Not so Silver Week in 2025

We’re well into September, the fourth, autumnal quarter of the year, but it doesn’t feel like it yet here in the Kanto region. Most days are still very humid and warm, and the evenings are cool. The month also has two holidays: 敬老の日, Keiro no Hi, which is Respect for the Aged Day, and the autumn equinox, 秋分の日, Shubun no Hi.

I shot the photo of Higanbana at Hondoji Temple for my scrapbook calendar

About 25 years ago, Japan implemented the ハッピーマンデー制度, or Happi Mande Seido, the Happy Monday system, which creates three-day weekends by adjusting some holidays. However, you can’t persuade the planet to change its solar schedule. The result is that the autumn equinox holiday falls on a Tuesday in 2025. 

Hang on for 2026 when Silver Week comes back. We’ll get a five-day break when the two holidays fall in the same week, with a bridging national holiday in between.

This year, I'm looking forward to shorter work weeks and higanbana viewing. One of my favorite spots is Hondoji Temple, famed for its hydrangeas in the rainy season. It's also a great spot to see the flaming red flowers.