Japanese National Holidays - Find Out When And What They Are!

There are 15 Japanese national holidays on the calendar and it's a good idea to find out when they're happening so you can join in the fun! These events are a great chance to get a peek inside Japanese culture and see traditions, wear costumes, and eat food that's not a part of the usual everyday life here.

I still remember my first Japanese festival here. It was the huge Sanja festival in Asakusa (the old part of Tokyo) and I went with a couple of buddies who'd been here longer than me at the time. It was amazing. It was a full on day (and night) of dancing, merriment, and general nuttiness : ) If you ever want to see around 1 million people letting their hair down this is the event to go to!

Don't worry though. There're lots of smaller events as well if you don't fancy dealing with a crowd of this size. Just check out the list below and click on the dates you're interested in to find out more information.

Japanese National Holidays: January - March

• January 1st is Japanese New Year which is very different from the Western style celebration, while the period of December 29 - January 4 is known as Oshogatsu. Traditionally this is a time for new beginnings and fresh starts and there're many cultural activities that are specific to this time of year. On Japanese New Years Eve people celebrate hatsumode, the first temple visit of the New Year. If you get a chance to go, do!

• The second Monday in January is Seijin no Hi, or Coming of Age Day. The actual date is always the second Monday in January of any given year so you need to confirm this date according to the year you visit. It's a chance to see some beautiful kimonos and the girls who wear them.

• February 11 is National Foundation Day or, in Japanese, Kenkoku Kinen no Hi.

• March 20 or 21, the date depends on the year, is the Vernal Equinox, Spring Equinox, or Shubun no Hi in Japan. It means winter is coming to an end and the time for hanami and Japanese cherry blossom is nearly here - in Tokyo anyway.

Japanese National Holidays: April - June

• April 29 is the birthday of the Showa Emperor, Hirohito. In Japanese this is called Showa no Hi. It's a very special day as it signals the start of Golden Week on the Japanese calendar. If you're going to be here during this time be warned, it's expensive and busy.

• May 3 is Constitution Day in Japan, or Kenpo Kinenbi. It's one of the more modern of the Japanese national holidays as it only came into being after WWII. It doesn't have the traditions of other days but it's still a day off work for us ; )

• May 4 is Greenery Day, or Midori no Hi. As the name suggests it's a celebration of all things green and natural.

• May 5 is one of my personal favorites, Kodomo no Hi, or Childrens' Day. Traditionally this was a festival for boys and referred to as Boys' Day but in recent times it is for both boys and girls. It's a lovely day with temples and shrines everywhere joining in the celebrations.

Japanese National Holidays: July - September

• The third Monday of July is Ocean Day, or Umi no Hi, in honor of all things salty! The produce of the sea has had a major influence on Japanese culture and so it seems only right that the ocean should have a special day in thanks for its bounty.

• The third Monday of September is Respect for the Aged Day, or Keirou no Hi. It's all about family, ancestors and the important part they play in our lives. I'm all for this day : )

• September 22, 23, or 24, again depending on the year, is Autumn Equinox Day, or Shubun no Hi. A welcome signal that the days are getting cooler and the humidity is starting to fall. Summer is tiring in Tokyo simply because of the heat so Tokyoites, and me(!), feel a great sense of relief knowing that Autumn is just around the corner.

Japanese National Holidays: October - December

• The second Monday of October is National Sports Day, or Taiiku no Hi. It's another day for the children and you'll see sports events going on at almost every school or playing field with proud parents looking on.

• November 3 is Bunka no Hi, or Culture Day. This one is another of my favorites. There's loads of events that go on at local temples for this celebration so it's definitely worth checking with us at this time to see what's on where.

• November 23 means Labour Thanksgiving Day, or Kinro Kansha no Hi. It's a day to celebrate the hard work of the masses. In a country where karoshi (death by overwork) is a sad but true reality, this day definitely deserves it's place on the Japanese national holidays list.

• December 23 is Tenno no Tanjobi, the Emperor's birthday. It's a bit confusing as we've already said that April 29 is to celebrate the birthday of the Showa Emperor. Tenno no Tanjobi honors the birthday of the current Emperor, in this case Emperor Akihito. When the next Emperor starts his reign, the date of this holiday will be moved to the new Emperor's birthday. Hope that makes it clearer ^_^

Well, by now you should have filled out any special days happening during your Japan vacation on your Tokyo Travel Essentials and you're ready for step 3 of your journey. When you're ready just click the button.

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