Public holidays in Japan in 2024–2025

If you’ve just moved to Japan (日本, Nihon/Nippon), you’ll want to mark the country’s public holidays (祝日, shuku jitsu) in your calendar. Not only are these days off perfect for exploring Japan’s diverse cities, but you can also use them to delve into the local cuisine and culture.

To help you plan your vacation, here are the Japanese public holidays for 2024 and 2025:

The 2024 Japanese calendar

Public holidays in Japan in 2024

Officially, there are 16 public holidays in a year, though many Japanese regions celebrate additional festivals and dates.

Many of the holidays in Japan have ties to the lunar calendar or Shinto religion (神道, Shinto). Unlike many other countries, it does not observe Christian (キリスト教, Kirisuto Kyo) feasts like Easter and Christmas (クリスマス, Kurisumasu).

Below are Japan’s national holidays for 2024:

Regional holidays and festivals in 2024

Japan’s regions govern with a fair amount of autonomy. Because of this, many holidays and festivals are only observed in particular Japanese cities.

In some regions, grocery stores, attractions, museums, and banks will close for the occasion, but this is not always the case. So check with your Japanese employer about whether you have the day off. If it is a major public holiday in your local prefecture, remember to also stock up on food and plan some fun things to do.

Here are a few key regional dates to remember:

Important dates in Japan in 2024

Japan marks numerous festivals and occasions throughout the year, and though these are not official public holidays, the nation still commemorates these across the country. Most businesses, restaurants, banks, and schools will not close for the day.

Here are a few important dates to remember:

The 2025 Japanese calendar

Public Japanese holidays in 2025

Regional holidays and festivals in 2025

Important dates in Japan in 2025

Japanese school holidays

Planning a family holiday? Don’t forget to mark the school holidays in Japan (学校休暇, gakko kyuka) in your calendar. Local schools typically begin the academic year in April and end in March, operating on a trimester system. In between, there are two vacations – the summer and winter holidays – plus semester breaks and public holidays.

Of course, some regional variations may be across schools in different cities and prefectures. What’s more, international schools may have breaks or days off. To ensure you have the correct dates – and to organize any necessary childcare (育児, ikuji) – check with your children’s school.