January - New Year's Day (Gantan)

January - Coming of Age Day (Seijin-no-hi)

February - National Foundation Day

March - Spring Equinox

April - Shōwa Day

May - Constitution Memorial Day (Kenpou-kinen-bi)

May - Greenery Day (Midori-no-hi)

May - Children's Day (Kodomo-no-hi)

July - Sea Day

September - Respect for the Aged Day

September - Autumnal Equinox (Shuubun-no-hi)

October - Health and Sports Day (Taiiku-no-hi)

November - National Culture Day (Bunka-no-hi)

November - Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinrou-kansha-no-hi)

December - Emperor's Birthday (Tennou-tanjyou-bi)

December - Bank Holiday

If it falls between Monday and Friday.

You should know:

Holidays falling on a Sunday are observed on the Monday following except for the Bank Holidays associated with the New Year.

The period from 29 April to 5 May is called the "Golden Week" and many people take vacation days mixed in with the public holidays with the result that businesses are often all but shut down.

There are no moveable feasts other than the Equinoxes. The Autumnal Equinox will be on 23 September every year until 2011. The calculation is performed using astronomical methods based on the longitude 135 degrees East.

Weekend - Saturday, Sunday