DON’T MISS ANYTHING: YOUR 2024 JAPAN NATIONAL HOLIDAYS GUIDE

Dec 1, 2023

BY Chisato Takahashi

Are you ready to travel to Japan in 2024? After several event cancellations and strict COVID-19 measures, Japan is now fully prepared to welcome travelers once again. 2024 seems like the perfect time to visit!

The most important thing to note is to book your Shinkansen, flights, and hotels well in advance, as they may sell out or become more expensive. Japan has its own set of national holidays, unique culture, and language barrier, which can pose challenges for foreigners in their planning. Therefore, I understand that booking everything very early in advance can be stressful.

But there’s no need to worry! In this blog, we’ll guide you on the best times to visit Japan. So at least you will be able to plan a rough schedule!

2024 Schedule

In Japan, Christmas isn’t a holiday, but New Year’s is a grand celebration. Many companies offer time off from around December 28th, so families can prepare for a relaxed New Year. On December 31st, New Year’s Eve, the tradition is to visit a shrine or temple, listen to the ringing bell, and eat Toshikoshi soba, which symbolizes longevity.

There will be a lot of food stands, festivals, and even fireworks, so I recommend you to come to Japan if you want to experience the biggest traditional event in the country!

On the 1st of January, Japanese people see the first sunrise of the year to welcome the new year. If you plan to travel to Japan in January, it’s important to note that many companies are closed, and popular tourist spots might be crowded. However, it’s definitely worth visiting tourist areas as they are incredibly beautiful!!!

On the 8th of January, Japan celebrates Coming-of-Age Day to congratulate those who have turned 20 years old. On this day, many people wear traditional kimono, and this ceremony is a significant event for the young generation. Don’t forget to make restaurant and izakaya reservations in advance, as 20-year-olds often head to bars to celebrate their coming of age (Finally they can drink alcohol legally).

Furthermore, flight tickets are often more affordable after the new year and in February. If you plan to travel to multiple prefectures, it’s a great idea to visit Japan during this period.

Additionally, in the calendar, you’ll find photos of flowers, indicating the best time to enjoy them in that month. Japan has numerous beautiful flower gardens, so be sure to explore them!

It’s still cold in February, but it does bring the arrival of spring along with plum blossoms. On February 3rd, we celebrate Setsubun where we throw beans and eat Ehomaki sushi rolls for good luck. Technically, it is not a national holiday, but we celebrate it to say goodbye to the last day of winter. You should check the nearest shrine or temple to see if there is an event!

For those people who like art and snow, definitely visit Hokkaido to join the Sapporo snow festival in February.

On the 14th of February, we have our own celebration of Valentine’s Day, where many girls will give chocolates to the boys they like. It’s a great opportunity to express your love to your partner. Additionally, the Emperor’s birthday is also celebrated as well as Mt. Fuji Day. There are numerous events, including fireworks, in Yamanashi and Shizuoka near Mt. Fuji.

The end of the winter season provides many opportunities to explore different Japanese prefectures.

Even if the domestic flight tickets are more expensive in March, I am in love with March. March is a time of goodbyes in Japan due to graduations and job changes, but the warmer weather and blooming nature brings happiness.

On March 3rd, there is a festival that celebrates the birth and healthy growth of girls. Colorful foods like Chirashi sushi are sold in supermarkets, so be sure to give them a try. Moreover, White Day is the day for returning Valentine’s gifts, meaning the men give gifts to women. In Japan, the meaning of a message can vary depending on the gift, so it’s a good idea to give something that expresses your feelings. Japanese people are somewhat romantic, aren’t they?

The vernal Equinox is the day when the length of day and night is nearly equal. It’s a common tradition to eat Ohagi and Botamochi on this day.

The best thing to do in March is Hanami (Flower viewing). In Japan, it’s legal to drink alcohol in public, so I recommend everyone to enjoy good food and drinks under the cherry blossoms.

In April, domestic flight tickets become affordable again until Golden Week as new students and workers find it hard to find holidays to travel around.

As I mentioned earlier, it’s still Hanami season so you can enjoy a variety of flowers. Also, on April 8th, there’s Buddha’s birthday, known as ‘Hana-matsuri’ in Japanese, where Japanese Buddhists pour sweet tea made from a variety of hydrangea onto the statues of the newborn Buddha. This event takes place at the temple, but everyone can join and try the sweet tea.

Unfortunately, late April is not ideal for travel in Japan, so please check the May section.

Why is Golden Week Not a Good Season to Visit?

Golden Week is one of the busiest travel seasons in Japan because most Japanese people may take a vacation from the 27th of April to the 6th of May in 2024. Also, people think it is a good idea to travel before June, because of the lack of any holiday and with the rainy season. Usually, all the transportation gets super crowded during Golden Week, so be prepared in case you are traveling during this period.

However, flight tickets tend to be cheaper after Golden Week.

As you can see, on the third Friday and Saturday of May, a festival is held at Asakusa Shrine. How about enjoying the impressive Mikoshi (portable shrines) and the festival?

Sometime around May 9th, the rainy season begins in Okinawa. Afterward, it typically extends across all of Japan by mid-June, lasting for about a month. However, it is hard to predict the timing of the rainy season, so please be cautious.

However, June isn’t all about bad luck! For example, on the 2nd of June, you can enjoy 6,000 fireworks to celebrate the Yokohama Port Opening Anniversary.

In addition, around June 21, which is the summer solstice when the day is longest from sunrise to sunset, various Candle Night events are held across Japan.

Flight tickets are the most expensive during July and August.

Mount Fuji opens for climbing in July. Depending on the route you choose, the Yoshida route has a pre-climbing festival starting on June 30th, and you can start climbing as soon as the date changes. For those taking the Shizuoka side route, climbing starts at 9:00 AM on July 10th.

If you’re a beginner climber, consider joining a tour and make sure to prepare warm clothing and other necessities. Climbing Mount Fuji can be seriously tougher than you might expect. Also, don’t forget to make reservations for a mountain hut!

On the 7th of July, the Japanese celebrate the star Festival called “Tanbata”. This is not a national holiday but we usually write wishes on a piece of paper and hang them on bamboo trees.

On July 24th, there’s a tradition of eating eel rice bowls to boost stamina for the summer heat. Enjoy the delicious and sweet eel rice bowl to help you endure the Japanese summer heat.

Also, the beach season and summer festivals generally start in July, so it’s a good idea to check the local news, head to the sea for a swim, and experience Japanese food stands at the festival.

Interestingly, Japanese people eat eel rice bowls twice a year, so if you missed the opportunity before in July, you have one more chance! You can even buy them in convenience stores and supermarkets.

In August, there are many local festivals! You must experience a fireworks festival in Japan at least once in your life. It’s unbelievably beautiful.

However, there is one more ‘red zone’. In Japan, people tend to take longer holidays, called ‘Obon Week.’ During this time, transportation and tourist destinations get super crowded. I personally recommend avoiding this week when planning your visit to Japan. In case you are planning to visit Japan during Obon Week, make sure to book the tickets and hotels early.

Well, let’s move on to September. In 2024, Japanese people will be fortunate to have several holidays, but the duration of these holidays varies from year to year. Fortunately, not everyone will be on vacation at the same time. Instead, there will be three main holiday periods: Golden Week, Obon Week, and Silver Week. This division may provide an opportunity to avoid heavy crowds.

But, it’s still advisable to avoid the peak tourist season (red zone) if possible. Furthermore, there will be fewer festivals in September, so make sure to check when and where they are planning to hold events.

Welcome to the October section! If you’re planning a trip to Japan in October, you might be in luck. As the peak vacation and travel season has passed, you can often find domestic flight tickets at lower prices, and the weather remains pleasant.

On October 14th, to celebrate Railway Day, the JR Group offers an autumn unlimited ride pass. In 2023, the purchase was available from September 16th to October 20th, allowing three days of unlimited travel on JR train lines and the JR West Japan Miyajima Ferry between October 7th and October 22nd. The pass costs 7,850 yen ($52(USD)) for adults and 3,920 yen ($26(USD)) for children, but make sure to check for 2024 updates.

Moreover, by staying at a JR Hotel Group property on the days you use, you can get a discount. However, because Japan has many non-JR train routes, and the pass has some restrictions, it’s necessary to check if the ticket suits your travel plans.

Don’t forget to check the flower calendars as well because Kochia (Bassia scoparia) is in full bloom in October. My suggestion is for you to go to Hitachi Seaside Park!

In November, in the northern regions, the first snowfall begins, while in other areas, the Kouyou (autumn leaves) are at their peak. As we transition from the comfortable autumn, it starts to get quite chilly, so make sure to prepare your warm clothing.

Also, please remember the dates of November 5, 17, and 29. In the Kanto region, there’s a traditional event held every November in shrines and temples called ‘Tori-noiIchi’. Many people visit to pray for good luck in the coming year and success in their businesses. It’s a great place to buy souvenirs like ‘Kumade,’ which are considered lucky charms!”

Additionally, on Culture Day, many museums offer free admission to promote the love of freedom, peace, and culture!!!

In Japan, there’s a tradition to eat pumpkin and take a yuzu bath on the day of the winter solstice. Since it’s the day with the shortest daylight and the longest night, please try a yuzu bath to overcome the cold winter.

Also, there will be a lot of illuminations, so you’ll love the Japanese Christmas!

Transportation Tips

Finally, I’ll provide you with some transportation tips. Typically, various transportation companies offer special promotions or time-limited sales about 1 to 2 months before the travel date. This is especially true for airlines like Peach, Jetstar, ANA, JR, and JAL. It’s always a good idea to follow their Twitter accounts or check their websites for updates.

Here, you can also explore the following websites, as they often feature great deals:

Jalan https://www.jalan.net/en/japan_hotels_ryokan/
Rakuten Travel https://travel.rakuten.com/
Peach Airline https://www.flypeach.com/en
Jetstar Airline https://www.jetstar.com/jp/en
JAL https://www.jal.co.jp/ar/en/
ANA https://www.ana.co.jp/ja/jp/promotion/ana_kyun29/01.html

Japanese autumn Credit: Su San Lee

How was the information I provided? I hope it helped you in planning your Japanese trip! Remember to book everything as soon as possible, and prepare for an unforgettable adventure in Japan!!