Holidays in Japan

If you are coming over as an AET, the school year starts in April, usually the first or second week of April, and it ends the third of fourth week of July.

Note: Unless stated, the days listed below are national holidays where you get a day off work.  All JETs , according to Article 12 in our contract, get all Japanese national holidays off work, AND the New Year's holiday period from December 29th to January 3rd of the following year.  When a public holiday falls on a Sunday it is often moved to the next Monday, so some dates vary a bit each year.
 

April 29th is Greenery Day - This is Emporeror Showa's birthday.  He is dead, but people wanted to keep the holiday.  It is called Greenery Day because he loved to study botany.
Cherry Blossom Viewing is popular during the month of April.  People go on picnics at parks where they can enjoy viewing the cherry trees in bloom.

Golden Week is what people call the first week of May because there are 3 holidays in a row.  Many people all over Japan take holidays at this time (including JETs), but be warned to get your tickets way in advance and realize that you will genereally be charged more money to fly during this time.  Here are the days.
May 3rd - Constitution Day - A day to commemorate the Japanese constitution that was created on May 3rd, 1947.
May 4th - National Holiday - The government just made this holiday up so people could have a 3 day holiday.
May 5th - Children's Day - On this day people put out carp streamers, called koi nobori, in hopes that their children will grow up healthy and strong.  People also go to shrines to pray for their children's health and growth.

There are no national holidays in June, but June 6th marks the start of Tsuyu, which is the rainy season.  It usually lasts just over a month and effects most places in Japan.

July 7th is the Star Festival, and this is not a day off work.  It is the day of Tanabata, when people write their wishes on colored strips of paper and then decorate bamboo branches with them.  This holiday is based on a legend where 2 lovers, Kengyu (star Altair) and Shokujo (Vega), who are separated all year by the Milky Way, get to meet just once on this evening.
July 20th is Marine Day, which is a day to celebrate the ocean and all things marine.

For AETs, there are no classes in August, but there are club activities (for those of you doing the English club or who plan to join a school club).  A very few AETs get this time off, but according to the contract we have to go to school during this time.  This is a good time to make lesson plans, teaching aids, and read up on your textbooks and Japanese.
August is the month of Bon Festivals.  Many towns have their own day to celebrate.  People dress in yukata and dance in a circle around a yagura, a tower, to the beat of drums.  This festival starts in the evening.

September 15th is Respect for the Aged Day - This is a day to show respect to your elders.

September 23rd is Autumnal Equinox Day - Good-bye summer, hello fall!  This day is a Buddhist festival for many people.
Ancestors are worshipped and honored on this day.

October 10th is Heath-Sports Day - This holiday was originally started to commemorate the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.  Many sporting events are held on this day, even at some offices.  Schools usually hold a field day and parents can come out and cheer on their children.
 
Novemeber 3rd is Culture Day - This holiday celebrates Emporer Meiji's birthday.  He opened up Japan to foreigners and many new ideas and cultures came in, and thus the name Culture day.  Many schools have a cultural festival on this day, or near it, where studens provide drama, music, and art displays.

November 15th is Shichigosan or 7-5-3 Day - It is a celebration for 3 and 5 year old boys, and 3 and 7 year old girls.  Families go to shrines, often the children are dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, and pray for their children's future. This is not a day off work.

November 23rd is Labor Thanksgiving Day - This is a day to give thanks to laborers for all their hard work.

December 23rd is the Emperor's Birthday - It is the current emperor Heisei's birthday.  It usually falls the week before winter holidays for schools and some offices.
The New Year's Holiday Period - All JETs get December 29th to January 3rd off.  This is usually a time that JETs add on some nenkyu (paid holiday leave) and go on holidays.

January 1st is New Year's Day - People all over Japan celebrate the New Year by going to shrines to make their wishes for the new year.  Many also often eat special New Year's food called Osechi ryori.  Some children play hanetsuki, which is similar to badminton but with brightly colored paddles.  Many children also receive otoshidama which is a gift of money from relatives.  Some people dress up in traditional Japanese clothes on this day.
January 15th is Coming of Age Day - In Japan, turning 20 means becoming an adult.  This day celbrates all those who will be 20 during the course of the year.  Each town or city holds a ceremony and many young women dress in kimonos.

February 3rd is called Setsubun - This is not a day off work.  People throw soybeans and shout "Demons out!  Good luck in!"  Some children throw the beans at their father who wears a mask of a demon or oni.

February 11th is National Foundation Day - This marks the day that Japan was founded as a nation.

March 3rd is Hinamatsuri or Girl's Festival - This day celebrates girls and wishes for their future happiness are made.  Hina ningyo, which are a set of dolls in traditional Japanese dress, are set out in many homes.  A sweet drink made of rice called shirozake is drunk at this time.  This is not a day off work.

March 20th is Vernal Equinox - This day celebrates the coming of spring and many Buddhist festivals happen on this day.