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Japanese · Real Japanese · A2 to B2

Holidays and festivals: the Japanese year

1月2月3月4月5月6月7月8月9月10月11月12月お正月New Year節分Setsubunひな祭りGirls’ Day花見cherry blossomこどもの日Children’s Day七夕Tanabataお盆Obon七五三Shichi-Go-San大晦日New Year’s EveThe Japanese year. New Year and Obon (in red) are the two big family holidays.
Golden Week (late April to early May) and Silver Week (some Septembers) are runs of public holidays when the whole country travels.

Short answer: the Japanese year is marked by seasonal events, each with its own words and food. お正月 (New Year) is the biggest: families visit a shrine (初詣), children receive money (お年玉) and everyone eats おせち. In spring people picnic under cherry blossoms (花見); in August families return home for お盆 to honour their ancestors; summer nights bring festivals (祭り) and fireworks (花火).

New Year: お正月

The first days of January are a time for family, shrines and set greetings.

Spring and early summer

From beans thrown at demons to carp streamers for children.

節分 Setsubun, early Feb
ひな祭り Girls’ Day, 3 Mar
花見 cherry blossom, late Mar to Apr
こどもの日 Children’s Day, 5 May

Summer: お盆, 祭り and 花火

People wear light cotton 浴衣 (yukata) to summer festivals and fireworks displays.

Autumn and winter

Autumn leaves, children’s shrine visits and the year’s end.

Public holidays

Japan has 16 national holidays.

HolidayMeaningDate
ganjitsuNew Year’s Day1 Jan
seijin no hiComing of Age Day2nd Mon, Jan
kenkoku kinen no hiNational Foundation Day11 Feb
Shōwa no hiShōwa Day29 Apr
kenpō kinenbiConstitution Day3 May
umi no hiMarine Day3rd Mon, Jul
keirō no hiRespect for the Aged Day3rd Mon, Sep
bunka no hiCulture Day3 Nov

At a summer festival

Festival food stalls (屋台) and games.

Check yourself

Try each one, then open the answer to check and hear it.

  1. Happy New Year! (from 1 Jan)
    Show answer
    Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu.
  2. Have a good year (said in December)
    Show answer
    Yoi otoshi o.
  3. first shrine visit of the year
    Show answer
    hatsumōde
  4. cherry-blossom viewing
    Show answer
    hanami
  5. fireworks display
    Show answer
    hanabi taikai

Seasonal greetings

Say these at the right time of year.

あけましてakemashitethe year having openedおめでとうございますomedetō gozaimasucongratulations
Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu.“Happy New Year!”Why: Said from 1 January, never before.
今年ことしkotoshithis yearもmoalsoよろしくyoroshikukindlyお願いしますおねがいしますonegai shimasuI ask
Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegai shimasu.“I look forward to another year with you.”Why: The second half of every New Year greeting.
よいお年をよいおとしをyoi otoshi ohave a good year
Yoi otoshi o.“Have a happy new year (said before it).”Why: Used in December, before the year ends.

Related guides

Next guideDates and the calendarMonths, days and era years.Next guideWeather and seasonsThe four seasons and 梅雨.Next guideCulture and etiquetteGifts and customs.Next guideFood and drinkSeasonal food and おせち.