The Worst Times to Visit Japan in 2026-2027

If you’re planning a trip to Japan, the last thing you want to do is visit during a not-so-great time. I’m talking national holidays and school vacations, when trains are packed and hotels are pricey and booked solid, rainy season when even locals are trying to avoid going anywhere, and summer when the humidity and heat make you feel like you’re melting.

In this article, I’ll share when you should avoid traveling to Japan. All of this is based on my experience of living in Japan for almost two decades.

Avoid National Holidays in Japan

Knowing Japan’s national holiday calendar is essential, because the last thing you want to experience on your vacation is packed trains, expensive hotels, and crowds.

Japan’s national holidays are defined by the Act on National Holidays. Most are tied to the seasons, cultural customs, or historical moments. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes a holiday too, which is called a “substitute holiday”.

When a public holiday falls on a Friday or Monday, it creates a three-day weekend that is especially popular for domestic travel, so it’s a good idea to plan accordingly if you want to avoid high prices and crowds.

There are also public holidays throughout the year that allow people living in Japan to take about a week or so off work. Unsurprisingly, this is not a great time for people from abroad to visit Japan because tourist destinations, hotels, and public transporation is already packed with locals.

Additionally, many people will take personal leave to extend holiday weekends into full weeks off, which is something to consider when booking transportation and accommodation. If a single workday falls between two holidays, the government may declare that day a national holiday as well. This is known as a “citizens’ holiday”.

Below are the official national holidays in Japan for the year 2026:

January

1st (Thursday): New Year’s Day
This is when people visit families and shrines to pay their respects and pray for a good year. Many businesses and restaurants are closed until January 3rd. Expect shrines and surrounding areas to be very busy during this time. Schools will also have time off until around the 7th.

12th (Monday): Coming of Age Day 
Celebrates young people turning 20, which is the legal age in Japan. Expect to see formal kimonos worn around city halls and shrines.

February

11th (Wednesday): National Foundation Day
A day to reflect on the founding of the nation.

23rd (Monday): Emperor’s Birthday 
Celebrates the birthday of Emperor Naruhito.

20th (Friday): Vernal Equinox Day 
A time to honor nature and family ancestors.

Students will also be on spring vacation from the end of May to the beginning of April.

April

29th (Wednesday): Shōwa Day
The first holiday in Golden Week, marking the birthday of Emperor Shōwa.

May

3rd (Sunday): Constitution Memorial Day
Commemorates the post-war constitution.

4th (Monday): Greenery Day 
A day to appreciate nature.

5th (Tuesday): Children’s Day 
I’ve written an article about Children’s Day so make sure to read it to know more!

6th (Wednesday): Substitute Holiday for Constitution Memorial Day
Because May 3 falls on a Sunday, this Wednesday is observed as a substitute holiday.

June

No public holidays! However, it is the rainy season, so you’ve been warned!

July

20th (Monday): Marine Day 
Celebrates Japan’s ocean heritage and maritime culture. Summer holidays for Japanese schools also start around this time.

August

11th (Tuesday): Mountain Day 
A newer holiday encouraging appreciation of Japan’s mountainous landscape. Often used as part of Obon vacation time. (I’ll explain more about that below.)

September

21st (Monday): Respect for the Aged Day 
A day to honor older generations. May create a long weekend with the Autumn Equinox.

22nd (Tuesday): Citizens’ Holiday
This is not a typical Japanese holiday. Since this day falls between two national holidays, it legally becomes a holiday. This creates a 5-day weekend known as “Silver Week” (Sept 19–23). Expect Golden Week-level crowds.

23rd (Wednesday): Autumnal Equinox Day 
Similar to the spring equinox: time for nature and ancestral remembrance.

October

12th (Monday): Sports Day 
Encourages physical activity and commemorates the Tokyo Olympics of 1964. Many schools have their sports days on the weekend around this time, and then students take a regular weekday off.

November

3 (Tuesday): Culture Day 
Focuses on academic and cultural achievements.

23 (Monday): Labor Thanksgiving Day 
A modern take on traditional harvest festivals, thanking workers for their contributions.

December

There are no public holidays, but employees start taking time off around the end of the month. Winter vacation also starts around this time, so expect Japan to be crowded.

How National Holidays Affect Travel in Japan

National holidays can be wonderful for experiencing Japanese culture, but they can also sometimes place a damper on your travel experience.

Notably, trains (especially the shinkansen), domestic flights, and hotels can often be fully booked weeks in advance. Hotels are also pricier.

Popular tourist attractions in major cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are usually very crowded. Some attractions, such as Universal Studios Japan, also increase the price of tickets.

Avoid Long Holiday Periods

Some holidays cluster together into major travel times.

Golden Week (April 29 to May 5)
Golden Week is one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. Most workers take the full week off. Expect packed trains, high hotel prices, and busy sightseeing spots.

Obon (around August 13 to 16)
Obon is a time when Japanese people travel back to their hometowns to pay their respects to their ancestors. Though it is not an official national holiday, most companies and schools close during this time, and travel surges nationwide.

New Year’s Holiday (December 29 to January 3)
The country essentially shuts down for the New Year, which is a quiet occasion. Don’t expect fireworks or parties like in other countries!

If you’re not tied to a school schedule, I suggest avoiding holidays (especially Golden Week, Obon, Silver Week, and New Year’s). You’ll enjoy fewer crowds, more availability, and lower costs.

Avoid School Holidays

Unsurprisingly, school holidays in Japan can cause tourist attractions in the country, as well as transportation and hotels, to become more popular than usual. Hotels will absolutely hike up their prices during this time, and attractions like Disney and Universal Studios Japan are utterly bonkers. (Trust me, I’m a mom in Japan!)

I’ve written an article about when school vacations are in Japan, so you can plan accordingly.

Avoid the Rainy Season

The rainy season in Japan starts in June and sometimes lasts until early July. The rainy season in Japan is no joke; it will pour and literally put a damper on your travel plans. Sometimes trains will even stop because of the rain.

Avoid Summer

Summer in Japan is incredibly humid and hot. In recent years, the temperature from July until September has hovered around 35 degrees Celcius, sometimes even hotter!

My family tries to stay indoors as much as possible during the summer because there is a real risk of heatstroke. I also don’t like that I’m super sweaty after being outside for more than ten minutes.

In August and September, you’ll also see typhoons, which can cause train delays and flight cancellations. My former workplace would let us go home early during typhoon days so that we wouldn’t be stranded if trains stopped.

Avoid Major Cities During Cherry Blossom Season

Major cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka get very crowded during cherry blossom season. This is a popular time for not only locals but international tourists as well.

The cherry blossoms are scheduled to bloom in 2026 from around March 20th. If you want to avoid the crowds, I suggest traveling to smaller cities. However, keep in mind that locals tend to want to enjoy cherry blossoms as well, so wherever you go, it might be busier than usual.