Before planning your trip to Japan, it’s essential to check the Japan Holidays scheduled during your stay. This is important not only because some museums, shops, and other facilities may be closed on these public holidays, but also because Japanese people tend to travel and visit popular destinations on these days.

Shinkansen, flights, and accommodations can get booked out very early for these Japan Holidays if not planned ahead. Additionally, prices may increase if you delay booking. Below are the public holidays in Japan for 2024.

Japan Holidays 2024

Source: Japan Cabinet Office – 「国民の祝日」について(About National Holidays)

In June and December, there are no public holidays in Japan.

Tips of Japan Holidays:

1. Year-End and New Year Holiday: Although December 31st and January 3rd are not listed as Japan National Holidays, they are part of the Year-End and New Year Holiday.
2. What is a “Substitute Holiday” in Japan? When a Japan National Holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes a public holiday, known as a “Substitute Holiday”.

Three-day Weekends

In 2024, several Japan National Holidays fall on Sundays, creating three-day weekends as they are observed on the following Monday. These holidays include National Foundation Day, Children’s Day, Mountain Day, Autumnal Equinox Day, and Culture Day. In total, there are five instances of holidays being observed on a Monday, resulting in five three-day weekends! This provides ample opportunities for short trips.

Here are the three-day weekends in 2024:

• January 6 (Sat) to January 8 (Mon)
• February 10 (Sat) to February 12 (Mon)
• February 23 (Fri) to February 25 (Sun)
• April 27 (Sat) to April 29 (Mon)
• May 3 (Fri) to May 6 (Mon) (Four-day weekend!)
• July 13 (Sat) to July 15 (Mon)
• August 10 (Sat) to August 12 (Mon)
• September 14 (Sat) to September 16 (Mon)
• September 21 (Sat) to September 23 (Mon)
• October 12 (Sat) to October 14 (Mon)
• November 2 (Sat) to November 4 (Mon)

Golden Week 2024

The Golden Week in Japan in 2024 is expected to fall between April 27 (Sat) and May 6 (Mon).

Although April 30 (Tue), May 1 (Wed), and May 2 (Thu) are regular workdays, many Japanese people take leave to enjoy a ten-day break. If you plan to visit Japan during Golden Week, be prepared for crowds and possibly increased prices for accommodations and transportation.

When do Japanese people travel?

It may be helpful to know the three busiest travel seasons in Japan. Shinkansen, flights, and accommodations are booked out early, and prices could go up if you don’t book in advance for these periods.

1. New Year: The most important Japan National Holiday. Most businesses close from December 30 until January 3.
2. Golden Week: Four Japan National Holidays—Showa Day, Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, and Children’s Day—fall within seven days. Many people use paid leave to extend this into a long holiday week.
3. Obon Week: Obon is a Japanese Buddhist event to honor ancestors, observed from August 13 to 15 or 16 (in some regions, July 13-15 or 16). Many Japanese people return to their hometowns during this period, and some companies close for the week.

Avoid the busy times and enjoy Japan! We recommend avoiding the three busiest travel seasons mentioned above to save your budget and avoid the crowds.

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