Japan School Holidays 2027: Summer, Winter & Spring Breaks
Japan’s three-term school year runs April – March. The standard Tokyo pattern for 2027: summer break 20 July – 31 August, winter 26 December – 6 January, spring about 25 March – 5 April. Dates are set by local boards under MEXT guidance — confirm with your school. Public holidays are listed separately on our Japan 2027 public-holiday page.
Provisional — pending official confirmation
Calendar 2027 spans the 2026 school year (January – March) and the 2027 school year (April – December, plus winter into January 2028). Municipal boards may shift dates by a few days from the Tokyo standard below.
Japan School Holidays 2027: Summer, Winter & Spring Breaks
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 – 6Friday – Wednesday | Winter break (2026 school year) | Mid-term break |
| Jan 7 – Mar 24Thursday – Wednesday | 3rd term (2026 school year) | Term |
| Mar 25 – Apr 5Thursday – Monday | Spring break | Mid-term break |
| Apr 6 – Jul 19Tuesday – Monday | 1st term (2027 school year) | Term |
| Jul 20 – Aug 31Tuesday – Tuesday | Summer break | Summer break |
| Sep 1 – Dec 25Wednesday – Saturday | 2nd term (2027 school year) | Term |
| Dec 26 – 31Sunday – Friday | Winter break (2027 school year)Continues through 6 January 2028. | Mid-term break |
Last updated: 2026-08-26 · Provisional — pending official confirmation
School breaks & public holidays: Golden Week 2027
Golden Week (Sat 1 – Wed 5 May) is a five-day block inside Term 1 — Showa Day through Children’s Day with the weekend in front. No annual leave needed; book early because domestic travel peaks.
There is no Silver Week in 2027 — Respect for the Aged Day (Mon 20 Sep) and Autumnal Equinox (Thu 23 Sep) are too far apart to bridge. Term 2 still has Marine Day (Mon 19 Jul, day before summer) and Sports Day (Mon 11 Oct) as three-day weekends.
Vernal Equinox substitute (Mon 22 March) falls just before spring break (25 March – 5 April) — a four-day weekend 20–23 March leads into two weeks off school.
Mountain Day (Wed 11 August) falls mid-summer break — useful for a mid-vacation domestic trip, but schools are already off; it mainly affects parents’ work schedules.
Official sources & data
- MEXT — School Education Act Enforcement RegulationsVisit sourceMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
- Kids Web Japan — When are school vacations?Visit sourceWeb Japan / Tokyo Metropolitan Government
- Japanese School Holidays 2026–2027 (cross-check)Visit sourceJoynTokyo
Frequently asked questions
When is summer break in Japan 2027?
Standard dates: 20 July – 31 August 2027. Term 1 ends around 19 July; Term 2 resumes 1 September.
When does the 2027 Japanese school year start?
After spring break (25 March – 5 April 2027), the new school year typically begins Monday 6 April 2027.
Is there Silver Week in 2027?
No. Respect for the Aged Day (20 September) and Autumnal Equinox (23 September) cannot be bridged into a five-day break in 2027.
How does Golden Week 2027 overlap with school terms?
Golden Week (1–5 May 2027) falls entirely inside Term 1. Students are off on all five days because they are national holidays — the same dates as public holidays, but listed here as school-term context for trip planning.
Why are these dates provisional?
MEXT sets the framework but municipal boards choose exact dates. The Tokyo Metropolitan pattern is widely followed yet not universal — Hokkaido and Okinawa often differ. We cross-check MEXT guidance with Kids Web Japan and mark the page provisional until you confirm with your school.
