FESTIVALS

Gion Matsuri
Kyoto, Japan - July - 10 days

Hadaka Matsuri
Japan - January - 1 day

Hounen Matsuri
Komaki, Japan - March - 1 day

O-Mizutori
Nara, Japan - Early March - 1 day

HOLIDAYS

January 1 New Year's Day (Gantan)

January 14 Coming of Age Day (Seijin-no-hi)

February 11 National Foundation Day

March 20 Spring Equinox

April 29 Shōwa Day

May 3 Constitution Memorial Day (Kenpou-kinen-bi)

May 4 Greenery Day (Midori-no-hi)

May 5 Children's Day (Kodomo-no-hi)

July 21 Sea Day

September 15 Respect for the Aged Day

September 22 Autumnal Equinox (Shuubun-no-hi)

October 13 Health and Sports Day (Taiiku-no-hi)

November 3 National Culture Day (Bunka-no-hi)

November 23 Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinrou-kansha-no-hi)

December 23 Emperor's Birthday (Tennou-tanjyou-bi)

December 31 Bank Holiday

1If it falls between Monday and Friday.

You should know:

Holidays falling on a Sunday are observed on the Monday following except for the Bank Holidays associated with the New Year.

The period from 29 April to 5 May is called the "Golden Week" and many people take vacation days mixed in with the public holidays with the result that businesses are often all but shut down.

There are no moveable feasts other than the Equinoxes. The Autumnal Equinox will be on 23 September every year until 2011. The calculation is performed using astronomical methods based on the longitude 135 degrees East.

Weekend - Saturday, Sunday