Japan Long Weekends 2026
Japan has 17 national holidays in 2026, and eight of the resulting breaks run three days or longer (renkyū). The headline ones are an eight-day Golden Week stretch from late April and the rare five-day Silver Week in September, plus six three-day weekends around Coming of Age Day, the Emperor’s Birthday, the Vernal Equinox, Marine Day, Sports Day and Labor Thanksgiving Day.
Japan long weekends in 2026
Coming of Age Day
3 daysJan 10 – 12
Emperor's Birthday
3 daysFeb 21 – 23
Vernal Equinox Day
3 daysMar 20 – 22
Golden Week
5 daysMay 2 – 6
Sat–Wed: Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, Children’s Day and the May 6 substitute holiday. Shōwa Day (Apr 29) sits just before.
Marine Day
3 daysJul 18 – 20
Silver Week
5 daysSep 19 – 23
Sat–Wed: Respect for the Aged Day, the Sep 22 citizens’ holiday and the Autumnal Equinox line up for a rare 5-day break.
Sports Day
3 daysOct 10 – 12
Labor Thanksgiving Day
3 daysNov 21 – 23
Golden Week and Silver Week in 2026
Golden Week is the busiest travel period: Shōwa Day (Apr 29) starts it, then Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day and Children’s Day (May 3–5) plus the May 6 substitute holiday give a Sat–Wed core. Taking the gap days (Apr 30 and May 1) as leave links it into one eight-day break.
Silver Week returns in 2026: Respect for the Aged Day (Sep 21), a citizens’ holiday on Sep 22 and the Autumnal Equinox (Sep 23) line up with the weekend for a rare five-day break (Sep 19–23). See our Japan Silver Week 2026 page for the full breakdown.
Official sources & data
- 国民の祝日について (2026 National Holidays)Visit sourceCabinet Office, Government of Japan
- Japan's National Holidays in 2026Visit sourceNippon.com
Frequently asked questions
How many long weekends does Japan have in 2026?+
Eight: Coming of Age Day (Jan 10–12), the Emperor’s Birthday (Feb 21–23), the Vernal Equinox (Mar 20–22), Golden Week (a Sat–Wed core, May 2–6), Marine Day (Jul 18–20), Silver Week (Sep 19–23), Sports Day (Oct 10–12) and Labor Thanksgiving Day (Nov 21–23).
When is Golden Week 2026 in Japan?+
Shōwa Day is Apr 29, then a Sat–Wed run of May 2–6 covers Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, Children’s Day and the May 6 substitute holiday. With Apr 30 and May 1 as leave it becomes an eight-day break (Apr 29–May 6).
Why is Silver Week 2026 five days long?+
Respect for the Aged Day (Sep 21) and the Autumnal Equinox (Sep 23) sit one day apart, so Sep 22 becomes a “citizens’ holiday”. Combined with the weekend, that makes a rare five-day break of Sep 19–23.
Which 2026 long weekend needs the fewest leave days?+
The six three-day weekends (Coming of Age Day, the Emperor’s Birthday, the Vernal Equinox, Marine Day, Sports Day, Labor Thanksgiving Day) need no leave at all. Golden Week needs two leave days for eight days off, and Silver Week needs none for its five-day run.
Where can I download the Japan 2026 holiday calendar?+
Our Japan 2026 public holidays page and the holiday calendar downloads hub offer ICS and CSV files you can import into Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook.