Japanese Annual Events

Apart from writing a brief description for each annual event (年中行事 / nenchu gyoji), I’m attempting to create an Etegami art series featuring these Japanese holidays and festivals. So do drop by often as new blog post(s) and picture postcard(s) will be added regularly.

National Holidays

There are 15 national holidays in Japan annually. If the holidays fall on Sunday, the following Monday will be a public holiday too. All banks, schools, post offices, government and municipal offices are closed. Majority of businesses and shops are not open as well.

• January 1 :
  New Year’s Day / Ganjitsu (元日)
  Related Topics:
  Osechi Ryori (おせち料理)
  
  Kagami Biraki (鏡開き)
  
  Nengajo (年賀状)
  
• Second Monday of January :
  Coming of Age Day / Seijin no hi (成人の日)
  
• February 11 :
  National Foundation Day / Kenkoku kinen no hi (建国記念の日)
  
• Around March 21:
  Vernal Equinox Day / Shunbun no hi (春分の日)
  
• April 29 :
  Showa Day / Showa no hi (昭和の日)
  
• May 3 :
  Constitution Memorial Day / Kenpo kinenbi (憲法記念日)
  
• May 4 :
  Greenery Day / Midori no hi (みどりの日)
  
• May 5 :
  Children’s Day / Kodomo no hi (子供の日)
  
• Third Monday of July :
  Marine Day / Umi no hi (海の日)
• Third Monday of September :
  Respect for the Aged Day / Keiro no hi (敬老の日)
  
• Around September 23 :
  Autumnal Equinox Day / Shubun no hi (秋分の日)
  
• Second Monday of October :
  Health-Sports Day / Taiiku no hi (体育の日)
  
• November 3 :
  Culture Day / Bunka no hi (文化の日)
  
• November 23 :
  Labor Thanksgiving Day / Kinro kansha no hi (勤労感謝の日)
  
• December 23 :
  Emperor’s Birthday / Tenno tanjobi (天皇誕生日)

A personal advice for visitors:

Crowded places, long queues, fully booked or over-rated hotel, terrible traffic jams, congested airport and train stations… these are the things that rob the fun out of travel for me. If you dislike them too, then take my advice and do avoid a trip to Japan during the Golden week, which consists of four national holidays (from April 29th to May 5th), and including the weekends. Majority of the Japanese will use this long holiday period for family vacation. Hence, transportation, accommodation and almost all tourist attractions nationwide will be terribly packed. >_<”

Traditional Japanese Festivals & Other Special Events

• February 3 or 4 :
  Bean Throwing Festival / Setsubun (節分)
  
• February 14 :
  Valentine’s Day (バレンタインデー)
  
• March 3 :
  Doll Festival / Hina Matsuri (雛祭り)
  
• March 14 :
  White Day (ホワイトデー )
  
• Early April
  Cherry Blossom Viewing / Hanami  (花見)
• July 7 :
  Star Festival / Tanabata (七夕)
  
• August :
  Summer Festival / Natsu Matsuri (夏祭り)
• August (July 15 of Lunar Calendar) :
  Lantern Festival / Obon (お盆)
• September (August 15 of Lunar Calendar) :
  Moon-Viewing Festival / Tsukimi (月見)
• November 15 :
  Festival for children aged seven, five and three / Shichigosan (七五三)
• Around December :
  Rice Cake Pounding Event / Mochitsuki Taikai (餅つき大会)
  
• December 25 :
  Christmas / Kurisumasu (クリスマス)
  
• December 31 :
  New Year Eve / Omisoka (大晦日)