School Holidays in Japan (2026–2027): When to Avoid the Crowds
Last Updated on January 22, 2026 by Kay
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If you’re planning a trip to Japan and want to avoid the busiest travel times, understanding the Japanese school calendar is key.
As a mom of a school-aged child living in Japan, I’ve seen firsthand how dramatically things can change when school lets out. Trains get packed, tourist spots are bustling with families, and prices creep up. If you’re a fellow parent (or just a savvy traveler), knowing when these school breaks happen can help you plan your itinerary around the rush.
The Japanese school year runs from April to March, with three main breaks: summer, winter, and spring.
These holidays are fairly consistent nationwide, though exact dates vary slightly by prefecture and school type. University calendars are often longer and more flexible.
Below, I’ve broken down the school holidays in Japan for 2026–2027 by season, from preschool to university. These dates can shift slightly depending on the region and year, but using this guide, you’ll have a solid foundation to build a quieter, more enjoyable Japan trip.
Table of Contents
Summer Holidays in Japan (2026)
This is the longest and most crowded break of the year. Lots of other countries also have their holidays around the same time.
Preschoolers to high schoolers are typically off from around July 22nd to August 26th. University students, on the other hand, will be on holiday from early August to the end of September.
My family usually stays at home, but if we do travel, we like to time our vacations right before summer break starts or after it ends.
August 11th is a national holiday (Mountain Day) and that same week is Obon. Unlike Golden Week, the Obon period is not an official national holiday, but many employers give employees time off to visit their hometowns to pay their respects to their ancestors. Roads and public transportation tend to be very busy during this time.
Winter Vacation in Japan (2026–2027)
Although short, the winter vacation in Japan is incredibly busy since it overlaps with New Year’s, when the Japanese tend to go back to their hometown (December 29th to January 3rd). This is also why some restaurants and attractions are closed during this period.
Elementary school students to high schoolers are on vacation from around December 24th to January 7th. Preschoolers and university students will be on vacation from mid-December to early January.
My family visits my husband’s hometown every New Year’s, but we avoid public places like the plague. I made the mistake of visiting a friend in Kyoto once on December 29th, and the trains were absurdly packed. Never making that mistake again!
Spring Holidays in Japan (2026)
Spring is when the school year ends, and another begins. This overlaps with cherry blossom season, which is why many schools (including my daughter’s) have sakura trees at the entrance. I find that the falling cherry blossom petals welcoming students to the new school year are truly beautiful.
For elementary school to high school students, spring vacation in Japan starts from the last week of March and ends the first week of April, lasting for about two weeks. Preschoolers start their vacation even earlier from mid-March! And university students get more than a month off, starting their holidays from the end of February to early April.
Spring holidays are probably one of the busiest and most expensive times to travel because families and students do “graduation” trips, especially at theme parks such as Universal Studios Japan and Tokyo Disney, and it’s also a popular time for international tourists.
Unsurprisingly, spring vacation is another time when my family stays local and doesn’t visit tourist hotspots. But, as mentioned above, this isn’t the case for all families because this is the only time they can travel. I imagine when my daughter gets older and can’t miss much school, we won’t be able to travel as flexibly anymore and might have to only go places during her school holidays and national holidays!