15 National Holidays in Japan

The Japanese celebrate 15 national holidays. When the holiday falls on a Sunday, it is celebrated on the following Monday.

The 15 holidays are:

New Year's Day - January 1st…usually lasts until January 4th.

Coming-of-Age Day – Second Monday in January – celebrated for anyone who turned 20 in the previous year

National Foundation Day – February 11th – When the first emperoro Jinmu was enthroned.

Vernal Equinox Day – March 21st – the first day of Spring

Greenery Day – April 29th – Emperoro Showa's Birthday

Constitution Day - May 3rd – commemorate the enactment of the Constitution in 1947

National Holiday – May 4th – a gimmee because it fell between May 3rd Constitution Day and May 5th, Children's Day.

Children's Day – May 5th – a day to hope for the health and happiness of children. April 29th-May 5th now make up Golden Week in Japan.

Marine Day – the third Monday in July – Japan needed a holiday to fit in between May and September so they come up with this day to celebrate the blessings of the sea.

Respect-for-the-aged Day – Third Monday of September – Started in 1966.

Autumnal Equinox Day – September 23rd – the first day of fall

Health-Sports Day - October 10th. Started in 1966 in commemoration of the opening of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Also the most likely day to have sunshine in Japan.

Culture Day – November 3rd – Started in 1946 – Emperor Meiji's birthday – celebrates cultural prosperity in Japan

Labor-Thanksgiving Day - November 23rd – to appreciate labor and to celebrate a good harvest.

The Emperor's Birthday – December 23rd – the current Emperor's birthday, celebrated as long as he is alive…and if he lives long enough, someone will think of a reason to keep this day a holiday as well.

Which holiday is your favorite?