Annual holidays and rites of life

元日 (がんじつ)

January 1st

Beginning of the new year

First shrine visit of the year, New Year's cards

Osechi cuisine, Zoni

Spending time with family

成人の日 (せいじんのひ)

Second Monday of January

Celebrating reaching adulthood (people who turned 20 in the past year)

Coming-of-Age Ceremony

Attending ceremonies, taking photographs

節分 (せつぶん)

February 3rd

Day before the official start of spring

Common to throw beans to symbolize driving out demons (おに）

Say 鬼は外、福は内

建国記念の日

(けんこくきねんのひ)

February 11th

Celebrates the founding of Japan

Common to visit shrines

天皇誕生日

(てんのうたんじょうび)

February 23rd

Emperor's Birthday

春分の日（しゅんぶんのひ）

Around March 20th

Day and night are the same length

Equinoctial Week - week-long Buddhist observance in Japan

Eat botamochi

昭和の日 (しょうわのひ)

April 29th

Reminiscent of the Showa era

憲法記念日 (けんぽうきねんび)

May 3rd

Celebrating the Constitution of Japan

みどりの日

May 4th

Celebrating nature

Common to go to parks

こどもの日 (こどものひ)

May 5th

Praying for children's growth

Common to have Carp streamers, May dolls

Eat Kashiwamochi and chimaki

ゴールデンウィーク GW Golden Week

海の日 (うみのひ)

Third Monday of July

Be grateful for the sea

山の日 (やまのひ)

August 11th

Admiring and being grateful for the Mountains

敬老の日（けいろうのひ）

Third Monday of September

Showing respect for the elderly

Custom to give gifts, express gratitude

秋分の日（しゅうぶんのひ）

Around September 23rd

Autumn equinox

Common to visit graves (Ohaka-mairi)

Eat ohagi (rice dumplings)

シルバーウィーク Silver Week

スポーツの日

Second Monday of October

A day to get moving

文化の日（ぶんかのひ）

November 3rd

A day valuing culture and art

勤労感謝の日（きんろうかんしゃのひ）

November 23rd

Express thankfulness to workers