Japan festivals and events 2027: month-by-month calendar

How to read this calendar

National holidays come from the Cabinet Office's official 2027 list. Festival dates come from the organisers or local tourism offices. The Sapporo Snow Festival has announced its 2027 dates; the Gion Matsuri, Awa Odori and Takayama festivals fall on the same calendar dates every year, so we give those as the usual dates until the 2027 programmes appear.

A public holiday does not mean Japan shuts. JNTO, the national tourism organisation, says many businesses close for several days only around New Year, and even then many convenience stores and some chain restaurants stay open around the clock. The bigger effect of holidays is on transport and rooms, which fill up.

January: New Year and Coming-of-Age Day

New Year's Day, Friday 1 January, is the heart of Japan's biggest holiday season, which runs from late December into early January. JNTO says many businesses close for several days around New Year and some services may need a reservation; convenience stores are the safe bet for food. Trains are busy with people going home, so book long-distance seats early: JR Central puts standard reserved shinkansen seats on sale at 10:00 one month before the travel date.

Coming-of-Age Day, Monday 11 January, is a national holiday for young people who have become adults, and gives a three-day weekend.

February: Sapporo Snow Festival

The Sapporo Snow Festival runs from Thursday 4 to Thursday 11 February 2027, confirmed by the organisers, at three sites in Sapporo: Odori Park, Tsudome and Susukino. Expect snow and ice sculptures and winter attractions; five large sculptures are planned for Odori. JNTO describes big crowds and advises booking accommodation well in advance.

Two national holidays follow: National Foundation Day on Thursday 11 February and the Emperor's Birthday on Tuesday 23 February.

March and April: the equinox and the start of Golden Week

Vernal Equinox Day falls on Sunday 21 March, so Monday 22 March is a substitute holiday. Late March and early April are also cherry-blossom time; see cherry blossom in Japan for where and when.

Showa Day, Thursday 29 April, opens Golden Week. Friday 30 April is an ordinary working day in 2027.

May: Golden Week

After the weekend of 1-2 May come three public holidays, Constitution Day, Greenery Day and Children's Day, Monday 3 to Wednesday 5 May. That makes 1-5 May a five-day break for many people in Japan. JNTO warns of crowds and fully booked transport, and some places may take reservations only; that does not mean shops close. Book shinkansen seats as soon as they go on sale and rooms well ahead, or plan to be somewhere quieter that week.

June: a quiet month

There is no national holiday in June, and none of the festivals in this calendar falls in it, so it is an ordinary month for crowds and prices.

July: Gion Matsuri in Kyoto

Yasaka Shrine's Gion Matsuri in Kyoto lasts the whole of July. Its highlights are the float processions on Saturday 17 and Saturday 24 July and the Yoiyama evenings before them, when the floats stand in the streets. These are the usual dates; the 2027 programme has not been published yet. Kyoto's official page describes large crowds at the processions and Yoiyama, and many lodgings fill during the festival, so the Kyoto tourism association advises booking as early as possible.

Marine Day, Monday 19 July, is a national holiday and gives a three-day weekend.

August: Awa Odori and Obon

Mountain Day, Wednesday 11 August, is a national holiday.

Tokushima's Awa Odori usually runs from 11 to 15 August, with stage events from the 11th and street dancing normally from 12 to 15 August; the 2027 programme is not out yet. Groups dance the local Awa dance through the city on Shikoku. JNTO describes very large crowds and main streets closed to traffic during the festival.

Obon, usually around 13 to 16 August, is when families gather to honour their ancestors, with community dances in many places. It is not a public holiday, and local customs and dates vary. JNTO says planes, trains and buses fill well in advance, while Tokyo and Osaka can be quieter than usual.

September: two holiday Mondays and Thursdays

Respect for the Aged Day falls on Monday 20 September and Autumnal Equinox Day on Thursday 23 September. The two days between them, 21 and 22 September, are ordinary working days in 2027.

October: Takayama Autumn Festival

The Takayama Autumn Festival (Hachiman Matsuri) is held every year on 9 and 10 October, around Sakurayama Hachimangu in Takayama; in 2027 that is a Saturday and Sunday. Decorated floats and mechanical marionettes are the draw, and the lantern-lit evening procession happens on 9 October only. Takayama's tourism office says central streets have traffic restrictions, and events can be cancelled for bad weather without being postponed.

Sports Day, Monday 11 October, makes it a three-day weekend.

November and December

Culture Day falls on Wednesday 3 November and Labour Thanksgiving Day on Tuesday 23 November. Late November is also peak autumn-colour season in Kyoto; see the best time to visit Japan.

December has no national holiday, but the New Year season starts in the last days of the month, when many businesses begin their closures of several days.