| Jan. 1-3 | New Year
Shogatsu | This is the most important national holiday in Japan. A special page is available for more information. |
| Jan. 15 | Coming of Age Day
Seijin no hi | On this day 20 year old people become adults. More information on the special page. |
| Feb. 3/4 | Beginning of spring day
Setsubun | The beginning of spring is celebrated by scattering beans inside and outside the house. After scattering the beans, one should pick up and eat as many beans as many years old he or she is. Happiness is called into the house and bad luck is kept out. Setsubun is not a national holiday. |
| Feb. 11 | National Foundation Day
Kenkokukinenbi | In the earliest Japanese history books, it is written that on this day in the year 660 BC the first Japanese emperor was crowned. |
| Feb. 14 | Valentine's Day | Women give chocolates to men. On this day a woman can tell a man about her feelings for him. It is not a national holiday. |
| Mar. 3 | Doll's Festival
Hinamatsuri | Also called girl's festival. Please read the special page. |
| Mar. 14 | White Day | The opposite of Valentine's Day: Men give cakes or chocolates to women. It is not a national holiday. |
| Mar. 21 | Spring Equinox Day
Shunbun no hi | Graves are visited during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day. The day itself is a national holiday. |
| Apr. 29 | Green Day
Midori no hi | Part of the Golden Week: Emperor Showa's birthday. Read more on the Golden Week page. |
| May 3 | Constitution Day
Kenpo kinenbi | Part of the Golden Week: Day for the new constitution that was created after the war. Read more on the Golden Week page. |
| May 4 | "Between Day"
Kokumin no kyujitsu | Part of the Golden Week: Recently created national holiday to make the Golden Week a continuous holiday. |
| May 5 | Children's Day
Kodomo no hi | Also called boy's festival. Part of the Golden Week: Read more on the Golden Week page. |
| Jul. 7 | Star Festival
Tanabata | Read more on the special page. It is not a national holiday. |
| Jul. 20 | Ocean Day
Umi no hi | A very new national holiday. |
| Sep. 15 | Respect for the Aged Day
Keiro no hi | Respect for the elderly and longlivity is celebrated on this national holiday. |
| Sep. 23 | Autum Equinox Day
Shubun no hi | Graves are visited during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day. The day itself is a national holiday. |
| Oct. 10 | Health and Sports Day
Taiiku no hi | On that day 1964, the Olympic games of Tokyo were opened. |
| Nov. 3 | Culture Day
Bunka no hi | A day for promotion of culture and the love for freedom and peace. On the culture day, schools and the government award certain persons for their special, cultural activities. |
| Nov. 15 | Schichigosan | 7 (shichi) year old girls, 5 (go) year old boys and 3 (san) year old girls go to the shrine to wish for good health and growth. It is not a national holiday. |
| Nov. 23 | Labour Thanksgiving Day
Kinro kansha no hi | A national holiday for honoring labour. |
| Dec. 23 | The Emperor's Birthday
Tenno Tanjobi | The birthday of the current emperor is always a national holiday. If the emperor changes, the national holiday changes to the birthday date of the new emperor. |
| Dec. 24-25 | Christmas | Christmas is not a national holiday. Shopping malls, however, are decorated as in the west.
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