What dates are Japan’s public holidays in 2026?
The table below lists every observance, its day of the week, and whether it triggers a substitute day off.
| Date | Day | Observance | Substitute? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | New Year's Day | No |
| 12 January | Monday | Coming of Age Day | No |
| 11 February | Wednesday | Foundation Day | No |
| 23 February | Monday | Emperor's Birthday | No |
| 20 March | Friday | Vernal Equinox Day | No |
| 29 April | Wednesday | Showa Day | No |
| 3 May | Sunday | Constitution Day | Yes |
| 4 May | Monday | Greenery Day | No |
| 5 May | Tuesday | Children's Day | No |
| 6 May | Wednesday | Substitute Holiday | N/A |
| 20 July | Monday | Marine Day | No |
| 11 August | Tuesday | Mountain Day | No |
| 21 September | Monday | Respect for the Aged Day | No |
| 22 September | Tuesday | National Holiday | No |
| 23 September | Wednesday | Autumnal Equinox Day | No |
| 12 October | Monday | Sports Day | No |
| 3 November | Tuesday | Culture Day | No |
| 23 November | Monday | Labor Thanksgiving Day | No |
One more date that affects planning: 1 January 2027 (Friday) is New Year’s Day. The year-end closure in Nagoya therefore runs from Tuesday 29 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027.
How do substitute holidays work in Japan?
When a public observance lands on a Sunday, the following working day becomes a substitute day off (furikae kyūjitsu). It carries the same legal weight: offices close, bank counters shut, and government services stop.
In 2026, Constitution Day (3 May) is a Sunday. The substitute day is Wednesday 6 May. That stretches Golden Week into a single block from 29 April through 6 May.
Foreign teams miss this constantly. A call booked with Nagoya on 6 May 2026 will find an empty room.
Golden Week 2026: dates and what stays open
Golden Week runs from Wednesday 29 April through Wednesday 6 May. Nine consecutive days. Most businesses close or cut hours sharply.
What closes: - Government offices and city hall (normal hours 8:45-17:15, shut all nine days) - Bank counters (normal hours 9:00-15:00, shut all nine days) - Many small and medium-sized businesses - Some department stores (Mitsukoshi, Matsuzakaya may shut for a day or two)
What stays open: - Convenience stores (24/7) - Most supermarkets (reduced hours, often 10:00-20:00) - Nagoya Municipal Subway (Sunday/holiday timetable) - JR Central and Shinkansen (trains are packed; reserve seats early) - Restaurants in Sakae and the Nagoya Station area (many open, some close for a day or two)
Obon 2026: when Nagoya observes it
Obon is not a legal public observance, but it is widely kept across Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture around 15 August. Many businesses shut for three to five days.
In 2026, Mountain Day (11 August) sits right before the typical Obon window. Some offices close for the full week. Confirm directly with each shop or contact.
When does Nagoya shut down for New Year?
The year-end closure runs from Tuesday 29 December 2026 through Sunday 3 January 2027. It is the longest shutdown of the year.
What closes: - Government offices (shut from 29 December) - Banks (shut from 29 December) - Most offices and factories (shut from 29 December) - Many restaurants (some close 31 December to 1 January)
What stays open: - Convenience stores (24/7) - Atsuta Jingū shrine (extended hours for hatsumōde, the first shrine visit of the year) - Shops around Nagoya Station (many open 1-2 January, shorter hours) - Subway and JR (holiday timetable on 1 January)
How public holidays change transport, shops and banks
Three major closure blocks hit the calendar: Golden Week (late April to early May), Obon (mid-August), and New Year (late December to early January). Each lasts seven to ten days.
Transport on public days off: - Subway and JR run Sunday/holiday timetables. - Shinkansen runs near-normal schedules but seats sell out. Book ahead. - Taxis run 24/7. A late-night surcharge (typically 20%) applies from 22:00 to 5:00.
Shops on public days off: - Convenience stores: 24/7, every day. - Department stores: may shut one or two days during Golden Week and New Year. - Supermarkets: shorter hours, often 10:00-20:00. - Drugstores and electronics retailers: similar to supermarkets.
Banks on public days off: - Counter service: shut on every legal observance and every substitute day. - ATMs: convenience-store machines run 24/7. Bank ATMs may charge fees outside business hours (in 2026, typically ¥110, ¥220 per transaction).
Can I schedule a meeting with Nagoya during Golden Week?
No. Golden Week (29 April to 6 May) is a full stop. Your Nagoya contact will be away for nine days. Do not book calls, deadlines or deliveries.
Obon (around 11 to 15 August) is a near-total pause. Confirm with each person.
New Year (29 December to 3 January) is a hard shutdown. No meetings, no shipments.
Substitute days off catch foreign teams off guard. If a Sunday carries a public observance, the Monday (or, as in 2026, the Wednesday after a cluster) becomes a day off. In 2026, 6 May is that day.
Monday observances create three-day weekends. In 2026 these fall on Coming of Age Day, Emperor’s Birthday, Marine Day, Respect for the Aged Day, Sports Day and Labor Thanksgiving Day.