Ever wondered why Japanese holidays feel so magical and meaningful? While many countries focus on fun and fireworks, Japan blends tradition, symbolism, and beauty into every celebration.
You’re not just a reader; you’re the curious explorer, eager to understand the heart of Japan’s culture.
As your guide, we’ll walk you through:
- 9 unique Japanese holidays
- Timeless customs and modern twists
- The deeper meaning behind each festivity
Keep reading; by the end, you’ll see how these rich traditions can inspire your own celebrations.
Ready to discover the charm of Japanese holidays?
The Unique Holiday Customs of Japan
Japan’s holiday traditions are full of beauty, meaning, and celebration. One of the most important holidays is Shōgatsu (New Year), where families gather, enjoy traditional dishes like osechi ryori, and visit shrines for hatsumōde.
Another cherished celebration is Tennō Tanjōbi, the Emperor’s Birthday, which is a national holiday marked by official ceremonies and public festivities.
Girls are honored during Hinamatsuri (Doll’s Festival), with families displaying ornate dolls and wishing for their daughters’ happiness. Meanwhile, Kanreki marks a person’s 60th birthday; a joyful return to the zodiac year of their birth, symbolizing rebirth and renewal.
Other fascinating customs include Shichi-Go-San, which celebrates the growth of children aged three, five, and seven with prayers at shrines, and Seijin Shiki, a Coming-of-Age Day where 20 year-olds dress in formal wear to mark adulthood.
Japan also has its own take on Christmas, with Kurisumasu Keki; a sweet strawberry shortcake, and romantic dinners replacing religious traditions.
Cultural pride shines during Bunka no Hi (Culture Day), promoting art, learning, and peace. Even ancient traditions like Tango no Sekku (Boy’s Day) remain celebrated with symbols of strength like samurai helmets and carp streamers.
Curious about how each of these holidays is celebrated? Read the full article and explore the unique charm of Japan’s holiday traditions.
See Also Japanese Christmas Traditions
National and Cultural Celebrations
Japan’s national and cultural celebrations reflect deep traditions, seasonal changes, and historical significance. From the grand celebrations of Shōgatsu (New Year’s) and the respect of Tennō Tanjōbi (the Emperor’s Birthday) to the artistic pride of Bunka no Hi (Culture Day), each holiday carries a unique meaning.
These national observances unite people across Japan, blending ancient customs with modern interpretations. Meanwhile, Golden Week, a collection of holidays in late April and early May, offers a rare extended break, allowing families to travel and celebrate together.
Beyond national holidays, Japan’s cultural festivals highlight beauty, spirituality, and family bonds. Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) fills parks with picnics under pink petals, while Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival) honors young girls’ well-being with intricate displays.
The summer festival of Obon invites families to remember their ancestors, lighting lanterns to guide spirits home. Each tradition, whether joyful or reflective, is a window into Japan’s way of life. Curious about how these festivals are celebrated? Keep reading to explore their customs and significance!
1. Shōgatsu
Shōgatsu is the biggest and most important holiday in Japan. It is celebrated from January 1st to 3rd. Some places celebrate it until January 7th or even January 15th. It comes from old Shinto and Buddhist beliefs. It is a time for family, quiet thinking, and wishing for good luck.
Before the new year, people clean their homes. They also put up special decorations like pine trees (kadomatsu), rope (shimekazari), and rice cakes (kagami mochi). On New Year’s Eve, temple bells ring 108 times to chase away bad spirits. People also wait to see the first sunrise of the year. Many visit a shrine (hatsumōde) to pray for health and happiness.
Families eat special foods like long noodles (toshikoshi soba), rice cake soup (zōni), and colorful dishes called osechi ryōri. Each food has a meaning for good luck. Children get money gifts called otoshidama. People also send New Year cards (nengajō).
Today, people still spend time with family. But many also go shopping and buy lucky bags (fukubukuro). Even with new ways to celebrate, Shōgatsu is still a time to be thankful and to hope for a good new year.
2. Bunka no Hi
Culture Day is a national holiday in Japan. It is celebrated every year on November 3rd. This day was made to share and enjoy Japanese culture, art, and learning. It also remembers the new Japanese Constitution from 1946. On this day, schools, museums, and towns have festivals and shows.
People can see Japanese arts like flower arranging (ikebana), tea ceremonies, and calligraphy. There are also parades and shows. These mix old Japanese customs with new art and music. At the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, people can watch traditional plays like noh and bugaku.
A special award called the “Order of Culture” is given by the Emperor. It goes to people from Japan or other countries who do great work in culture, science, or the arts.
Many schools also have festivals. Students sing, act, and show their art. Culture Day is a happy time. It helps everyone remember and enjoy Japan’s rich culture.
See Also Japanese Fashion
3. Tennō Tanjōbi
Tennō Tanjōbi, or the Emperor’s Birthday, is a national holiday in Japan celebrated on February 23rd to honor the birth of the reigning emperor, currently Emperor Naruhito. The date of the holiday changes with each emperor, and today it recognizes Emperor Naruhito, born in 1960.
This day holds symbolic importance, as the emperor represents the unity of the Japanese people, even though he has no political power. The tradition of celebrating the emperor’s birthday dates back to the Meiji era and continues to be one of Japan’s most respectful and formal national observances.
On Tennō Tanjōbi, the Imperial Palace in Tokyo opens its gates to the public; a rare event. Thousands of citizens gather to see the emperor and empress appear on a balcony, where they offer short remarks while the crowd waves Japanese flags and chants birthday greetings.
While the celebrations are not filled with traditional customs or festivals like other holidays, the ceremony at the palace and public respect for the imperial family make this a special and meaningful day across the nation. Schools, businesses, and government offices close, and the media highlights the occasion with special broadcasts.
4. Kurisumasu Keki
In Japan, Kurisumasu Keki (Christmas Cake) is a sweet and symbolic part of the holiday season. This light sponge cake, typically layered with whipped cream and topped with fresh strawberries, has become a festive staple enjoyed by families, couples, and friends alike.
Although Christmas is not a religious holiday in Japan, Kurisumasu Keki represents joy, celebration, and even prosperity; its red and white colors symbolizing both holiday cheer and the national flag. It’s common for people to pre-order the cake weeks or even months in advance, with long lines forming on Christmas Eve to pick up this beloved dessert.
Beyond the cake itself, Kurisumasu in Japan has taken on a romantic and commercial flair. While many people associate Christmas with family gatherings in other parts of the world, in Japan, Christmas Eve is often treated like a second Valentine’s Day; filled with romantic dinners, gift-giving, and proposals.
Alongside the tradition of eating Kurisumasu Keki, it’s also common to enjoy KFC, making for a unique and modern twist on Western holiday customs. Together, these traditions create a warm, cheerful, and distinctly Japanese way of celebrating Christmas.
5. Bon Holiday in Japan
Obon, also known as Bon, is one of Japan’s most spiritually significant festivals, dedicated to honoring the spirits of ancestors. Rooted in Buddhist tradition and dating back to the seventh century, Obon is observed in mid-August (or July in some regions) and lasts for three days.
It is believed that during this time, the spirits of the deceased return to the world of the living. Families come together to clean graves, offer incense, food, flowers, and light candles to guide their ancestors’ spirits home. The atmosphere is filled with quiet honor, and the celebrations blend solemn rituals with communal joy.
Despite its spiritual depth, Obon also includes lively festivities such as Bon Odori (traditional dancing), fireworks, and feasting. People often craft “shoryo uma”; spirit animals made of cucumbers and eggplants, to symbolize the travel of the spirits.
Though not an official national holiday, many businesses close so that families can reunite. Obon is a beautiful example of how Japanese culture bridges the sacred and the social.
Holidays and Traditions in Japan
In Japan, holidays and family traditions are closely connected to cultural values and spiritual customs. The most important holiday is New Year’s (Oshogatsu), when families return to their hometowns, eat symbolic dishes called osechi-ryori, and visit shrines in a tradition known as hatsumode.
People also enjoy toshikoshi soba on New Year’s Eve, representing the passing year, and listen to temple bells ringing at midnight in a ritual called joya no kane. These practices reflect wishes for health, happiness, and prosperity in the coming year.
Although Christmas is not a religious holiday in Japan, it has become a joyful celebration with unique customs. Families often eat KFC, thanks to a successful marketing campaign from the 1970s, and share fluffy sponge cakes topped with whipped cream and strawberries. Streets sparkle with illuminations, and Santa Claus is a beloved figure.
Other special days, such as Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day), Tango no Sekku (Boys’ Day), and Shichi-Go-San, celebrate children’s health and growth. The Obon Festival, in contrast, is a spiritual time for honoring ancestors, reflecting Japan’s deep respect for family and tradition.
6. Kanreki
Kanreki is a meaningful Japanese tradition that celebrates a person’s 60th birthday, marking the completion of the 60-year zodiac cycle and symbolizing a new beginning. The word Kanreki means “return to the calendar,” and the celebration reflects rebirth, wisdom, and a transition into a new stage of life.
Traditionally, the person wears red clothing; especially a red vest called chanchanko, which represents protection against evil and a return to childhood.
Family gatherings are central to the celebration, where loved ones express gratitude and respect for the person’s life journey.
A Kanreki celebration often includes symbolic foods like red rice (sekihan), red seabream (tai), and stacked mochi, which bring wishes of happiness and longevity. While some customs like dressing in baby-style clothes have faded in modern times, the core values of honoring age and life experience remain strong.
Today, families may hold a special party or meal, blending tradition with personal touches. Kanreki is more than just a birthday; it is a heartfelt tribute to life’s full circle and the respect for elders deeply rooted in Japanese culture.
7. Shichi Go San
Shichi-Go-San, meaning “seven-five-three,” is a cherished Japanese holiday celebrated on November 15th to honor the growth and health of children aged three, five, and seven. Rooted in ancient traditions and Shinto practices, the festival marks significant milestones in a child’s early life.
Families visit shrines to pray for the children’s continued well-being and future happiness. Girls aged three and seven and boys aged five dress in traditional clothing such as kimonos or hakama, while some opt for formal Western clothes. This day is both a spiritual and joyful event, filled with blessings, photo sessions, and family gatherings.
A highlight of the celebration is chitose-ame, long red and white candy sticks symbolizing long life and good fortune. These treats are often packaged in colorful bags decorated with symbols of longevity like cranes and turtles. The origins of Shichi-Go-San can be traced back to the Heian and Edo periods, evolving over time to include the wider public.
Today, it is not only a religious ritual but also a family occasion where grandparents, parents, and children come together to celebrate life, love, and tradition in a lively and meaningful way.
See Also Japanese Costumes
8. Seijin Shiki
Seijin-shiki, or Coming-of-Age Day, is a national holiday in Japan held on the second Monday of January to celebrate young people who have officially entered adulthood. Traditionally, this rite of passage was for those turning 20, but since 2022, it now includes those who turned 18.
Local governments organize formal ceremonies at city halls or community centers, where new adults; often dressed in elegant attire like furisode kimonos for women and montsuki haori hakama for men, gather to hear congratulatory speeches and receive encouragement for their future.
The celebration is both meaningful and joyful. After the ceremonies, many young adults reunite with old friends and celebrate with family, often taking commemorative photographs to mark the occasion. It’s also a day of reflection, where gratitude is expressed towards parents and guardians who helped raise them.
Beyond marking legal adulthood, Seijin-shiki symbolizes a transition in responsibility, independence, and a new chapter in life; making it one of Japan’s most memorable and emotional traditions.
9. Hinamatsuri
Hinamatsuri, also known as Girls’ Day or the Doll’s Festival, is a beloved Japanese holiday celebrated on March 3rd each year. This special day is dedicated to praying for the health, happiness, and future prosperity of young girls.
One of the most iconic features of the celebration is the display of hina-ningyo; traditional ornamental dolls, arranged on red-carpeted platforms called hina-dan.
These dolls represent the emperor, empress, and members of the Heian court, symbolizing protection from evil spirits and a wish for a joyful, successful life for daughters.
In the weeks leading up to Hinamatsuri, homes with daughters set up their doll displays and decorate with peach blossoms, which are thought to bring good luck and ward off misfortune. On the day itself, families enjoy symbolic foods such as hishi-mochi (colored rice cakes), hina-arare (sweet rice crackers), and chirashizushi (scattered sushi).
Holiday Traditions in Japan: A Recap
Japan’s holiday traditions reflect a deep respect for heritage, family, and the seasons of life. From the spiritual and festive energy of Shōgatsu to the cultural pride of Bunka no Hi, each celebration highlights values like renewal, growth, gratitude, and harmony.
Whether it’s honoring children on Shichi-Go-San, having adulthood at Seijin Shiki, or enjoying a sweet Kurisumasu Keki at Christmas, Japan blends ancient customs with modern charm.
These traditions not only mark time but also bring people together through rituals, symbolism, and shared joy; offering a unique and meaningful window into Japanese culture.