Japan Public Holidays Calendar: School, Golden Week & JPX/TSE
Japan Holiday Calendars
Welcome to the official Japan scheduling hub. Select an option below to access Cabinet Office gazetted national public holidays (Kokumin no Shukujitsu), Golden Week and Obon cultural seasons, 3-term MEXT school vacation schedules, and JPX/TSE financial exchange trading closures.
Official 16 national public holidays gazetted under the Public Holiday Act, Happy Monday long weekends, and legal substitute days (Furikae Kyūjitsu).
Seasonal festival timelines, Golden Week strings, mid-August Obon holiday periods, and traditional Year-End/New Year (Nenmatsu Nenshi) shutdowns.
MEXT three-term school schedules, April academic entrance timelines, summer breaks, winter recesses, and spring graduation breaks.
Official non-trading operational schedules for the Tokyo Stock Exchange (JPX/TSE) and Bank of Japan (BOJ) clearing systems.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How does Japan's "Happy Monday System" and Substitute Holiday rule work?
Under the Public Holiday Act, the Happy Monday System shifts several national holidays (Coming of Age Day, Marine Day, Respect for the Aged Day, and Sports Day) to fixed Mondays to create guaranteed 3-day weekends. Furthermore, if any statutory holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes an official Substitute Holiday (振替休日 – Furikae Kyūjitsu).
Q2: What is the difference between Golden Week and Obon in Japan?
Golden Week is a statutory cluster of four national holidays occurring between April 29 and May 5 (Showa Day, Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, and Children's Day). Obon (mid-August), on the other hand, is a cultural Buddhist event honoring ancestral spirits; while not individual statutory public holidays by law, most Japanese companies and corporate offices close for Obon leave.
Q3: Does the Tokyo Stock Exchange (JPX / TSE) close for Golden Week and New Year?
Yes. The Tokyo Stock Exchange halts equity, derivatives, and fixed-income trading during all gazetted national holidays (including the individual days of Golden Week) and observes a mandatory full market shutdown from December 31 through January 3 for the New Year period (Oshōgatsu).
Q4: How is the academic school year structured in Japan by MEXT?
Japanese elementary, junior high, and high schools operate on an April-to-March academic year divided into three terms: Term 1 (April to July, followed by Summer vacation), Term 2 (September to December, followed by Winter vacation), and Term 3 (January to March, followed by Spring vacation before the new school year starts).