Upcoming Japanese National Holidays Set for the Year 2025
In 2025, Japan will celebrate 16 national holidays, including a mix of fixed and movable holidays. Here's a breakdown of the key holidays and their impact on school and work schedules.
Key Holidays in 2025:
- New Year's Day (January 1): The most important holiday, when many companies and schools close for several days.
- Coming of Age Day (Second Monday of January): Celebrates young adults turning 20.
- Golden Week (Late April to early May): A cluster of holidays around April 29 to May 5, including Showa Day, Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, and Children's Day. This creates a long holiday period where many people take vacations and travel.
- Mountain Day (August 11): Japan's newest national holiday introduced in 2016 to appreciate mountains and nature.
- Obon (mid-August period): While not a fixed national holiday, it is a significant summer festival when many return to hometowns. It causes spikes in travel and local closures.
- Silver Week (September 19 to 23): Includes Respect for the Aged Day and Autumnal Equinox Day, creating another extended holiday period every few years.
Impact on School and Work Schedules in 2025:
- Schools are closed on all national holidays and typically have breaks that coincide with major holidays like New Year’s, Golden Week, and Obon.
- Many companies close or have reduced working hours during New Year’s (around December 29 to January 3), Golden Week, Obon, and Silver Week, with employees often taking additional vacation days around these holidays to create longer breaks.
- Public transportation and tourist destinations get crowded during these holidays, especially Golden Week and Obon, as many Japanese travel domestically.
- Businesses such as offices, banks, and government services are generally closed on national holidays, while many retail and hospitality venues remain open but may have altered hours.
In addition to these key holidays, Japan will also observe Respect for the Aged Day on September 15, Sports Day on October 13, Autumnal Equinox Day on September 23, Culture Day on November 3, Greenery Day on May 6, Marine Day on July 21, and several other holidays.
January 2 and 3 are treated as a holiday by most people in Japan, as part of the sanganichi (the first three days of the New Year). The Emperor's Birthday is observed on February 23 (observed on February 24), and Labor Thanksgiving Day is observed on November 23 (observed on November 24, if it falls on a Sunday).
Overall, Japan’s national holidays in 2025 create several clustered holiday periods—most notably New Year’s, Golden Week, Mountain Day, Obon, and Silver Week—which cause schools to close and significantly affect work schedules, with many businesses shutting down or reducing hours, and heavy domestic travel during these times.
During the extended holiday period of New Year's, many people in Japan celebrate, often photographing and documenting special moments of joy and lifestyle within their homes-and-garden. In line with the cultural significance attached to mountains and nature, the newly introduced National Mountain Day aims to foster a foundation for appreciation, allowing individuals to indulge in outdoor activities and follow local traditions.
