Japan had 21 public holidays in 2024, including 5 substitute or bridge days. Combined with weekends they made 11 breaks of three days or more; the longest ran 4 days, May 3–May 6.
Date
Day
Holiday
Jan 1, 2024
Mon
New Year's Day (元日)
Jan 8, 2024
Mon
Coming of Age Day (成人の日)
Feb 11, 2024
Sun
National Foundation Day (建国記念の日)
Feb 12, 2024
Mon
National Foundation Day (substitute) (振替休日)
Feb 23, 2024
Fri
Emperor's Birthday (天皇誕生日)
Mar 20, 2024
Wed
Vernal Equinox Day (春分の日)
Apr 29, 2024
Mon
Showa Day (昭和の日)
May 3, 2024
Fri
Constitution Memorial Day (憲法記念日)
May 4, 2024
Sat
Greenery Day (みどりの日)
May 5, 2024
Sun
Children's Day (こどもの日)
May 6, 2024
Mon
Children's Day (substitute) (振替休日)
Jul 15, 2024
Mon
Marine Day (海の日)
Aug 11, 2024
Sun
Mountain Day (山の日)
Aug 12, 2024
Mon
Mountain Day (substitute) (振替休日)
Sep 16, 2024
Mon
Respect for the Aged Day (敬老の日)
Sep 22, 2024
Sun
Autumnal Equinox Day (秋分の日)
Sep 23, 2024
Mon
Autumnal Equinox Day (substitute) (振替休日)
Oct 14, 2024
Mon
Sports Day (スポーツの日)
Nov 3, 2024
Sun
Culture Day (文化の日)
Nov 4, 2024
Mon
Culture Day (substitute) (振替休日)
Nov 23, 2024
Sat
Labour Thanksgiving Day (勤労感謝の日)
Long weekends (11)
Sat Jan 6 – Mon Jan 8: 3 days (Coming of Age Day)
Sat Feb 10 – Mon Feb 12: 3 days (National Foundation Day, National Foundation Day substitute)
Fri Feb 23 – Sun Feb 25: 3 days (Emperor's Birthday)
Sat Apr 27 – Mon Apr 29: 3 days (Showa Day)
Fri May 3 – Mon May 6: 4 days (Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, Children's Day, Children's Day substitute)
Sat Jul 13 – Mon Jul 15: 3 days (Marine Day)
Sat Aug 10 – Mon Aug 12: 3 days (Mountain Day, Mountain Day substitute)
Sat Sep 14 – Mon Sep 16: 3 days (Respect for the Aged Day)
Sat Sep 21 – Mon Sep 23: 3 days (Autumnal Equinox Day, Autumnal Equinox Day substitute)
Sat Oct 12 – Mon Oct 14: 3 days (Sports Day)
Sat Nov 2 – Mon Nov 4: 3 days (Culture Day, Culture Day substitute)
Born in Reiwa 6 (2024): Life Milestones in Japan
Japanese school years run from April 2 to April 1, so children born January 1 – April 1 (hayaumare) start school a year earlier than others born in the same calendar year.
Milestone
Born Apr 2 – Dec 31
Born Jan 1 – Apr 1
Elementary school entry
April 2031 (Reiwa 13)
April 2030 (Reiwa 12)
Junior high school entry
April 2037 (Reiwa 19)
April 2036 (Reiwa 18)
High school entry
April 2040 (Reiwa 22)
April 2039 (Reiwa 21)
Coming-of-age ceremony (20)*
January 2045 (Reiwa 27)
January 2044 (Reiwa 26)
Legal adulthood (18): birthday in 2042 (Reiwa 24)
Shichi-Go-San (by actual age): age 3 in 2027, age 5 in 2029, age 7 in 2031 (November)
Unlucky years (honyaku, traditional count): men 25 in 2048, 42 in 2065, 61 in 2084; women 19 in 2042, 33 in 2056, 37 in 2060, 61 in 2084
Kanreki (60th birthday): 2084 (Reiwa 66)
* Most municipalities invite everyone who turns 20 during that school year; dates and eligibility vary by city. Unlucky-year ages can differ by shrine.
Reiwa 6 at a Glance
Zodiac (full eto): 甲辰 (きのえ・たつ) — Wood Dragon
Length: 366 days (leap year)
New Year's Day fell on a Monday
About Reiwa 6 (令和6年)
Reiwa 6 is the sixth year of the Reiwa era (令和), Japan's current
imperial era. In the Western Gregorian calendar, Reiwa 6 corresponds
to the full year 2024 — from January 1 to December 31.
The Reiwa era began on May 1, 2019, when Emperor Naruhito ascended to
the Chrysanthemum Throne following the abdication of Emperor Akihito.
To convert any Reiwa year to a Western year, use the simple formula:
Reiwa year + 2018 = Western year. For Reiwa 6:
6 + 2018 = 2024. This formula works for all years in the Reiwa era.
How to Write Reiwa 6 in Japanese (令和6年の書き方)
In Japanese, Reiwa 6 is written as 令和6年 or
令和六年 using kanji numerals. On official documents,
forms, and government paperwork in Japan, the era year format is
standard. If you are filling out a Japanese form that asks for the
current year or a past year, you may need to write 令和6年 rather
than 2024.
Reiwa 6 (令和6年) is 2024 in the Western Gregorian calendar.
The Reiwa era began on May 1, 2019, so Reiwa year 6 plus 2018
equals 2024. Reiwa 6 runs from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024.
What day of the week is January 1, Reiwa 6?
January 1, Reiwa 6 (令和6年1月1日) falls on a Monday. In
Western calendar terms, this is January 1, 2024. Use the era
date converter above to check the day of the week for any
Reiwa 6 date.
How many public holidays were there in Reiwa 6 (2024)?
Japan had 21 public holidays in 2024 (5 of them substitute or bridge days), giving 11 breaks of three days or more; the longest ran 4 days, May 3–May 6.
When does a child born in Reiwa 6 start elementary school?
In April 2031 (Reiwa 13) if born April 2 – December 31, 2024, and in April 2030 (Reiwa 12) if born January 1 – April 1, 2024, because Japanese school years run from April 2 to April 1.