Destinations, Travel tips, Festivals and Public Holidays
Japan Public Holidays 2012 Calendar
Japan Public Holidays 2012 Calendar
Japan have 15 official holidays in a year. However, due to their strong adherence to the tradition, there are many more traditional holidays and festive occasions celebrated throughout the country where businesses are closed. Some festivals have their roots in Chinese festivals but have undergone dramatic changes as they mixed with local customs. Some other Japanese festivals have deep roots in Nepal.
Japan Public Holidays 2012 & Japan Festivals 2012
Here is a list of 2012 Japan holidays and festivals. Japanese 2012 public holidays are denoted either as (national holiday) or (bank & government holiday)
Japan Public Holidays 2012 & Japan Festivals 2012
New Year (shogatsu):
This is the most important holiday in Japan. While only January 1 is designated as a national holiday, many businesses remain closed through January 3. 2 January and 3 January are officially holidays for bank and government employees only. This national holiday was established in 1948, as a day to celebrate the new year.
Sunday, 1 January 2012 (national holiday)
Monday, 2 January 2012 (national holiday – substitute)
Coming of Age (seijin no hi):
Cities and towns throughout the nation hold ceremonies to celebrate, congratulate, and encourage men and women who have reached the age of majority (20) during the year.
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 (national holiday)
Beginning of spring (setsubun):
Setsubun is not a national holiday, but celebrated at shrines and temples nationwide.
Friday, 3 February 2012
National Foundation Day (kenkoku kinenbi):
According to the earliest Japanese history records, on this day in the year 660 BC the first Japanese emperor was crowned. This national holiday was established to nourish a love for the country and reflect on the establishment of the nation.
Saturday, 11 February 2012 (national holiday)
Valentine’s Day:
In Japan, women give chocolates to men on Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day is a widely celebrated in Japan, however it is not a national holiday.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Doll’s Festival (hina matsuri):
Also called girl’s festival.
Saturday, 3 March 2012
White Day:
The opposite of Valentine’s Day: Men give cakes or chocolates to women. It is not a national holiday.
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
Spring Eqinox Day (shunbun no hi):
Graves are visited and ancestors are worshipped during the week (ohigan) of the Vernal Equinox Day.
Thursday, 22 March 20 (national holiday)
Showa Day (Showa no hi):
The birthday of former Emperor Showa. Before 2007, April 29 was known as Greenery Day (now celebrated on May 4). Due to the way the weekdays fall in 2012, Showa Day is isolated from the rest of Golden Week holidays.
Sunday, 29 April 2012 (national holiday)
Monday, 30 April 2012 (national holiday – substitute)
Constitution Day (kenpo kinenbi):
A national holiday remembering the new constitution, which was put into effect after the war. Part of the Golden Week till 5 May.
Thursday, 3 May 2012 (national holiday)
Greenery Day (midori no hi):
Until 2006, Greenery Day was celebrated on April 29, the former Emperor Showa’s birthday, due to the emperor’s love for plants and nature. It is now celebrated on May 4. This national holiday is celebrated as a day to commune with nature and be grateful for its blessings.
Friday, 4 May 2012 (national holiday)
Children’s Day (kodomo no hi):
Also called boy’s festival, this is a day on which to esteem the personalities of children and plan for their happiness
Saturday, 5 May 2012 (national holiday)
Star Festival (tanabata):
Tanabata is a festival rather than a national holiday.
Saturday, 7 July 2012
Festival of Souls (Obon):
Obon is a festival to commemorate deceased ancestors. although this is not an official national holiday, many offices are closed (Tokyo celebrates in July, while most of the country celebrates in August)
Friday, 13 July 2012
Saturday, 14 July 2012
Sunday, 15 July 2012
Ocean Day (umi no hi):
A recently introduced national holiday to celebrate and show gratitude for the blessings of the oceans and for hoping for the prosperity of the maritime nation that is Japan. The day marks the return of Emperor Meiji from a boat trip to Hokkaido in 1876.
Thursday, 19 July 2012(national holiday)
Festival of Souls (Obon):
Obon is a festival to commemorate deceased ancestors. although this is not an official national holiday, many offices are closed (Tokyo celebrates in July, while most of the country celebrates in August)
Monday, 13 August 2012
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
Respect for the Aged Day (keiro no hi):
Respect for the elderly and long life are celebrated on this national holiday.
Thursday, 20 September 2012 (national holiday)
Autumn Equinox Day (shubun no hi):
Graves are visited to honor one’s ancestors and remember the dead during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day.
Sunday, 23 September 2012 (national holiday)
Monday, 24 September 2012 (national holiday substitute)
Health and Sports Day (taiiku no hi):
On that day in 1964, the Olympic games of Tokyo were opened.
Thursday, 11 October 2012 (national holiday)
Culture Day (bunka no hi):
A day for promotion of culture and the love of freedom and peace. On culture day, schools and the government award selected persons for their special, cultural achievements.
Saturday, 3 November 2012 (national holiday)
Seven-Five-Three (shichigosan):
A festival for children, Shichigosan is not a national holiday but a traditional festival.
Thursday, 15 November 2012
Labour Thanksgiving Day (kinro kansha no hi):
A national holiday for honoring labour.
Friday, 23 November 2012 (national holiday)
Emperor’s Birthday (tenno no 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.
Sunday, 23 December 2012 (national holiday)
Monday, 24 December 2012 (national holiday – substitute)
Christmas:
Christmas is not a national holiday, but it is celebrated by an increasing number of Japanese.
Tuesday, 25 December 2012
New Year’s Eve (omisoka):
December 31 is officially a holiday for bank and government employees only. But for many offices, 25th will be the last working day until 4th January.
Monday, 31 December 2012 (bank & government holidays)
Happy Japan Holidays 2012 ! Enjoy Japanese Festivals 2012 !
Past Japan Holidays
Here are Japan holidays from previous years:
Here is a list of Public Holidays in Japan in Year 2010
Friday, 1 January 2010 (national holiday)
New Year (shogatsu):Monday, 11 January 2010 (national holiday)
Coming of Age (seijin no hi):Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Beginning of spring (setsubun):Thursday, 11 February 2010 (national holiday)
National Foundation Day (kenkoku kinenbi):Sunday, 14 February 2010
Valentine’s Day:Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Doll’s Festival (hina matsuri):Sunday, 14 March 2010
White Day:Monday, 22 March 20 (national holiday)
Spring Eqinox Day (shunbun no hi):Thursday, 29 April 2010 (national holiday)
Showa Day (Showa no hi):Monday, 3 May 2010 (national holiday)
Constitution Day (kenpo kinenbi):Tuesday, 4 May 2010 (national holiday)
Greenery Day (midori no hi):Wednesday, 5 May 2010 (national holiday)
Children’s Day (kodomo no hi):Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Star Festival (tanabata):Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Festival of Souls (Obon):Monday, 19 July 2010(national holiday)
Ocean Day (umi no hi):Friday, 13 August 2010
Saturday, 14 August 2010
Sunday, 15 August 2010
Festival of Souls (Obon):Monday, 20 September 2010 (national holiday)
Respect for the Aged Day (keiro no hi):Thursday, 23 September 2010 (national holiday)
Autum Equinox Day (shubun no hi):Monday, 11 October 2010 (national holiday)
Health and Sports Day (taiiku no hi):Wednesday, 3 November 2010 (national holiday)
Culture Day (bunka no hi):Monday, 15 November 2010
Seven-Five-Three (shichigosan):Tuesday, 23 November 2010 (national holiday)
Labour Thanksgiving Day (kinro kansha no hi):Thursday, 23 December 2010 (national holiday)
Emperor’s Birthday (tenno no tanjobi):Friday, 24 December 2010
Saturday, 25 December 2010
Christmas:Friday, 31 December 2010 (bank & government holidays)
New Year’s Eve (omisoka):
Interesting places around the world
You may also like
- Australian Public Holidays 2012 Calendar
- Japan Public Holidays & Festivals 2011 Calendar
- Cambodia 2012 Public Holidays Calendar
- Thailand 2012 Public Holidays & Festival Calendar
- US Federal Holidays 2012 Calendar
| Print article | This entry was posted by Singapore Holiday on July 30, 2009 at 9:42 am, and is filed under Festivals, Japan Holiday. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
about 4 months ago
wow. So many public holidays in Japan. Am I right in thinking that Japan has those most public holidays in the world? But, I guess they need them because most people don’t have many personal holidays or fail to use them all.
about 3 weeks ago
Japan definitely needs that many public holidays. People at my work get 10 additional personal days to use a year but they never use them all, usually around 5 for sicknesses and emergencies. It is frowned upon in Japan to take personal days off work for pleasure.