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From January through December, there are many Japanese holidays and special occasions you can participate in. If you’re taking Japanese lessons, make sure you get in on the fun! This is a great way to practice your skills in an authentic, cultural setting. Get ready to mark your calendar! Here are 12 Japanese celebrations you should remember.12 Japanese Holidays & Celebrations
What Are Major Holidays and Celebrations in Japan?
The major holidays and celebrations in Japan include Ganjitsu, New Year’s Day; Kenkoku Kinen no Hi, National Foundation Day; Hina Matsuri, Girls’ Festival. Celebrating these Japanese festivals is a great way to deepen your understanding of the language. Here’s the full list of Japanese festivals:
- Ganjitsu, New Year’s Day
- Kenkoku Kinen no Hi, National Foundation Day
- Hina Matsuri, Girls’ Festival
- Shunbun No Hi, Spring / Vernal Equinox
- Showa No Hi, Showa Day
- Golden Week
- Summer Solstice
- Mountain Day
- Keiro no Hi, Respect for the Aged Day
- Taiku no Hi, Health and Sports Day
- Kinrō Kansha no Hi, Labor Day / Thanksgiving
- Tennō Tanjōbi, The Emperor’s Birthday
Check out the colorful infographic below for more reminders of these Japanese public holidays!
12 Japanese Holidays & Celebrations: A Closer Look
It’s time to celebrate. Browse the list of Japanese national holidays below, speed your time to fluency, and deepen your understanding of Japanese culture.
1. January 1st: Ganjitsu – New Year’s Day
In Japan, many businesses remain closed until the 3rd, and there are all types of parties and traditions. Japanese people view each year as a fresh start—so you should leave your worries and troubles behind, and start the new year with joy, happiness, and a fresh perspective.
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2. February 11th: Kenkoku Kinen no Hi – National Foundation Day
National Foundation Day is a historical holiday on the 11th of February. The holiday commemorates the formation of the nation. The National Flag is raised and the prime minister gives a speech, while Japanese people show their national pride by waving flags.
3. March 3rd: Hina Matsuri – Girls’ Festival
This is many young girls’ favorite of all the Japanese holidays. On this day, parents wish their daughters success and happiness. Dolls and peach blossoms are displayed in many houses throughout Japan.
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4. March 20th / 21st: Shunbun No Hi – Spring / Vernal Equinox
This Japanese national holiday welcomes the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It’s also a time to visit graves and honor your ancestors. Additionally, this is a favored holiday for farmers, who pray for an abundant harvest.
5. April 29th: Showa No Hi – Showa Day
Part of “Golden Week,” Showa Day takes place on April 29th. Once known as the Emperor’s Birthday, it commemorates the Showa Era (1926 – 1989), and marks the beginning of the spring season in Japan.
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6. April 29th – May 8th: Golden Week
Golden week combines four national holidays in Japan. May 3rd is Kenpo kinenbi (Constitution Day), and it commemorates the new constitution which was put in place in 1947.
May 4th is Midori no hi (Greenery Day), which celebrates nature and the environment. Kodomo no Hi (Children’s Day) is the last Golden Week holiday, when Japanese families pray for their son’s health and future success.
7. June 20th – 21st: Summer Solstice
It’s not an official national holiday, but chances are you can find a celebration to attend. The summer solstice recognizes the longest day of the year—a tradition honored in Japan and around the world.
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8. Third Monday in July: Umi no Hi – Marine / Ocean Day
Ocean Day – sometimes referred to as Marine Day or Sea Day – is a Japanese festival day to give thanks for the ocean’s bounty and its importance to Japan as an island nation. Roughly marking the end of Japan’s rainy season, many people take advantage of warmer weather to visit the beach, engage in water sports, and there is traditionally an Ocean Day parade.
9. August 11th: Mountain Day
Mountain Day became an official holiday on August 11th, 2016. Like several other Japanese holidays, this one has to do with celebrating nature. It not only gives people a day off from work, but also provides an opportunity to appreciate and study the benefits of mountains.
10. Third Monday in September: Keiro no Hi – Respect for the Aged Day
This holiday is all about celebrating and showing respect for elderly people in the community, and expressing gratitude for their contributions. This can be an excellent way to honor the elders in your own life while learning about Japanese culture, whether that’s a grandparent or close friend.
11. Second Monday in October: Taiku no Hi – Health and Sports Day
Health and Sports Day is a national holiday that commemorates the opening of the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. The holiday also encourages a healthy and active lifestyle. Many communities celebrate this Japanese festival day with sports events, or even an even similar to a mini Olympics.
12. November 23rd: Kinrō Kansha no Hi – Labor Day / Thanksgiving
As the name implies, Japan’s Thanksgiving celebrates workers, and honors the labor and production in the country. The holiday is said to have originated thousands of years ago, when it was an important Autumn Harvest Festival called Niinamesai.
13. December 23rd: Tennō Tanjōbi – The Emperor’s Birthday
The emperor’s birthday is always a national holiday in Japan. Akihito, the current Japanese emperor, was born on December 23rd, so the holiday coincides with his birthday.
It’s Time to Celebrate Some Japanese National Holidays!
We hope you enjoyed learning about the many Japanese national holidays. If you’re taking Japanese language lessons, learn as much as you can about these Japanese festivals and special occasions. Learning about cultural traditions makes studying Japanese that much more fun!
Photo by David Chau
Maile Proctor