Cultural calendar
Japanese Calendar 2026 — Reiwa 8 (令和8年)
Japan uses both the Gregorian calendar and its traditional era system (Nengō). 2026 is Reiwa 8 (令和8年) — the 8th year of Emperor Naruhito's reign.
2026 Japanese national holidays
| Holiday | Japanese | Gregorian date |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 元日 (Ganjitsu) | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Coming of Age Day | 成人の日 (Seijin no Hi) | Jan 12, 2026 (2nd Mon Jan) |
| National Foundation Day | 建国記念の日 (Kenkoku Kinen no Hi) | Feb 11, 2026 |
| Emperor's Birthday | 天皇誕生日 (Tennō Tanjōbi) | Feb 23, 2026 |
| Vernal Equinox Day | 春分の日 (Shunbun no Hi) | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Shōwa Day | 昭和の日 (Shōwa no Hi) | Apr 29, 2026 Golden Week starts |
| Constitution Memorial Day | 憲法記念日 (Kenpō Kinenbi) | May 3, 2026 |
| Greenery Day | みどりの日 (Midori no Hi) | May 4, 2026 |
| Children's Day | こどもの日 (Kodomo no Hi) | May 5, 2026 Golden Week ends |
| Marine Day | 海の日 (Umi no Hi) | Jul 20, 2026 (3rd Mon Jul) |
| Mountain Day | 山の日 (Yama no Hi) | Aug 11, 2026 |
| Respect for the Aged Day | 敬老の日 (Keirō no Hi) | Sep 21, 2026 (3rd Mon Sep) |
| Autumnal Equinox Day | 秋分の日 (Shūbun no Hi) | Sep 23, 2026 |
| Health and Sports Day | スポーツの日 (Sports no Hi) | Oct 12, 2026 (2nd Mon Oct) |
| Culture Day | 文化の日 (Bunka no Hi) | Nov 3, 2026 |
| Labor Thanksgiving Day | 勤労感謝の日 (Kinrō Kansha no Hi) | Nov 23, 2026 |
Golden Week — Japan's longest holiday
The cluster of four national holidays between April 29 and May 5 is known as Golden Week. With weekends and substitute holidays, employees often take 7–10 consecutive days off. In 2026: April 29 (Wed) – May 6 (Wed), giving a natural 8-day span if you bridge April 30 – May 2.
The Japanese era system (Nengō)
Japan officially numbers years by emperor's reign, in addition to the Gregorian system. The current era is Reiwa (令和), which began on May 1, 2019 — the day Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne.
| Era | Emperor | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Meiji (明治) | Mutsuhito | 1868–1912 |
| Taishō (大正) | Yoshihito | 1912–1926 |
| Shōwa (昭和) | Hirohito | 1926–1989 |
| Heisei (平成) | Akihito | 1989–2019 |
| Reiwa (令和) | Naruhito | 2019–present |
For documents and many official contexts, Japanese citizens write dates in Reiwa years. 2026 CE = Reiwa 8.
Year-end and New Year
The most important non-public holiday period is Shōgatsu (New Year), running roughly December 28 through January 3. Government offices, banks, and many businesses close — schedule accordingly when working with Japanese partners.