School holidays in Japan: 2023–2024

The education system in Japan (日本, Nihon/Nippon) is considered to be one of the best in the world and contributes to the country’s hard-working business culture. However, if you are a working parent, you will want to ensure that you have childcare to cover any discrepancies between your schedule and the school calendar.

Moreover, vacations and public holidays can provide the perfect opportunity to introduce your children to Japanese culture and show them all the beautiful and historical places to visit.

So to help you plan your year, here is everything you need to know about school holidays in Japan:

An overview of school holidays in Japan

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT – 文部科学省, Monbu Kagaku Sho) sets the Japanese school holidays across the country. The school year begins in April and concludes in March of the following year.

Interestingly, the calendar coordinates with the fiscal year (年度, nendo), which also runs from April to March and aligns with Japanese business holidays.

Public and private Japanese schools

Generally, all public (公立, koritsu) and private (私立, shiritsu) Japanese schools (学校, gakko) follow the same schedule, with slight regional variation.

However, even though the MEXT establishes the school and public holidays, the municipalities (市区町村, shi ku cho son) can decide to adapt these slightly. For example, the city of Tokyo may set the start of the school year on 7 April instead of 6 April, like the rest of the county. It is best to double-check with your child’s school.

Primary and secondary schools have three trimesters, which tend to fall on the same dates each year (or close to these). Typically, the holiday periods are:

• Summer holiday (夏休み, natsu yasumi): 20 July–31 August
• Winter holiday (冬休み, fuyu yasumi): 26 December–6 January
• Spring holiday (春休み, haru yasumi): 25 March–5 April

However, children will receive a substantial amount of homework and projects to complete during the holidays.

Conversely, Japanese universities only have two semesters. Typically, they begin their academic year in April, ending in July, with a two-month summer holiday across August and September. The second term generally runs from October to February, with a spring break in March.

Preschools (幼稚園, yochien) often have longer school breaks. Therefore, younger children can expect to have half-days or extra holidays at the beginning and end of each term. For example, while almost all elementary and secondary schools begin around 6 April, preschools will begin the following Monday, 10 April.

Some school holidays in Japan are opportunities to enjoy Japanese culture. For instance, Sports Day (体育の日, Taiiku no hi) on 9 October is a national holiday, where public schools are closed, and families spend the day together. It observes the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo and encourages healthy minds and bodies through physical activity.

International schools in Japan

International schools in Japan usually have significantly different school calendars than public schools, following their associated countries’ curriculums and academic years.

Most international schools have two semesters beginning in late August and ending in June. Holidays include:

• A long weekend in October
• A four-day weekend in November
• A three-week winter holiday
• Another long weekend or week-long break in February
• A spring break of one or two weeks in March or April

National school holidays in Japan: 2023–2024

Busy holiday travel times

Some Japanese public holidays line up to give students a short vacation. For example, the Golden Week (ゴールデンウィーク, Goruden Uiku) begins with Showa Day on 29 April, followed by Constitution Memorial Day (3 May), Greenery Day (4 May), and Children’s Day (5 May) to complete the holiday period. This week is a popular time for Japanese families to travel.

In addition, Obon (お盆) is a Japanese summer holiday when ancestors’ spirits are thought to return to Japan. In practice, you can expect heavy traffic from 13 to 16 August, as many people visit their ancestral towns and villages. Bear this in mind when you book hotel accommodation or train travel during this holiday period.

Some years, both Respect for the Aged Day and Autumnal Equinox Day also align for a long weekend. This is called Silver Week (シルバーウィーク, Shiruba Uiku) and is another popular time to travel.

Another busy holiday period is around New Year’s Day (正月, Shogatsu) and at the end of the school year in late March. Accordingly, be sure to plan travel and accommodations well in advance.

Regional school holidays in Japan 2023–2024

While Japan’s school holidays are consistent throughout the country, there are a few regional variations.

For example, Tokyo Citizen’s Day (都民の日, Tomin no hi) is 1 October. Although it is not a public holiday, many schools are closed, and students can enjoy free entrance to zoos, museums, and cultural sites.

Another regional variation is found in Okinawa (沖縄), a Japanese island more than 600 kilometers from the mainland. Okinawa Memorial Day (沖縄記念日, Okinawa kinen bi) on 23 June is a public holiday commemorating both soldier and civilian lives lost in Okinawa during World War II. Families observe this holiday by visiting memorials or cemeteries.

Childcare during Japanese school holidays

You’ll need to find childcare if you have to work during the school holidays (育児, ikuji). Fortunately, many schools in Japan offer some form of childcare during holidays. For example, younger children may enjoy either half-day programs or day camps.

If you only need childcare for a short time, you can also hire a babysitter or parents’ helper. You can ask friends, neighbors, or members of expat social media groups for personal recommendations, or your child’s international school may have a list of older students who can babysit.

Unfortunately, public schools don’t have this system. However, you might want to consider hiring a nanny or au pair if your work schedule differs significantly from the school holidays in Japan.

For longer breaks, there are both day camps and overnight options offering students an opportunity to practice Japanese (日本語, Nihongo), learn outdoor skills, and explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) activities.

At the same time, you can find plenty of English options to keep your children busy all summer. Ensure your child – or the carer – has a list of helpful emergency numbers and is up to date with their vaccinations before enrolling them in these camps.

Fun summer/holiday camps in Japan

If you are looking for ways to entertain your little ones during the school holidays in Japan, there are numerous holiday camps available throughout the country. These provide them with the opportunity to socialize and make new friends while learning some valuable new skills.

Some of the popular holiday camps include:

• Dream Seeds Camp
• Evergreen Outdoor Center
• Jinseki Summer Camp
• Laurus International School of Science STEAM Summer Camp
• Sports Camp of America
• Tokyo Coding Club