September 2026 Silver Week lives up to its traditional name

Remember the glorious Golden Week holiday back in May? Three of the national holidays, Greenery Day, Children’s Day, and Constitution Memorial Day, were observed Monday to Wednesday, making a five-day run.

We’re in for a repeat! This September, it’s the first time in 11 years that Japan will observe a 国民の休日, Kokumin no Kyubi, squeezed between two national holidays in Silver Week. Combine them with the weekend, and you’ve got five days of rest. After all, the old lunar calendar name for September is 長月, nagatsuki, long month. If you take 年休 nenkyu, paid leave, you can lengthen the break to nine days.

Here are the dates and observances:

• Monday, September 21st 敬老の日 Keiro no Hi, Respect for the Aged Day on the third Monday of September
• Tuesday, September 22nd 国民の休日 Kokumin no Kyubi, National Holiday
• Wednesday, September 23rd 秋分の日, Shubun no Hi, Autumn Equinox

Japan’s Act on National Holidays determines that, when two national holidays fall on a weekday, the day sandwiched between them becomes a holiday. They’re periodic national days off.

Have you got big plans for the upcoming break?