🗓️ Japan through the year

Holidays, festivals and seasonal customs from New Year to Christmas, in calendar order – and how each one is different from home.

1. 1Japan Public Holidays 2027: Full List, What Each Day Means and Golden WeekAll 17 Japanese public holidays in 2027 with weekdays, what each day means, Golden Week, long weekends and bank, museum and shinkansen tips. Checked 20 Oct 2026.
2. 2Japan Festival Calendar 2027: Seasonal Events by Month, with DatesJapan's festivals by month with 2027 dates: Sapporo Snow Festival 4–11 Feb, Sanja Matsuri 14–16 May, moon viewing 15 Sept – plus Nov–Dec 2026 and 2027 holidays.
3. 3Fukubukuro Lucky Bags: 3 Ways to Buy One from Abroad Before They Sell OutThe most wanted lucky bags go early: Starbucks Japan's 2026 bag (¥8,800) was sold only by online lottery, 4–14 Nov 2025. How to buy from abroad, plus 2027 card dates.
4. 4Valentine's Day and White Day in Japan: Who Gives Chocolate to WhomValentine's Day in Japan explained: why women give chocolate on 14 February, giri, honmei and tomo choco, White Day gifts on 14 March, and tips for February visits.
5. 5Sagaribana: Where to See Okinawa's One-Night Flower (Iriomote, Ishigaki, Miyako)Sagaribana opens after dark and falls by dawn. Where to see it on Iriomote, Ishigaki, Miyakojima, Okinawa and Amami, which months, and which tours run.
6. 6Awa Odori: What the Chant Means, Dates and Tokushima vs Koenji"Fools who dance, fools who watch": what the Awa Odori chant means, Tokushima vs Koenji dates, seat prices from ¥1,000 and how to join the dance free.
7. 7Autumn Festivals in Japan: 7 Float and Fire Festivals from September to NovemberSeven big autumn festivals in Japan, September to November: 2026 and 2027 dates, seat prices, the Nagasaki Kunchi postcard lottery and getting there.
8. 8Japan Autumn Leaves Forecast 2026: Peak Dates for Kyoto, Tokyo and NikkoKyoto's official maple date is in December, not November. 2026 forecasts by spot, the JMA city table, night light-ups from ¥1,000 and Kyoto's maple tunnel train.
9. 9Halloween in Japan 2026: Is It Banned? Dates, Events and Costume RulesIs Halloween banned in Japan? No, but Shibuya bans street drinking. The 2026 events with dates (Ikebukuro, Disney, USJ), costume rules and where to buy one.
10. 10Japan Winter Illuminations 2026–27: Dates, Prices and the Best Light ShowsSapporo started it in 1981 with about 1,000 bulbs; Ashikaga now uses over 5 million. 2026–27 dates and prices for six light shows, and which ones are free.
11. 11Christmas in Japan 2026: A Workday With KFC and Pre-Ordered CakeNo, Christmas isn't a holiday in Japan: Friday 25 December 2026 is a workday. For a cake on the 24th, order at Seven-Eleven by 19 December. How to order KFC and cake.

Guides to read in order