The following are Japanese national holidays and some of the most important other annual nationwide events. In addition, there are countless local annual festivals.

January 1-3
New Year (shogatsu):
This is the most important national holiday in Japan. Most businesses shut down from January 1 to January 3, and families typically gather to spend the days together.

Second monday of January (it used to be celebrated always on January 15 until the year 1999)
Coming of Age (seijin no hi):
The coming of age of 20 year old men and women is celebrated.

February 3 or 4
Beginning of spring (setsubun):
Setsubun is not a national holiday. For many centuries, the people of Japan have been performing rituals with the purpose of chasing away evil spirits at the start of spring. In modern days, the most commonly performed setsubun ritual is the throwing of roasted beans around one's house and at temples and shrines across the country. When throwing the beans, you are supposed to shout "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" ("Devils out, happiness in"). Afterwards you should pick up and eat the number of beans, which corresponds to your age.

February 11
National Foundation Day (kenkoku kinenbi):
According to the earliest Japanese history books, on this day in the year 660 BC the first Japanese emperor was crowned.

February 14
Valentine's Day:
In Japan, women give chocolates to men on Valentine's Day. It is not a national holiday.

March 3
Doll's Festival (hina matsuri):
Also called girl's festival. On this day, families with girls wish their daughters a successful and happy life. Dolls are displayed in the house together with peach blossoms. The doll festival has its origin in a Chinese custom in which bad fortune is transferred to dolls and then removed by abandoning the doll on a river. On Hina Matsuri, sweet sake is drunken and chirashi sushi is eaten.

March 14
White Day:
The opposite of Valentine's Day: Men give cakes or chocolates to women. It is not a national holiday.

March 21
Spring Eqinox Day (shunbun no hi):
Graves are visited during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day. The day itself is a national holiday.

April 29
Greenery Day (midori no hi):
The birthday of former Emperor Showa, who loved plants and nature. From 2007, this national holiday will be renamed Showa Day, while Greenery Day will be moved to May 4. Part of the Golden Week.

May 3
Constitution Day (kenpo kinenbi):
National holiday remembering the new constitution that was put into effect after the war. Part of Golden Week.

May 4
"Between Day" (kokumin no kyujitsu):
According to Japanese law, a day which falls between two national holidays is also declared a national holiday. From 2007, Greenery Day, currently celebrated on April 29, will be moved to May 4. Part of the Golden Week.

May 5
Children's Day (kodomo no hi):
Also called boy's festival. Part of Golden Week. The Boy's Festival (Tango no Sekku) is celebrated on this day. Families pray for the health and future success of their sons by hanging up carp streamers and displaying samurai dolls, both symbolizing strength, power and success in life.

July/August 7
Star Festival (tanabata):
Tanabata is not a national holiday. Takes place on the 7th day of the 7th month of the year, when, according to a Chinese legend, the two stars Altair and Vega, which are usually separated from each other by the milky way, are able to meet.

Third monday of July
Ocean Day (umi no hi):
A recently introduced national holiday to celebrate the ocean. The day marks the return of Emperor Meiji from a boat trip to Hokkaido in 1876.

July/August 13-15
Obon:
Obon is a festival to commemorate the deceased ancestors. It is believed that each year during obon, the ancestors' spirits return to this world in order to visit their relatives.

Third monday of September
Respect for the Aged Day (keiro no hi):
Respect for the elderly and longlivity is celebrated on this national holiday.

September 23
Autum Equinox Day (shubun no hi):
Graves are visited during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day. The day itself is a national holiday.

Second monday of October
Health and Sports Day (taiiku no hi):
On that day 1964, the Olympic games of Tokyo were opened.

November 3
Culture Day (bunka no hi):
A day for promotion of culture and the love for freedom and peace. On the culture day, schools and the government award certain persons for their special, cultural activities.

November 15
Seven-Five-Three (shichigosan):
A festival for children, it is not a national holiday.Girls of age three and seven and boys of age three and five are celebrated on Shichigosan, and it is prayed for their good health and growth.

November 23
Labour Thanksgiving Day (kinro kansha no hi):
A national holiday for honoring labour.

December 23
Emperor's Birthday (tenno no tanjobi):
The birthday of the current emperor is always a national holiday. If the emperor changes, the national holiday changes to the birthday date of the new emperor.

December 24-25
Christmas:
Christmas is not a national holiday, but it is celebrated by an increasing number of Japanese.

If a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be free as well.