The current Calendar Year 2019 is Heisei 31 [ 平成 31 ]

Seasons of Japan
English name Japanese name Romanisation Traditional dates( tentative )

SPRING 春 Haru February 4th – May 5th

SUMMER 夏 Natsu May 6th – August 7th

AUTUMN 秋 Aki August 8th – November 6th

WINTER 冬 Fuyu November 7th – February 3rd

 SOME OF THE FAMOUS FESTIVALS OF JAPAN

[ NIHON NO MATSURI ]

MONTH / EVENT / DESCRIPTION

DATE FESTIVAL NAME

JANUARY OSHōGATSU Osechi (food in lacquered trays for the New

Year) is prepared and eaten. Visit shrines,
1ST – 3RD
temples and celebrate with family and
relatives. Ganjitsu ( 1st day of the year) is
spent with family.

MARCH 3RD HINA-MATSURI / This is celebrated with decoration of

DOLL FESTIVAL Ningyō(Dolls). Hishimochi (diamond-
shaped rice cakes) and Shirozake (rice malt
with sake) are special meals.

APRIL HANAMI / Sakura ( cherry blossom flower) blooms

CHERRY during Haru(Spring). People celebrate the
BLOSSOM Hanami with parties and get-togethers out-
VIEWING doors.

JULY 7TH TANABATA / People write wishes and aspirations on long

STAR FESTIVAL narrow strip of paper and hang them on
bamboo branches.

AUGUST BON FESTIVAL Honoring of spirits of ancestors.

(Shōryōdana) "Spirit Altar" is set up in front
13TH – 15TH
of the family Altar.

JULY 19TH TōRō NAGASHI / Small paper lanterns containing a burning

LANTERN flame are either set afloat to a river, lake
 FLOATING with a message written on the side of
FESTIVAL lantern.

NOVEMBER SHICHI-GO-SAN Five-year-old boys and seven- or three-

15TH year-old girls are taken to the local shrine
[ 7-5-3 ]
to pray for their safe and healthy future.
Chitose-ame ("thousand-year candy") is
bought for children.

DECEMBER ōMISOKA / People do Ōsōji( house cleaning)

31ST TOSHI NO ICHI Toshigami (deity of the incoming year) is
greeted. Toshikoshi-soba is eaten in the
hope that one's family fortunes will extend
like the long noodles.
 LIST OF NATIONAL HOLIDAYS OF JAPAN - 2019
Date English name Official name Romanization

January 1st New Year’s Day 元日 Ganjitsu

January 14th Coming of Age Day 成人の日 Seijin no hi

(2nd Monday of Or
January )
Adulthood Day

February 11th National 建国記念の日 Kenkoku kinen

Foundation Day
no hi

March 21st Vernal Equinox Day 春分の日 Shunbun no hi

April 29th Shōwa Day 昭和の日 Shōwa no hi

May 3rd Constitution 憲法記念日 Kenpō kinenbi

Memorial Day

May 4th Greenery Day みどり(緑)の日 Midori no hi

May 5th Children’s Day 子供の日 Kodomono hi

July 15th Marine Day 海の日 Umi no hi

(3rd Monday of
July )

September 16th Respect for the 敬老の日 Keirō no hi

aged Day
(3rd Monday of
September )
September 23rd Autumnal Equinox 秋分の日 Shūbun no hi
Day

October 14th Health-Sports Day 体育の日 Taiiku no hi

( 2nd Monday of
October )

November 3rd Culture Day 文化の日 Bunka no hi

November 4th Culture Day Holiday 文化の日 Bunka no hi no

Yasumi
の 休み

November 23rd Labour 勤労感謝の日 Kinrō kansha no hi

Thanksgiving day

December 23rd Emperor’s Birthday 天皇誕生日 Tennō no tanjōbi