Working Days and Hours 2026 - Japan
For Japan in 2026, this Monday-to-Friday planning calendar gives 244 days and 1,952 hours at 8 hours per day, after the included public holidays. It assumes those holidays are not worked and excludes personal leave and company closures.
Sandtime.io editorial team ·
Complete guide to working hours, public holidays, and annual leave in Japan for 2026
Monthly working days and hours 2026
For Japan in 2026, this Monday-to-Friday planning calendar gives 244 days and 1,952 hours at 8 hours per day, after the included public holidays. It assumes those holidays are not worked and excludes personal leave and company closures.
Monday-Friday; included holidays not worked; daily hours stated in the guide; no personal leave or company closures deducted.
The Cabinet Office calendar includes statutory substitute holidays and days between two national holidays where the law applies. In 2027 the vernal equinox falls on Sunday 21 March, followed by the substitute holiday on Monday 22 March. Company shutdowns and annual leave are separate.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column. With a keyboard, focus the table region and use the arrow keys.
| Month | Planned working days | Working hours | Holidays reducing the total |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | 20 | 160 | 2 |
| February 2026 | 18 | 144 | 2 |
| March 2026 | 21 | 168 | 1 |
| April 2026 | 21 | 168 | 1 |
| May 2026 | 18 | 144 | 3 |
| June 2026 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| July 2026 | 22 | 176 | 1 |
| August 2026 | 20 | 160 | 1 |
| September 2026 | 19 | 152 | 3 |
| October 2026 | 21 | 168 | 1 |
| November 2026 | 19 | 152 | 2 |
| December 2026 | 23 | 184 | 0 |
| Total | 244 | 1,952 | 17 |
The accessible table contains the same figures.
Working hours in January 2026
In January 2026, the calendar gives 20 working days and 160 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in February 2026
In February 2026, the calendar gives 18 working days and 144 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in March 2026
In March 2026, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in April 2026
In April 2026, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in May 2026
In May 2026, the calendar gives 18 working days and 144 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 3 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in June 2026
In June 2026, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in July 2026
In July 2026, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in August 2026
In August 2026, the calendar gives 20 working days and 160 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in September 2026
In September 2026, the calendar gives 19 working days and 152 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 3 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in October 2026
In October 2026, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in November 2026
In November 2026, the calendar gives 19 working days and 152 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in December 2026
In December 2026, the calendar gives 23 working days and 184 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Plan hours for your working week
The calculator starts with work from Monday to Friday. Choose the days and daily hours that match your schedule. The result shows hours available after holidays; legal working-time limits depend on the rules for your workplace.
Planning weekdays: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday; 8 hours/day. Included holidays are assumed not worked; leave and company closures are not deducted.
1,952 hours
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column. With a keyboard, focus the table region and use the arrow keys.
| Month | Planned working days | Working hours | Holidays reducing the total |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | 20 | 160 | 2 |
| February 2026 | 18 | 144 | 2 |
| March 2026 | 21 | 168 | 1 |
| April 2026 | 21 | 168 | 1 |
| May 2026 | 18 | 144 | 3 |
| June 2026 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| July 2026 | 22 | 176 | 1 |
| August 2026 | 20 | 160 | 1 |
| September 2026 | 19 | 152 | 3 |
| October 2026 | 21 | 168 | 1 |
| November 2026 | 19 | 152 | 2 |
| December 2026 | 23 | 184 | 0 |
| Total | 244 | 1,952 | 17 |
The Cabinet Office calendar includes statutory substitute holidays and days between two national holidays where the law applies. In 2027 the vernal equinox falls on Sunday 21 March, followed by the substitute holiday on Monday 22 March. Company shutdowns and annual leave are separate.
How to read the working-hour totals
The Cabinet Office calendar includes statutory substitute holidays and days between two national holidays where the law applies. In 2027 the vernal equinox falls on Sunday 21 March, followed by the substitute holiday on Monday 22 March. Company shutdowns and annual leave are separate.
Count the selected working weekdays, subtract the included holidays that fall on those days, then multiply the remaining days by daily hours. Each holiday date is counted once. A holiday on a day you already exclude does not reduce the total again. Legal reductions and official substitute days follow their own rules.
Local working-calendar questions and examples
Does Japan automatically move every weekend holiday to Monday?
The Cabinet Office calendar applies the statutory substitute-holiday rules, including holidays on Sunday. Do not infer a universal Saturday-to-Monday transfer. Use the official observed date and count unique dates once. The calendar also includes days between two national holidays when the law makes them holidays.
Does Golden Week mean every day in the period is a public holiday?
No. Use the listed national dates and substitute days, then add any company shutdown separately. A normal working date between holidays is not automatically employee leave unless the legal holiday rule or workplace arrangement makes it so. Check staffing and client coverage before treating the whole period as unavailable.
What changes around Japan’s spring equinox in 2027?
The Cabinet Office lists the equinox on Sunday March 21 and the substitute holiday on Monday March 22. The Monday-Friday preview deducts March 22, while Sunday was already outside the schedule. Keep both dates visible as calendar information, but do not subtract two working days from a five-day project budget.
A planning total is not a universal legal annual requirement. Contracts, collective agreements, regions, sectors and actual working schedules can change the result. Record personal leave and company closures separately, and check the country’s working-time rules before using a calendar for payroll.
Working hours 2027: plan the next year
The Cabinet Office calendar includes statutory substitute holidays and days between two national holidays where the law applies. In 2027 the vernal equinox falls on Sunday 21 March, followed by the substitute holiday on Monday 22 March. Company shutdowns and annual leave are separate.
For Japan in 2027, this Monday-to-Friday planning calendar gives 245 days and 1,960 hours at 8 hours per day, after the included public holidays. It assumes those holidays are not worked and excludes personal leave and company closures.
With the same working days and daily hours, the 2027 preview differs from 2026 by 8 hours. The calendars may cover different holidays; check their scope before using the comparison for a budget.
Confirmed holiday dates in the 2027 preview
- - New Year’s Day
- - Coming of Age Day
- - National Foundation Day
- - Emperor’s Birthday
- - Vernal Equinox Day
- - Substitute Holiday
- - Showa Day
- - Constitution Memorial Day
- - Greenery Day
- - Children’s Day
- - Marine Day
- - Mountain Day
- - Respect for the Aged Day
- - Autumnal Equinox Day
- - Sports Day
- - Culture Day
- - Labour Thanksgiving Day
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column. With a keyboard, focus the table region and use the arrow keys.
| Month | Planned working days | Working hours | Holidays reducing the total |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2027 | 19 | 152 | 2 |
| February 2027 | 18 | 144 | 2 |
| March 2027 | 22 | 176 | 1 |
| April 2027 | 21 | 168 | 1 |
| May 2027 | 18 | 144 | 3 |
| June 2027 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| July 2027 | 21 | 168 | 1 |
| August 2027 | 21 | 168 | 1 |
| September 2027 | 20 | 160 | 2 |
| October 2027 | 20 | 160 | 1 |
| November 2027 | 20 | 160 | 2 |
| December 2027 | 23 | 184 | 0 |
| Total | 245 | 1,960 | 16 |
The accessible table contains the same figures.
Working hours in January 2027
In January 2027, the calendar gives 19 working days and 152 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in February 2027
In February 2027, the calendar gives 18 working days and 144 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in March 2027
In March 2027, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in April 2027
In April 2027, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in May 2027
In May 2027, the calendar gives 18 working days and 144 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 3 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in June 2027
In June 2027, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in July 2027
In July 2027, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in August 2027
In August 2027, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in September 2027
In September 2027, the calendar gives 20 working days and 160 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in October 2027
In October 2027, the calendar gives 20 working days and 160 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in November 2027
In November 2027, the calendar gives 20 working days and 160 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in December 2027
In December 2027, the calendar gives 23 working days and 184 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Which months have the most and least working hours in 2026?
The 2026 calendar for Japan has a highest monthly total of 184 hours (December). The lowest is 144 hours (February, May). The difference is 40 hours per full-time person before leave, absences and company closures.
Compare delivery commitments by available hours, not by the number of months. Two equally priced monthly retainers can require different staffing when one month has fewer working days. Keep the calendar assumptions fixed, then adjust for each person’s schedule and approved leave before promising project capacity.
From October’s hours to a realistic project budget
Illustrative example for October 2026: start with 168 hours, reserve 16 hours for two scheduled days of approved leave and 24 hours for internal work. That leaves 128 hours for project allocation. It is a planning budget, not a promise that every remaining hour is billable or a record of hours actually worked.
Before the month begins, assign capacity to projects. During the month, keep actual project hours separately. At close, compare planned capacity with recorded work and approved absences; explain the differences before preparing client reports. A national calendar cannot replace either the employee’s schedule or the project record.
Understand billable utilization · Plan project staffing with the free capacity template · Use approved timesheets for client billing
2026 versus 2027: compare the hours month by month
An unchanged annual total can hide a different monthly workload. Compare matching months before reusing a staffing or delivery budget for 2027. This table uses the same daily hours and weekday assumptions in both years; regional and employer-specific calendars still need their own adjustments.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column. With a keyboard, focus the table region and use the arrow keys.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change in hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 160 | 152 | -8 |
| February | 144 | 144 | 0 |
| March | 168 | 176 | 8 |
| April | 168 | 168 | 0 |
| May | 144 | 144 | 0 |
| June | 176 | 176 | 0 |
| July | 176 | 168 | -8 |
| August | 160 | 168 | 8 |
| September | 152 | 160 | 8 |
| October | 168 | 160 | -8 |
| November | 152 | 160 | 8 |
| December | 184 | 184 | 0 |
| Total | 1,952 | 1,960 | 8 |
See the assumptions and confirmed dates for 2027 · Calculate a different period or working week
Free templates for planning and recording hours
Download editable spreadsheets or printable PDFs without registration. Keep calendar capacity, leave and actual time records separate.
Monthly timesheet
Record actual hours separately from the calendar’s planned total.
Download Excel · Download PDF
Work schedule
Turn monthly capacity into a team schedule and record company days off.
Download Excel · Download PDF
Vacation and leave tracker
Account for personal leave before assigning work to a project.
Download Excel · Download PDF
Time off in lieu tracker
Keep a record of granted compensating leave and its remaining balance.
Download Excel · Download PDFFrom the calendar to reliable time records
A calendar tells you how many hours can be planned. A time record tells you which project used them. Review the actual hours before reporting or billing.
Working Hours and Leave in Japan 2026
Working week used in calculations
Monday to Friday. Edit working weekdays in the calculator; legal limits and actual schedules are separate.
- 8 hours per day
- 5 days per week
- 40 hours per week
Under the Labour Standards Act (労働基準法, Art. 32), employers may not have employees work more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. Art. 36 agreements (三六協定) between employers and employee representatives permit overtime within statutory caps.
Annual Leave Entitlement
10 - 20 days
Eligible employees receive 10 days after six months with at least 80% attendance, increasing to 20 after 6.5 years. Part-time schedules can receive proportional entitlements.
Monthly Averages
- 20.3 working days/month
- 162.7 working hours/month
Public Holidays in Japan 2026
The stated calendar for Japan lists 18 holidays in 2026, with 17 falling on weekdays. See full public holidays list
The Cabinet Office calendar includes statutory substitute holidays and days between two national holidays where the law applies. In 2027 the vernal equinox falls on Sunday 21 March, followed by the substitute holiday on Monday 22 March. Company shutdowns and annual leave are separate.
Understanding Holiday Types
Different countries use different terminology for non-working days. Here is what each term means for workforce planning.
Public Holidays
Public holidays listed in the country’s calendar. Check the country guide for the rules on time off, holiday pay and regional differences.
Federal Holidays
Holidays listed in a federal calendar. Check which government offices and employers the calendar covers before applying it to a private workplace.
Bank Holidays
Days when banks and financial institutions are closed. In the UK, this term is synonymous with public holidays. Important for payroll processing and payment schedules.
Observances
Notable dates that are not official days off. Examples include Earth Day or Mother’s Day. These do not affect work schedules unless an employer chooses to recognize them.
| Date | Day | Holiday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Jan 1 | Thursday | New Year’s Day (元日) | |
| Mon, Jan 12 | Monday | Coming of Age Day (成人の日) | |
| Wed, Feb 11 | Wednesday | National Foundation Day (建国記念の日) | |
| Mon, Feb 23 | Monday | Emperor’s Birthday (天皇誕生日) | |
| Fri, Mar 20 | Friday | Vernal Equinox Day (春分の日) | |
| Wed, Apr 29 | Wednesday | Showa Day (昭和の日) | |
| Sun, May 3 | Sunday | Constitution Memorial Day (憲法記念日) | Weekend |
| Mon, May 4 | Monday | Greenery Day (みどりの日) | |
| Tue, May 5 | Tuesday | Children’s Day (こどもの日) | |
| Wed, May 6 | Wednesday | Substitute Holiday (振替休日) | |
| Mon, Jul 20 | Monday | Marine Day (海の日) | |
| Tue, Aug 11 | Tuesday | Mountain Day (山の日) | |
| Mon, Sep 21 | Monday | Respect for the Aged Day (敬老の日) | |
| Tue, Sep 22 | Tuesday | Citizens' Holiday (国民の休日) | |
| Wed, Sep 23 | Wednesday | Autumnal Equinox Day (秋分の日) | |
| Mon, Oct 12 | Monday | Sports Day (スポーツの日) | |
| Tue, Nov 3 | Tuesday | Culture Day (文化の日) | |
| Mon, Nov 23 | Monday | Labour Thanksgiving Day (勤労感謝の日) |
Turn working days into tracked hours
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