitute Holiday on May 6 to Marine Day on July 20, the natural window for a longer break.

One entry is an observed, substitute or bridge day that moves a holiday onto a working day: Substitute Holiday on May 6.

2027 brings 17 public holidays, 1 holiday fewer than 2026. 16 of the 17 dates fall on a working day, and 7 land next to the weekend.