Japanese Holiday & Festival Calendar

The following is a list of Japanese holidays that are celebrated on Okinawa.  We have provided links to posts we have on our site, and hope to add more posts on these events as you, our readers, submit articles to us. In the meantime, get to know the national anthem of our host country, known as Kimigayo.

JANUARY 一月 (ichigatsu)
1 –   New Year’s Day (Shōgatsu)
11 – Coming of Age Day (Seijin no hi)

Cherry Blossom viewings and festivals typically held mid-January to late-February

FEBRUARY 二月 (nigatsu)
3 –    Bean Throwing Festival (Setsubun)
11 – National Foundation Day (Kenkoku kinen no hi)
14 – Valentine’s Day

Strawberry Picking – typically available from late January through May
Sunflower Festival – February 28th – March 15th, 2015

MARCH 三月 (sangatsu)
3 –   Girls’ or Doll’s Festival (Hinamatsuri)
14 – White Day (Howaito dē)
21 – Spring equinox (Sunbun no hi)

Azalea Festival – March 1st – 21st, 2016

APRIL 四月 (shigatsu)
29 – Birthday of the Showa Emperor (Showa no hi)

Lily Festival – April 23 – May 5, 2016

MAY 五月 (gogatsu)
April 29 to May 5 – Golden Week (Ōgata renkyū)
3 –  Constitution Day (Kenpo kinenbi)
4 –  Greenery Day (Midori no hi)
5 –  Children’s Day (Kodomo no hi)
3 to 5 –  Naha Dragon Boat Races

JULY 七月 (shichigatsu)
7 –  Star Festival (Tanabata)
20 – Sea Day (Umi no hi)

Festival Season on Okinawa (dates will vary by year)

AUGUST 八月 (hachigatsu)
1st Sunday of August – 10,000 Eisa Dancers Festival
15 to 17- Festival of Souls (Obon)

SEPTEMBER 九月 (kugatsu)
19 – Respect for the Aged Day (Keiro no hi)
22 – Autumn Equinox Day (shubun no hi)

OCTOBER 十月 (jūgatsu)
10 – Sports Day (Taiiku no hi)
10 – Naha Tug of War
17 – Okinawa Soba Day (Soba no hi)
(Date varies) Yonabaru Tug of War

NOVEMBER 十一月 (jūichigatsu)
3 –   Culture Day (Bunka no hi)
15 – 7-5-3 Year-olds Festival (Shichi-go-san)
23 – Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinro kansha no hi)

DECEMBER 十二月 (jūnigatsu)
23 – Emperor’s Birthday (Tenno tanjobi)
31 – New Year’s Eve (Omisoka)