Japanese Celebrations and Traditions Throughout the Year

In Japan, we have a lot of traditional celebrations, festivals, events and holidays throughout the year.

Here is the list of Japanese major celebrations and holidays with explanations.

Some traditions vary depending on the region in Japan, and additionally some are celebrated on a slightly different date based on the old lunar calendar.

 

List of Japanese Celebrations and Holidays

Japanese	Japanese Reading	English	Date	National Holiday
元日	Ganjitsu	New Year’s Day	January 1	X
お正月	Oshōgatsu	New Year	January 1–3
七草がゆ	Nanakusa Gayu	The Festival of Seven Herbs	January 7
鏡開き	Kagami Biraki	Rice Cutting Ceremony	January 11
成人の日	Seijin no Hi	Coming of Age Day	The Second Monday of January	X
節分	Setsubun	The Bean Throwing Festival	Between February 2 and 4
建国記念の日	Kenkoku Kinen no Hi	National Foundation Day	February 11	X
バレンタインデー	Barentaindē	Valentine’s Day	February 14
天皇誕生日	Tennō Tanjōbi	The Emperor’s Birthday	February 23	X
ひな祭り	Hina Matsuri	Doll Festival / Girls’ Festival	March 3
ホワイトデー	Howaitodē	White Day	March 14
春分の日	Shunbun No Hi	Spring Equinox Day	March 20 or 21	X
春のお彼岸	Haru no Ohigan	Spring Equinoctial Week	3 days before and after the equinox day
お花見	Ohanami	Cherry Blossom Viewing	April
十三参り	Jūsanmairi	13 Year Old Festival	April 13
昭和の日	Shōwa no Hi	Shōwa Day	April 29	X
ゴールデンウィーク	Gōruden’u~īku	Golden Week	A week from 29 April to May 6
憲法記念日	Kenpō Kinen Bi	Constitution Memorial Day	May 3	X
みどりの日	Midori no Hi	Greenery Day	May 4	X
こどもの日	Kodomo no Hi	Children’s Day	May 5	X
母の日	Haha no Hi	Mother’s Day	The Second Sunday of May
父の日	Chichi no Hi	Father’s Day	The Third Sunday of June
夏至	Geshi	Summer Solstice	June 21 or 22
七夕	Tanabata	Star Festival	July 7
海の日	Umi no Hi	Marine Day	The Third Monday of Jury	X
土用の丑の日	Doyō no Ushi no Hi	The Midsummer Day of the Ox	The End of July
立秋	Risshū	Start of Autumn	Around August 7
山の日	Yama no Hi	Mountain Day	August 11	X
お盆	Obon	Bon Festival	August 13–16
お月見	Otsukimi	Moon Viewing	The Night of a Full Moon of September
敬老の日	Keiro no Hi	Respect for the Aged Day	The Third Monday of September	X
秋分の日	Shūbun no Hi	Autumnal Equinox Day	September equinox (Usually September 22 or 23)	X
秋のお彼岸	Aki no Ohigan	Autumn Equinoctial Week	3 days before and after the equinox day
紅葉狩り	Momijigari	Autumn Leaves Hunting	October to November
スポーツの日	Supōtsu no Hi	Sports Day	The Second Monday of October	X
ハロウィン	Harō~in	Halloween	October 31
文化の日	Bunka no Hi	Culture Day	November 3	X
七五三	Shichi-Go-San	7-5-3 Festival	November 15
勤労感謝の日	Kinrō Kansha no Hi	Labor Thanksgiving Day	November 23	X
冬至	Tōji	Winter Solstice	December 21 or 22
クリスマス	Kurisumasu	Christmas	December 25
大晦日	Ōmisoka	New Year’s Eve	December 31

 

There are 16 national holidays a year in Japan as of 2022.

Most public organizations, banks and schools are closed on those holidays.

Also, if a national holiday falls on Sunday, the following Monday will be a substitute holiday.

 

 

Japanese Celebrations in January

 

お正月 (Oshōgatsu) – New Year

Date: January 1–3

お正月 (Oshōgatsu) or 正月 (Shōgatsu) is one of the most important events in Japan.

All the family members and relatives gather and celebrate the new year together with a lot of good foods like お節料理 (Osechi Ryōri), お雑煮 (Ozōni ; soup with rice cakes), お屠蘇 (Otoso ; New Year’s Sake), and so on.

[Reference] Osechi Ryōri(おせち料理): What is the Meaning of Each Dish in Osechi?

 

七草がゆ (Nanakusa Gayu) – The Festival of Seven Herbs

Date: January 7

On January 7th, we eat 七草がゆ (Nanakusa Gayu ; rice gruel with seven herbs) wishing for a year without illness.

Seven herbs include セリ (Seri ; Japanese parsley), ナズナ (Suzuna ; Shepherd’s purse), ゴギョウ (Gogyō ; Jersey cudweed), ハコベラ (Hakobera ; Chickweed), ホトケノザ (Hotokenoza ; Henbit), スズナ (Suzuna ; turnip), スズシロ (Suzushiro ; Daikon radish).

 

鏡開き (Kagami Biraki) – Rice Cutting Ceremony

Date: January 11

Traditionally we break 鏡餅 (Kagami Mochi ; New Year’s rice cake offered to the God) into pieces and cook お汁粉 (Oshiruko ; Sweet red-bean soup with mochi) with them to eat and get good luck from the God.

[Reference] Kagami biraki – Wikipedia

 

成人の日 (Seijin no Hi) – Coming of Age Day

Date: The Second Monday of January

It is a national holiday to celebrate all the people who have turned 20 years old as new 成人 (Seijin ; adults).

 

 

Japanese Celebrations in February

 

節分 (Setsubun) – The Bean Throwing Festival

Date: Between February 2 and 4

Usually around February 3rd, we do 豆まき (Mame Maki ; bean throwing) with saying 『鬼は外、福は内』(Oni ha soto, fuku ha uchi ; “Devils out! Happiness in!”).

And we eat 恵方巻 (Ehō Maki ; Sushi roll for Setsubun) while facing to the year’s “lucky direction” called 恵方 (Ehō ; direction where the year’s God is in).

[Reference] Setsubun – Wikipedia

 

バレンタインデー – Valentine’s Day

Date: February 14

Although it is not a Japanese traditional event, this is rather an important day for young people these days. On this day, in Japan, girls give チョコレート (chocolates) to boys whom they like.

 

 

Japanese Celebrations in March

 

ひな祭り (Hina Matsuri) – Doll Festival / Girls’ Festival

Date: March 3

ひな祭り or 雛祭り (Hina Matsuri) is a celebration for girls.

In the families with girls, they display 雛人形 (Hina Ningyō ; dolls for Girls’ Festival) and often eat special food like ちらし寿司 (Chirashi Zushi ; a type of sushi with a variety of ingredients sprinkled on top), ひなあられ (Hina Arare ; rice crackers for Girls’ Festival), ひし餅 (Hishimochi ; three-tiered diamond-shaped rice cakes), wishing for the happiness and good health of girls.

[Reference] Hinamatsuri – Wikipedia

 

ホワイトデー – White Day

Date: March 14

This is a Japanese unique event corresponding to Valentine’s Day. On White Day, boys who got chocolates from girls on Valentine’s Day give small gifts to girls in return.

 

春のお彼岸 (Haru no Ohigan) – Spring Equinoctial Week

Date: 3 days before and after the equinox day

It is a Buddhism ceremony for the week of 春分の日 (Shunbun No Hi ; Spring Equinox Day).

People visit graves and pray for the souls of their ancestors by offering ぼたもち (Botamochi ; rice dumplings covered with sweet bean paste).

 

 

Japanese Celebrations in April

お花見 (Ohanami) – Cherry Blossom Viewing

Date: Early April

When cherry blossoms start blooming, a lot of Japanese go for お花見 (Ohanami) or 花見 (Hanami) and have a picnic or a party under cherry blossom trees to enjoy beautiful cherry blossoms.

It is one of the most traditional customs in Japan.

[Reference] Hanami – Wikipedia

 

十三参り (Jūsanmairi) – 13 Year Old Festival

Date: April 13

Even though it is not as famous as 七五三 (Shichi-Go-San ; “7-5-3” Festival), 十三参り or 十三詣り (Jūsanmairi) is a traditional ceremony to celebrate children who have turned 13 years old.

We visit shrines or temples and pray for the good fortune and wisdom of children.

 

 

Japanese Celebrations in May

 

ゴールデンウィーク – Golden Week

Date: A week from 29 April to May 6

Longest weekend of the year from the end of April to the beginning of May is called ゴールデンウィーク (Golden Week).

A lot of people go on a trip and famous tourist spots get all extremely crowded.

 

こどもの日 (Kodomo no Hi) – Children’s Day / Boys’ Festival

Date: May 5

こどもの日 or 子供の日 (Kodomo no Hi) is a national holiday to celebrate the healthy growth of children.

In the families with boys, people display 鯉のぼり (Koi Nobori ; carp-shaped streamers) and/or 五月人形 (Gogatsu Ningyō ; dolls for Boys’ Festival) including 兜 (Kabuto ; Samurai warrior helmet) or 鎧 (Yoroi : Samurai Armor).

On this day, we have a custom to eat 柏餅 (Kashiwa Mochi ; rice cake with red bean paste wrapped in oak leaves) or ちまき (Chimaki ; sweet rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves).

[Reference] Children’s Day – Wikipedia

 

母の日 (Haha no Hi) – Mother’s Day

Date: The Second Sunday of May

In Japan, we traditionally give カーネーション (carnations) to mothers with our gratitude on this day.

 

 

Japanese Celebrations in June

父の日 (Chichi no Hi) – Father’s Day

Date: The Third Sunday of June

On Father’s Day, we give small gifts to fathers as a token of our appreciation.

 

 

Japanese Celebrations in July

七夕 (Tanabata) – Star Festival

Date: July 7

It is said that 織姫 (Orihime ; the star Vega) and 彦星 (Hikoboshi ; the star Altair) can meat only on this day per year over 天の川 (Ama no Gawa ; the Milky Way).

We write our wishes on 短冊 (Tanzaku ; strips of papers) and hang them from bamboo branches.

[Reference] Tanabata – Wikipedia

 

土用の丑の日 (Doyō no Ushi no Hi) – The Midsummer Day of the Ox

Date: The End of July

土用 (Doyō) means a special day between seasons, and 夏の土用 (Natsu no Doyō ; Doyō in the summer) is usually around the hottest day.

丑の日 (Ushi no Hi) is the day of the ox, named after one of 十二支 (Jūnishi ; the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac).

On this day, we have a custom to eat うなぎ (Unagi ; eel) since the Edo period (1603-1867) to prevent summer fatigue.

 

 

Japanese Celebrations in August

 

お盆 (Obon) – Bon Festival

Date: August 13–16

お盆 (Obon) or 盆 (Bon) is a Buddhist event to worship the spirits of our ancestors.

We invite the spirits by 迎え火 (Mukaebi ; welcoming fire), and see them off with 送り火 (Okuribi ; ceremonial fire).

During the Bon Festival, a lot of people visit graves to welcome the spirits of the ancestors. We have various customs depending on the area like offering 精霊馬 (Shōryōma); a horse made from cucumber and a cow made from eggplant.

[Reference] Bon Festival – Wikipedia

 

 

Japanese Celebrations in September

お月見 (Otsukimi) – Moon Viewing

Date: The Night of a Full Moon of September

It is a festival held at 十五夜 (Jūgoya ; the harvest moon night) originally to celebrate the harvest of the year by watching the full moon.

We often eat 月見団子 (Tsukimi dango ; Mochi balls for moon viewing) while enjoying the moon viewing.

[Reference] Tsukimi – Wikipedia

 

秋のお彼岸 (Aki no Ohigan) – Autumn Equinoctial Week

Date: 3 days before and after the equinox day

It is the Autumn version of お彼岸 (Ohigan ; Equinoctial Week), a Buddhism ceremony for the week of 秋分の日 (Shūbun No Hi ; Autumn Equinox Day) just like 春のお彼岸 (Haru no Ohigan ; Spring Equinoctial Week).

People visit graves and pray for the souls of their ancestors. The same rice dumplings covered with sweet bean paste for 春のお彼岸 (Haru no Ohigan) are called differently; おはぎ (Ohagi) in the Autumn.

 

 

Japanese Celebrations in October

紅葉狩り (Momijigari) – Autumn Leaves Hunting

Date: October to November

紅葉狩り (Momijigari ; Autumn Leaves Hunting) in Autumn is as famous as お花見 (Ohanami ; Cherry Blossom Viewing) in Spring.

We visit mountains or nature and enjoy the colors of 紅葉 (Kōyō ; Autumn leaves).

Famous viewing spots often get very crowded by not only Japanese but also many foreign tourists during the season.

 

ハロウィン – Halloween

Date: October 31

It is not a Japanese traditional event, however, young people tend to adopt some customs like wearing costumes and throwing parties these days.

 

 

Japanese Celebrations in November

 

七五三 (Shichi-Go-San) – “7-5-3” Festival

Date: November 15

As the name 七五三 (Shichi-Go-San ; Seven-Five-Three) describes it, it is a ceremony for 3 and 7 year old girls and 5 year old boys in Kimono go to the shrines to pray for their healthy growth.

The festival usually is held on November 15th, but we can also have a ceremony on weekends or holidays in November as it suits families’ needs.

Children often get to eat 千歳飴 (Chitose Ame ; long stick candies) which symbolize longevity.

[Reference] Shichi-Go-San – Wikipedia

 

 

Japanese Celebrations in December

 

冬至 (Tōji) – Winter Solstice

Date: December 21 or 22

冬至 (Tōji) is the shortest day of the year.

On this day, traditionally we take ゆず湯 (Yuzuyu ; a bath with Yuzu) to pray for a disease-free life.

It is also said that eating food whose name ending with “ん” like なんきん* (Nankin ; pumpkin), にんじん (Ninjin ; Carrot), れんこん (Renkon ; Lotus root), ぎんなん (Ginnan ; Ginkgo nuts), きんかん (Kinkan ; Kumquat), かんてん (Kanten ; Agar), or うどん (Udon) brings you “運” (Un ; fortune).

* なんきん (Nankin) is more commonly known as かぼちゃ (Kabocha).

 

クリスマス – Christmas

Date: December 25

Even though it is not a national holiday in Japan, a lot of people celebrate Christmas on their own way like decorating Christmas trees, having a party, eating festivity foods, exchanging gifts, and so on.

 

大晦日 (Ōmisoka) – New Year’s Eve

Date: December 31

大晦日 (Ōmisoka) means the last day of the year. On that day, families get together and enjoy each family’s traditional meals like 鍋 (Nabe ; hotpot), すき焼き (Sukiyaki), 寿司 (Sushi), etc.

The most famous food for New Year’s Eve in Japan is 年越しそば (Toshikoshi soba ; soba noodles eaten at night on New Year’s Eve), and we wish for our long healthy life by eating those long-shaped noodles.

[Reference] Ōmisoka – Wikipedia