Guide to Japanese Public Holidays and Business Impacts

1. Understanding Japan's Public Holidays

Japan's public holidays (国民の祝日) are defined by law to promote culture and well-being. By law there are 16 public holidays each year. These include fixed dates (e.g. New Year's Day – Jan 1) and movable ones (e.g. "Respect for the Aged Day" on the third Monday of September). Notably, if a holiday in Japan falls on a Sunday, the next weekday becomes a holiday (振替休日). Also, a weekday sandwiched between two holidays becomes a holiday (国民の休日). For 2025 (Reiwa 7), for example, Golden Week yields a four-day break (May 3–6), and there are eight three-day weekends (holidays adjacent to weekends) throughout the year.

Date (2025)	Holiday Name (English)	Japanese Name	Notes
Jan 1 (Wed)	New Year's Day	元日 (Ganjitsu)
Jan 13 (Mon)	Coming of Age Day	成人の日 (Seijin no Hi)	Second Monday of January
Feb 11 (Tue)	National Foundation Day	建国記念の日 (Kenkoku Kinen no Hi)
Feb 23 (Sun)	Emperor's Birthday	天皇誕生日 (Tennō Tanjōbi)
Feb 24 (Mon)	Substitute holiday (for 23 Feb)	振替休日
Mar 20 (Thu)	Vernal Equinox Day	春分の日 (Shunbun no Hi)
Apr 29 (Tue)	Showa Day	昭和の日 (Shōwa no Hi)
May 3 (Sat)	Constitution Memorial Day	憲法記念日 (Kenpō Kinenbi)	Golden Week start
May 4 (Sun)	Greenery Day	みどりの日 (Midori no Hi)
May 5 (Mon)	Children's Day	こどもの日 (Kodomo no Hi)
May 6 (Tue)	Substitute holiday (for 4 May)	振替休日
Jul 21 (Mon)	Marine Day	海の日 (Umi no Hi)
Aug 11 (Sun)	Mountain Day	山の日 (Yama no Hi)
Aug 12 (Mon)	Substitute holiday (for 11 Aug)	振替休日
Sep 15 (Mon)	Respect for the Aged Day	敬老の日 (Keirō no Hi)	Third Monday of September
Sep 23 (Tue)	Autumnal Equinox Day	秋分の日 (Shūbun no Hi)
Oct 13 (Mon)	Sports Day	スポーツの日 (Supōtsu no Hi)	2nd Mon of Oct
Nov 3 (Mon)	Culture Day	文化の日 (Bunka no Hi)
Nov 23 (Sun)	Labor Thanksgiving Day	勤労感謝の日 (Kinrō Kansha no Hi)
Nov 24 (Mon)	Substitute holiday (for 23 Nov)	振替休日

Besides these fixed dates, long holiday periods are important for planning a trip to Japan. Golden Week (late April–early May), Obon (mid-August), and the year-end/New Year period are when most Japanese people take vacations. For example, many companies treat Aug 13–16 as the Obon holiday and close offices. Banks and public offices are also closed December 29 to January 3. In practice, Japanese partners often coordinate vacations around these clusters.

2. Japanese Public Holiday Schedule Planning

Mark holidays early: Prepare a company calendar with all national holidays in Japan (and any local or bridge days) to avoid scheduling surprises. Note substitute holidays (振替休日) as extra days off. For 2025, key planned closures include: Golden Week (May 3–6), Marine Day (July 21, 3-day weekend), Mountain Day (Aug 11–12 with observed day), Silver Week (Respect for the Aged Day Sep 15 & Equinox Day Sep 23, with intervening weekend), Sports Day (Oct 13), and year-end/New Year (Dec 29–Jan 3).

Checklist:

• Create a 2025 calendar listing all Japanese national holidays and observed days (like Feb 24 for the Emperor's Birthday).
• Identify major holidays (e.g. Golden Week, Obon) and mark them for extended breaks.
• Communicate these dates to staff and partners well in advance.

Planning around these known breaks helps mitigate downtime and sets expectations for clients and suppliers.

3. Sector-by-Sector Business Impacts

Retail & Services

Holiday periods often boost consumer traffic, as many people go shopping, dine out or travel in Japan. Large retailers and malls typically open on national holidays to capture this demand. Convenience stores (コンビニ) and supermarkets generally operate 24/7 every day. However, smaller local shops and restaurants in non-tourist areas may close, especially if the owner observes Japanese holidays. In recent years some chains have even begun scheduling full-shop closures on major holidays.

Actionable Tips:

• Staffing & Inventory: Increase inventory and staffing ahead of peak holidays (Golden Week, year-end) to meet demand. Conversely, prepare for lower sales if opening on a public holiday in Japan is not profitable.
• Promotions: Plan holiday sales or promotions early. Japanese people often expect special campaigns around Golden Week and New Year's.
• Communication: Inform customers of any unusual holiday hours (e.g. closed on a Japanese public holiday) to avoid confusion.

Logistics & Shipping

Japanese national holidays can disrupt supply chains and shipping schedules. Major parcel carriers continue pickup/delivery on most public holidays, but local collection/drop-off centers may be closed, and volume surges can cause delays. In contrast, Japan Post halts delivery of ordinary mail on holidays. International shipping can also slow down during holiday periods.

Actionable Tips:

• Advance Shipping: Ship orders before holiday clusters. For example, send goods out well before Golden Week starts (around April 25 or earlier) to avoid backlog.
• Carrier Notices: Check carriers' official holiday schedules.
• Tracking: Monitor shipment status closely; expect delays of 1–2 extra days around busy holiday periods.

Corporate Offices & Productivity

Most Japanese companies treat Japanese public holidays like weekends: offices are closed on public holidays. Project timelines may be disrupted by consecutive holidays and mid-week breaks. Employees often take additional leave to create "Golden Week" or "Obon" vacations, further reducing the effective working days in those weeks. For example, it is common for staff to take Aug 13–16 off for Obon.

Actionable Tips:

• Schedule Buffer: Avoid critical deadlines right before or after long holiday breaks. Build in buffer days.
• Cross-Training: Arrange backup coverage for tasks in case key staff are on holiday.
• Remote Work: For partially affected operations, consider remote or on-call arrangements (especially if overseas counterparts must coordinate).

Government & Financial Services

Government ministries, city offices, and banks are closed on Japanese national holidays. For example, bank branches close on all public holidays (and on Dec 31–Jan 3 and May 3–5), with only ATMs available. Post offices follow similar schedules. Public services (e.g. visa/permit processing, tax filings, notary offices) are unavailable on holidays.

Actionable Tips:

• Finance: Process payments, wire transfers or government filings before holidays. Know that any filings or approvals submitted on a holiday will be handled the next business day.
• Schedules: If you need public services (e.g. city hall visits, customs, import/export clearance), do so on working days only. Plan any government-related deadlines well in advance of long breaks.
  

4. Planning and Mitigation Checklist

To manage holiday impacts, foreign businesses in Japan should adopt proactive measures:

• Public Holiday Calendar: Maintain a master calendar of all Japanese public holidays (and relevant substitute days) for 2025. Share it with all departments.
• Client & Partner Communication: Notify clients and suppliers well ahead of closures. For example, email overseas customers: "Please note our office will be closed for Golden Week (May 3–6)."
• Inventory & Production: Ramp up production or stock inventory before holidays; schedule any maintenance shutdowns during holiday periods when business is light.
• Staff Scheduling: Coordinate staff vacations (e.g. stagger summer holidays) so that critical functions remain covered.
• Project Management: Use project management tools to flag holiday-related downtime. Assign tasks with holiday leaves in mind.
• Local Knowledge: Leverage Japanese staff or local consultants for nuances (e.g. regional observances). For example, some regions have local holidays or extended Obon breaks beyond the national schedule.

Example Scenario: A U.S. company notes that Japan's Golden Week 2025 runs May 3–6 (including a transfer day). To avoid delays, it ships product on April 28 with express service, and sets internal review deadlines for April 26. The company's HR team reminds employees to apply for any personal leave by early April so project teams remain staffed. By understanding Japan's holiday system and its sector-specific effects, businesses can plan ahead, minimize disruptions, and even leverage holidays for promotions or employee morale.

Sector	Example Holidays	Impact / Mitigation
Retail & Food	Golden Week, New Year, etc.	High foot traffic; many shops open. Prepare inventory and promotions; note smaller venues may close.
Logistics	All Japanese national holidays	Carriers work but heavy volumes cause delays. Ship early; confirm schedules; expect longer transit.
Corporate	All public holidays	Offices closed; low productivity around long breaks. Build buffer into schedules; arrange coverage.
Government/Banking	All Japanese public holidays	Banks/postal closed; no permits or filings. File paperwork and payments beforehand.