Japan had 18 public holidays in 2026, including 2 substitute or bridge days. Combined with weekends they made 8 breaks of three days or more; the longest were 2 breaks of 5 days: May 2–May 6 and Sep 19–Sep 23.
Date
Day
Holiday
Jan 1, 2026
Thu
New Year's Day (元日)
Jan 12, 2026
Mon
Coming of Age Day (成人の日)
Feb 11, 2026
Wed
National Foundation Day (建国記念の日)
Feb 23, 2026
Mon
Emperor's Birthday (天皇誕生日)
Mar 20, 2026
Fri
Vernal Equinox Day (春分の日)
Apr 29, 2026
Wed
Showa Day (昭和の日)
May 3, 2026
Sun
Constitution Memorial Day (憲法記念日)
May 4, 2026
Mon
Greenery Day (みどりの日)
May 5, 2026
Tue
Children's Day (こどもの日)
May 6, 2026
Wed
Constitution Memorial Day (substitute) (振替休日)
Jul 20, 2026
Mon
Marine Day (海の日)
Aug 11, 2026
Tue
Mountain Day (山の日)
Sep 21, 2026
Mon
Respect for the Aged Day (敬老の日)
Sep 22, 2026
Tue
National Holiday (bridge day) (国民の休日)
Sep 23, 2026
Wed
Autumnal Equinox Day (秋分の日)
Oct 12, 2026
Mon
Sports Day (スポーツの日)
Nov 3, 2026
Tue
Culture Day (文化の日)
Nov 23, 2026
Mon
Labour Thanksgiving Day (勤労感謝の日)
Long weekends (8)
Sat Jan 10 – Mon Jan 12: 3 days (Coming of Age Day)
Sat Feb 21 – Mon Feb 23: 3 days (Emperor's Birthday)
Fri Mar 20 – Sun Mar 22: 3 days (Vernal Equinox Day)
Sat May 2 – Wed May 6: 5 days (Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, Children's Day, Constitution Memorial Day substitute)
Sat Jul 18 – Mon Jul 20: 3 days (Marine Day)
Sat Sep 19 – Wed Sep 23: 5 days (Respect for the Aged Day, National Holiday (bridge day), Autumnal Equinox Day)
Sat Oct 10 – Mon Oct 12: 3 days (Sports Day)
Sat Nov 21 – Mon Nov 23: 3 days (Labour Thanksgiving Day)
Born in Reiwa 8 (2026): 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 2033 (Reiwa 15)
April 2032 (Reiwa 14)
Junior high school entry
April 2039 (Reiwa 21)
April 2038 (Reiwa 20)
High school entry
April 2042 (Reiwa 24)
April 2041 (Reiwa 23)
Coming-of-age ceremony (20)*
January 2047 (Reiwa 29)
January 2046 (Reiwa 28)
Legal adulthood (18): birthday in 2044 (Reiwa 26)
Shichi-Go-San (by actual age): age 3 in 2029, age 5 in 2031, age 7 in 2033 (November)
Unlucky years (honyaku, traditional count): men 25 in 2050, 42 in 2067, 61 in 2086; women 19 in 2044, 33 in 2058, 37 in 2062, 61 in 2086
Kanreki (60th birthday): 2086 (Reiwa 68)
* 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 8 at a Glance
Zodiac (full eto): 丙午 (ひのえ・うま) — Fire Horse
Length: 365 days
New Year's Day fell on a Thursday
About Reiwa 8 (令和8年)
Reiwa 8 is the eighth year of the Reiwa era (令和), Japan's current
imperial era. In the Western Gregorian calendar, Reiwa 8 corresponds
to the full year 2026 — 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 8:
8 + 2018 = 2026. This formula works for all years in the Reiwa era.
How to Write Reiwa 8 in Japanese (令和8年の書き方)
In Japanese, Reiwa 8 is written as 令和8年 or
令和八年 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 your
birth year or the current year, you may need to write 令和8年 rather
than 2026.
Reiwa 8 (令和8年) is 2026 in the Western Gregorian calendar.
The Reiwa era began on May 1, 2019, so Reiwa year 8 plus 2018
equals 2026. Reiwa 8 runs from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026.
What day of the week is January 1, Reiwa 8?
January 1, Reiwa 8 (令和8年1月1日) falls on a Thursday. In
Western calendar terms, this is January 1, 2026. Use the era
date converter above to check the day of the week for any
Reiwa 8 date.
How many public holidays were there in Reiwa 8 (2026)?
Japan had 18 public holidays in 2026 (2 of them substitute or bridge days), giving 8 breaks of three days or more; the longest were 2 breaks of 5 days: May 2–May 6 and Sep 19–Sep 23.
When does a child born in Reiwa 8 start elementary school?
In April 2033 (Reiwa 15) if born April 2 – December 31, 2026, and in April 2032 (Reiwa 14) if born January 1 – April 1, 2026, because Japanese school years run from April 2 to April 1.