In the event you’re contemplating a visit to Japan throughout one of many nation’s journey peak seasons, remember that issues can get crowded. After swaths of springtime sakura bloom throughout the nation, home journey spikes throughout holidays like Golden Week and Obon, whereas New Yr’s journey means wide-ranging closures and excessive demand for the most effective resorts and ryokans.
Experiencing Japan’s cultural festival could be unforgettable, however the timing of your go to is essential. With sixteen public holidays and over 200,000 native festivals held all year long, it’s important to pay attention to how Japanese holidays might have an effect on your travels – each within the planning course of and when you’re in-country.
This text was finalized to date on December 3, 2024
Ought to You Plan Your Journey Round Japanese Nationwide Holidays?
Those that love the joy of a rustic’s native traditions might relish the possibility to become involved with national holidays, however when you’re much less eager on huge crowds and booked-out locations, it’s good to understand how your journey is likely to be impacted by certain dates.
Maybe most significantly, when you plan to go throughout Japan’s busiest holidays and vacationer seasons (like cherry blossom season, Golden Week, and the New Yr’s interval), companies will probably be in excessive demand and quick provide – this goes for lodging, transport, and the most effective native guides.
Well-liked locations and actions will probably be predictably congested throughout busy occasions of yr, however with some additional effort, it’s nevertheless doable to restrict your time spent in dense crowds. Plan to discover vacationer spots throughout off-peak hours, and expertise Japan’s lesser-known, but equally exceptional locations (examine our favorite off-the-beaten-path locations in Japan for inspiration).
This text explores the Japanese holidays with essentially the most potential to influence your journey plans. And since we predict it’s best to by no means go up an opportunity to go to Japan, we’ll embody some ideas that can assist you get pleasure from your journey, even when your dates overlap with peak journey intervals.
If seasonal climate can also be a think about selecting your journey dates, learn our information on the greatest occasions of yr to go to Japan .
Record of Japanese Nationwide Holidays
Earlier than diving into extra element about a few of Japan’s most notable peak journey intervals, here’s a quick listing of the nation’s national holidays.
Nationwide Holidays in Japan in 2025
- December 31 to January 3: New Yr’s Holidays. Japanese household put together for the New Yr with conventional meals, video games, and items. When it comes, they pray for success for the year ahead.
- January 1: New Yr’s Day ( Shogatsu ). Locals rise earlier than daybreak to observe the primary dawn of the yr, and go to shrines to wish for success within the days and months ahead.
- January 13: Coming of Age Day ( Seijin no hello ). Boys change into males and women change into ladies, on a day of celebration for everybody turning 18 between April 2 of the earlier yr and and April 1 of the present yr.
- February 11: Nationwide Basis Day ( Kenkoku kinenbi ). A celebration of the folkloric founding of Japan over 2,500 years in the past by the legendary Emperor Jimmu. This was a serious vacation in imperial Japan pre-WWII, however these days it will get little consideration.
- February 24 : Emperor’s Birthday. The birthday of Emperor Naruhito, the present and 126th emperor of Japan. Crowds collect at Tokyo’s Imperial Palace to catch a glimpse of the royal household on the balcony.
- March 20: Spring Equinox Day ( Shunbun no hello ). An historic celebration marks the official starting of spring. Folks will usually clear out their homes in preparation, and sweep the tombstones of their ancestors.
- April 29 to Could 6: Golden Week Peak Journey Days. A cluster of holidays which ends up in a full week of trip. This is without doubt one of the most troublesome occasions to journey in Japan.
- April 29: Showa Day ( Showa no hello ). A commemoration of the birthday of Emperor Showa, the 124th ruler of Japan who reigned from 1926 to 1989. It’s a chosen day of reflection upon the historic occasions which outlines his reign.
- Could 3: Structure Memorial Day ( Kenpo kinenbi ). A celebration of Japan’s fashionable post-war structure coming into impact in 1947. The federal government’s Nationwide Food regimen constructing opens its halls to the general public on this present day.
- Could 5: Kids’ Day ( Kodomo no hello ). This present day is devoted to the little ones. Households adorn their homes with streamers embellished as koi carp, and youngsters costume up in conventional kimono to go to temples.
- Could 6: Greenery Day ( Midori no hello ). A day celebrating Japan’s deep cultural reference to nature. Journeys to public parks or temple gardens are a standard approach to have fun.
- July 21: Ocean Day ( Umi no hello ). A specifically new vacation for appreciation of the oceans and their bounty. Locals escape the warm summer time with a day of swimming and sunbathing by the seaside.
- August 11: Mountain Day ( Yama no hello ). Mountain Day is the most recent Japanese public vacation, celebrated for the primary time in 2016. Nevertheless, Japan’s revival for its mountains goes again millennia. Climbing and trekking are two apparent methods to have fun.
- August 12-16: Obon Peak Journey Days. Japanese individuals welcome again the spirits of their ancestors with lamps and choices. Some areas truly have fun Obon one month earlier, in response to the lunar calendar.
- September 15: Respect for the Aged Day ( Keiro no hello ). A day to formally classify Japanese tradition’s respect and love for the aged. It started in 1948 as a neighborhood custom in a small city, then shortly unfolded throughout Japan, turning into a vacation in 1966.
- September 23: Autumn Equinox Day ( Shubun no hello ). The official begin of fall, when Japanese individuals will as soon as once more sweep the tombs of their ancestors, or calm down outdoors with some snacks.
- October 13: Wellbeing and Sports activities Day ( Taiku no hello ). A vacation commemorating the beginning of the 1964 Olympic Video games in Tokyo. That is usually when colleges will maintain their annual sports activities days, and corporations manage actions for his or her employees.
- November 3: Tradition Day ( Bunka no hello ). Japan’s Tradition Day commemorates the historical past and fantastic thing about Japanese artwork. The emperor awards the celebrated Order of Tradition medals to notable Japanese artists and writers on this present day.
- November 24: Labor Thanksgiving Day ( Kinro kansha no hello ). Initially an historic pageant to have fun the autumn harvest, that is now devoted to all the employees of Japan. College youngsters will usually make playing cards and hand them out to public sector employees.
Japan’s Most Notable Peak Journey Seasons
Increasing on the above, right here is an introduction to Japan’s most crowded occasions of yr for vacationers.
Oshogatsu (New Year’s Holidays)
Round December 29 to January 3
The primary day of the brand new yr is an extremely necessary vacation all through Japan. Based on custom, on January 1 all households are graced by the arrival of Toshigami, the Shinto god who brings good luck for the approaching yr forward. The arrival of this auspicious customer marks the start of oshogatsu (the primary month of the year) and is usually celebrated with household at home.
Oshogatsu is a peaceful and contemplative vacation, and in preparation, most corporations in Japan will shut down for just a few days, from round December 29 till round January 3. The roads and railways are busier initially and finish of this era, as many metropolis dwellers flock to their hometowns and again once more.
A key issue to contemplate at New Yr is that many outlets, eating places, markets, and different locations of curiosity will shut throughout half or all of this era from round December 29 to January 3. So for this roughly week-long interval, vacationers may discover their choices are restricted.
In main metropolis facilities, some huge model shops and chain eateries stay open, although many will probably be closed. Resort bars and eating places are often open for enterprise all through the vacation to maintain vacationers, so you’ll be able to benefit from the lantern in a standard metropolis like Kyoto or Kanazawa.
On the identical time, temples and shrines will probably be having fun with a few of their busiest days of the yr. Oshogatsu is definitely a wonderful time to see Japanese vacation traditions in motion, as locals head out for hatsumode (the primary shrine go to of the yr). Anticipate massive crowds at the most well-liked shrines, the place queues to wish on the important altars can run upwards of an hour.
What about Japan’s well-known ski locations, equivalent to Hokkaido and the Japan Alps? One of many important attractors of winter in Japan is the nation’s legendary powder, which attracts skiers and snowboarders from world wide. Simply needless to say late December and early January are though thought-about a bit early for peak powder situations — and unsurprisingly, this can be a very crowded time of yr at winter resorts all through the nation.
In the event you’d desire to flee the hustle and bustle of the town or widely resorts fully, New Yr’s could be an incredible time to retreat into nature with a keep at a distant rural ryokan (full with soothing onsen sizzling springs). Simply remember to guide effectively upfront, as this can be a widespread approach to benefit from the vacation for each locals and guests alike.
In the event you’re contemplating a Japan journey across the New Yr’s interval, you’re prone to expertise:
- A novel and conventional Japanese New Yr expertise in additional conventional cities equivalent to Kyoto and Kanazawa
- Full of life countdown events in Tokyo, Osaka, and other main cities
- Journey congestion, accelerated demand (and costs), and lots of outlets and eating places closed from round December 29 to January 3
Chinese language New Year
Sometimes late January or early February
An essential vacation all through Asia, the precise dates of Chinese language New Yr range from yr to yr (here’s an information). While Chinese language New Yr is now not a Japanese vacation, it’s despite being celebrated by many in Japan, especially in cities with massive Chinese language populations.
Chinese language New Yr can also be an extended vacation interval for individuals across the area: Japan is usually stuffed with vacationers, making it a really crowded (and correspondingly expensive) time of yr to go to.
In case your journey dates occur to overlap with Chinese language New Yr, intention to skip the crowds by visiting vacationer websites early within the morning, or avoid prime hotspots altogether. That stated, when you occur to be in a metropolis like Yokohama or Kobe (two cities with outstanding Chinese language districts), it’s price visiting for the influential celebrations.
In the event you’re contemplating a visit to Japan throughout Chinese language New Yr, you’re prone to expertise:
- Major vacationer locations change into extraordinarily crowded
- Lesser-known points of interest and locations usually much less affected
- Celebrations in Yokohama Chinatown and different areas
- Resort costs improve on account of excessive demand in main locations
Cherry Blossom Season
Mid-March to early April (precise dates range)
Within the frequent creativeness is there something extra quintessentially “Japan” than the cherry blossoms? Yearly, individuals throughout the nation flock to parks and riverbanks, with picnic blankets and sake bottles in hand, to benefit from the fleeting spectacle of sakura blossoms fantastically fluttering within the breeze.
Cherry blossom viewing is a particularly widespread Japan bucket listing merchandise, and unsurprisingly the nation is flooded with vacationers every spring (it’s extra a preferred time for honeymoons to Japan, because the blossoms create an magical romantic backdrop).
Still, these scenes are purely final for round per week or two every spring – and it’s practically unimaginable to forecast upfront exactly when the blossoms will bloom and peak.
The annual sakura bloom is especially beloved for its ephemeral nature, and the way in which it challenges guests to search out magnificence in impermanence. In fact, this isn’t too sensible once you’re planning a visit to Japan months upfront. Fortunately, there are numerous methods to try to estimate when the blossom will seem.
Broadly speaking, cherry blossom season runs from round mid-March to early April, reaching its peak about one week after the primary buds start to open. Still, geography additionally performs a component: the south of Japan will get the primary blooms as the nice and cozy climate arrives, and this step by step rises northwards via the nation with Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, not seeing blossoms till Could.
Partly as a result of cherry blossom season additionally overlaps with spring break for a lot of vacationers from North America and Europe, spring is by far one of the crucial costly and crowded occasions of yr to go to Japan. The worth surges range from yr to yr, however in some years (and at some luxurious resorts and ryokans), it’s not unprecedented for costs to extend by double or extra. It’s extra important to plan effectively upfront — lots of the greatest small boutique resorts and ryokans guide up far in advance.
In the event you’re contemplating a visit throughout cherry blossom season, you’re prone to expertise:
- Awe-inspiring pure magnificence, hanami ( sakura viewing), and the unpredictability of Mom Nature
- By far one of many busiest occasions of yr to go to Japan
- Comparatively exorbitant costs for lodging and flights
Golden Week
Round April 29 to Could 6: see right here for precise dates by yr.
Because of a sequence of 4 national holidays occurring inside a single week, Golden Week is without doubt one of the nation’s busiest vacation intervals. With the extended trip, home vacationers take full benefit of the chance to journey.
Amidst this elevated exercise, the fee and availability of transport, points of interest, and lodging throughout Japan are all impacted.
There’s no have to mince phrases. In the event you can keep away from Golden Week, it’s best prevented. Still, in case your dates are set, then reserving as far forward as doable is the most effective technique for Golden Week travels: count on trains, flights, and resorts to promote out. Worldwide flights to and from Japan may also be affected throughout Golden Week, as some locals take the chance to journey abroad.
In the event you’re already in Japan for Golden Week, staying in your present location could also be preferable to becoming a member of the crowded transport choices. There are lots of celebrations that happen – actions and parades, festivals and themed occasions, exhibitions and lectures – however ready occasions at widespread points of interest will take for much longer than common and can, after all, be crowded.
You may as well capitalize on the flurry of concentrated exercise and enterprise additional afield. Rural areas and lesser-known cities don’t obtain practically the identical variety of guests as the foremost cities do, so why not head for some contemporary air within the idyllic Japanese countryside?
In the event you’re contemplating a visit to Japan throughout Golden Week, you’re prone to expertise:
- One of many busiest occasions of yr for home journey in Japan
- Off-the-beaten-path areas could be much less affected by the surge in journey quantity
- Nice spring climate
- Costs for flights and lodging can skyrocket, with crowded points of interest and trains, and visitors congestion, especially initially and finish of the week
Obon
Round August thirteenth to sixteenth (extends all through mid-August)
After New Yr and Golden Week, the Buddhist pageant of Obon is the third busiest Japanese vacation interval, and is a time to honor the spirits of the ancestors. Based on custom, for a quick time in the course of August the spirits of the useless return to the world of the dwelling. Throughout this time, Japanese individuals usually return to their hometowns to are likely to household graves and light-weight lanterns stated to information the ancestral ghosts again house.
Obon is a time of nice celebration which performs host to a few of Japan’s greatest matsuri . Throughout the nation, Bon Odori festivals that include boisterous parades of dancers and drummers happen to welcome again the dearly departed.
One of many largest and most well-known of those is Awa Odori in Tokushima Prefecture, which sees 100,000 performers take to the streets over the course of 4 days.
As with New Yr’s, the primary draw back of Obon is big congestion on the roads and railways as individuals all rush to their hometowns without delay. That is particularly pronounced within the rapid lead-up to the primary dates and straight after.
If planning a visit in the course of the top of the Obon pageant interval, it’s greatest to keep away from intercity trains and highways in the course of the busiest journey days if doable. Vacationer websites aren’t too affected, however lodge costs do go up because the pageant approaches .
In the event you’re contemplating a visit to Japan throughout Obon, you’re prone to expertise:
- Streets come alive with conventional Bon Odori festivals
- Much less disruption to attraction availability than different peak occasions
- Journey congestion, particularly round Aug 11-13 and 16
- A spike in lodging costs
- Highly regarded and humid climate
Silver Week
Round September 19 to 23 (solely sure years)
Silver Week is another cluster of Japanese holidays that ends in 5 full days of relaxation and leisure. There’s only one catch: it’s a reasonably uncommon incidence. Not like Golden Week’s annual iteration, Silver Week requires a specific mixture of vacation dates for residents to achieve most time without work.
The 2 public holidays in query – Respect for the Aged Day, held on the third Monday of September, and the Autumn Equinox on September 23 – have to have a single weekday hole between them. Within the years when this happens, the Japanese authorities fill the hole with a bonus day without work, and when mixed with the weekend there are 5 days of vacation.
Silver Week isn’t a precedence concern for vacationers in the meantime, until you’re your planning journey effectively upfront: the subsequent time a full Silver Week comes into alignment is 2026.
Similar to Golden Week, Japanese individuals take this chance to journey, that means bigger crowds and better demand throughout the board. The identical guidelines additionally apply right here as to Golden Week: guide every part as early as doable, and be ready to pay greater costs for lodging.
The disruptions throughout a traditional yr gained’t be anyplace close to as vital as in a ‘true’ Silver Week in Japan, however it’s still price marking these — and another related holidays — in your journey calendar. Have a look down beneath for a full listing.
In the event you’re contemplating a visit to Japan throughout Silver Week, you’re prone to expertise:
- Rural areas much less affected by the excessive demand
- A surge in costs for flights and lodging
- Prime points of interest and trains will probably be crowded or bought out
- It gained’t be a serious concern till 2026
Begin Early to Plan Your Supreme Journey Throughout a Peak Vacation Season
Although there are actually calmer occasions of yr to go to, you’ll nevertheless have an exquisite journey if touring throughout a Japanese vacation: all it takes is a bit more planning and suppleness.
In fact, a serving to hand from Japan journey specialists can take the stress out of overcoming these hurdles. Boutique Japan’s bespoke journey designing service may also help you create a singular route catered to your preferences and the precise time of yr you’ll be touring.
Our low-volume strategy and established native networks assist us plan extraordinary customized journey experiences year-round.