1 dayThu, Jan 1
New Year's Day — a lone day off, bridge it:
1
Stretch it: take 1 day of leave (Jan 2) for 4 days off (Jan 1 – 4).
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Long Weekends in Japan 2026
Japan has 8 long weekends (3 or more consecutive days off) in 2026, counting public holidays and Sat–Sun weekends; the longest natural break runs 5 days (May 2 – 6). Placed well, 2 days of leave stretches a break to 9 consecutive days off — every option is below.
- Long weekends
- 8
- Longest break
- 5 days
- Best bridge
- +2 → 9 days
- Weekend
- Sat–Sun
Subscribe to or print Japan holidays →
Every break in 2026
Public holidayWeekendLeave day
3 daysSat, Jan 10 – Mon, Jan 12
101112
Stretch it: take 4 days of leave (Jan 13–16) for 9 days off (Jan 10 – 18).
1 dayWed, Feb 11
Foundation Day — a lone day off, bridge it:
11
Stretch it: take 2 days of leave (Feb 9–10) for 5 days off (Feb 7 – 11).
3 daysSat, Feb 21 – Mon, Feb 23
212223
Stretch it: take 4 days of leave (Feb 24–27) for 9 days off (Feb 21 – Mar 1).
3 daysFri, Mar 20 – Sun, Mar 22
202122
Stretch it: take 4 days of leave (Mar 16–19) for 9 days off (Mar 14 – 22).
1 dayWed, Apr 29
Showa Day — a lone day off, bridge it:
29
Stretch it: take 2 days of leave (Apr 30 – May 1) for 8 days off (Apr 29 – May 6).
5 daysSat, May 2 – Wed, May 6
Constitution Day · Greenery Day · Children's Day · Constitution Day (substitute day)
23456
Stretch it: take 2 days of leave (May 7–8) for 9 days off (May 2 – 10).
3 daysSat, Jul 18 – Mon, Jul 20
181920
Stretch it: take 4 days of leave (Jul 21–24) for 9 days off (Jul 18 – 26).
1 dayTue, Aug 11
Mountain Day — a lone day off, bridge it:
11
Stretch it: take 1 day of leave (Aug 10) for 4 days off (Aug 8 – 11).
5 daysSat, Sep 19 – Wed, Sep 23
Respect-for-the-Aged Day · Citizens' Holiday · Autumnal Equinox Day
1920212223
Stretch it: take 2 days of leave (Sep 24–25) for 9 days off (Sep 19 – 27).
3 daysSat, Oct 10 – Mon, Oct 12
101112
Stretch it: take 4 days of leave (Oct 13–16) for 9 days off (Oct 10 – 18).
1 dayTue, Nov 3
Culture Day — a lone day off, bridge it:
3
Stretch it: take 1 day of leave (Nov 2) for 4 days off (Oct 31 – Nov 3).
3 daysSat, Nov 21 – Mon, Nov 23
212223
Stretch it: take 4 days of leave (Nov 24–27) for 9 days off (Nov 21 – 29).
All bridge plans, ranked by date
Each plan books leave only on working days between two natural breaks, so every one of them returns more than one day off per day of leave.
| Days off | Leave | Span |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 3d · Dec 29–31 | Dec 27 – Jan 1 |
| 9 | 4d · Dec 29–31 + Jan 2 | Dec 27 – Jan 4 |
| 4 | 1d · Jan 2 | Jan 1 – 4 |
| 9 | 4d · Jan 13–16 | Jan 10 – 18 |
| 5 | 2d · Feb 9–10 | Feb 7 – 11 |
| 9 | 4d · Feb 9–10 + Feb 12–13 | Feb 7 – 15 |
| 5 | 2d · Feb 12–13 | Feb 11 – 15 |
| 9 | 4d · Feb 24–27 | Feb 21 – Mar 1 |
| 9 | 4d · Mar 16–19 | Mar 14 – 22 |
| 5 | 2d · Apr 27–28 | Apr 25 – 29 |
| 12 | 4d · Apr 27–28 + Apr 30 – May 1 | Apr 25 – May 6 |
| 8 | 2d · Apr 30 – May 1 | Apr 29 – May 6 |
| 12 | 4d · Apr 30 – May 1 + May 7–8 | Apr 29 – May 10 |
| 9Best value | 2d · May 7–8 | May 2 – 10 |
| 9 | 4d · Jul 21–24 | Jul 18 – 26 |
| 4 | 1d · Aug 10 | Aug 8 – 11 |
| 9 | 4d · Aug 10 + Aug 12–14 | Aug 8 – 16 |
| 6 | 3d · Aug 12–14 | Aug 11 – 16 |
| 9 | 2d · Sep 24–25 | Sep 19 – 27 |
| 9 | 4d · Oct 13–16 | Oct 10 – 18 |
| 4 | 1d · Nov 2 | Oct 31 – Nov 3 |
| 9 | 4d · Nov 2 + Nov 4–6 | Oct 31 – Nov 8 |
| 6 | 3d · Nov 4–6 | Nov 3 – 8 |
| 9 | 4d · Nov 24–27 | Nov 21 – 29 |
| 9 | 4d · Dec 28–31 | Dec 26 – Jan 3 |
Computed from Japan's public holidays plus Sat–Sun weekends. Substitute days count as days off; observances don't. Bridges spend at most 4 leave days, booked only on working days.