Japan Long Weekends 2027
Japan’s 16 national holidays give 2027 seven long weekends: a clean 5-day Golden Week from May 1–5 and six 3-day weekends — New Year, Coming of Age Day, the Vernal Equinox (with the year’s only substitute holiday on Mar 22), Marine Day, Respect for the Aged Day and Sports Day. Unlike 2026, there is no Silver Week: the September holidays don’t line up to trigger a bridge day.
Japan long weekends in 2027
New Year
3 daysJan 1 – 3
Fri–Sun: New Year’s Day falls on a Friday.
Coming of Age Day
3 daysJan 9 – 11
Vernal Equinox Day
3 daysMar 20 – 22
Sat–Mon: the Vernal Equinox falls on Sunday Mar 21, so Mar 22 becomes a substitute holiday.
Golden Week
5 daysMay 1 – 5
Sat–Wed: a weekend (May 1–2) flows straight into Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day and Children’s Day (May 3–5) for a full 5-day break. Shōwa Day (Apr 29) is a Thursday just before.
Marine Day
3 daysJul 17 – 19
Respect for the Aged Day
3 daysSep 18 – 20
Sports Day
3 daysOct 9 – 11
Golden Week 2027: one leave day buys a 7-day run
Golden Week 2027 lines up as a natural Sat–Wed block: the May 1–2 weekend flows into Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day and Children’s Day on May 3–5. Shōwa Day (Apr 29) is the Thursday just before — so taking a single leave day on Friday Apr 30 stretches the break to seven days (Apr 29 – May 5). That is the best leave-to-days ratio of the year.
Elsewhere, the Happy Monday holidays (Coming of Age Day, Marine Day, Respect for the Aged Day, Sports Day) each deliver a guaranteed Sat–Mon weekend, and the Vernal Equinox on Sunday Mar 21 triggers the year’s only substitute holiday on Monday Mar 22. Holidays that fall midweek in 2027 — Mountain Day (Wed Aug 11), the Autumnal Equinox (Thu Sep 23), Culture Day (Wed Nov 3) and Labor Thanksgiving Day (Tue Nov 23) — need leave days to become breaks.
Official sources & data
- 国民の祝日について (National Holidays)Visit sourceCabinet Office, Government of Japan
Frequently asked questions
How many long weekends does Japan have in 2027?+
Seven: New Year (Jan 1–3), Coming of Age Day (Jan 9–11), the Vernal Equinox (Mar 20–22), Golden Week (May 1–5, 5 days), Marine Day (Jul 17–19), Respect for the Aged Day (Sep 18–20) and Sports Day (Oct 9–11).
When is Golden Week 2027 in Japan?+
May 1–5, 2027 (Saturday to Wednesday): the weekend flows into Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day and Children’s Day. Shōwa Day is Thursday April 29, so one leave day on Friday April 30 makes it a 7-day break (Apr 29 – May 5).
Is there a Silver Week in Japan in 2027?+
No. Respect for the Aged Day (Mon Sep 20) and the Autumnal Equinox (Thu Sep 23) are too far apart to sandwich a citizens’ holiday, so September 2027 offers only the Sep 18–20 three-day weekend. The next Silver Week alignment was 2026.
How many substitute holidays does Japan have in 2027?+
One: Monday March 22, because the Vernal Equinox falls on Sunday March 21. It turns March 20–22 into the year’s only substitute-driven 3-day weekend.
Which 2027 holidays need leave days to become long weekends?+
The midweek ones: Mountain Day (Wed Aug 11), the Autumnal Equinox (Thu Sep 23), Culture Day (Wed Nov 3), Labor Thanksgiving Day (Tue Nov 23) and the Emperor’s Birthday (Tue Feb 23). Each needs one or two leave days to bridge into a weekend.
Where can I download the Japan 2027 holiday calendar?+
Our Japan 2027 public holidays page and the holiday calendar downloads hub offer ICS and CSV files based on the Cabinet Office list under the Public Holiday Law, including the Mar 22 substitute holiday.