Japan Public Holidays 2012 & Japan Festivals 2012

Here is a list of 2012 Japan holidays and festivals. Japanese 2012 public holidays are denoted either as (national holiday) or (bank & government holiday)

Japan Public Holidays 2012 & Japan Festivals 2012
New Year (shogatsu):
This is the most important holiday in Japan. While only January 1 is designated as a national holiday, many businesses remain closed through January 3. 2 January and 3 January are officially holidays for bank and government employees only. This national holiday was established in 1948, as a day to celebrate the new year.

Sunday, 1 January 2012 (national holiday)

Monday, 2 January 2012 (national holiday – substitute)

Coming of Age (seijin no hi):
Cities and towns throughout the nation hold ceremonies to celebrate, congratulate, and encourage men and women who have reached the age of majority (20) during the year.

Wednesday, 11 January 2012 (national holiday)

Beginning of spring (setsubun):
Setsubun is not a national holiday, but celebrated at shrines and temples nationwide.

Friday, 3 February 2012

National Foundation Day (kenkoku kinenbi):
According to the earliest Japanese history records, on this day in the year 660 BC the first Japanese emperor was crowned. This national holiday was established to nourish a love for the country and reflect on the establishment of the nation.

Saturday, 11 February 2012 (national holiday)

Valentine’s Day:
In Japan, women give chocolates to men on Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day is a widely celebrated in Japan, however it is not a national holiday.

Tuesday, 14 February 2012

Doll’s Festival (hina matsuri):
Also called girl’s festival.

Saturday, 3 March 2012

White Day:
The opposite of Valentine’s Day: Men give cakes or chocolates to women. It is not a national holiday.

Wednesday, 14 March 2012

Spring Eqinox Day (shunbun no hi):
Graves are visited and ancestors are worshipped during the week (ohigan) of the Vernal Equinox Day.

Thursday, 22 March 20 (national holiday)

Showa Day (Showa no hi):
The birthday of former Emperor Showa. Before 2007, April 29 was known as Greenery Day (now celebrated on May 4). Due to the way the weekdays fall in 2012, Showa Day is isolated from the rest of Golden Week holidays.

Sunday, 29 April 2012 (national holiday)

Monday, 30 April 2012 (national holiday – substitute)

Constitution Day (kenpo kinenbi):
A national holiday remembering the new constitution, which was put into effect after the war. Part of the Golden Week till 5 May.

Thursday, 3 May 2012 (national holiday)

Greenery Day (midori no hi):
Until 2006, Greenery Day was celebrated on April 29, the former Emperor Showa’s birthday, due to the emperor’s love for plants and nature. It is now celebrated on May 4. This national holiday is celebrated as a day to commune with nature and be grateful for its blessings.

Friday, 4 May 2012 (national holiday)

Children’s Day (kodomo no hi):
Also called boy’s festival, this is a day on which to esteem the personalities of children and plan for their happiness

Saturday, 5 May 2012 (national holiday)

Star Festival (tanabata):
Tanabata is a festival rather than a national holiday.

Saturday, 7 July 2012

Festival of Souls (Obon):
Obon is a festival to commemorate deceased ancestors. although this is not an official national holiday, many offices are closed (Tokyo celebrates in July, while most of the country celebrates in August)

Friday, 13 July 2012

Saturday, 14 July 2012

Sunday, 15 July 2012

Ocean Day (umi no hi):
A recently introduced national holiday to celebrate and show gratitude for the blessings of the oceans and for hoping for the prosperity of the maritime nation that is Japan. The day marks the return of Emperor Meiji from a boat trip to Hokkaido in 1876.

Thursday, 19 July 2012(national holiday)

Festival of Souls (Obon):
Obon is a festival to commemorate deceased ancestors. although this is not an official national holiday, many offices are closed (Tokyo celebrates in July, while most of the country celebrates in August)

Monday, 13 August 2012

Tuesday, 14 August 2012

Wednesday, 15 August 2012

Respect for the Aged Day (keiro no hi):
Respect for the elderly and long life are celebrated on this national holiday.

Thursday, 20 September 2012 (national holiday)

Autumn Equinox Day (shubun no hi):
Graves are visited to honor one’s ancestors and remember the dead during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day.

Sunday, 23 September 2012 (national holiday)

Monday, 24 September 2012 (national holiday substitute)

Health and Sports Day (taiiku no hi):
On that day in 1964, the Olympic games of Tokyo were opened.

Thursday, 11 October 2012 (national holiday)

Culture Day (bunka no hi):
A day for promotion of culture and the love of freedom and peace. On culture day, schools and the government award selected persons for their special, cultural achievements.

Saturday, 3 November 2012 (national holiday)

Seven-Five-Three (shichigosan):
A festival for children, Shichigosan is not a national holiday but a traditional festival.

Thursday, 15 November 2012

Labour Thanksgiving Day (kinro kansha no hi):
A national holiday for honoring labour.

Friday, 23 November 2012 (national holiday)

Emperor’s Birthday (tenno no tanjobi):
The birthday of the current emperor is always a national holiday. If the emperor changes, the national holiday changes to the birthday date of the new emperor.

Sunday, 23 December 2012 (national holiday)

Monday, 24 December 2012 (national holiday – substitute)

Christmas:
Christmas is not a national holiday, but it is celebrated by an increasing number of Japanese.

Tuesday, 25 December 2012

New Year’s Eve (omisoka):
December 31 is officially a holiday for bank and government employees only. But for many offices, 25th will be the last working day until 4th January.

Monday, 31 December 2012 (bank & government holidays)

diambil dari sumber : http://sgholiday.com/calendar/japan-public-holidays-2012/