# The Japanist — full text > Full text of The Japanist's original long-form articles and curated festival guides. The curated index is at https://thejapanist.net/llms.txt. Cite as “The Japanist” with the specific page URL given under each heading. Dates are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9). Live data pages (events, earthquakes, forecasts) are not included here because they change daily; read them on the site. # Articles ## Japan’s Tax-Free Shopping Changes on November 1, 2026: How the New Refund System Works URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/japan-tax-free-shopping-refund-system-november-2026 Published: 2026-10-14 (JST). Category: Travel. *For years, tax-free shopping in Japan was simple: show your passport, and the tax came off at the till. From November 1, 2026, that ends. Visitors will pay the full price, tax included, and get the tax back only after a quick customs check at the airport or seaport when they leave. Here is exactly what changes, what to do at the shop and at the airport, the mistakes that will cost you your refund, and what stays the same.* Japan's consumption tax is **10%** on most things and **8%** on food and non-alcoholic drinks ([National Tax Agency](https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/shiraberu/taxanswer/shohi/6303.htm)). For a visitor buying a camera, a kimono or a suitcase full of skincare, that is real money. The good news is that you can still get it back. The difference is *when* and *how*. We checked every rule in this guide against the official sources: the Japan Tourism Agency's tax-free site, the National Tax Agency's pamphlet and Q&A, Japan Customs, and the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). Links are at the end. --- #### The short answer - **Starts November 1, 2026** The new rules apply to anything you buy from that day. There is no overlap period. - **Pay first, refund later** Tax-free shops charge the full price with tax. The tax comes back after customs confirms you are taking the goods out of Japan. - **Customs check before you check in** At your departure airport or seaport, scan your passport at a tax-free kiosk before you hand over any bags. - **Within 90 days** You must leave Japan, and do the check, within 90 days of the purchase. - **Green or red** Green means you are done. Red means you show your goods to a customs officer nearby. - **No more sealed bags** Food and cosmetics no longer go in special bags. But if you eat or use them in Japan, there is no refund. - **One missing item spoils the receipt** Customs checks each receipt as a whole. If one item is missing, the whole receipt gets no refund. --- #### Old rules vs new rules Here is what changes for you, side by side. | | Until October 31, 2026 | From November 1, 2026 | |---|---|---| | **Price at the shop** | Tax taken off at the till | Full price, tax included | | **When you get the tax back** | Straight away | After the customs check when you leave | | **Where the check happens** | No kiosk step at the airport | Tax-free kiosk at the departure airport or seaport, before bag check-in | | **Deadline** | — | Leave Japan, and do the check, within 90 days of purchase | | **Minimum spend** | ¥5,000, with general goods and consumables counted separately | ¥5,000 (before tax) per store per day, all goods counted together | | **Upper limit** | ¥500,000 for consumables | No upper limit, but only what you can carry out yourself | | **Food, drinks, cosmetics** | Sealed in a special bag | No special bag, but they must leave Japan unused | | **Business use** | Goods had to be for personal use | That rule is gone | The rules follow the **day you buy**, not the day you fly. If you shop on October 31 and fly home on November 5, that October 31 purchase stays under the old rules ([National Tax Agency Q&A, Q8](https://www.nta.go.jp/publication/pamph/shohi/menzei/201805/pdf/0025003-110_02.pdf)). *Figure: From November 1 you still show your passport at the counter. The difference is that you pay the full price, and the tax comes back later.* --- #### Step by step at the shop Nothing dramatic changes at the counter. A few things are worth doing every time. - **Bring your passport** Shops still need to see it. Look for the official tax-free sign. - **Spend at least ¥5,000 before tax, in one store, in one day** General goods and consumables now count together toward the ¥5,000. - **Pay the full price** Yes, including tax. That is normal now. - **Ask how the refund will reach you** Each shop, or the refund company it uses, decides this. Options can include bank transfer, credit card, an app, or cash at the airport after the check. Set it up before you leave the shop. - **Keep each receipt's items together** Customs looks at each purchase as one unit. Treat each receipt as a set. The Japan Tourism Agency says shops will explain the refund steps when you buy, and asks travellers to ask if they are not told ([JTA traveller leaflet](https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/tax-free/content/001990233.pdf)). **Buying something very expensive?** If one item costs ¥1 million or more before tax, customs may ask to see a certificate of authenticity or a warranty with it. Keep those papers handy ([JTA FAQ](https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/tax-free/page01_000001_00027.html)). **Want it shipped home?** You can no longer post tax-free goods home yourself from a post office. That option ended on March 31, 2025. Some shops can still ship overseas for you directly from the store. Ask the shop. --- #### Step by step at the airport This is where the new system lives or dies. The key rule: **do the customs check before you check in any bags.** 1. **Arrive early.** The kiosk itself takes only seconds, says the Japan Tourism Agency. But if you get a red result, you will need time for an inspection. 2. **Have all your tax-free goods with you** in the international departure lobby. Not in a checked bag. 3. **Scan your passport** at a tax-free kiosk. These are in the international departure lobby, before check-in. 4. **Read the result.** * **Green:** no inspection needed. You are done. * **Red:** take your goods to the customs inspection area. An officer will check them against your purchase records. 5. **Check in and fly** with your goods. The shop or its refund service then pays you back. **Skip the kiosk queue at big airports.** At **Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha**, you can do the same step on your phone through **Visit Japan Web**. You need to be on the special Wi-Fi in the designated areas of the international departure lobby, before security. At Kansai, Osaka Customs even recommends the Wi-Fi method because the kiosks may be busy ([Osaka Customs, Kansai Airport guide](https://www.customs.go.jp/osaka/about/images/kix_tax%20refund_en.pdf)). ##### If your trip starts with a domestic flight Flying, say, Sapporo to Haneda and then on to London? Do the customs check at **the airport where you actually leave Japan**, Haneda in this example ([JTA](https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/tax-free/page01_000001_00028.html)). There is a practical catch. The rules say your goods must be with you at the kiosk, and checked bags cannot be taken back. So if you check a bag at Sapporo all the way to London, anything tax-free inside it cannot be checked at Haneda. Plan ahead: keep tax-free purchases with you until you have done the check, and ask your airline how your bags will be handled. ##### Cruises * **A cruise that starts and ends outside Japan:** do the procedure at the last Japanese port, on the electronic terminal, before you check your baggage. * **"Fly and cruise"** (a cruise that leaves Japan, visits foreign ports and comes back, and then you fly home): do it all at the airport you fly out from. You do not need to do it when the ship briefly leaves Japan. *Figure: The new step comes before check-in: scan your passport at a tax-free kiosk with all your purchases still in hand.* --- #### Common mistakes that cost you the refund - **Checking your bag first** Once a bag is checked, you cannot get it back to do the tax-free check. No check, no refund. - **Eating the snacks** Consumables do not come in sealed bags any more, which makes them easy to open. But if you eat, drink or use any of them in Japan, the receipt they were on gets no refund. Tell a customs officer at the counter instead of using the kiosk for that receipt. - **Splitting up a receipt** Gave one item as a gift in Japan, or packed it in a friend's case? If even one item from a receipt is not with you, none of that receipt is refunded. - **Missing the 90 days** The clock starts the day after you buy. A November 1 purchase must be checked by January 30, 2027. - **Arriving late** You must finish the check, including any inspection, before boarding. The Japan Tourism Agency warns that neither airlines nor customs will compensate you if you run out of time. - **Buying more than you can carry** Purchases are limited to what you can personally carry out of Japan when you leave. And one rule to respect after the check: **take the goods out of Japan.** If goods pass the customs check and you do not export them, the tax is collected from you and penalties can apply ([National Tax Agency](https://www.nta.go.jp/publication/pamph/shohi/menzei/201805/pdf/0025003-110_01.pdf)). *Figure: Pack tax-free items so you can reach them at the airport. Each receipt is checked as a set.* --- #### Who it affects **Visitors.** This is mainly about you. Tax-free shopping is for people who are not residents of Japan. For foreign nationals, that generally means someone who has been in Japan **less than six months** since arriving, such as a tourist on a Temporary Visitor stay ([JTA list of eligible purchasers](https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/tax-free/content/001990235.pdf)). **Japanese citizens who live abroad.** You can also shop tax-free if you have lived outside Japan for **two years or more** and have been back for less than six months. You need proof. A My Number Card that shows you moved abroad is now accepted, alongside the residence certificate or family-register attachment. These documents no longer need to show your registered domicile. **People who live in Japan.** If you live here, tax-free shopping was never for you, and that has not changed. But you will notice the change if you take visiting family or friends shopping: tell them to expect to pay full price and to leave time at the airport. **Shops.** Tax-free shops have had to update their systems and set up refunds. Shops that had not registered for electronic tax-free processing by October 31, 2026 lose their tax-free licence ([National Tax Agency](https://www.nta.go.jp/publication/pamph/shohi/menzei/201805/pdf/0025003-110_01.pdf)). --- #### What stays the same * **Show your passport** at the shop. * **The ¥5,000 minimum** per store per day, now counted before tax and across all goods. * **The goods must leave Japan with you.** * **Gold and platinum bullion** are not eligible. Gold and platinum coins are also on the excluded list, along with items that carry no consumption tax. * **Posting goods home yourself does not count.** That ended in March 2025. --- #### Before you shop: a quick checklist - **Passport** Carry it when you shop. - **Ask about the refund** How will it be paid, and when? Register before you leave the shop. - **Keep receipts and items together** One receipt is one set at customs. - **Do not open the consumables** Save the snacks and skincare for home, or buy them without tax-free. - **Count the days** Your flight must be within 90 days of the purchase. - **Get to the airport early** Kiosk or Visit Japan Web first, then check-in. Planning a trip this autumn? Our guide to [everything that changed in Japan on October 1](/blog/japan-october-1-2026-changes-minimum-wage) covers the other new rules, from chu-hi tax to visa fees. And our look at [Japan's hidden travel costs and taxes](/blog/2026-japan-travel-costs-hidden-taxes-fees) covers what else lands on a visitor's bill. --- #### FAQ ##### When does Japan's tax-free shopping change? On **November 1, 2026**. The new refund system applies to purchases made from that day. Purchases made up to October 31 stay under the old rules, even if you leave Japan later. ##### Do I still get the tax back? Yes. You pay the tax-inclusive price at the shop, then get the consumption tax back after customs confirms at your departure airport or seaport that you are taking the goods out of Japan. ##### How do I get my refund? It depends on the shop. The refund is paid by the shop or a refund service it uses. Methods can include bank transfer, credit card, an app, or cash at the airport after the customs check. Ask the shop when you buy. ##### Where do I do the customs check? At your departure airport or seaport, in the international departure lobby, **before you check in your bags**. Scan your passport at a tax-free kiosk. At Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha you can also use Visit Japan Web on the dedicated Wi-Fi. ##### What do green and red mean at the kiosk? **Green** means no inspection is needed, and your customs check is complete. **Red** means you must show your tax-free goods to customs at the nearby inspection area. ##### Can I eat the food I bought tax-free? You can, but you will lose the refund on that receipt. If any item on a receipt has been eaten or used, none of that receipt is refunded. Tell a customs officer at the counter instead of using the kiosk. ##### I am flying domestic first, then international. Where do I do it? At the airport where you leave Japan. Make sure your tax-free goods are with you there, before you check in, and not already checked through from your first flight. ##### Is there a minimum or maximum spend? The minimum is ¥5,000 before tax, per store, per day. The old ¥500,000 limit on consumables is gone, but you can only buy what you can carry out of Japan yourself. --- #### Bottom line Tax-free shopping in Japan is not going away. It is moving from the till to the airport. The money is the same. The work is a little more: pay full price, keep each receipt's items together, do not open the snacks, and give yourself time at the airport to scan your passport *before* you check your bags. From November 1, the most important thing at the airport is the order you do things in: tax-free kiosk first, check-in second. --- #### Sources and further reading * **Japan Tourism Agency (MLIT)** — [Tax-free shopping: special page for travellers (Refund Method)](https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/tax-free/page01_000001_00028.html) (90 days; kiosk before check-in; green and red results; Visit Japan Web at seven airports; domestic connections; cruises; whole-receipt rule; consumed goods; ¥5,000 per store per day; special packaging abolished); [FAQ for travellers](https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/tax-free/page01_000001_00027.html) (refund methods; ¥1 million items; checked bags cannot be retrieved; separate shipment ended March 31, 2025); [Traveller leaflet](https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/tax-free/content/001990233.pdf); [Changes to tax-free goods](https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/tax-free/content/001990234.pdf); [Eligible purchasers](https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/tax-free/content/001990235.pdf) * **National Tax Agency** — [Refund Method: overview pamphlet](https://www.nta.go.jp/publication/pamph/shohi/menzei/201805/pdf/0025003-110_01.pdf) (April 2025: what changes; abolished ¥500,000 cap, special packaging and personal-use rule; excluded goods; penalties; shops' licences); [Q&A, overview](https://www.nta.go.jp/publication/pamph/shohi/menzei/201805/pdf/0025003-110_02.pdf) (Q8: applies by date of sale, no overlap; Q18: kiosk steps; Q19: 90 days from the day after purchase; Q20: one receipt is one unit; Q21: consumed food; Q23: shipping home; Q29: refund methods); [Refund Method information page](https://www.nta.go.jp/publication/pamph/shohi/menzei/201805/format/002.htm); [English summary](https://www.nta.go.jp/publication/pamph/shohi/menzei/202506/pdf/0025006-106.pdf); [Consumption tax rates](https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/shiraberu/taxanswer/shohi/6303.htm) (10% standard, 8% reduced) * **Japan Customs (Osaka Customs)** — [Guide to the tax refund procedure at Kansai International Airport](https://www.customs.go.jp/osaka/about/images/kix_tax%20refund_en.pdf) (kiosk or Visit Japan Web Wi-Fi; green and red status; complete before checking baggage) * **Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)** — [Everything you need to know: Japan's new tax-free shopping system](https://www.japan.travel/en/us/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-japans-new-tax-free-shopping-system/) (July 20, 2026) * **The Japanist** — [Everything that changed in Japan on October 1, 2026](/blog/japan-october-1-2026-changes-minimum-wage); [Japan's hidden travel costs and taxes](/blog/2026-japan-travel-costs-hidden-taxes-fees) *Method note: This guide describes the rules for travellers as published by the Japan Tourism Agency and the National Tax Agency. How and when your refund is paid, and through which service, is decided by each shop, so check at the counter. The domestic-connection packing tip is our practical reading of the official rule that all goods must be with you at the kiosk and checked bags cannot be retrieved.* --- ## Everything That Changed in Japan on October 1, 2026: Minimum Wage, the ¥1.06 Million Wall, Chu-hi Tax and More URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/japan-october-1-2026-changes-minimum-wage Published: 2026-10-08 (JST). Category: Travel. *Along with April 1, October 1 is a day when Japan often flips a lot of switches at once. This year the minimum wage started rising (Tokyo goes to ¥1,280 an hour), the income line that kept many part-timers out of company insurance disappeared, canned chu-hi got a bigger tax, about 3,000 food and drink products got pricier, and the summer help with power bills ended. Here is each change in plain English, with what it means for you, whether you are visiting, living here, working part-time or running a business.* Most of these changes were decided months ago. They just all arrived on the same day. Some of them help your wallet. Some of them hurt it. A couple of them, like the new rules on customer harassment, change how people treat each other at the shop counter. We checked every number in this guide against the original source: the labour ministry, the Japan Pension Service, the Ministry of Finance, the National Tax Agency, the trade ministry, the Immigration Services Agency, JR Central and Teikoku Databank. The links are at the end. --- #### The short answer If you only have a minute, these are the changes that matter most. - **Minimum wage: up ¥54 to ¥65** The national average is now ¥1,177 an hour. Tokyo is ¥1,280. But only 15 prefectures switched on October 1. The rest follow through December 2. - **The ¥1.06 million wall is gone** Part-timers no longer need to earn ¥88,000 a month to be put on company health and pension insurance. Working 20+ hours a week at a bigger employer is now enough. - **Chu-hi tax up, beer tax down** The tax in a 350 ml can of chu-hi rose from ¥28 to ¥35. All beer-type drinks now pay the same ¥54.25 a can. - **3,153 food and drink price rises** Teikoku Databank counted 3,153 products going up in October, about 10% on average. Drinks and alcohol were the biggest group. - **Customer harassment rules** Every employer must now protect staff from abusive customers, with a clear policy and someone to talk to. - **Power and gas help ended** The government discount on electricity and city gas only covered July to September use. - **Visa fees jumped** Permanent residency now costs ¥200,000 (it was ¥10,000). Visa renewals cost ¥10,000 to ¥75,000 at the counter, depending on how long you get. --- #### 1. Minimum wages are going up, one prefecture at a time Japan does not have one minimum wage. It has 47, one for each prefecture. Every year, a national panel suggests how much they should rise. Then each prefecture sets its own number and its own start date. This year, every prefecture rose by at least ¥54 an hour. The **national weighted average is now ¥1,177**, up ¥56 or 5.0%. ("Weighted" means bigger prefectures count more, because more people work there.) The labour ministry says that is the second-biggest rise since the current system began in 1978. The top rates: * **Tokyo: ¥1,280** (was ¥1,226) * **Kanagawa: ¥1,279** (was ¥1,225) * **Osaka: ¥1,231** (was ¥1,177) The lowest is **Miyazaki at ¥1,085**. The biggest rise was in **Saga, +¥65**, to ¥1,095. The map tells a simple story. Wages are highest around Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, where most jobs and most people are. They are lowest in Tohoku in the north-east, Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa. The gap is still about ¥200 an hour between the top and the bottom. But it is slowly closing. Rural prefectures got bigger rises than Tokyo this year. The lowest rate is now 84.8% of the highest, and that ratio has improved for 12 years in a row. ##### The catch: most places did not change on October 1 Here is the part that confuses a lot of people. Only **15 prefectures** started their new rate on October 1: Hokkaido, Miyagi, Tochigi, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Niigata, Toyama, Gifu, Aichi, Mie, Osaka, Hyogo and Kagawa. Everywhere else, the new rate starts later. Kyoto waits until November 16. Iwate and Kumamoto wait until December 1. **Okinawa is last, on December 2.** Until a prefecture's date arrives, the old rate is still the legal minimum there. ##### What this means for you **If you work part-time.** Check your payslip after your prefecture's date. Your hourly pay must be at least the new rate from that day. The rule covers almost every worker, including students and foreign workers. In Tokyo, ¥54 more an hour is about **¥1,080 more for a 20-hour week**. **If you run a business.** Update your pay rates on the right date for the prefecture where each person works, not where your head office is. A shop in Saitama pays the Saitama rate even if the company is in Tokyo. **If you are visiting.** You will not see the wage rise directly. But higher labour costs can feed into prices at restaurants, shops and hotels over time. Our guide to [Japan's hidden travel costs and taxes](/blog/2026-japan-travel-costs-hidden-taxes-fees) covers the bills a visitor actually pays. **If you are thinking of moving to the countryside.** Lower wages in rural areas usually come with much cheaper housing. That is the trade many people make. But a cheap house is not always a cheap life. Our partner Akiya X, which lists vacant homes across rural Japan, has a clear guide to the costs that show up after the price tag: [The House Is the Cheapest Part: 8 Akiya Pitfalls Foreign Buyers Miss](https://akiyax.com/blog/akiya-pitfalls-foreign-buyers). Its guide on [why the nearest konbini matters](https://akiyax.com/blog/japan-konbini-akiya-livability-map) is a good test of daily life in a small town. *(Akiya X is a commercial partner of The Japanist.)* *Figure: “Staff wanted”, says the notice, and 時給 means hourly wage. From this autumn every part-timer is owed a higher hourly floor, on the date their prefecture sets.* --- #### 2. The ¥1.06 million wall is gone For years, many part-timers in Japan watched one number closely: **¥1.06 million a year**. That is roughly ¥88,000 a month. Here is why. If you earned ¥88,000 a month or more at a bigger company, you were put on the company's health insurance and pension. That sounds good, and in the long run it is. But it also means premiums come out of your pay. So many people cut their hours to stay just under the line. People called it a "wall". **From October 1, 2026, the ¥88,000 pay test is abolished.** The change comes from the 2025 pension reform law, according to the Japan Pension Service. ##### Who now joins company insurance? You are now covered if all of these are true: - **You work 20 hours or more a week** This is set by your contract, not by a busy week. - **Your job is expected to last more than 2 months** Very short jobs are not included. - **You are not a day-time student** Most students are still left out, as before. Night-school and correspondence students can be covered. - **Your employer has 51 or more employees** Smaller employers will be added in stages, starting in October 2027. How much you earn no longer matters. In practice, the pay line had already stopped mattering for most people. With minimum wages this high, almost anyone working 20 hours a week was earning more than ¥88,000 a month anyway. The *Mainichi Shimbun* reported that the wage test had effectively become obsolete by the end of March. The next step is the company-size rule. It will be phased out on this schedule: | From | Employers with this many staff are added | |---|---| | October 2027 | 36 to 50 | | October 2029 | 21 to 35 | | October 2032 | 11 to 20 | | October 2035 | 10 or fewer | ##### What this means for you **If you work part-time 20+ hours a week at a bigger company.** You will likely be enrolled in Employees' Pension and company health insurance, if you are not already. Your take-home pay drops a little. The pension premium alone is 18.3% of pay, split half and half with your employer, and health insurance comes on top. In return, you get a bigger pension later, plus sick pay and maternity pay if you ever need them. There is also help with the switch. Under a new scheme, your employer can cut your share of premiums for up to three years. The employer pays the difference first and gets it back later, so it costs the employer nothing in the end. How much you save depends on your pay, and the cut is halved in the third year. **If you are a foreign resident on National Health Insurance.** Joining company insurance replaces National Health Insurance and National Pension. Tell your city office to cancel your National Health Insurance, so you do not pay twice. **If you are someone's dependent.** This change is about company insurance. The **¥1.3 million line** for staying on a spouse's or parent's insurance as a dependent is a separate rule, and it has not gone away. **If you are an employer.** Check who on your staff now qualifies, enrol them, and explain the change to them. The [labour ministry's Q&A page](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/tekiyoukakudai/qa/) answers most practical questions. --- #### 3. Chu-hi costs more in tax. Beer costs less This one is simple to see at the konbini fridge. **Chu-hi and other canned cocktails** (Japan calls them "other sparkling liquors") now carry **¥35 of tax** in a 350 ml can. Before, it was ¥28. That puts them at the same rate as sake and wine. Japan also finished a tax reform agreed in fiscal 2017 and carried out in three steps since October 2020: all **beer-type drinks** are now taxed the same. Beer, *happoshu* (low-malt beer) and the cheap "new genre" beers now all pay **¥54.25 a can**: * **Beer:** tax down by ¥9.10 a can * **Happoshu and new genre:** tax up by about ¥7.26 a can Keep in mind that these are tax amounts, not shop prices. Brewers and stores set their own prices, and many drink makers raised prices this autumn for other reasons too. So your favourite beer may not get cheaper, even though its tax went down. ##### What this means for you **If you are visiting.** A chu-hi from the [konbini](/blog/japan-konbini-guide-convenience-stores-2026) may cost a few yen more than last year. Real beer's tax went down, so the gap between beer and the cheaper beer-like cans should narrow, though shop prices are up to brewers and stores. **If you live here and drink the cheap stuff.** The price gap between "real" beer and the budget versions has shrunk. Those budget cans were cheap partly because of lower tax. That advantage is now gone. **If you sell alcohol.** Shops with large stocks may have to file a tax return for stock on hand as of October 1. The [National Tax Agency leaflet](https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/sake/annai/pdf/0026007-082-01.pdf) explains who must file. *Figure: Canned chu-hi and lemon sours are now taxed at the same rate as sake and wine: ¥35 a can.* --- #### 4. About 3,000 food and drink prices went up Credit research firm Teikoku Databank tracks price changes at 195 major food makers. For October it counted **3,153 products** going up in price, with an average rise of about **10%**. That is the second-highest month of 2026, after September (4,965 products). It also means more than 3,000 price rises in two months in a row, for the first time since 2023. The biggest groups in October: * **Alcohol and soft drinks:** 1,399 products, including happoshu and third-category beers hit by the tax change, plus shochu and soft drinks. * **Seasonings:** 820 products, such as mayonnaise, soy sauce and sauces. * **Processed foods:** canned food, frozen and chilled food, and baby food. Why? Teikoku Databank says higher costs for raw materials were behind 91.3% of the price rises. Energy costs were behind 63.8%, and the situation in the Middle East (through oil and naphtha used for packaging) behind 27.8%. Many products had more than one reason. There is some good news. Teikoku Databank thinks this wave has passed its peak. It counted 1,469 rises for November, far fewer than in September and October. Counting the rises already announced through December, 2026 has **20,187** food price rises. That is the second year in a row above 20,000. ##### What this means for you **If you live here.** Your weekly shop probably costs a little more. Supermarket own brands and konbini private-label items are worth a look, because they often stay cheaper. **If you are visiting.** You may notice a few yen more on snacks and drinks. It is not a big deal for a short trip. --- #### 5. New rules against customer harassment Japan has a word for abusive customers: **kasuhara**, short for "customer harassment". Think of the customer who shouts at a cashier for 30 minutes, demands the staff kneel and apologise, or threatens to post a worker's face online. **From October 1, 2026, every employer must take steps to protect staff from it.** This comes from a revised labour law (the Labour Policy Comprehensive Promotion Act). The labour ministry defines kasuhara as conduct by customers (or business partners) that goes beyond what society considers acceptable and harms the workplace. That includes behaviour on the phone and online. The ministry is clear that not every complaint is kasuhara. A reasonable complaint is fine. Abuse, threats, refusing to leave and forcing a kneeling apology are not. - **A clear policy** Employers must state that they will not tolerate harassment by customers, and tell staff. - **Someone to talk to** Staff need a contact point to report problems and get help. - **Act quickly** When something happens, the employer must respond promptly and look after the worker. - **A plan for serious cases** Employers must decide in advance how to handle especially bad cases, and tell staff. Behaviour that may be a crime can be reported to the police. - **No punishment for reporting** Staff who speak up must not be treated badly for it, and their privacy must be protected. If an employer does not do enough, the *Mainichi Shimbun* reports that the government can give guidance and recommend corrections, and that organisations that still fail to comply may be **named publicly**. The same day, employers also became responsible for protecting **job seekers** (for example, applicants at interviews) from sexual harassment by their staff. ##### What this means for you **If you are visiting.** Japanese service is famously polite. Be polite back. If something goes wrong, calmly explain the problem. Employers must now back their staff up when a customer crosses the line. **If you work in a shop, restaurant or office.** Ask your employer where to report problems. You have a right to that answer now. **If you run a business.** Write a short policy, name a contact person, and tell your staff. The [labour ministry's guide](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/001695577.pdf) has examples. --- #### 6. The summer help with power and gas bills ended During the hottest months, the government gave households and small businesses a discount on electricity and city gas. It only covered **energy used in July, August and September 2026**: | Month used | Electricity (per kWh) | City gas (per m³) | |---|---|---| | July | ¥3.5 off | ¥14 off | | August | ¥4.5 off | ¥18 off | | September | ¥3.5 off | ¥14 off | The support was for those three months only, and the *Mainichi* reports that it ends from October, so there is **no discount for October use**. Bills often arrive a month late, so the bill you get in October may still show the September discount. The one that follows, for October use, will not. ##### What this means for you **If you live here.** Expect your next bill to be higher, even if you use the same amount. Autumn is a good time to compare power companies. Checking your contract plan can also help. **If you are visiting.** No effect on you. Hotels pay the bills. *Figure: The government's discount on power and gas covered only July to September use. Bills for October use come without it.* --- #### 7. Visa fees went up sharply If you live in Japan on a residence card, this one is big. From **October 1, 2026**, the Immigration Services Agency raised its fees: * **Permanent residency:** **¥200,000** (was ¥10,000) * **Visa extension or change of status:** now set by how long you are given. It ranges from **¥10,000** for 3 months or less up to **¥75,000** for 5 years. Before, it was a flat ¥6,000 (¥5,500 online). Some common examples: | Period you are given | At the counter | Online | |---|---|---| | 1 year | ¥33,000 | ¥27,000 | | 3 years | ¥64,000 | ¥56,000 | | 5 years | ¥75,000 | ¥65,000 | Applications received by September 30 pay the old fee. Online applications are cheaper for most periods. Online payment is by convenience store or bank, plus a small transaction fee. Fees can be reduced or waived for some people in financial hardship. We are writing a fuller guide to the new immigration fees. In the meantime, our guide to [Japan's permanent residency overhaul](/blog/japan-permanent-residency-visa-changes-2026-2027) covers the other new rules for permanent residents, from income and pension checks to longer waits for spouses. --- #### 8. Smaller changes worth knowing ##### A pension break for new parents If you are self-employed, a freelancer, a farmer, a student or not working, you pay into the National Pension yourself. In fiscal 2026 that is **¥17,920 a month**. From October 1, 2026, parents in that group **do not have to pay** while raising a child under 1. There is no income test, but you must file a notification. Best of all, those months count as paid. Your future pension is not reduced. Ask the Japan Pension Service or your city office. ##### Shinkansen "Supreme Class" JR Central launched **Supreme Class** on October 1: private compartments on selected Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen trains. Car 7 has cabins for up to two people. Car 10 has one-person cabins. It is not cheap. Tokyo to Shin-Osaka on a Nozomi in regular season costs **¥60,500** one way for the person booking a car 7 cabin, or **¥42,100** for a car 10 cabin (JR Central prices as of June 17, 2026, booked through Express Yoyaku). A companion sharing a car 7 cabin needs their own regular ticket on top. You can only book through Express Yoyaku or smartEX, and only on selected trains. For a normal trip, the regular Green Car is still a very comfortable choice. ##### Property: a new tax on fees for non-residents From October 1, 2026, real estate agent fees charged to **non-residents** for buying, selling or renting property in Japan are subject to consumption tax. Contracts signed by March 31, 2026, keep the old rules. Akiya X explains this and the other autumn changes for buyers in [Japan's October 2026 Property Rules for Foreign Buyers](https://akiyax.com/blog/japan-october-2026-property-rules-foreign-buyers). --- #### Your October checklist - **Part-timers** Find your prefecture's date on the timeline above. Check your first payslip after it. - **Part-timers at bigger employers** If you work 20+ hours a week, expect to join company insurance. Ask HR what changes on your payslip. - **Residents** Watch for a higher power and gas bill for October use. Budget a little more for groceries. - **Visa holders** Check your card's expiry date. Budget for the new fee and consider applying online, which is cheaper. - **Employers** Update pay by each prefecture's date. Check insurance enrolment. Put a customer-harassment policy and contact person in place. - **Visitors** Enjoy your trip. Expect a few yen more for chu-hi and snacks. Be kind to staff. --- #### FAQ ##### What is Tokyo's minimum wage from October 2026? **¥1,280 an hour, from October 1, 2026.** That is up ¥54 from ¥1,226. Kanagawa is ¥1,279 and Osaka is ¥1,231. The national weighted average is ¥1,177. ##### When does the new minimum wage start in my prefecture? It depends on where you work. Fifteen prefectures switched on October 1, including Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi and Hokkaido. The others follow on dates between October 2 and December 2. Okinawa is last. Until your prefecture's date, the old rate still applies. The timeline and table above list every prefecture. ##### Is the ¥1.06 million wall really gone? Yes. From October 1, 2026, the rule that part-timers had to earn ¥88,000 a month (about ¥1.06 million a year) to join company health insurance and pension was abolished. You now join if you work 20+ hours a week, expect to work more than 2 months, are not a day-time student, and your employer has 51 or more employees. ##### Does the change affect students working part-time? Mostly no. Day-time students are still left out of company insurance, as before (night-school and correspondence students can be covered). The minimum wage rise does apply to students, though. ##### How much did the tax on chu-hi go up? The tax on a 350 ml can of chu-hi and other canned cocktails went up from ¥28 to ¥35. The shop price depends on the maker and the store. ##### Is beer cheaper in Japan now? The tax on a 350 ml can of beer fell by ¥9.10, to ¥54.25. Happoshu and "new genre" beers rose to the same ¥54.25. Whether the shop price falls is up to brewers and stores. Many drink makers raised prices this autumn for other reasons. ##### What is kasuhara? *Kasuhara* is short for "customer harassment": abusive behaviour by customers that goes beyond normal complaints. Examples include threats, shouting for a long time, or demanding a kneeling apology. From October 1, 2026, every employer in Japan must have measures to protect staff from it. ##### How much does permanent residency cost in Japan now? ¥200,000, up from ¥10,000, for applications received from October 1, 2026. Visa extensions and changes of status now cost ¥10,000 to ¥75,000 at the counter, depending on how long you are given. --- #### Bottom line October 1, 2026 was mostly about money. Workers get higher pay, but on dates that vary by prefecture. Part-timers lose the income line that made many of them cut their hours. Drinkers see the tax system tidied up, which is good news for beer and bad news for chu-hi. Households lose the summer energy discount just as another wave of food prices lands. And foreign residents now pay far more to renew a visa or apply for permanent residency. There is also a quieter change at the counter. From now on, the person serving you has an employer who is legally required to protect them if a customer crosses the line. Tokyo's minimum wage is now ¥1,280 an hour. But the bigger story is the calendar: only 15 prefectures got their raise on October 1. The last one arrives in December. --- #### Sources and further reading * **Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)** — [Fiscal 2026 regional minimum wages, national list](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11200000/001753404.pdf) (new and old rates and effective dates for all 47 prefectures; weighted average ¥1,177, up ¥56; lowest-to-highest ratio 84.8%); [Announcement of all 47 new rates](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_75950.html) (September 3, 2026: rises of ¥54 to ¥65; second-largest national rise since 1978; ratio improved 12 years in a row); [Minimum wage database, national table](https://saiteichingin.mhlw.go.jp/table/page_list_nationallist.php) * **MHLW** — [Social insurance expansion: who is covered](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/tekiyoukakudai/jugyouin/taisho/) and [Q&A](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/tekiyoukakudai/qa/) (¥88,000 wage test abolished on October 1, 2026; remaining conditions; premium adjustment scheme); [Schedule for removing the employer-size rule](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/12500000/001537487.pdf) * **Japan Pension Service** — [Abolition of the wage requirement for short-time workers](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/oshirase/taisetu/jigyosho/2026/202610/100104.html) (2025 pension reform law; wage test abolished October 1, 2026); [Premium adjustment scheme](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/tekiyoukakudai/jigyonushi/shienseido/); [National Pension premium exemption for parents of children under 1](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/oshirase/taisetu/kojin/2026/202610/100103.html) and [details](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/kokunen/menjo/ikujimenjo.html) * **MHLW** — [Customer harassment and job-seeker sexual harassment: employer duties from October 1, 2026](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/001695577.pdf) * **Ministry of Finance** — [Liquor tax rates](https://www.mof.go.jp/tax_policy/summary/consumption/d08.htm) (beer-type drinks unified at ¥155,000 per kl, or ¥54.25 per 350 ml; other sparkling drinks ¥100,000 per kl, or ¥35 per 350 ml) * **National Tax Agency** — [Leaflet on the October 1, 2026 liquor tax change and stock-on-hand tax](https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/sake/annai/pdf/0026007-082-01.pdf) (beer −¥9.1 a can; happoshu and new genre about +¥7.26; chu-hi +¥7); [Fiscal 2026 tax reform pamphlet](https://www.nta.go.jp/publication/pamph/shohi/kaisei/pdf/r08kaisei.pdf) (consumption tax on brokerage fees for non-residents) * **Teikoku Databank** — [Food price revisions survey, October 2026](https://www.tdb.co.jp/report/economic/20260930-pricepass-on202609/) (published September 30, 2026: 3,153 products in October; 1,399 alcohol and drinks; 820 seasonings; 20,187 in 2026; 1,469 in November) * **Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry** — [Electricity and gas support for July to September 2026](https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2026/06/20260612003/20260612003.html) * **Immigration Services Agency** — [New fees from October 1, 2026](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/01_00644.html) and [English fee poster](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001469199.pdf) * **JR Central** — [Supreme Class](https://railway.jr-central.co.jp/supremeclass/index.html) (launched October 1, 2026; fares as of June 17, 2026) * **Mainichi Shimbun** — [Key changes affecting daily life in Japan take effect in October](https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260930/p2a/00m/0na/021000c) (October 1, 2026) * **Akiya X** (partner) — [The House Is the Cheapest Part: 8 Akiya Pitfalls Foreign Buyers Miss](https://akiyax.com/blog/akiya-pitfalls-foreign-buyers); [Japan's Konbini and Your Akiya](https://akiyax.com/blog/japan-konbini-akiya-livability-map); [Japan's October 2026 Property Rules for Foreign Buyers](https://akiyax.com/blog/japan-october-2026-property-rules-foreign-buyers) * **The Japanist** — [Japan's permanent residency overhaul](/blog/japan-permanent-residency-visa-changes-2026-2027); [Japan's konbini, explained](/blog/japan-konbini-guide-convenience-stores-2026); [Japan's hidden travel costs and taxes](/blog/2026-japan-travel-costs-hidden-taxes-fees) *Method note: Minimum wages are hourly rates set by each prefecture's labour bureau. The national figure is the ministry's weighted average, not a simple average of the 47 rates. "About ¥1,080 more for a 20-hour week" is our calculation (¥54 × 20 hours). Liquor tax figures are taxes per can, not retail prices. Insurance rules have more detail than we can cover here; check with your employer, the Japan Pension Service or your city office for your own case.* --- ## Japan’s Konbini, Explained: What 56,000 Convenience Stores Actually Do—and How to Use One Like a Local URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/japan-konbini-guide-convenience-stores-2026 Published: 2026-10-01 (JST). Category: Travel. *At the end of August 2026 Japan had 56,189 convenience stores, about one for every 2,200 people. Visitors know them for egg sandwiches and midnight onigiri. Residents know them as the place where the tax bill gets paid, the parcel gets sent, the concert ticket gets printed and the cash comes out of the wall. The konbini is arguably the most-used piece of civic infrastructure in Japan that the state does not run. This guide explains what it is, what you can actually do there, how to behave, and why the network has quietly stopped growing.* Every country has corner shops. Japan has something else. The **konbini** (コンビニ, short for *konbiniensu sutoa*) started as an American import in 1974. Fifty years later it works as a food hall, bank branch, post counter, ticket office, print shop and, for residents, a satellite of city hall. In 2025, Japan’s convenience stores recorded **16.34 billion customer visits** ([Japan Franchise Association, 2025 annual summary](https://www.jfa-fc.or.jp/folder/1/img/20260120121124.pdf)). That works out to roughly **44.8 million visits a day**, or the equivalent of more than a third of the country walking through the automatic doors every day (our calculation, using the Statistics Bureau’s September 2026 population estimate of [122.65 million](https://www.stat.go.jp/data/jinsui/new.html)). The Japanist reads the konbini the way we read any national institution: through official numbers first, then through what they mean for someone standing at the counter. Whether you are here for ten days or ten years, knowing what these stores can do will save you time, money and at least one trip to a bank that closes at 3 p.m. --- #### The short answer A konbini is a small, usually 24-hour, franchise-run store selling fresh ready meals, drinks and daily goods. It also handles a remarkable range of services: cash withdrawals, bill and tax payments, parcel shipping, event tickets, printing and, for registered residents, official certificates. Three chains run about 94% of the stores. For visitors the practical headline is simple: **the nearest 7-Eleven is usually the easiest place to withdraw yen with a foreign card**, and almost every other errand you might need has a konbini version. - **56,189 stores** Convenience stores in the JFA survey of seven major chains, end of August 2026 (+0.5% year on year). - **~1 per 2,200 people** Our calculation from the JFA count and a population of 122.65 million (September 2026 estimate). - **¥12.06 trillion** Sales in 2025, from 16.34 billion visits at an average spend of ¥737.9 (JFA). - **1 billion+ payments a year** Utility bills, taxes and online-shopping invoices paid at the counter: about 1.09 billion payments worth about ¥13 trillion in FY2022. - **85.3% of visitors** Share of overseas visitors who shopped at a konbini in 2025, ahead of every other kind of shop (Japan Tourism Agency). ([JFA monthly report, August 2026](https://www.jfa-fc.or.jp/folder/1/img/20260924103509.pdf); [JFA 2025 annual summary](https://www.jfa-fc.or.jp/folder/1/img/20260120121124.pdf); [JFA and Japan Public Affairs Association, Regulatory Reform Council material, October 2024](https://www8.cao.go.jp/kisei-kaikaku/kisei/meeting/wg/2409_01common/241009/common01_document01.pdf); [Japan Tourism Agency, Inbound Consumption Survey 2025](https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/content/002003329.pdf)) --- #### How a corner shop became national infrastructure The first 7-Eleven in Japan opened in **May 1974** in Toyosu, Kōtō Ward, Tokyo. It was a franchise from day one. By the company’s own account, the first thing it sold was a pair of sunglasses, to a man who turned up before opening time. Early stores ran from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., as the name promised. The first **24-hour** 7-Eleven opened in **1975** in Fukushima Prefecture ([Seven-Eleven Japan 50th anniversary archive](https://www.sej.co.jp/50th/archive/reimeiki/index.html)). What turned an American format into a Japanese institution was food. Seven-Eleven Japan says its early wrapped onigiri sold two or three a day before the crisp-seaweed packaging caught on. Counter oden followed in 1979. In the company’s own words, rice balls went from something you made to something you bought. Behind the counter sat a logistics rethink. Before 7-Eleven persuaded suppliers to share trucks, a single store could receive as many as 70 deliveries a day ([same archive](https://www.sej.co.jp/50th/archive/reimeiki/index.html)). Shared delivery, together with sales data from every till, is what lets a small shop stock fresh food several times a day. Then came the services. Paying bills over the counter, known as *shūnō daikō* (収納代行), sounds dull. It is the reason the konbini became part of the state’s plumbing. The industry told the government’s Regulatory Reform Council in 2024 that convenience stores handle **more than a billion payments a year**. It put FY2022 at about **1.09 billion payments worth roughly ¥13 trillion** ([JFA and Japan Public Affairs Association](https://www8.cao.go.jp/kisei-kaikaku/kisei/meeting/wg/2409_01common/241009/common01_document01.pdf)). 7-Eleven alone processed **527 million payments worth ¥6.27 trillion** in the year to February 2026 ([Seven & i Holdings IR](https://www.7andi.com/ir/library/co_financial/2026/convenience_store.html)). The chart shows the other half of the story. From 2005 to 2015 the JFA’s store count rose by about a third, from 39,966 to 53,004. Since 2019 it has barely moved: 55,620 then, **56,189** in August 2026 ([JFA time series, 2005–2016](https://www.jfa-fc.or.jp/folder/1/img/20230120114232.pdf); [2017–2025](https://www.jfa-fc.or.jp/folder/1/img/20260120121230.pdf)). Japan did not stop needing konbini. It ran out of places to put new ones. --- #### The big three, and why the chain matters Most visitors assume one konbini is as good as another. For snacks, that is broadly true. For services it is not, because each chain has its own ATM network, parcel partner and in-store kiosk. At the end of February 2026, **7-Eleven** had 21,927 domestic stores, **FamilyMart** 16,415 and **Lawson** 14,697. Every other chain combined had 3,110 ([Seven & i Holdings IR, citing JFA and company data](https://www.7andi.com/ir/library/co_financial/2026/convenience_store.html)). The smaller members of the JFA survey are Ministop, Seicomart, Daily Yamazaki and Poplar ([JFA](https://www.jfa-fc.or.jp/folder/1/img/20260924103509.pdf)). You will meet Seicomart mostly in Hokkaido. What the chain decides for you: | | 7-Eleven | FamilyMart | Lawson | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **ATM** | Seven Bank; accepts many foreign-issued cards | Seven Bank “Famima ATM” rolling out since June 2026 | Lawson Bank; some machines accept foreign cards | | **Parcels** | Yamato (Kuroneko) | Yamato (Kuroneko) | Japan Post Yu-Pack; post box and stamps | | **Kiosk / copier** | Multi-copy machine | Multi-copy machine | Loppi terminal + multi-copy machine | (Sources: [Seven Bank](https://www.sevenbank.co.jp/intlcard/index2.html); [FamilyMart, 1 June 2026](https://www.family.co.jp/company/news_releases/2026/20260601_01.html); [Lawson Bank FAQ](https://faq.lawsonbank.jp/faq/show/350?site_domain=default); [Yamato Transport FAQ](https://faq.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/app/answers/detail/a_id/3064/); [Lawson Yu-Pack service](https://www.lawson.co.jp/service/shipment/yupack/); [National Tax Agency](https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/nozei/nofu/conveni_qr_nofu/)) --- #### What you can actually do at a konbini *Figure: The counter, the copier and the ATM: most of a konbini’s public role happens within three metres of the till.* ##### For visitors - **Withdraw yen with a foreign card** Seven Bank had **28,689 ATMs** at the end of August 2026, mostly inside 7-Eleven stores. It says they accept many foreign-issued cards around the clock, though some cards with the right logos still fail. Since **1 June 2026**, Seven Bank machines branded “Famima ATM” have been going into FamilyMart stores, starting in Tokyo and Saitama. About 16,000 are planned over roughly four years, and they also take foreign cards. Some Lawson Bank ATMs accept overseas Visa, Mastercard, JCB and UnionPay cards. - **Eat well, cheaply, at any hour** Onigiri, bento, sandwiches, noodles, salads, hot counter snacks and coffee. In August 2026, daily fresh food such as rice, bread, prepared dishes and dairy made up **35.3%** of existing-store sales, the largest category. - **Store a suitcase** Some 7-Eleven stores take bags, including suitcases too big for coin lockers, through the ecbo cloak booking app. You reserve and pay in advance. - **Buy or collect tickets** 7-Eleven’s multi-copy machines print tickets from Seven Ticket, Ticket Pia and e+. Lawson’s Loppi terminals handle Tokyo Disney Resort, highway-bus and leisure tickets, among others. - **Print, scan, copy** At 7-Eleven, A4 printing from your phone costs **¥20 in black and white and ¥50 in colour**. ID-photo prints cost ¥250 but are not suitable for passport applications. - **Change leftover foreign cash** Some Lawson stores have automatic exchange machines that turn 12 to 14 major currencies into yen, one way only. ([Seven Bank August 2026 data](https://www2.jpx.co.jp/disc/84100/140120260901530069.pdf); [Seven Bank foreign cards](https://www.sevenbank.co.jp/intlcard/index2.html); [FamilyMart](https://www.family.co.jp/company/news_releases/2026/20260601_01.html); [ITmedia NEWS](https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/article/2606/01/1260601084/); [Lawson Bank](https://faq.lawsonbank.jp/faq/show/350?site_domain=default); [JFA August 2026](https://www.jfa-fc.or.jp/folder/1/img/20260924103509.pdf); [7-Eleven luggage storage](https://www.sej.co.jp/services/cloak.html); [7-Eleven tickets](https://www.sej.co.jp/services/tickets.html); [Lawson Loppi](https://www.lawson.co.jp/service/loppi/); [7-Eleven printing](https://www.sej.co.jp/services/print.html); [Lawson currency exchange](https://www.lawson.co.jp/service/finance/currency_exchange/index.html)) ##### For residents This is where the konbini stops being a shop and becomes a public counter. - **Pay utility bills and local taxes** Most payment slips with a barcode can be paid at the till: electricity, gas, water, phone, online-shopping invoices, and many municipalities’ resident, property and car taxes. Check the slip for its konbini deadline. - **Pay National Pension premiums** The Japan Pension Service accepts premiums at 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, Ministop, Seicomart, Daily Yamazaki, Poplar and others, with **no fee**. The FY2026 monthly premium is ¥17,920. A slip over **¥300,000** cannot be paid at a konbini. - **Pay national taxes by QR code** Make a QR code on the National Tax Agency website and scan it at a Loppi terminal (Lawson, Natural Lawson, Ministop) or a FamilyMart multi-copy machine. It works up to **¥300,000**, in **cash only**, and you get a payment receipt rather than an official tax receipt. - **Print official certificates** With a My Number Card, or a smartphone with its certificate loaded, you can print a residence certificate (住民票) and other documents at the copier, if your municipality takes part. As of April 2025, 1,378 of 1,741 municipalities did, covering **97.8%** of the population. Konbini printed **35.7 million** certificates in FY2024. - **Send and receive parcels** Yamato parcels go from 7-Eleven and FamilyMart, and Yu-Pack from Lawson. Yamato’s refrigerated (cool) parcels cannot be sent from a konbini. Many online shops let you pick up at a store. ([Japan Pension Service](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/kokunen/hokenryo/nofusho.html); [National Tax Agency](https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/nozei/nofu/conveni_qr_nofu/); [J-LIS konbini certificates](https://www.lg-waps.go.jp/01-02.html); [Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, May 2025](https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/001011847.pdf); [Yamato Transport](https://faq.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/app/answers/detail/a_id/3064/); [Lawson Yu-Pack](https://www.lawson.co.jp/service/shipment/yupack/)) One habit matters more than any single service. **Keep the stub the clerk hands back.** It is your proof of payment, and it can take time for a konbini payment to reach the city’s or pension office’s records. For long-term residents, those stubs are more than housekeeping. Japan’s [permanent residency rules](/blog/japan-permanent-residency-visa-changes-2026-2027) now weigh on-time tax, pension and health-insurance payments heavily, and a shoebox of receipts can settle a question that a missing record cannot. --- #### Konbini etiquette: the unwritten rules *Figure: The food is the reason most people come in. In August 2026, daily fresh food was the largest share of existing-store sales.* Konbini staff are fast, polite and trained to a script. You will move through smoothly if you know the other half of that script. - **Queue once, then step up** There is usually one line for all tills. Wait to be called with *“Tsugi no kata, dōzo”* (next, please). - **Use the tray** Put cash in the small tray on the counter rather than handing it over. Change comes back the same way, often with the notes counted out in front of you. - **Answer the three questions** *Atatamemasu ka?* (shall I heat it?), *Ohashi / supūn wa?* (chopsticks or a spoon?) and *Fukuro wa?* (do you need a bag?). A nod or *“Daijōbu desu”* (I’m fine) covers most answers. - **Bags cost money** Plastic shopping bags have carried a charge across Japan since **1 July 2020**. Each shop sets its own price. Bring your own if you can. - **Say if you will eat in** Eating in the store’s eat-in area is taxed as dining out at **10%**. Take-out food is taxed at **8%**, so staff rely on you to say which. A Cabinet-approved outline would cut the tax on food to **1% from April 2027 to March 2029** if the Diet passes it. Dining out stays at 10%, so the gap would widen to nine points. - **ID for alcohol and tobacco** The drinking and smoking age is still **20**, even though adulthood moved to 18 in 2022. Expect to tap an age-confirmation screen, and to be asked for ID if you look young. - **Bins are for what you bought** The bins by the door are for rubbish from the store’s own products, not for household waste. - **Ask before using the toilet** Many stores let customers use the toilet. Ask first, and buy something as a courtesy. ([METI, plastic bag charge](https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/recycle/plasticbag/plasticbag_top.html); [National Tax Agency, reduced-rate Q&A on konbini eat-in (Q52)](https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/shiraberu/zeimokubetsu/shohi/keigenzeiritsu/pdf/qa/03-05.pdf); [National Tax Agency, planned two-year cut to the tax on food](https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/shiraberu/zeimokubetsu/shohi/keigenzeiritsu/zeiritsuhikisage.htm); [Government of Japan, age of majority](https://www.gov-online.go.jp/article/201808/entry-7947.html)) A softer rule: many Japanese people avoid eating while walking along a busy street. Standing just outside the door with your coffee is normal. Wandering through a shrine with an open cup of noodles is not. The konbini asks almost nothing of you: say whether you want it heated, whether you need a bag, and whether you will eat it here. Everything else is already done. --- #### More than a shop: disasters and neighbourhood safety On **1 July 2017** the Cabinet Office named Seven-Eleven Japan, Lawson and FamilyMart **designated public institutions** (指定公共機関) under the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act. Seven & i Holdings, Ito-Yokado, AEON and UNY were named at the same time ([Cabinet Office](https://www.bousai.go.jp/kohou/oshirase/pdf/20170627_01kisya.pdf)). That puts the chains in the same legal category as utilities and broadcasters. They must make disaster plans and help deliver relief supplies when the government asks. After a disaster, in other words, the chains are part of the official supply chain, not bystanders to it. Our [earthquake guide](/blog/japan-earthquakes-complete-guide-visitors-residents) covers what to do in the first minutes. The konbini is often where the next few days get organised. On an ordinary night, stores work as **Safety Stations** under a JFA programme. In the 2025 survey, stores reported sheltering women more than **4,780** times and children more than **3,643** times. They helped older people, for example someone wandering or taken ill, more than **16,862** times. And they stopped special fraud more than **20,302** times, most often when a clerk questioned someone buying a suspiciously large amount of prepaid e-money ([JFA Safety Station report, 2025 edition](https://ss.jfa-fc.or.jp/folder/top/img/n_20260501144951em7fqhr663fhz6rf.pdf)). --- #### The network has stopped growing, and it is changing shape The bright, always-open image hides an industry under strain. Four trends are worth knowing. **1. Fewer visits, bigger baskets.** Customer visits peaked in 2019 at 17.46 billion. In 2025 they were **6.4% lower**, and they fell year on year again in August 2026. Sales still hit a record because the average spend per visit climbed from ¥639 in 2019 to **¥738** in 2025, and **¥763** in August 2026 ([JFA](https://www.jfa-fc.or.jp/folder/1/img/20260120121230.pdf)). **2. The building boom is over.** 7-Eleven opened **1,651** stores in FY2015 and **540** in FY2025, while closing 370 ([Seven & i Holdings IR](https://www.7andi.com/ir/library/co_financial/2026/convenience_store.html)). Stores still open, close and relocate all the time. What has changed is the net growth. **3. The 24-hour model is no longer sacred.** In February 2019, a 7-Eleven franchise owner in Higashi-Osaka cut his store’s night hours because he could not staff them. His standoff with head office became a national argument about whether every store must stay open all night ([Nikkei](https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO41571240R20C19A2TJ3000/)). A METI survey of franchise owners published that March found about **61%** said they were short of staff ([Ryutsu News, summarising METI](https://www.ryutsuu.biz/government/l032647.html)). Most stores still never close, though. **86.4%** of Lawson’s domestic stores were open 24 hours in February 2026, and **89.7%** of FamilyMart’s in May 2025 ([Lawson](https://www.lawson.co.jp/company/ir/library/pdf/tanshin/eigyou_2025_q4.pdf); [FamilyMart](https://www.family.co.jp/content/dam/family/company/familymart/overview/250709_eigyogaikyo.pdf)). So “open 24/7” is a very good bet, not a guarantee. Check the store page before a 3 a.m. errand in a small town. **4. Labour, machines and money.** The industry has asked since 2018 for convenience-store work to be added to the Specified Skilled Worker visa ([Mainichi](https://mainichi.jp/articles/20180915/k00/00m/020/193000c); [JFA material to the Regulatory Reform Council](https://www8.cao.go.jp/kisei-kaikaku/kisei/meeting/wg/2210_02human/221124/human04_010402.pdf)). It is still not one of the 19 fields confirmed in January 2026 ([Immigration Services Agency](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/03_00169.html)). Chains are turning to self-checkout and staff-light formats instead. FamilyMart, for example, offers gated stores where customers pick items and pay at a screen without meeting a clerk ([FamilyMart](https://www.family.co.jp/company/cashlesscv.html)). Ownership is shifting too. Alimentation Couche-Tard dropped its roughly $46 billion bid for 7-Eleven’s parent, Seven & i, in July 2025 ([Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/couche-tard-withdraws-47-billion-takeover-offer-seven-i-2025-07-16/)). The Famima ATM deal now links FamilyMart to Seven Bank. Sankei reports that Seven Bank expects to pass Japan Post Bank as the country’s largest ATM operator once the rollout is complete ([Sankei](https://www.sankei.com/article/20260601-7HSCEDJRVVKGXGNLN6LFPLNPVE/)). For a visitor, none of this changes tonight’s dinner. For a resident, it explains why a favourite store might shorten its hours, why so many clerks in the cities are international students (a reliance the industry itself describes in its visa lobbying), and why the ATM in the FamilyMart down the road may suddenly turn green. --- #### Rural Japan: when the nearest konbini is a drive away *Figure: In much of rural Japan the konbini is the one lit building on the main road after dark, and sometimes the only place to pay a bill before the deadline.* About one store for every 2,200 people is a national average, and averages hide geography. Stores cluster where people are. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has estimated how large a municipality must be before it is more likely than not to have **even one** convenience store. Outside the three big metropolitan areas, that point is around **2,200 residents** ([MLIT data on regional living areas](https://www.mlit.go.jp/policy/shingikai/content/001389684.pdf)). In 2015, **7%** of those municipalities were smaller than that. On population projections, MLIT expects **20%** to be smaller by 2050 ([MLIT White Paper 2021](https://www.mlit.go.jp/hakusyo/mlit/r02/hakusho/r03/html/n1213000.html)). That is a forecast about population, not about store closures, but the direction is clear. Distance matters as much as population. The agriculture ministry’s research institute counts older people as having poor food access if they live **500 metres or more** from a food shop (convenience stores included) and find it hard to use a car. It estimated **9.04 million** people aged 65 and over were in that position in 2020, a quarter of that age group ([MAFF Policy Research Institute](https://www.maff.go.jp/primaff/seika/pickup/pu24/24_03.html)). In those places the konbini is not a convenience. It is the nearest ATM, the nearest parcel desk and the nearest place to pay the water bill. **If you are thinking of living in rural Japan**, that makes the nearest konbini a surprisingly useful test of a place. Our sister site Akiya X, which lists rural vacant homes, has published a practical guide: [Japan’s Konbini and Your Akiya: Why the Nearest Convenience Store Matters](https://akiyax.com/blog/japan-konbini-akiya-livability-map). It covers how to check the real distance from a listing, which chain decides your ATM and parcel options, what owners who live abroad can and cannot do at the counter, and how to read a recent closure. It pairs well with our own look at [Japan’s akiya opportunity](/blog/navigating-japans-akiya-opportunity-akiyax). --- #### A konbini checklist for your first week - **Find your 7-Eleven** Note the nearest one to your hotel or flat for foreign-card cash. Treat FamilyMart’s new green Famima ATMs and some Lawson Bank machines as backups, and carry a second card. - **Carry a bag and small coins** Plastic bags cost extra, and coins speed things up at the tray. - **Use the kiosk for tickets** Concert, theme-park and bus tickets bought online can often be collected or paid for at the copier or Loppi. - **Travel lighter** Book ecbo cloak storage at a participating 7-Eleven, or send a bag onward by takkyūbin from 7-Eleven or FamilyMart. - **Residents: keep every stub** Tax, pension and utility receipts are your proof of payment. They matter more than ever for visa renewals and permanent residency. - **Outside the cities, plan ahead** Do not assume the next town has a 24-hour store. Check hours, and top up cash where you can. --- #### FAQ ##### How many convenience stores are there in Japan? The Japan Franchise Association counted **56,189** at the end of August 2026 across the seven major chains in its survey, about one for every 2,200 people. At the end of February 2026, 7-Eleven had 21,927 domestic stores, FamilyMart 16,415 and Lawson 14,697. ##### Can I withdraw cash with a foreign card at a Japanese convenience store? Usually, yes. Seven Bank ATMs, found in 7-Eleven stores (28,689 machines at the end of August 2026), accept many foreign-issued cards, though not every card works. Seven Bank machines branded Famima ATM have been going into FamilyMart stores since 1 June 2026, and some Lawson Bank ATMs accept overseas Visa, Mastercard, JCB and UnionPay cards. ##### Are Japanese convenience stores open 24 hours? Most are, but not all. 86.4% of Lawson’s domestic stores (February 2026) and 89.7% of FamilyMart’s (May 2025) were open 24 hours. Check the chain’s store page before a late-night trip, especially outside the big cities. ##### Can you pay bills and taxes at a konbini? Yes. Barcoded slips for utilities, many local taxes and National Pension premiums can be paid at the counter, generally up to ¥300,000 per slip. National taxes can be paid at Lawson, Ministop and FamilyMart with a QR code from the National Tax Agency, in cash only and up to ¥300,000. ##### Is it OK to eat inside a Japanese convenience store? Only in the eat-in area, if the store has one. Tell the clerk you will eat in: eat-in food is taxed at 10% and take-out at 8%. Under a plan approved by the Cabinet in September 2026, take-out food would drop to 1% from April 2027 to March 2029 if the Diet passes it, while dining out would stay at 10%. ##### Are there convenience stores in rural Japan? In most places, yes, but coverage thins with population. MLIT estimates that outside the big metropolitan areas a municipality needs roughly 2,200 residents before it is more likely than not to have a store. If you are considering a home in the countryside, Akiya X’s [nearest-konbini guide](https://akiyax.com/blog/japan-konbini-akiya-livability-map) explains how to check. ##### Can I send luggage or parcels from a konbini? Yes. Yamato (Kuroneko) parcels can be sent from 7-Eleven and FamilyMart, and Japan Post Yu-Pack from Lawson. Yamato’s refrigerated (cool) parcels cannot be sent from a convenience store, and size limits apply. --- #### Bottom line Japan’s 56,189 convenience stores are the country’s most visited public counters, even though none of them is public. They feed people at 3 a.m., dispense yen to foreign cards, take more than a billion bill payments a year, print residence certificates and ship parcels. By law, the largest chains are part of the disaster response. For visitors, one well-chosen stop can solve the cash, ticket and bag problems of a whole trip. For residents, the counter is where much of the paperwork of life in Japan gets done. The network is also at a turning point. The store count has flattened, visits are below their 2019 peak, the night shift is harder to staff, and the countryside is thinning out faster than any chain can follow. The konbini will stay. Whether it stays everywhere is the more interesting question. Japan built a convenience store for every 2,200 people. The next decade decides whether that math still works in the towns that need one most. --- #### Sources and further reading * **Japan Franchise Association (JFA)** — [Convenience store statistics, August 2026 monthly report](https://www.jfa-fc.or.jp/folder/1/img/20260924103509.pdf) (published 24 September 2026: 56,189 stores; 1.41 billion visits, −1.5%; average spend ¥762.6; daily fresh food 35.3% of existing-store sales); [2025 annual summary](https://www.jfa-fc.or.jp/folder/1/img/20260120121124.pdf) (¥12.058 trillion sales; 16.34 billion visits; ¥737.9 average spend; 56,054 stores at end-2025); time series [2005–2016](https://www.jfa-fc.or.jp/folder/1/img/20230120114232.pdf) and [2017–2025](https://www.jfa-fc.or.jp/folder/1/img/20260120121230.pdf) (December store counts; annual visits and average spend); [statistics index](https://www.jfa-fc.or.jp/particle/320.html) * **Seven & i Holdings IR** — [Domestic convenience store data, FY2025](https://www.7andi.com/ir/library/co_financial/2026/convenience_store.html) (store counts by chain at end-February 2026; 7-Eleven openings and closures, FY2015–FY2025; 527.06 million bill payments worth ¥6.27 trillion) * **Seven-Eleven Japan** — [50th anniversary archive](https://www.sej.co.jp/50th/archive/reimeiki/index.html) (first store May 1974, Toyosu; first 24-hour store 1975, Fukushima; onigiri and oden history); [printing](https://www.sej.co.jp/services/print.html); [tickets](https://www.sej.co.jp/services/tickets.html); [luggage storage](https://www.sej.co.jp/services/cloak.html) * **JFA and Japan Public Affairs Association** — [Konbini bill collection, Regulatory Reform Council material](https://www8.cao.go.jp/kisei-kaikaku/kisei/meeting/wg/2409_01common/241009/common01_document01.pdf) (9 October 2024: more than 1 billion payments a year; about 1.09 billion worth about ¥13 trillion in FY2022) * **Statistics Bureau of Japan** — [Population estimates](https://www.stat.go.jp/data/jinsui/new.html) (24 September 2026: 122.65 million, September 2026 provisional) * **Japan Tourism Agency** — [Inbound Consumption Survey, 2025 annual report](https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/content/002003329.pdf) (85.3% of visitors shopped at a convenience store) * **Seven Bank** — [August 2026 monthly data](https://www2.jpx.co.jp/disc/84100/140120260901530069.pdf) (28,689 ATMs); [foreign-issued cards](https://www.sevenbank.co.jp/intlcard/index2.html) * **FamilyMart** — [Famima ATM launch, 1 June 2026](https://www.family.co.jp/company/news_releases/2026/20260601_01.html) (about 16,000 ATMs over roughly four years); [Q1 FY2025 operating overview](https://www.family.co.jp/content/dam/family/company/familymart/overview/250709_eigyogaikyo.pdf) (89.7% of stores open 24 hours, May 2025); [store counts](https://www.family.co.jp/company/familymart/store.html); **ITmedia NEWS** — [Famima ATM features](https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/article/2606/01/1260601084/) (foreign-card withdrawals); **Sankei Shimbun** — [Famima ATM launch](https://www.sankei.com/article/20260601-7HSCEDJRVVKGXGNLN6LFPLNPVE/) * **Lawson** — [Q4 FY2025 operating overview](https://www.lawson.co.jp/company/ir/library/pdf/tanshin/eigyou_2025_q4.pdf) (12,693 of 14,697 domestic stores open 24 hours); [Yu-Pack](https://www.lawson.co.jp/service/shipment/yupack/); [Loppi services](https://www.lawson.co.jp/service/loppi/); [currency exchange machines](https://www.lawson.co.jp/service/finance/currency_exchange/index.html); **Lawson Bank** — [overseas cards FAQ](https://faq.lawsonbank.jp/faq/show/350?site_domain=default) * **Yamato Transport** — [Sending parcels from convenience stores](https://faq.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/app/answers/detail/a_id/3064/) * **Japan Pension Service** — [Paying National Pension premiums by slip](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/kokunen/hokenryo/nofusho.html) (konbini list; no fee; ¥300,000 limit; FY2026 monthly premium ¥17,920) * **National Tax Agency** — [Konbini payment by QR code](https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/nozei/nofu/conveni_qr_nofu/); [Reduced-rate Q&A, Q52 (konbini eat-in)](https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/shiraberu/zeimokubetsu/shohi/keigenzeiritsu/pdf/qa/03-05.pdf); [Planned two-year cut to the tax on food](https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/shiraberu/zeimokubetsu/shohi/keigenzeiritsu/zeiritsuhikisage.htm) (1% from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029, subject to legislation) * **J-LIS** — [Konbini certificate issuance](https://www.lg-waps.go.jp/01-02.html); **Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications** — [Working group material, May 2025](https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/001011847.pdf) (1,378 of 1,741 municipalities; 97.8% population coverage; 35.7 million certificates in FY2024) * **Cabinet Office (Disaster Management)** — [Additional designated public institutions](https://www.bousai.go.jp/kohou/oshirase/pdf/20170627_01kisya.pdf) (27 June 2017, effective 1 July 2017) * **JFA** — [Safety Station survey report, 2025 edition](https://ss.jfa-fc.or.jp/folder/top/img/n_20260501144951em7fqhr663fhz6rf.pdf) * **METI** — [Plastic shopping bag charge from 1 July 2020](https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/recycle/plasticbag/plasticbag_top.html); **Ryutsu News** — [METI franchise owner survey: 61% short of staff](https://www.ryutsuu.biz/government/l032647.html) (26 March 2019); **Nikkei** — [7-Eleven 24-hour dispute](https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO41571240R20C19A2TJ3000/) (February 2019) * **Immigration Services Agency** — [Specified Skilled Worker field policies](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/03_00169.html) (19 fields, 23 January 2026); **Mainichi Shimbun** — [Industry asks for konbini to be added](https://mainichi.jp/articles/20180915/k00/00m/020/193000c) (2018); **JFA** — [Material to the Regulatory Reform Council](https://www8.cao.go.jp/kisei-kaikaku/kisei/meeting/wg/2210_02human/221124/human04_010402.pdf) * **Reuters** — [Couche-Tard withdraws Seven & i bid](https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/couche-tard-withdraws-47-billion-takeover-offer-seven-i-2025-07-16/) (July 2025) * **MLIT** — [Data on regional living areas](https://www.mlit.go.jp/policy/shingikai/content/001389684.pdf) (store-presence probability by municipal population); [White Paper 2021](https://www.mlit.go.jp/hakusyo/mlit/r02/hakusho/r03/html/n1213000.html) (7% in 2015 to 20% in 2050); **MAFF Policy Research Institute** — [2020 food-access estimate](https://www.maff.go.jp/primaff/seika/pickup/pu24/24_03.html) (9.04 million) * **Government of Japan** — [Age of majority and what stays at 20](https://www.gov-online.go.jp/article/201808/entry-7947.html) * **Akiya X** — [Japan’s Konbini and Your Akiya: Why the Nearest Convenience Store Matters](https://akiyax.com/blog/japan-konbini-akiya-livability-map) (for readers considering a home in rural Japan) * **The Japanist** — [Earthquakes in Japan](/blog/japan-earthquakes-complete-guide-visitors-residents); [Japan’s permanent residency overhaul](/blog/japan-permanent-residency-visa-changes-2026-2027); [Navigating Japan’s akiya opportunity](/blog/navigating-japans-akiya-opportunity-akiyax) *Method note: Store, sales, visit and spend figures are JFA survey totals for its member chains (seven today; the membership was larger in earlier years, so read the long-run trend as indicative). Chain counts come from Seven & i Holdings’ compilation at the end of February 2026, which is a different month from the JFA’s August 2026 total. “About one store per 2,200 people” and “44.8 million visits a day” are our calculations. Services, fees and limits vary by chain, store and municipality, so check with the chain or your city hall before relying on one.* --- ## Japan’s Centenarians Top 100,000 for the First Time—What the Numbers Actually Say URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/japan-centenarians-100000-mhlw-2026 Published: 2026-09-24 (JST). Category: Culture. *On 15 September 2026—老人の日 under Japan’s Elderly Welfare Act—the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare confirmed what the annual series had been approaching for years: 107,677 people aged 100 or older, the first time the stock has cleared 100,000 since counting began in 1963. The milestone is real. So is the shape of the society that produced it.* Japan’s demographic story is usually told with births and deaths. [The Year the Lines Crossed](/blog/japan-population-crossing-births-deaths) walks that ledger through 2025: more deaths than births, a fertility rate that no longer replaces the population, and a marriage count that still decides almost every birth. [The IPSS marriage survey](/blog/japan-marriage-intentions-ipss-survey-2026) asks whether the next adult cohorts still want the institution those births run through. This article sits on the other end of the same arc—the people who have already lived a century inside that system. On **15 September 2026**, MHLW released its Reiwa 8 materials for **百歳高齢者表彰**—congratulatory letters from the Prime Minister and silver cups for people who turn 100 in the fiscal year and are alive on 老人の日. The accompanying stock count, drawn from Basic Resident Register reports from prefectures, designated cities, and core cities (as of **1 September 2026**; ages as of **15 September**), is the number English headlines led with: **107,677**. This piece reads that release the Japanist way: for what MHLW measured, what the calendar words mean, where the geography concentrates, and what English readers should not invent on top of the tables. --- #### The number that cleared six figures **107,677** people aged 100 or older. That is **+7,914** versus Reiwa 7’s **99,763**—the first crossing of 100,000 since the series began in **1963**. Kyodo and ministry framing treat the rise as the **56th consecutive annual increase** from **1970** onward. The MHLW press materials themselves mark the climb in plain Japanese: **153** when the Elderly Welfare Act era began (昭和38), past roughly **1,000** in 昭和56 (**~1,072** in 1981), **10,158** in 平成10 (1998), **51,376** in 平成24 (2012), and now **107,677** in 令和8. - **Stock count** 107,677 people aged 100+ (as of 1 Sep 2026; ages as of 15 Sep). Overseas Japanese residents are excluded from this stock. - **Year-on-year** +7,914 from Reiwa 7’s 99,763 — first time over 100,000 since 1963. - **Sex split** Men 13,379; women 94,298 (87.6%). - **表彰 recipients** 54,294 people turning 100 this fiscal year and alive on 老人の日 (+1,984) — PM letter + silver cup. - **Rate** 87.51 centenarians per 100,000 people nationally. That is longevity success on a scale Japan’s own series could not have imagined in 1963. It is also a demographic shape: a country that keeps more people alive to 100 while births and marriages tell a different story about the decades ahead. ([MHLW press page](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/houdou/newpage_002341.html); [MHLW PDF 001750292](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/12304250/001750292.pdf)) --- #### 老人の日 is not 敬老の日 English coverage often collapses September’s elder-honouring language into one “Respect for the Aged” blur. The statute does not. **老人の日** (Rōjin no Hi) falls on **15 September** under the **Elderly Welfare Act** (老人福祉法). MHLW’s centenarian congratulations are timed to that day: recipients are people who reach (or are expected to reach) 100 in the fiscal year and are alive on 老人の日. The purpose language in the Act is about deepening public understanding of elder welfare and encouraging older people themselves toward fuller lives—not about a national holiday travel surge. **敬老の日** (Keirō no Hi, Respect for the Aged Day) is a **national holiday** on the **third Monday of September**—in 2026, **21 September**, inside [Silver Week](/blog/japan-silver-week-2026-what-it-is). Its Cabinet Office purpose centres on honouring elders who have contributed to society and celebrating longevity. Families visit; municipalities hold ceremonies; trains fill for hometown trips. Same month. Same cultural register of respect. **Different legal hooks, different dates, different logistics.** If you are planning travel around “Respect for the Aged,” you want 敬老の日 and Silver Week. If you are reading the centenarian stock release, you want 老人の日 on the 15th. --- #### Women, letters, and silver cups Of the **107,677** people aged 100+, **94,298** are women (**87.6%**) and **13,379** are men. That skew is not new in the MHLW series; it is the durable texture of Japan’s extreme longevity. *Figure: Everyday mobility—errands, neighbourhood streets, ordinary pace—is the texture behind the stock count, not a claim that every centenarian lives independently.* Separately, **FY2026 百歳高齢者表彰** covers **54,294** people (+**1,984** from the prior year): those turning 100 this fiscal year who are alive on 老人の日. Domestic recipients are **54,231**; overseas Japanese add **63**. Congratulatory content is a **Prime Minister’s letter** plus a **silver cup**, handed through prefectural governors and mayors of designated and core cities (and through the Foreign Ministry for overseas recipients). Life expectancy context from the same MHLW packet cites the **令和7年簡易生命表**: women **87.33**, men **81.35** (shown on the Reiwa 7 row; Reiwa 8 life-expectancy cells are blank in the published table). Centenarian counts and period life expectancy are related stories, not the same number—one is a stock of people who already reached 100; the other is a summary of mortality rates in a given year. --- #### Where the rates pile up—and where the counts do Nationally there are **87.51** people aged 100+ per **100,000** population. The population base in MHLW’s table is **123,050 thousand**, from the Somusho **2025 census flash** published **29 May 2026**. **Highest rates:** Shimane **186.65**, Kōchi **169.52**, Tottori **152.48**, Kagoshima **148.31**, Nagano **146.85**. **Lowest rates:** Saitama **51.27**, Aichi **57.79**, Osaka **60.06**, Tokyo **62.40**, Chiba **62.89**. *Figure: Shimane’s rate lead is a per-capita story—rural age structure, not a claim that every valley produces a secret longevity diet.* [Jiji](https://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2026091500644) notes that Shimane’s top rate is the prefecture’s **14th consecutive year** in that position—worth citing for the streak, attributed to Jiji rather than invented as an MHLW table footnote. **Absolute counts** tell a different map. Leaders: Tokyo **8,890**; Kanagawa **5,943**; Hokkaido **5,433**; Osaka **5,264**; Fukuoka **4,632**. Big prefectures hold more centenarians because they hold more people. Rate and count are both true; neither cancels the other. --- #### How the count is built The stock figure is not a census field trip and not a media estimate. MHLW aggregates **Basic Resident Register** reports from **prefectures, designated cities, and core cities**, with a snapshot date of **1 September 2026** and ages computed as of **15 September 2026** (老人の日). Overseas Japanese residents are **out of the 100+ stock**. The 表彰 list is a different object: fiscal-year turners who are alive on that day, including a small overseas cohort. That methodology note matters when English headlines say “Japan has 100,000 centenarians.” They mean: registered residents inside Japan, reported up through the municipal–prefectural chain MHLW uses for this series—not every Japanese national worldwide, and not a living-conditions survey of how many of those 107,677 still drive, farm, or live alone. The population denominator for rates is likewise explicit in the packet: **123,050 thousand** from the Somusho **2025 census flash** (published **29 May 2026**). Rates move when either the numerator (centenarians) or the denominator (prefectural population) moves. Depopulating rural prefectures can look “older” on a per-100,000 basis even when absolute counts are modest—which is exactly why Shimane can lead the rate table while Tokyo leads the headcount. --- #### Absolute leaders vs rate leaders If you only remember one geographic sentence from this release, make it two: 1. **Rate leaders** cluster in the Sea of Japan / western rural belt and a few long-lived prefecture brands: Shimane, Kōchi, Tottori, Kagoshima, Nagano. 2. **Count leaders** are Japan’s demographic heavyweights: Tokyo, Kanagawa, Hokkaido, Osaka, Fukuoka. | Rank (count) | Prefecture | People 100+ | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Tokyo | 8,890 | | 2 | Kanagawa | 5,943 | | 3 | Hokkaido | 5,433 | | 4 | Osaka | 5,264 | | 5 | Fukuoka | 4,632 | Tokyo’s **8,890** centenarians at a rate of only **62.40** per 100,000 is not a contradiction. It is arithmetic: a huge, relatively young metro still holds more hundred-year-olds in raw numbers than a small, aged prefecture—while the *share* of the local population that has reached 100 is far higher in Shimane’s **186.65**. Travel and culture writing that treats “oldest Japan” as a single prefecture pin usually collapses those two maps. Keep them apart. --- #### The oldest faces in the release MHLW’s packet names the domestic oldest woman and oldest man, with brief facility notes from their municipalities. No invented quotes—only what the ministry materials report. - **Oldest woman:** 岸本ふよ (**Fuyo Kishimoto**), **114**, Kyoto (born **20 December 1911**). Domestic oldest since **27 August 2026**. Living in a Kyoto facility; meals partly in her room and lunch in the living room with other residents; reported to finish meals and, on good days, to reply with thanks. - **Oldest man:** 加藤光 (**Hikaru Kato**), **112**, Kumamoto (born **2 May 1914**). Japan’s oldest man since **8 February 2026**. Living calmly in a facility; manages much of his daily care himself; enjoys family visits twice a week; continues room exercises. These sketches humanise the stock without turning the article into a longevity-influencer story. The policy object remains the 107,677 and the care system around them. --- #### Longevity success, care demand, and what not to claim Celebrate the milestone without cheerleading. Japan did something historically rare: it kept enough people alive, for long enough, that a six-figure centenarian stock became a statistical fact rather than a curiosity. Hold the other side of the ledger in the same frame. More people at 100 means more people who may need nursing, medical, and family care—sometimes for years. That demand is qualitative and obvious from the age structure; this article does **not** invent long-term care insurance yen figures the MHLW centenarian release does not provide. For the births-and-deaths side of the same society, see [The Year the Lines Crossed](/blog/japan-population-crossing-births-deaths); for whether younger adults still intend to form the households that once supplied informal care, see the [IPSS marriage survey](/blog/japan-marriage-intentions-ipss-survey-2026). Residents and long-term visitors feel that texture in ordinary ways: more wheelchair space on local buses, fuller day-service vans in the morning, municipal *keirō* ceremonies that have more names to read, and family calendars that stretch across prefectures when the person being honoured is 100 rather than 70. None of that requires a fabricated insurance price tag to be true. Health minister **Kenichiro Ueno**, quoted by Jiji, said he was pleased that so many people have been active for a long time, and that a longer health span supporting society is significant. Soft cite; not this article’s thesis. The thesis is simpler: the official series crossed 100,000, women still dominate the stock, rates cluster in older rural prefectures while counts cluster in big metros, and 老人の日 is not Silver Week’s 敬老の日. Avoid the overclaim that “Japan is the healthiest country.” Period life expectancy and centenarian stocks are impressive; they are not a global ranking stamped on this press release, and they coexist with care shortages, regional depopulation, and a fertility-marriage complex that is still rewriting the next fifty years. --- #### What English readers should take away - **Trust the primary** Use MHLW’s 107,677 / +7,914 / 87.6% women figures; do not round into folklore. - **Separate the September words** 老人の日 = 15 Sep (Elderly Welfare Act). 敬老の日 = third Monday (national holiday; Silver Week in 2026). - **Rate vs count** Shimane leads the rate; Tokyo leads the headcount. - **Two ledgers** Longevity stock up; births/marriages tell another story—link both. - **Care without fake yen** More centenarians imply more care demand; skip invented LTC insurance totals. --- #### What to watch next If you follow Japan for living, policy, or travel, treat the 100,000 crossing as a baseline stamp, not a vibe: 1. **Next year’s stock and 表彰 totals** — the series has risen for 56 consecutive years in the Kyodo/ministry framing; the interesting question is the *pace* of +7,914-class jumps as wartime birth cohorts fully age in. 2. **Rate leaders’ streak** — Shimane’s 14th year at the top (Jiji) is a run worth tracking against out-migration and care-capacity stories in the San’in region. 3. **Care workforce and housing** — qualitative pressure rises with the stock; look to separate MHLW long-term care publications for yen and worker counts, not this congratulations release. 4. **Marriage and births** — the other Japanist demography pair: [population crossing](/blog/japan-population-crossing-births-deaths) and [IPSS marriage intentions](/blog/japan-marriage-intentions-ipss-survey-2026). Centenarians are the long right tail of a distribution whose left side is still thinning. 5. **September calendar literacy** — travellers confusing 老人の日 with Silver Week’s 敬老の日 will mis-time both congratulations coverage and holiday trains. Use [Silver Week 2026](/blog/japan-silver-week-2026-what-it-is) for the holiday cluster. --- #### FAQ ##### Has Japan really never had 100,000 centenarians before? Not in this MHLW series. The ministry’s materials mark 2026 as the first year the stock exceeds 100,000 since the count began in 1963, rising from 99,763 in Reiwa 7. ##### Is 老人の日 the same as Respect for the Aged Day? No. **老人の日** is 15 September under the Elderly Welfare Act and anchors the centenarian congratulations. **敬老の日** (Respect for the Aged Day) is the national holiday on the third Monday of September—21 September in 2026, inside Silver Week. ##### Why do women make up nearly nine in ten centenarians? MHLW reports **94,298** women and **13,379** men (**87.6%** women). That share has been high for decades in the same series; it reflects long-run mortality differences, not a one-year reporting artefact. ##### Which prefecture is “oldest”? Depends what you mean. **Shimane** has the highest rate per 100,000 (**186.65**)—Jiji says for the 14th consecutive year. **Tokyo** has the largest absolute count (**8,890**). ##### Are overseas Japanese included? Overseas Japanese residents are **excluded from the 100+ stock count** of 107,677. The separate 表彰 recipient total (**54,294**) does include **63** overseas Japanese alongside **54,231** domestic recipients. ##### Does this mean Japan’s care crisis is solved? No. A larger centenarian population is longevity success and, simultaneously, more potential care demand. This release does not publish a yen total that “solves” long-term care; do not invent one. --- #### Bottom line Japan’s official centenarian series crossed **100,000** for the first time: **107,677** people aged 100+, **+7,914** in a year, **87.6%** women, **87.51** per 100,000 nationally, with Shimane still leading the rate table and Tokyo leading the headcount. The congratulations of 老人の日—letters and silver cups for **54,294** new hundred-year-olds—are a civic ritual on 15 September, distinct from Respect for the Aged Day inside Silver Week. Hold the celebration and the shape together. The country that can count six-figure centenarians is the same country whose births, deaths, and marriage intentions are rewriting who will stand beside the next cohort of elders. The numbers are enough. They do not need myth on top. The floor did not inch—it cleared six figures. 107,677 people aged 100 or older is longevity Japan can measure; the care, families, and birth ledger around them are the rest of the story the same week’s other statistics keep telling. --- #### Sources and further reading * **Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)** — [令和８年度百歳の高齢者へのお祝い状及び記念品の贈呈について](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/houdou/newpage_002341.html) (press page, 15 September 2026); [PDF 001750292](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/12304250/001750292.pdf) (stock 107,677; +7,914; sex split; prefecture rates and counts; 表彰 54,294; oldest residents; life-expectancy note from 令和7年簡易生命表) * **Jiji Press** — [Japan's Centenarian Population Tops 100,000 for 1st Time](https://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2026091500644) (Shimane highest rate for 14th consecutive year; Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno comment) * **Population base** — Somusho / Statistics Bureau 2025 census flash (published 2026-05-29), as cited in the MHLW table (123,050 thousand) * **The Japanist** — [The Year the Lines Crossed](/blog/japan-population-crossing-births-deaths); [IPSS marriage intentions survey 2026](/blog/japan-marriage-intentions-ipss-survey-2026); [Silver Week 2026](/blog/japan-silver-week-2026-what-it-is) (敬老の日 vs travel calendar) *Method note: Centenarian stock figures are Basic Resident Register reports from prefectures, designated cities, and core cities as of 1 September 2026; ages as of 15 September 2026; overseas Japanese excluded from the 100+ stock. Life expectancy figures shown on the Reiwa 7 row of MHLW’s packet (women 87.33, men 81.35) come from the 令和7年簡易生命表; Reiwa 8 life-expectancy cells in that table are blank. All headline statistics in this article are taken from those primary materials—no invented LTC insurance yen totals, no global “healthiest country” ranking.* --- ## Silver Week in Japan: What It Is, Why 2026 Is Five Days, and What People Actually Do URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/japan-silver-week-2026-what-it-is Published: 2026-09-21 (JST). Category: Travel. *If you are in Japan on Monday 21 September 2026, you are inside a rare autumn long break—Japan’s third full five-day Silver Week after 2009 and 2015. The name sounds like a second Golden Week. The calendar mechanics, the mood, and what Japanese people actually do with the days are quieter, more specific, and easier to misuse if you only know the nickname.* Japan’s travel year is shaped by a handful of domestic surges: New Year, [Golden Week](/blog/japan-2026-peak-travel-periods-holidays), [Obon](/blog/japan-obon-ghost-holiday-tourists), and—when the September holidays align—**Silver Week** (シルバーウィーク). In most years the September cluster is a short Respect-for-the-Aged weekend. In 2026 it stretches from **Saturday 19 September through Wednesday 23 September**: five consecutive days off for much of the country. That stretch is not a permanent fixture on the Cabinet Office calendar. It appears when **Respect for the Aged Day** (敬老の日, *Keirō no Hi*) and **Autumnal Equinox Day** (秋分の日, *Shūbun no Hi*) fall two days apart, and Japan’s Holiday Act turns the weekday between them into a holiday under **Article 3, paragraph 3**—commonly nicknamed a **Citizens’ Holiday** (国民の休日, *kokumin no kyūjitsu*). It is **not** a 振替休日 (*furikae kyūjitsu*, substitute holiday for a Sunday holiday). Nippon.com counts **17** national holidays for 2026 instead of the usual **16** (Cabinet Office still defines **16** named 国民の祝日 and lists 22 September as a separate **休日** under Art. 3(3)), and frames this as only the **third** full five-day Silver Week after **2009** and **2015**. This guide is culture plus travel utility: what the week is, how the sandwich day works, what families and communities do around Respect for the Aged Day and the equinox, what Japanese people tend to do with five free days, and what visitors should expect on trains, expressways, in Tokyo, and around Nagoya while the Asian Games are on—anchored in Cabinet Office / NAOJ dates and JR Central / NEXCO operating notices where those exist. --- #### What Silver Week is—and what it is not **Silver Week is the informal autumn counterpart to Golden Week.** Golden Week is the late-April / early-May cluster of fixed national holidays that almost every year produces a long break. Silver Week borrows the “Week” branding for a September cluster built around Respect for the Aged Day and the Autumnal Equinox. The myth to retire first: **Silver Week is not an annual five-day holiday.** - The *name* is used loosely for shorter September holiday clusters in ordinary years. - The *five-day version* is rare. It needs Respect for the Aged Day (third Monday in September) and Autumnal Equinox Day to sit exactly two calendar days apart so a single weekday between them can become an Article 3(3) holiday. - 2026 is that rare alignment. Nippon.com and the Cabinet Office sequence treat it as the third full five-day run after **2009** and **2015**. Calendar projections under the current Holiday Act often cite the next five-day stretch as **2032 (Sat 18 – Wed 22 Sep)**; the next comparable **19–23 September** twin of 2009/2015/2026 is often cited as **~2037**. Equinox dates for far-future years remain NAOJ/official only when published the prior February—these figures are **widely reported calendar arithmetic, not a Cabinet Office forecast**. ##### A soft note on the name “Silver Week” is **wasei-eigo** (和製英語)—Japanese-made English—usually traced to the film company **Daiei** in the **1950s**, when executives who helped popularise “Golden Week” also tried an autumn “Silver Week” marketing label (originally around Culture Day, not September). The **September** sense of the phrase took off around the first modern five-day alignment in **2009**. Treat the etymology as soft cultural history, not statute: the Cabinet Office list does not define a holiday called Silver Week. In other words: you are not witnessing “Japan’s usual autumn Golden Week.” You are witnessing a calendar alignment that Japan’s holiday law knows how to amplify—and that residents treat as a genuine second long break when it arrives. Silver Week is not an annual autumn Golden Week—it is a rare September alignment, not a yearly five-day fixture. For the wider peak-calendar map—New Year, Golden Week, Obon, Silver Week—see our [2026 peak travel periods guide](/blog/japan-2026-peak-travel-periods-holidays). For how this week collides with early alpine colour, see the [2026 kōyō guide](/blog/japan-autumn-foliage-koyo-guide-2026). --- #### How the Holiday Act creates the sandwich day Japan’s national holidays are set by the **Act on National Holidays** (国民の祝日に関する法律). Two facts matter for September 2026, as published by the **Cabinet Office** and underpinned by the **National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)** 暦要項: 1. **Respect for the Aged Day** falls on the **third Monday in September**—in 2026, **Monday 21 September** (敬老の日). 2. **Autumnal Equinox Day** falls on the astronomical autumn equinox date for that year—in 2026, **Wednesday 23 September** (秋分の日). Between them sits **Tuesday 22 September**. Under **Article 3, paragraph 3** of the Holiday Act, a weekday that falls between two *kokumin no shukujitsu* (国民の祝日) becomes a holiday. The Cabinet Office 2026 table lists 22 September as **休日** with the note **祝日法第3条第3項による休日**. In everyday Japanese this day is often nicknamed **国民の休日**. **Do not confuse it with 振替休日.** A *furikae kyūjitsu* is the substitute Monday (or other day) when a national holiday itself falls on a Sunday. 22 September 2026 is a sandwich / bridge day under Art. 3(3), not a Sunday-substitution holiday. That sandwich turns two nearby holidays into three consecutive midweek days off—and, attached to the preceding weekend, into five. The same mechanism is why Nippon.com’s 2026 count rises from 16 to 17 (Cabinet: 16 named 祝日 + the Art. 3(3) sandwich 休日). The law is doing arithmetic; culture and travel behaviour do the rest. --- #### 2026 day-by-day: the practical five days | Date | Day | Status | What it means in practice | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **19 Sep** | Sat | Weekend | Practical start of the five-day run; JR Central’s outbound booking peak | | **20 Sep** | Sun | Weekend | Mid-break day; still busy on popular routes | | **21 Sep** | Mon | **Respect for the Aged Day** (敬老の日) | National holiday; banks / government closed; family and community elder-honouring | | **22 Sep** | Tue | **Art. 3(3) holiday** (nicknamed 国民の休日) | Looks like a weekday; is a full holiday—JR Central’s return booking peak | | **23 Sep** | Wed | **Autumnal Equinox Day** (秋分の日) | National holiday; equinox / *higan* observances | **Practical window:** Saturday 19 September – Wednesday 23 September 2026. **Nozomi all-reserved window (JR Central, official):** Friday **18** September – Wednesday **23** September 2026—one day longer than the “five days off” branding, because Friday is already in the operating notice. People who stack leave on **Thursday 24** and **Friday 25** can stretch the break toward nine or ten days ending on the following Sunday. When that happens, the return crush can spread beyond the statutory holidays alone. **Trap day:** Tuesday 22 September. Trains run holiday timetables; banks and ward offices are closed; JR Central flags it as the shinkansen **return** peak—not “just a Tuesday between holidays.” --- #### Respect for the Aged Day: what families and communities do **Respect for the Aged Day** (*Keirō no Hi*, 敬老の日) is a national holiday whose statutory purpose, in the government’s own phrasing, is to honour elderly people who have contributed to society for many years and to celebrate longevity. *Figure: Family visits—tea, a meal, a little time—are the everyday face of Keirō no Hi.* What that looks like on the ground varies by household and municipality, but the recurring patterns are steady: - **Family visits and calls.** Adult children and grandchildren visit parents and grandparents, or at least telephone. Meals together—at home or at a restaurant—are common when travel allows. - **Gifts and small attentions.** Practical presents, sweets, flowers, or simply time. The day is less about a single national ritual than about marking regard for elders inside the family calendar. - **Local ceremonies.** Many cities and wards hold *keirō* events: congratulations for residents who have reached milestone ages, community lunches, performances, or certificates. These are civic and warm rather than tourist spectacles. - **Quiet public mood.** It is not Obon’s lantern farewell and not Golden Week’s nationwide scramble for resort rooms—though the *travel* layer of Silver Week can still feel crowded. The holiday’s own emotional centre is respect and longevity, not fireworks. For visitors, the useful takeaway is manners more than itinerary: this is a day when many Japanese people are thinking about older relatives. Crowding at departure hubs may look like “holiday chaos”; for a large share of travellers it is also the logistics of getting home to see parents. --- #### Equinox, *higan*, and red spider lilies **Autumnal Equinox Day** (*Shūbun no Hi*, 秋分の日) is both a national holiday and a hinge in the Buddhist–folk calendar. The Cabinet Office purpose language centres on honouring ancestors and remembering the deceased. NAOJ’s 暦要項 is what fixes the equinox date that the holiday follows. Around the equinox falls **higan** (彼岸)—literally the “other shore”—a roughly week-long season (classically the equinox plus three days on either side) when many families visit graves, clean plots, offer flowers and incense, and hold memorial thoughts. Spring has its own *higan*; autumn’s lands inside Silver Week in 2026. *Figure: Higanbana bloom with autumn *higan*—seasonal markers as much as photo stops.* That overlap matters culturally: - Silver Week is not only a vacation brand. In the middle of the five days sits a holiday explicitly about ancestors, inside a season already oriented toward graves and remembrance. - The mood can therefore feel **split**: resort-bound shinkansen cars on one track; families carrying flowers toward cemeteries on another. - **Higanbana** (彼岸花)—red spider lilies—bloom around this time and are culturally associated with *higan*. Fields and park plantings become seasonal markers as much as photo stops. If Obon in August is the big midsummer homecoming for ancestors ([our Obon guide](/blog/japan-obon-ghost-holiday-tourists)), autumn *higan* is a quieter, equinox-timed counterpart. Silver Week 2026 stacks a rare long break on top of that quieter season—which is why the week can feel simultaneously festive and reflective. --- #### What Japanese people actually do with the five days There is no single national script. Behaviour clusters into a few overlapping patterns: - **Hometown and family trips** Leave the big cities for parents’ homes, especially around Respect for the Aged Day and equinox grave visits—the Silver Week rhyme with Obon’s *kisei* (帰省). Shorter and less universal than Obon, but real enough that departure stations fill. - **Autumn leisure trips** Onsen towns, early foliage in Hokkaidō and the high Alps, short escapes while the heat breaks, theme parks, and hotel stays booked months ahead. Our [kōyō guide](/blog/japan-autumn-foliage-koyo-guide-2026) flags the Silver Week collision with early mountain peaks. - **Leave-stacking** Office workers who take Thursday–Friday after the holidays stretch five days toward Golden Week length—extending hotel occupancy and softening (but lengthening) the return wave. - **City life continues—with a caveat** Some neighbourhoods *can* feel calmer; treat “quieter Tokyo” as anecdotal, not measured emptying. What *is* documented: crowded departure hubs—Tokyo Station suitcase traffic on 19 September matching JR Central’s Saturday outbound peak. - **Everyday commerce vs institutional closures** Convenience stores, restaurants, department stores, and major attractions generally stay open and often busier. **Banks, post offices, and government offices close** on 21–23 September. ATMs still work; museums often shift their closed day—Tuesday-looking 22 September still counts as a holiday. Silver Week is therefore less “Japan shuts down” (New Year energy) and more “Japan redistributes”: paperwork pauses; retail keeps trading; the pressure shows up at stations, expressways, and booked lodging rather than as a shuttered capital. --- #### What tourists should expect in 2026 ##### Open vs closed - **Mostly open:** shops, restaurants, convenience stores, big sightseeing spots, many museums (verify hours). - **Closed on 21–23 Sep:** banks, post offices, ward/city offices, many other public counters. - **Do not assume Tuesday 22 is a normal weekday.** ##### Shinkansen — JR Central (official) *Figure: JR Central’s booking peaks: Saturday 19 September outbound, Tuesday 22 September return.* For Silver Week 2026, **JR Central** has published that **Nozomi** trains on the Tōkaidō/San’yō corridor run **all-reserved** (**全席指定席**, no non-reserved cars) from **Friday 18 September through Wednesday 23 September**. Hikari, Kodama, Mizuho, Sakura, and Tsubame keep non-reserved cars as usual—but those cars still compete hard on peak days. JR Central’s **4 September 2026** reserved-seat bulletin (data as of end of business **2 September**, compiled **3 September**) reported roughly **1.07 million** reserved seats already booked on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen for the 18–23 September window, against about **3.16 million** shinkansen reserved seats made available (about **3.33 million** including relevant conventional limited expresses). The same notice names the booking peaks: - **Outbound (下り):** **Saturday 19 September** - **Return (上り):** **Tuesday 22 September** Morning Nozomi/Hikari departures from Tokyo on the 19th were already flagged as congested in that early-September snapshot; later media on the day itself described Tokyo Station as at peak outbound crush. **Reserve a seat.** All-reserved Nozomi means a non-reserved ticket does not get you a seat—only standing in the deck area under the stated conditions. ##### Expressways — NEXCO (official forecast) NEXCO East / Central / West, JB Honshi-Bisan, and the Japan Road Traffic Information Center forecast **279** congestion events of **10 km or longer** nationwide across **19–23 September** (downhill/outbound concentrations early in the window; uphill/return later—especially around **21–22 September**). Separately, the **Holiday ETC discount does not apply** during this busy window (the same exclusion pattern used for other major holiday peaks in recent years). If you are driving, read the NEXCO congestion guides and assume neither empty roads nor discounted tolls. ##### Nagoya and the Asian Games The **Asian Games (Aichi–Nagoya)** run **19 September – 4 October 2026**, with the opening on **19 September** (Games Master Plan / organising calendar). Accommodation around Nagoya and trains through the area are tighter than Silver Week alone would explain. If your itinerary threads Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka in this window, build slack and book lodging early—or route around the Games region. ##### Costs Holiday-surge pricing on hotels and some transport is normal. Prices often ease within a couple of days after the holiday ends—another reason the week after Silver Week is frequently recommended as a quieter alternative. --- #### How to use Silver Week well (or skip moving) **If you are already in Japan during the five days:** - **Pick a base and stay** A Tokyo or Osaka staycation works well if you are not chasing a Saturday-morning seat out of town. - **Skip new cross-country hops on the outbound peak** JR Central’s own peak day is **Saturday 19 September** outbound. - **Bank and city-office errands early** Handle them before 19 September—or after 24 September. - **Book Shinkansen before you need it** Especially Nozomi in the official all-reserved window (18–23 Sep). - **Lean into the quieter culture** *Higan* atmosphere, early *higanbana*, Respect for the Aged Day’s family tone—observe without intruding on private grave visits. - **Early foliage means shared windows** You compete with domestic travellers for the same alpine colour ([kōyō guide](/blog/japan-autumn-foliage-koyo-guide-2026)). - **Driving: trust the NEXCO forecast** Treat the 279-event outlook seriously; the Holiday ETC discount is off. **If your dates are still flexible:** - The **week after Silver Week** (from roughly 24 September) is often the sweet spot: heat breaking, holiday crowds back at work, rates easing, colour still early outside the highest peaks. - Or position yourself *before* 19 September, stay put through the 23rd, and move again from the 24th—the same strategy we recommend for Obon. **If you must travel between regions during the five days:** - Prefer mid-break days over Saturday outbound and Tuesday return when you can. - Give Nagoya extra caution during the Asian Games. - Confirm the live JR / NEXCO notice the morning you move—forecasts are not weatherproof. --- #### Silver Week at a glance | Question | Answer | | --- | --- | | **What is Silver Week?** | Informal name for Japan’s September holiday cluster; full five-day version is rare | | **When in 2026?** | Sat 19 Sep – Wed 23 Sep (practical five-day run) | | **Core holidays** | 21 Sep 敬老の日; 22 Sep Art. 3(3) holiday (nicknamed 国民の休日, not 振替休日); 23 Sep 秋分の日 | | **Why five days?** | Holiday Act sandwich day between two national holidays + preceding weekend | | **How rare?** | Third full five-day Silver Week after 2009 and 2015 (Nippon.com) | | **Next comparable?** | Next five-day often cited 2032 (18–22); next 19–23 twin ~2037 (projections, not Cabinet) | | **Holiday count 2026** | Nippon.com: 17; Cabinet: 16 named 祝日 + Art. 3(3) sandwich 休日 | | **Do shops close?** | Mostly no; banks / gov offices close on holiday days | | **Nozomi** | All-reserved Fri 18 – Wed 23 Sep (JR Central); peaks Sat 19 out / Tue 22 return | | **Expressways** | NEXCO: 279 × ≥10 km congestion events forecast; Holiday ETC discount off | | **Tokyo?** | Crowded departure hubs documented; “quieter city” is anecdotal | | **Nagoya?** | Asian Games 19 Sep – 4 Oct tighten hotels and trains | | **Best visitor strategy** | Stay put, or travel before/after; book reserved seats early | --- #### FAQ ##### Is Silver Week the same as Golden Week? No. Golden Week is the larger late-April / early-May holiday cluster and is a yearly travel surge. Silver Week is the autumn nickname for the September cluster around Respect for the Aged Day and the Autumnal Equinox. A full five-day Silver Week is uncommon. ##### Why is 22 September 2026 a holiday? It is a holiday under **Article 3, paragraph 3** of the Act on National Holidays: a weekday between two national holidays becomes a holiday. In everyday speech it is nicknamed **国民の休日**. It is **not** a 振替休日. Confirm on the [Cabinet Office holiday page](https://www8.cao.go.jp/chosei/shukujitsu/gaiyou.html); NAOJ’s [2026 暦要項](https://www.nao.ac.jp/news/topics/2025/20250203-rekiyoko.html) notes the same Art. 3(3) result for 22 September. ##### Does Silver Week happen every year? The September holidays happen every year. The **five-day** branded stretch does not. Most years you get a shorter Respect-for-the-Aged weekend without the equinox sandwich. ##### Should tourists avoid Japan during Silver Week 2026? Not necessarily. City staycations can be pleasant. Intercity travel, resort hotels, early foliage spots, expressway drives, and anything through Nagoya during the Asian Games need advance planning. If you can shift by a few days, the week after is often easier. ##### Will restaurants and convenience stores be open? Yes in the vast majority of cases. Silver Week is a busy trading period for retail and dining, not a New Year-style shutdown. The closures that matter for visitors are banks and government offices on 21–23 September. ##### When is the next five-day Silver Week after 2026? Nippon.com frames 2026 as the third full five-day Silver Week after 2009 and 2015. Under the current Holiday Act, calendar projections often cite the **next five-day** stretch as **2032 (Saturday 18 – Wednesday 22 September)**; the next **19–23 September** twin of 2009/2015/2026 is often cited as **2037**. Equinox dates for far-future years remain NAOJ/official only when published the prior February. These are **widely reported projections, not an official Cabinet timetable**—re-check the Cabinet Office list as those years approach. --- #### Bottom line Silver Week 2026 is Japan using a precise legal rule—Article 3(3) of the Holiday Act between two September *shukujitsu*—to turn an ordinary early-autumn weekend into a five-day national pause. It is the autumn rhyme to Golden Week in name only: rarer, tied to honouring elders and remembering ancestors, and experienced by residents as hometown visits, onsen bookings, leave-stacking, and heavy use of the Tōkaidō corridor. For visitors, the week rewards the same discipline as Obon and Golden Week: **respect the domestic calendar, reserve the seat, and do not invent long moves on peak days.** JR Central has already told you which days those are. NEXCO has told drivers what the roads will look like. Stay in one place and the country can feel festive. Try to cross Honshū on instinct and you will meet the shinkansen at its most Japanese—sold out, punctual, and uninterested in your spontaneity. Silver Week is not Japan’s second Golden Week on autopilot. It is a rare September alignment—Respect for the Aged Day, an Article 3(3) Citizens’ Holiday sandwich, and the equinox—when the country takes five days to honour longevity, visit the other shore, and fill the reserved-seat ledger on the Tōkaidō line. --- #### Sources and further reading * **Cabinet Office of Japan** — [国民の祝日について](https://www8.cao.go.jp/chosei/shukujitsu/gaiyou.html) (official 2026 holiday list: 21 Sep 敬老の日; 22 Sep as 祝日法第3条第3項による休日; 23 Sep 秋分の日) * **National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)** — [令和8（2026）年暦要項](https://www.nao.ac.jp/news/topics/2025/20250203-rekiyoko.html) (equinox date basis; notes 22 Sep holiday under Art. 3(3)) * **JR Central** — [２０２６年度 シルバーウィーク期間の指定席予約状況について](https://jr-central.co.jp/news/release/_pdf/000045964.pdf) (1.07M Tōkaidō reserved seats booked as of early Sep; peaks Sat 19 outbound / Tue 22 return; Nozomi all-reserved 18–23 Sep); [Nozomi all-reserved periods](https://railway.jr-central.co.jp/nozomi/); companion release [000045592.pdf](https://jr-central.co.jp/news/release/_pdf/000045592.pdf) * **NEXCO (East / Central / West) + JB Honshi-Bisan + JARTIC** — [シルバーウィーク期間の高速道路における渋滞予測について【全国版】](https://www.c-nexco.co.jp/corporate/pressroom/news_release/6666.html) (279 × ≥10 km congestion events, 19–23 Sep); see also [NEXCO East mirror](https://www.e-nexco.co.jp/pressroom/head_office/2026/0828/00016558.html). Holiday ETC discount exclusion for the busy window as reported in transport press summarizing MLIT/NEXCO practice. * **Nippon.com** — [Japan’s National Holidays in 2026](https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h02302/) (17 holidays; third Silver Week after 2009 and 2015; Cabinet Office–based table) * **Wire / TV coverage of departure hubs** — [日テレNEWS NNN, 19 Sep 2026](https://news.ntv.co.jp/category/society/2e67d8caa6f84d1eb7fa09459cd834a2) (Tokyo Station Tōkaidō platforms crowded; outbound peak; morning reserved seats nearly full). Confirms hub congestion, not that all of Tokyo emptied. * **The Japanist** — [2026 peak travel periods](/blog/japan-2026-peak-travel-periods-holidays); [Autumn foliage / kōyō 2026](/blog/japan-autumn-foliage-koyo-guide-2026); [Obon guide](/blog/japan-obon-ghost-holiday-tourists) *Name-origin note (soft): “Silver Week” as Daiei-era wasei-eigo and the September sense popularised around 2009 are standard dictionary/encyclopedia accounts, not Cabinet definitions. Asian Games (Aichi–Nagoya) dates 19 Sep – 4 Oct 2026 are cited for accommodation and transit planning from the Games calendar / Master Plan. Far-future next-five-day figures (often **2032** for 18–22; next 19–23 twin often **~2037**) are calendar projections under the current Holiday Act, not official Cabinet forecasts; equinox dates stay provisional until NAOJ publishes them.* --- ## Japan’s Singles Are Opting Out of Marriage—What the New Government Survey Actually Says URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/japan-marriage-intentions-ipss-survey-2026 Published: 2026-09-14 (JST). Category: Culture. *For the first time since Japan began asking unmarried adults this question in 1982, fewer than four in five people aged 18–34 say they intend to marry someday. The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research’s 17th National Fertility Survey, released 11 September 2026, is not a mood piece. It is a primary dataset—and it rewrites a line many Japan explainers still treat as settled.* Japan’s demographic story is usually told with births and deaths. [The Year the Lines Crossed](/blog/japan-population-crossing-births-deaths) walks that chart through 2025: more deaths than births every year after a one-year pause, a fertility rate that no longer replaces the population, and a marriage count that still decides almost every birth. What the vital statistics cannot show is whether the next generation of adults still wants the institution those births run through. On 11 September 2026, the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research (**IPSS** / 国立社会保障・人口問題研究所) published the results of the **17th National Fertility Survey** (第17回出生動向基本調査)—also titled the National Survey on Marriage and Childbirth. Fieldwork was in June 2025. The sample: **6,756** valid responses from unmarried people aged 18–54, and **5,024** married couples in which the wife was under 55. The previous wave was 2021. This article reads that survey the way The Japanist reads other Tier-1 sources: for what it measured, what it did not, and what English readers should actually take away. --- #### The number that broke a forty-year streak Among unmarried people aged **18–34**—the core series IPSS has tracked for decades—**75.1%** of men and **77.8%** of women said they “intend to marry someday” (いずれ結婚するつもり). Both figures fell by more than six percentage points from the previous survey (**81.4%** for men, **84.3%** for women). Both are below 80% for the first time since the unmarried series began in **1982**. That is the headline Japan’s English press led with, correctly. It is also easy to oversell. A three-quarter majority of young unmarried adults still say they plan to marry. The break is not that marriage intention vanished. The break is that the “almost everyone still says yes” floor, which held for more than forty years of this series, did not hold this time. The complementary figure is sharper for people who want a never-marry narrative. Among the same age band, those who said they **never intend to marry** rose to **24%** of men (+6.7 points) and **21.5%** of women (+6.9 points)—above 20% for the first time. IPSS’s own summary adds a caution English coverage sometimes skips: among those never-intent respondents, roughly **four in ten** said there is still a possibility they might shift back to “intend to marry someday.” Preferences are softening; they are not a sealed fate for every individual in the cell. Age detail sharpens the picture. IPSS notes especially large drops for women 30–34 (marriage intention **70.0%**, from 77.5%) and for men and women in their late twenties. Never-marry intent among men 30–34 reached **34.1%**; among women 30–34, **28.9%**. ([IPSS overview](https://www.ipss.go.jp/ps-doukou/j/doukou17/doukou17_gaiyo.html); [IPSS summary PDF](https://www.ipss.go.jp/ps-doukou/j/doukou17/JNFS17gaiyo.pdf); [Japan Times](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/09/11/japan/society/marriage-survey/)) --- #### “No benefits,” and what marriage used to buy The survey does not only ask whether people want to marry. It asks whether marriage still looks like a good trade. IPSS reports that the share who think marriage has advantages fell from the 60s into the 50s for men, and from about 70% into the 60s for women. Press coverage of the release put the “no benefits” share at **42.8%** of men and **36%** of women—about seven points higher than the previous wave. Which hoped-for gains eroded matters more than the abstract “no benefits” line. Fewer people said marriage would let them **have children or a family**, gain **peace of mind** (精神的やすらぎ), or achieve greater **financial security**. The item that rose was living with someone you love (愛情感じる人と暮らせる)—companionship as the remaining pitch, while children, calm, and money look less automatic. That is a cultural shift with a traveler’s implication: Japan’s low non-marital birth share means partnering and parenting are still tightly coupled in practice. When marriage looks less like the route to family, money, or rest, fertility does not get an easy off-ramp through cohabitation the way it does in much of Europe. The vital statistics and this survey are describing the same gate from two sides. --- #### How people meet now Among married couples in a **first marriage** of less than five years, **20.2%** said they met **online** (ネット)—up from **11.0%** in the previous wave—now essentially level with workplaces (**20.9%**) and introductions by friends or siblings (**20.2%**). That is not a Silicon Valley morality play. It is a logistics fact. If “no suitable partner” (適当な相手がいない) remains the top reason unmarried people 25 and older give for still being single—even as that share declined slightly while never-intent rose—then matching channels matter. Online dating is no longer a fringe path into Japanese marriage; for recent newlyweds it is a mainstream one. ([Japan Times](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/09/11/japan/society/marriage-survey/); IPSS couples survey summary) --- #### Loneliness, money, and never holding a baby IPSS’s public commentary on the release is unusually plain. An institute official told reporters that more people believe they **will not feel lonely** even if they keep living alone, while more people have **never interacted with infants**—and that both trends link to lower desire to marry and have children. The overview’s unmarried lifestyle block points the same way: more respondents report having little money for things they want, and more say solo life is **not lonely**. Desired number of children among the unmarried kept falling (**1.64** for men, down from 1.83; **1.70** for women, down from 1.79). About **one in six** unmarried men and women said that even if they marry, they do not want children. Support for the norm that “one should have children after marriage” also weakened. Contact with infants is not a soft lifestyle detail in this framing. The share of never-married 18–34-year-olds who said they **often** had contact with babies or small children fell to **32.5%** of men and **42.8%** of women. People with less contact show lower marriage intention and lower desired children. That is IPSS’s measured association, not a causal proof—and it is one of the more actionable findings for anyone designing family policy or community programs, because exposure to young children is a different lever from housing subsidies alone. Partnered life is thin before marriage, too: **19.6%** of unmarried men and **27.8%** of unmarried women reported having a romantic partner; about **one in three** (roughly **35%**) said they do not want to date. --- #### Married Japan is not standing still either The couples survey is not a story of a stable married majority quietly having two children while singles opt out. The average **ideal** number of children among married couples was **2.18**, down from **2.25**. More telling for behavior: mean **intended/planned** children fell to **1.95**—**below 2.0 for the first time** in the modern series going back at least to the 1977 survey. Ideal is still near replacement; planned children are not. The gap between what couples say they want and what the country records each year remains the policy problem Japan has been naming for a generation. When asked why ideal exceeds planned, the top reason was still cost: **52.9%** cited that raising and educating children costs too much (up from **46.0%**). Psychological and physical childcare burden also rose. Reproductive medicine is part of that gap’s texture: **22.8%** of couples—about **one in 4.4**—had undergone infertility testing or treatment (essentially unchanged from **22.7%**), while **42.1%** said they worried about infertility (up from **39.2%**). That is not evidence that technology will close the birth shortfall. It is evidence that a large minority of married Japan is already medicalizing the path to a child. On gender ideals, both unmarried men and women most often chose “balance work and childrearing” as the preferred women’s life course—about **four in ten**. The survey is not returning a 1950s housewife script as the modal dream. It is returning a dual-earner ideal that Japan’s workplaces and care infrastructure still make expensive to live. --- #### What this survey is not It is not proof that “Japan is dying,” a phrase that flattens a slow, measured shift into catastrophe tourism. It is not a forecast that three-quarters of today’s 18–34-year-olds will remain unmarried. Intention is not behavior; the never-intent group itself reports room to change; and people marry after 34. It is not a claim that dating apps caused the birth decline. Online meeting rose among recent marriages—the people who *did* marry—while overall marriage intention fell. Those can be true together. It is not a substitute for the vital statistics. Births, deaths, and marriage registrations still decide the annual ledger. This survey decides whether the next ledger has a willing denominator. And it is not a moral ranking of Japanese young adults. Wanting solitude without loneliness, delaying partnership, or doubting that marriage delivers money or rest are preferences shaped by housing costs, work hours, gender expectations, and weak exposure to infants—as IPSS itself emphasizes—not a national character flaw for foreigners to diagnose from a café in Shibuya. --- #### What English readers should watch next If you follow Japan for travel, living, or business, treat this release as a baseline, not a vibe: 1. **The next vital-statistics marriage count** — intention falling is one series; registered marriages are another. Watch whether the 2025–2026 registration totals move with the attitude shift. ([Related: The Year the Lines Crossed](/blog/japan-population-crossing-births-deaths)) 2. **Housing and working-hour politics** — when “financial security” and “peace of mind” stop looking like marriage benefits, policy that only lectures people to marry harder will miss the survey’s own language. 3. **Infant-contact and community design** — IPSS tied low touch with babies to low marriage and birth desire. That is a research prompt for local governments, not a reason for tourists to panic. 4. **How couples meet** — online matching at ~20% of recent first marriages is now a structural fact of Japanese partnering. Platforms, fraud, and manners around dating will matter more in everyday Japan coverage. 5. **Immigration and labour debates** — they sit beside this chart, not instead of it. A country with fewer marrying cohorts and a low non-marital birth share does not get the next generation from tourism. ([Japan Wanted Foreigners…](/blog/japan-immigration-foreign-residents-cap-2026)) --- #### Bottom line The 17th National Fertility Survey did not invent Japan’s demographic squeeze. It measured something the birth totals only implied: for the first time in this unmarried series, the default “yes, someday” answer to marriage no longer clears 80% among 18–34-year-olds. Most young unmarried adults still say they intend to marry. A rising minority says they never will. A larger share sees no benefit in the institution. Recent newlyweds increasingly met online. Married couples still name an ideal near two children, while a substantial fraction have already sought infertility care. More people say living alone is not lonely, and fewer have ever held a baby. That is the survey. Everything else is commentary. The Japanist’s job is to keep those two layers separate—and to update the old line that “Japanese singles still almost all want to marry” the moment the official series says otherwise. The floor did not vanish. It moved. For the first time since 1982, “intend to marry someday” among 18–34-year-olds sits below 80%—and the institute that measured it says loneliness, money, and never touching an infant are part of why. --- *Primary sources: National Institute of Population and Social Security Research,『第17回出生動向基本調査（結婚と出産に関する全国調査）　結果の概要』, published 11 September 2026 ([概要 PDF](https://www.ipss.go.jp/ps-doukou/j/doukou17/JNFS17gaiyo.pdf); [press release](https://www.ipss.go.jp/ps-doukou/j/doukou17/JNFS17gaiyo_PressRelease.pdf); [results page](https://www.ipss.go.jp/ps-doukou/j/doukou17/doukou17_gaiyo.html)). English title on the Institute’s PDF: *The 17th Japanese National Fertility Survey, 2025 — Summary of the Survey Results*. Secondary: [The Japan Times, 11 September 2026](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/09/11/japan/society/marriage-survey/). Fieldwork: June 2025 (as of 30 June). Valid responses: 6,756 unmarried (42.7% valid rate); 5,024 couples (47.9%). Response rates fell versus the 2021 wave, and this was the first wave offering an online option—worth keeping in mind when comparing waves. IPSS does not require citation permission; The Japanist attributes figures to the Institute’s published summary.* --- ## The Year the Lines Crossed: How Japan Became a Country of More Deaths Than Births URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/japan-population-crossing-births-deaths Published: 2026-08-28 (JST). Category: Culture. *In 2005, for the first time since modern vital statistics began, more Japanese people died than were born. Twenty years later the annual gap is not 21,000. It is 918,000. This is a reading of that crossing, and of the marriage and divorce totals that follow, against the official record through 2025.* The year the chart changed was not dramatic on the ground. Shops opened. Trains ran. A little more than a million Japanese children were born, which still sounded like a large number if you said it quickly. What changed was a relationship that had held, with a three-year hole for the war, since the Ministry began counting in 1899: **births no longer exceeded deaths**. In 2005, **1,062,530** Japanese children were born in Japan and **1,083,796** Japanese people died. The difference — *shizen zōgen* (自然増減), natural increase — was **−21,266**. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare recorded it as the first natural decrease in the history of the survey, setting aside the missing years 1944–1946. ([MHLW, 2005 confirmed Vital Statistics](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/saikin/hw/jinkou/kakutei05/hyo1.html)) Twenty years later the same subtraction produces a different kind of number. In 2024, the confirmed count is **686,173** births and **1,605,378** deaths. Natural change: **−919,205**. In 2025, still an approximate annual total, the figures are **671,236** and **1,589,489**. Natural change: **−918,253** — the nineteenth consecutive year of deficit. ([MHLW, 2024 confirmed](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/saikin/hw/jinkou/kakutei24/); [MHLW, 2025 approximate annual total](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/saikin/hw/jinkou/geppo/nengai25/index.html)) The crossing was not a moment. It was a hinge. Everything on the chart after it is the sound of a door that did not close. --- #### How to read this chart Terracotta is births. Steel blue is deaths. Both are the Ministry’s *Vital Statistics of Japan* (人口動態統計) for Japanese nationals in Japan, 1947–2025. The 2005 marker is the first year deaths exceeded births. 2006 is the one-year uncross — a surplus of 8,223. The shaded gap is the continuous deficit from 2007. The dashed tips are 2025 approximate figures, not yet the confirmed count. 1947–1972 exclude Okinawa, as the source tables do. That series has rules, and they are easy to break. **It counts Japanese nationals in Japan.** Foreign residents who give birth or die in Japan, and Japanese nationals who do so abroad, are tabulated separately. The census, by contrast, counts everyone usually resident. The 2025 census population of **123.05 million** is therefore a different object from the Ministry’s birth and death totals. Mixing them in one sentence as if they were the same population is the most common error in writing about this subject. ([Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2025 Census preliminary](https://www.stat.go.jp/english/info/news/20260625.html)) **Confirmed and approximate are not interchangeable.** The Ministry publishes a monthly bulletin of approximate figures (*gaisū* 概数), an annual total of those figures each June, and a confirmed count (*kakuteisū* 確定数) the following September. This article uses 2024 confirmed (released 16 September 2025) and 2025 approximate (released 3 June 2026). The 2025 total fertility rate of **1.14** will be recalculated against the 2025 census population and may move. **2005 was the first crossing, not the start of an unbroken decline.** 2006 returned to a small natural surplus. The continuous run of deficits begins in 2007. The Ministry’s 2025 overview calls 2025 the nineteenth consecutive negative year. That arithmetic only works if 2007 is year one. The chart marks both facts: the 2005 crossing, and the gap that opens only after 2006. **A monthly flash is not the same series.** The Ministry’s *sokuhō* (速報) counts registration forms, including foreigners in Japan and events from previous years. It is useful for spotting a turn. It is not a number you set next to 671,236 and call a trend. This article does not use 2026 monthly flashes as if they were Japanese-national annual totals. These rules are the difference between reading the figure and decorating a narrative with it. --- #### The latest official totals | Measure | 2024 confirmed | 2025 approximate | Change | |---|---|---|---| | Births | **686,173** | **671,236** | −14,937 (−2.2%) | | Deaths | **1,605,378** | **1,589,489** | −15,889 (−1.0%) | | Natural change | **−919,205** | **−918,253** | 19th consecutive deficit | | Marriages | **485,092** | **489,119** | +4,027 (+0.8%) | | Divorces | **185,904** | **179,068** | −6,836 (−3.7%) | | Total fertility rate | **1.15** | **1.14** | New low; 2025 may be revised | The 2024 confirmed release is the one to learn first, because nothing in it is still moving. Births were the fewest since the survey began in 1899. The fertility rate of 1.15 undercut the previous year’s 1.20. Deaths were the most on record. The natural deficit of 919,205 was the largest confirmed gap the Ministry has ever published. Marriages rose. Divorces rose slightly. ([MHLW, 2024 confirmed overview](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/saikin/hw/jinkou/kakutei24/dl/15_gaikyouR06.pdf)) 2025 did something the chart-watchers had stopped expecting: **deaths fell**. Not by enough to close anything — they still exceeded births by 918,253 — but by 15,889, the first decline in five years. Births fell again, to 671,236. Marriages rose for a second year, to 489,119. Divorces fell, to 179,068. Mean age at first marriage: **31.0** for husbands, **29.7** for wives. ([MHLW, 2025 approximate overview](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/saikin/hw/jinkou/geppo/nengai25/dl/gaikyouR7.pdf)) Two years of more weddings and two years of fewer babies is the sentence most coverage dropped. It is the sentence the rest of this article is about. --- #### The birth line: a country that used to replace itself On the opening figure, the birth line is not a smooth decline. It is a mountain range. The first peak is the postwar baby boom. **1949** remains the record year: **2,696,638** births. The second peak is 1971–1974, the children of that boom having children. **1973** is the summit of that range: **2,091,983**. The Ministry’s 2025 overview still prints both numbers as the two markers a reader is meant to carry. From 1975 the line falls, with brief recoveries, and from 2016 it has fallen every year. Between the two mountains there is a notch so sharp it looks like a printing error. **1966** was a *Hinoeuma* (丙午) year — the Fire Horse in the sixty-year sexagenary cycle. A superstition that girls born that year would be difficult wives, with roots in the Edo-period legend of Yaoya Oshichi, produced the largest one-year collapse in the modern series. Births fell from **1,823,697** in 1965 (TFR **2.14**) to **1,360,974** (TFR **1.58**), then rebounded to **1,935,647** in 1967 (TFR **2.23**). That is a 25 percent drop and a recovery that overshot the year before. Demographers have treated it less as a lost generation than as a three-year timing shift: couples who could wait, waited. The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research still names the 1966 drop as one of the irregularities that give Japan’s population pyramid its shape. ([IPSS, 2023 projection summary](https://www.ipss.go.jp/pp-zenkoku/e/zenkoku_e2023/pp2023e_Summary.pdf)) 2026 is the next Fire Horse year — the same sixty-year combination explained in [Galloping into 2026: Understanding the Year of the Horse in Japan](/blog/year-of-the-horse-2026-japan). There is no official forecast that the superstition will repeat, and this article does not offer one. The 1966 notch was a decision available to a married generation that was still having two children. The married generation of 2026 is smaller, older at first birth, and already below one-and-a-half. A superstition can shift a peak. It cannot invent a peak that is not there. The Ministry’s 2026 confirmed count will be published in September 2027. Until then, anyone selling a Fire Horse baby bust is selling a story the data have not written. What the data have written is slower and harder. The total fertility rate — the number of children a woman would have if she lived her life at this year’s age-specific rates — was **1.57** in 1989, the so-called *1.57 shock*, because it undercut the 1966 Fire Horse rate of 1.58 and made the postwar floor look like a ceiling. It was **1.26** in 2005, the year of the crossing. It was **1.15** in 2024 and **1.14** in 2025. Replacement is about 2.1. Japan has not been near it in a generation. The national rate is also a lie of averages. In 2024, **Tokyo’s** fertility rate was **0.96**. **Okinawa’s** was **1.54**. Both are official. Neither replaces a population. ([Tokyo Metropolitan Government, 2024 vital statistics](https://www.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/documents/d/tosei/20251111_05_01); MHLW 2024 confirmed prefecture ranking) A fertility rate is not a birth count. The rate can stabilize while births keep falling, because the number of women aged 15–49 is itself the echo of earlier declines. That is why 2025 can produce 671,236 births at 1.14 and still be a new low on both measures at once. The birth line is not only about how many children people want. It is about how many people are left to want them. --- #### The death line: the country getting older in public Deaths are the easier line to misunderstand, because they look like a verdict on health. They are mostly a verdict on age. On that same figure, the death line falls as medicine and nutrition do their work, to a modern low of **670,342** in **1966** — the same year as the Fire Horse notch, which is coincidence of the calendar, not of the cause. From the late 1970s it turns up, not because Japanese people started dying younger, but because the first baby boom started arriving at the ages at which people die. The Ministry’s 2025 overview says deaths exceeded one million in 2003 and then rose, with 2024 the record, and 2025 the first decline in five years. That decline is real and should not be talked away. It is also not a rejuvenation. People aged **75 and over** have accounted for **more than 80 percent** of all deaths since 2024. The leading causes in 2025 were the causes of an old country: malignant neoplasms **378,812** (23.8 percent), heart disease excluding hypertensive disease **220,447** (13.9 percent), senility **214,711** (13.5 percent). ([MHLW, 2025 approximate overview](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/saikin/hw/jinkou/geppo/nengai25/dl/gaikyouR7.pdf)) IPSS’s 2023 revision is blunt about what happens next. The number of people aged 65 and over keeps rising to a peak of **39.53 million in 2043**. The *share* aged 65 and over keeps rising after that, from **28.6 percent** in 2020 to **38.7 percent** in 2070 under the medium-fertility, medium-mortality path, because the working-age population shrinks faster than the elderly one. The old-age dependency ratio — people 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 — goes from **48.0** in 2020 (2.1 working-age adults per older person) to **74.2** in 2070 (1.3). ([IPSS, 2023 revision](https://www.ipss.go.jp/pp-zenkoku/e/zenkoku_e2023/pp2023e_Summary.pdf)) The death line is not a pandemic story, and it is not a failure of hospitals. It is the first baby boom, leaving. --- #### The marriage gate: almost no one walks around In most rich countries births and marriages have drifted apart. In Japan they have not, because the law and the culture still treat them as nearly the same event. In 2024, **18,093** children — **2.6 percent** of all births — were born outside marriage. The official category is *chakushutsu de nai ko* (嫡出でない子). The other **97.4 percent** were legitimate births. ([MHLW Vital Statistics 2024, table 4-30](https://www.e-stat.go.jp/stat-search/database?layout=dataset&query=%E5%90%88%E8%A8%88%E7%89%B9%E6%AE%8A%E5%87%BA%E7%94%9F%E7%8E%87&statdisp_id=0003411618)) That is the load-bearing fact of the marriage count. A country in which two or three births in a hundred occur outside marriage cannot offset a collapse in weddings with a rise in unmarried parenthood. In much of Europe the two series have decoupled. In Japan they have not. The marriage count is not a lifestyle series. It is a leading indicator of the birth count, with a lag of one to three years and a remainder that never arrives. The marriage peak is **1972**: **1,099,984** couples, the second baby boom pairing off. The 2025 approximate count is **489,119** — a second consecutive rise, after **485,092** in 2024, and still less than half the peak. Mean age at first marriage in 2025 is 31.0 and 29.7. The people who marry are older, and there are fewer of them. They still say they will. The Institute’s 16th National Fertility Survey, taken in 2021, found that **81.4 percent** of unmarried men and **84.3 percent** of unmarried women aged 18–34 intended to marry eventually — down from 85.7 and 89.3 five years earlier, and still a large majority. Those who said they never would: **17.3 percent** of men, **14.6 percent** of women. Among those who intended to marry, the average number of children hoped for was **1.82** for men and **1.79** for women, the first time the women’s figure has fallen below two. Married couples still named an ideal of **2.25** and a planned **2.01**. The finished number among wives 45–49 was **1.81**. The most common reason for having fewer children than the ideal remained the cost of raising and educating them. ([IPSS, 16th National Fertility Survey](https://www.ipss.go.jp/ps-doukou/j/doukou16/JNFS16gaiyo.pdf)) The gap between “I will marry” and “I have married” is now a demographic statistic of its own. IPSS’s *Population Statistics of Japan* puts the 2020 proportion never married at age 50 — the old “lifetime unmarried rate,” which is an average of the 45–49 and 50–54 unmarried shares, not a claim about the whole of life — at **28.25 percent** for men and **17.81 percent** for women. ([IPSS, Population Statistics, table 6-23](https://www.ipss.go.jp/syoushika/tohkei/Popular/Popular2025.asp?chap=0)) So the 2024–2025 marriage uptick is worth taking seriously and not worth mistaking for a baby boom. The Ministry has not published a causal breakdown. A rebound among couples who waited through the pandemic is a plausible part of it. None of it enlarges the cohort of women now in their late twenties and early thirties. A gate that admits more people in a given year still admits them from a shrinking line. **Pro Tip:** If you are reading Japanese headlines, “marriages rose” and “births fell” in the same year are not a contradiction. They are the lag, the age structure, and the 2.6 percent. The birth response, if it comes, will show up in 2026 and 2027 *gaisū* — and it will still be climbing a down escalator. --- #### Divorces: a smaller institution produces a smaller aftermath Divorces are the quietest official count and the easiest to moralize. The official series does not moralize. The count stays low through the 1960s, rises with the marriage boom, and peaks in **2002** at **289,836** couples. It has declined, with interruptions, ever since. 2024 confirmed: **185,904**. 2025 approximate: **179,068**. A falling divorce count in a country with falling marriages is partly a smaller stock of marriages to dissolve. It is not, by itself, evidence that marriages have become happier, or more brittle, or anything else the divorce count is often asked to prove. What the divorce count does confirm is the scale of the institution. At the 1972 peak, Japan recorded 1,099,984 marriages and 108,382 divorces. At the 2002 peak it recorded 289,836 divorces against 757,331 marriages. In 2025 it recorded 489,119 and 179,068. Marriages and divorces have come down together because they are attached to the same thing: a smaller married population. --- #### What a crossing feels like, twenty years on Natural decrease is an accounting identity. A country feels it as empty classrooms, shuttered shopping streets, hospitals that cannot staff night shifts, and municipal offices that no longer have enough children to keep a school open and enough elders to keep a clinic closed. The 2025 census, which counts everyone usually resident, not only Japanese nationals, put the population at **123.05 million** on 1 October 2025 — **3.097 million** below 2020, a **2.5 percent** decline, faster than the previous five years. Population fell in **1,558 of 1,719** municipalities, **90.6 percent** of the country. Households rose to **57.125 million** because people are living in smaller groups: **2.15** persons per household. ([Statistics Bureau of Japan](https://www.stat.go.jp/english/info/news/20260625.html)) The houses remain after the households thin. The 2023 Housing and Land Survey found **9,002,000** vacant dwellings, **13.8 percent** of the housing stock, both records. Of those, **3,856,000** were vacant and not listed for rent, sale, or second-home use — the *akiya* (空き家) that sit in the landscape as a physical form of natural decrease. ([Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2023 Housing and Land Survey](https://www.stat.go.jp/info/guide/asu/pdf/2026asu_3-2.pdf)) How foreign buyers are being steered toward that stock is a separate question: [Navigating Japan’s Akiya Opportunity](/blog/navigating-japans-akiya-opportunity-akiyax). Our sister publication Akiya X has read the same two lines from the buyer’s side — why the death line makes vacant-house supply a schedule out to the 2040s, and why the marriage count, not the population, decides who buys such a house back: [Japan Will Keep Making Akiya Until the 2040s](https://akiyax.com/blog/japan-population-decline-akiya-supply-demand). Labour is the other surface. Employers reported **2,571,037** foreign workers as of 31 October 2025, a record in a series that began in 2007. Foreign residents at the end of 2025 were **4,125,395**. Those figures belong to a different article — [Japan Wanted Foreigners. Now It Is Deciding How Many Is Too Many](/blog/japan-immigration-foreign-residents-cap-2026) — and they are not a rebuttal of the crossing. They are what a labour market does when the crossing has been running for twenty years and the working-age population is the second baby boom, now in its fifties. IPSS already builds immigration into the official future. Under the medium-fertility, medium-mortality path, total population falls from **126.15 million** in 2020 to about **87 million** in 2070, dropping below 100 million in **2056**. The high-fertility variant (TFR 1.64) still yields **95.49 million**. The low-fertility variant (TFR 1.13) yields **80.24 million**. A projection limited to Japanese nationals reaches **77.61 million**, with **40.9 percent** aged 65 and over. The 87-million path is not a closed country. It is a country that takes in people and still shrinks. The projection above is what the births-and-deaths figure cannot show: the future already in the age structure. Everyone who will be 65 in 2070 has already been born. Everyone who will be 45 has already been born. The next twenty years of the death line are, to a first approximation, a schedule. --- #### What the chart does not decide A fertility rate of 1.14 is not a moral failure and it is not a policy success. It is a year. The Institute’s own survey says most unmarried adults still intend to marry and still want something close to two children. The Ministry’s own totals say they are not doing so at replacement, and that the number of people who could is falling. The Children and Families Agency, created in April 2023, and the child-allowance expansion that followed, exist inside that gap. This article does not award them a result they have not claimed. The 2025 birth count is a new low. That is the result that is on the page. Nor is Japan a unique ruin. Other rich countries in East Asia have fertility rates at or below Japan’s. What is distinctive is the combination: a non-marital birth share of 2.6 percent, a death line driven by a baby boom that was once 2.7 million children in a single year, and a political argument that has begun to treat foreign residents as a quantity to be managed. The crossing made all three of those arguments inevitable. It did not decide how they end. If you came to this chart for a single number, the honest one is not 671,236, and it is not 1.14. It is the relationship that changed in 2005 and, after a one-year pause, did not change back: **more deaths than births, every year, for nineteen years**, while the generation that could reverse it got smaller. The lines are still crossing. They just did it a long time ago. The crossing was 21,266 people in 2005. It was 919,205 in 2024. The chart did not break. The country changed scale. --- *Figures are from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Vital Statistics (Japanese nationals in Japan), the Statistics Bureau of Japan, and the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research. 2025 vital totals are approximate annual figures pending the confirmed release. A full source ledger is in `docs/cultural-sources.md`.* --- ## Japan’s Autumn Foliage 2026: The Ultimate Guide to Chasing Kōyō Across Japan URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/japan-autumn-foliage-koyo-guide-2026 Published: 2026-08-18; updated 2026-09-08 (JST). Category: Travel. There is a moment in Japan when summer finally loosens its grip. The air turns sharper. The mountains begin to change. Maples flare crimson, ginkgo trees turn brilliant gold, and entire valleys seem to catch fire beneath a clear autumn sky. In Kyoto, temple roofs emerge from curtains of red. In the Japanese Alps, forests become mosaics of yellow, orange and scarlet. Farther north, the season may already be over while Tokyo is still stubbornly green. This is **kōyō** (紅葉) — Japan's autumn foliage — and experiencing it well has almost nothing to do with finding the single best place. It has everything to do with understanding how the season *moves*. Japan's autumn colour begins in the coldest and highest parts of the country and travels south and downhill. The broad season runs from **mid-September into mid-December**, and the Japan National Tourism Organization gives mid-November to early December as the headline window for most of the country. Individual locations, though, can sit weeks apart — sometimes while being only a few hours apart by train. That makes autumn one of Japan's great travel opportunities and one of its genuine planning problems. The first 2026 numbers are now in. Japan Meteorological Corporation published its first city maple and ginkgo calls on **2 September**; Weathernews issued a matching nationwide “late or slightly late” outlook the next day. Those dates — fourteen city hubs, maple and ginkgo, plus the 2022–2025 record — live on the [autumn foliage forecast page](/autumnfoliage). This guide is the other half: how the season *moves*, why a city date is not a temple date, and how to keep the itinerary free enough to follow the colour. Cherry blossoms can be modelled months ahead because bloom depends heavily on accumulated winter cold. Autumn colour is different. It is driven by the temperatures of the weeks immediately before the leaves turn, which is why the first national predictions arrive in early September and keep being revised into late November. So the useful question is still not *"When will the leaves peak?"* It is: **where will the colour be while I am there, how far can this first call still shift, and how do I stay free to follow it?** --- #### What kōyō actually means The word **kōyō** (紅葉) is usually translated as "autumn foliage" or "fall colours." Read strictly, the characters mean *crimson leaves*, and Japanese distinguishes it from **ōyō** (黄葉), the yellowing of ginkgo and other trees. Foliage forecasts in Japan track those two separately — a detail that explains a lot of visitor confusion, and one we will come back to. The same characters 紅葉 can also be read **momiji**, which refers to Japanese maple, the tree most associated with the season. Then there is **momijigari** (紅葉狩り) — literally "red-leaf hunting." Despite the *gari*, nobody is collecting anything. The word describes going out deliberately to look at autumn leaves, and it is old: the practice of travelling to see foliage as an aesthetic event, not merely noticing that the trees changed on the way to work. That framing matters. Kōyō is not a weather event that happens to be pretty. It is a recognised seasonal pursuit, the autumn counterpart to *hanami* in spring — with one enormous practical difference. Cherry blossom season gives you roughly a week in any given city. Autumn gives you three months across the archipelago. The colours do not arrive everywhere at once. They **travel** — and that is the single most useful fact in this entire guide. --- #### The great foliage migration Think of autumn in Japan as a slow wave of colour that starts in the north and on the high ground, then rolls south and descends toward the coast and the cities. Two rules govern that whole picture. **Latitude moves the season by weeks. Altitude moves it by weeks too — and altitude is the one visitors forget.** Oku-Nikkō is about three hours from Tokyo. It regularly turns colour six weeks before central Tokyo does, because Lake Chūzenji sits roughly 1,200 metres higher than Shinjuku. The same logic works inside a single destination: on Mt. Takao, at the western edge of Tokyo, the summit colours first and the base last, so one mountain offers a moving target for several weeks. The farther north you go — or the higher you climb — the earlier autumn arrives. This is why a traveller arriving in mid-October should think twice before heading straight for Kyoto's temples. Kyoto in late November is extraordinary. Kyoto in mid-October is a warm city with green maples. In mid-October, the colour is in Tōhoku's gorges, on the Alps' high traverses and around Nikkō's lakes. Same country, same trip, radically different result — decided entirely by sequencing. Once you have a region in mind, the [autumn foliage forecast page](/autumnfoliage) is the city-level version of the same picture: the 2026 first-call for fourteen hubs, maple and ginkgo, the recent record beside them, and a map that uses the same colour key as the chart above. The city row is a lowland marker. Famous spots in the same prefecture — Oku-Nikkō versus Tokyo, Takao versus Kyoto basin — routinely turn weeks earlier. --- #### Why 2026 is harder to plan than 2016 There is a longer story behind the photographs. Japan is getting warmer, and autumn is warming fast enough to have visibly unsettled the foliage calendar. The Japan Meteorological Agency maintains a national autumn temperature series going back to **1898**, calculated from fifteen stations chosen because urbanisation affects them relatively little. Its record is unambiguous: Japan's autumn (September–November) mean temperature is rising at about **1.47 °C per century**, and the most recent years dominate the top of the table. Japan's three warmest autumns in 128 years of records were 2023, 2024 and 2025 — consecutively. Maples need a run of genuinely cool nights to break down chlorophyll and develop strong red pigment. Warm autumns delay that trigger, and they can mute it: a late season is often also a less vivid one. In 2025, JMA recorded a September and early October that ran more than 1 °C above normal on nearly every day, with the pattern only breaking in late October. Foliage across much of central and western Japan followed accordingly, arriving at or behind its long-term average. The first 2026 call fits that bias. JMC has the season **on average or late** across most of the country: Sapporo’s maple ten days behind its own average, Nagano nine, Kyoto city six — and Tokyo almost on the nail at 29 November. A sharp cold snap in October can still pull a season forward within days, which is why the early-October revision matters more than any one September date. What this means for planning: > "Kyoto always peaks around 20 November." Treat that as a **window with a late bias**, not an appointment. JMC’s Kyoto city maple call is 11 December. If you are choosing between two candidate weeks for Kyoto or Tokyo, the later one has been the better bet for three years running — and the first 2026 numbers have not argued otherwise. --- #### Who actually forecasts kōyō — and when they publish Here is where most English-language foliage guides go wrong, so it is worth being precise. **The Japan Meteorological Agency does not publish a national peak-foliage forecast.** JMA forecasts weather and climate. What it does do — and this is genuinely valuable — is *observe and record* when the leaves actually turned. Since January 2021, JMA has run a deliberately narrowed programme of **biological season observations** (生物季節観測) covering just six plant species and nine phenomena. Two of the survivors are **maple reddening and leaf fall** and **ginkgo yellowing and leaf fall**. Cherry blossom, plum, hydrangea and Japanese pampas grass make up the rest. In other words, out of all the seasonal markers JMA once tracked across 58 stations, autumn maple and ginkgo were considered important enough to keep. That gives you something no forecast can: a consistent, station-observed record, stretching back to 1953, of the date colour genuinely arrived, comparable against the 1991–2020 normal. The forecasts you actually read every autumn come from **private weather companies**. The practical takeaway is a calendar, not a source list. The first 2026 numbers landed in early September. From **early October**, JMC revises and JWA’s table is due; you adjust the order of the route, not usually the whole trip. From **late October**, stop reading forecasts altogether and start reading live condition reports from the spots themselves — by then, the leaves have stopped being a prediction problem. Japanist splits the job the same way as sakura: the [autumn foliage forecast page](/autumnfoliage) holds the dated city table and map; this guide holds the how-to. If you followed our [2026 cherry blossom forecast](/blog/2026-japan-cherry-blossom-forecast-early-blooms) in spring, this is the same discipline at the other end of the year — with the difference that autumn’s forecasts arrive later and move more. **The 2026 first-call is on the tracker.** The [autumn foliage forecast page](/autumnfoliage) holds the 14-city maple and ginkgo table, the map, and the 2022–2025 record. This guide stays the sequencing, Silver Week, and “what the date actually means.” --- #### September: go north, or go up September is not the month for the postcard Kyoto trip. In most of Honshū it is still summer with better manners — hot, humid, and green. It is, however, the month Japan's alpine colour peaks, and that is a genuinely world-class experience that almost no first-time itinerary includes. By mid-September the high slopes of **Daisetsuzan** in central Hokkaidō are turning. This is Japan's earliest significant kōyō, and it looks nothing like a temple garden: red-gold alpine scrub and birch across enormous volcanic terrain, often with the first snow dusting the peaks above. JMC’s first 2026 mountain call for Asahidake above 1,500 metres is **21 September to 5 October** — which lands inside Silver Week. From mid-September the high **Japan Alps** follow — Karasawa's cirque, the Tateyama highlands, Norikura's summit road. Weathernews noted that Murodō-daira above 2,000 metres had already begun to colour in early September. Two warnings, both practical. Mountain weather at these altitudes turns quickly, and September temperatures at 2,000 metres bear no relationship to the forecast for the nearest city. Check conditions for the mountain, not the town. Second, several of Japan's best alpine foliage roads are **access-controlled during peak weeks** — private cars restricted in favour of reserved shuttle buses or timed permits, with bookings that open weeks ahead and fill on clear weekends. This is normal, it is well signposted in Japanese, and it is routinely missed by visitors planning in English. If your trip depends on reaching a specific alpine viewpoint in late September, confirm the access rules before you book the night. And there is one more September factor, which deserves its own section. --- #### Silver Week 2026: a rare five-day collision Japan gets a full five-day Silver Week only when the calendar cooperates, and in 2026 it does — for the first time since 2015. For a foliage traveller this cuts both ways. Late September is precisely when alpine Hokkaidō and the high Alps are at their best, and it is also when several million Japanese residents have five consecutive days free to go and look at exactly that. Mountain accommodation, shuttle reservations, rental cars and expressways all feel it. JR operators have run all-reserved Nozomi services during recent peak periods, so check the year's operating notice rather than assuming you can walk onto a train. If your dates are fixed inside that window, the strategy is the same one we recommend for [Obon in August](/blog/japan-obon-ghost-holiday-tourists): do not move between regions on the peak days. Position yourself before 19 September, stay put through the holiday, and travel again from the 24th. Our [2026 peak travel calendar](/blog/japan-2026-peak-travel-periods-holidays) sets Silver Week alongside Golden Week, Obon and New Year if you are still choosing dates. If your dates are flexible, the first week of October is the quiet, underrated alternative. The colour has barely moved. The crowds have gone back to work. --- #### October: the most underrated foliage month October is when Japan gets genuinely, reliably beautiful — and when the famous cities are still too warm to show it. That mismatch is an opportunity. While Kyoto and Tokyo stay green, the mountains and the north are at full strength, with clear skies, low humidity and sharply reduced typhoon risk after mid-month. ##### Tōhoku Tōhoku is large, mountainous, comparatively under-visited by international travellers, and arguably the best-value autumn destination in Japan. The signature landscapes are gorges and lakes rather than gardens: **Oirase Gorge**, where a walking trail follows a stream through maple and beech for roughly fourteen kilometres; **Lake Towada**, a caldera lake immediately upstream; the **Hachimantai** highlands, where the colour is alpine and early; and the narrow rock walls of **Naruko** and **Geibikei**. Peak in the mountains runs from mid-October, dropping to the lowlands and into early November. This is also onsen country, which is not incidental. The pairing of foliage with an outdoor hot-spring bath is one of the most complete experiences Japanese travel offers, and October is when it works best. ##### The Japan Alps and central Japan Central Japan's mountains deliver October's most dramatic scenery, and the transport is part of the attraction. **Kurobe Gorge** is reached by a narrow-gauge railway that threads bridges and ravines. **Kamikōchi** is a high valley closed to private cars, and it closes for the winter in mid-November. **Tateyama** is crossed by a chain of cable cars, ropeways and highland buses. Nearby, **Nikkō** offers the cleanest possible demonstration of the altitude rule. Oku-Nikkō — Senjōgahara marsh, Lake Chūzenji, Kegon Falls, the hairpins of Irohazaka — peaks through October. **Nikkō town** and its shrine complex, more than a thousand metres lower, waits until early-to-mid November. One destination, two seasons, five weeks apart. Its famous winding roads also produce famous weekend traffic; go on a weekday if you possibly can. October is also a strong month for autumn festivals, which are harvest events rather than foliage events but frequently overlap. Kyoto's **Jidai Matsuri** processes in late October and **Nagasaki Kunchi** opens the month; our [festival calendar](/festivals) tracks dates as organisers confirm them. --- #### November: Japan's classic foliage month If your mental image of Japanese autumn involves maples framing a temple roof, stone paths under fallen leaves, and an avenue of golden ginkgo, then November is the month you are picturing. ##### Tokyo Tokyo's foliage arrives later than almost every visitor expects. The city's official tourism body gives **mid-November to early December** as the citywide window, and November as the headline month — which means an early-November trip to Tokyo will find the parks still largely green. Tokyo also proves something worth internalising: **you do not need to leave the city to experience kōyō properly.** The **Meiji Jingū Gaien** ginkgo avenue is a 300-metre run of some 146 trees that turns into a corridor of gold, typically in the second half of November. **Shinjuku Gyoen** holds mixed maple and ginkgo and keeps colour late into the season. **Rikugien**, an Edo-period strolling garden, is the classic maple-and-illumination choice; JNTO singles it out for both daytime views and its evening lighting from around mid-November into early December. **Koishikawa Kōrakuen** is the quieter equivalent. And **Mt. Takao**, under an hour from Shinjuku, turns from the summit down through November. Note the sequence within the city: ginkgo yellows before maple reddens. If you want the gold corridor *and* deep red maples, aim at the overlap in the final week of November rather than either extreme. The first 2026 call puts Tokyo ginkgo around 26 November and maple around 29 November — almost on average. The Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka rows on the [foliage tracker](/autumnfoliage) now carry those dates beside the last four seasons. ##### Kyoto And then there is Kyoto. Kyoto's autumn is famous for structural reasons, not just sentimental ones. Very few cities anywhere place mature maple forests directly against wooden temple architecture, raked gravel, moss, water and forested hills — all inside a walkable historic core. The result is theatrical in a way no park can replicate. Kyoto stays warm through October and cools in November. Temple districts in the hills can colour from the third week of November; JMC’s first 2026 maple call for the **city** is 11 December — a lowland specimen date, six days behind its own average. Plan the basin later than Takao. The destinations everyone names — **Tōfuku-ji**, **Kiyomizu-dera**, **Eikan-dō**, **Nanzen-ji**, **Arashiyama** — are famous because they are magnificent. They are also, in the last ten days of November, among the most crowded places in Japan. The alternatives are not consolation prizes. **Takao**, in the northwestern mountains, is a genuine foliage district in its own right and turns earlier than the city centre. Northern Kyoto, the Ōhara valley and the western hills carry serious colour with a fraction of the volume. Our [Kyoto guide](/locations/kyoto) covers the districts and access in more detail. Two Kyoto-specific practicalities for 2026. The city's **lodging tax moved to higher bands from March 2026**, which changes the arithmetic of a peak-season Kyoto stay — we broke the numbers down in [the 2026 hidden costs audit](/blog/2026-japan-travel-costs-hidden-taxes-fees). And several major temples run **night illuminations** in season with separate tickets, separate entry times and their own queues; they are worth doing, and they are not simply "the same temple after dark." ##### December December is not the end of the season. It is the end of the season *in the north*. Through the first week of December, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Tokyo's gardens frequently hold excellent colour — often better than mid-November in a warm year. **Kyūshū** carries the last of it, with Fukuoka and Kumamoto running into mid-December. Late-season travel also means thinner crowds, lower prices and, in Kyoto, the specific pleasure of moss and gravel under a red carpet. --- #### The 2026 crowd question, answered honestly You will read that Japan is overrun. The real picture in 2026 is more interesting than that, and it changes where you should go. Japan set a record in 2025 with **42,683,600 international visitors**, per JNTO. But the trend has turned: JNTO recorded **21,084,800 visitors in the first half of 2026 — down 2.0% year on year**, with June down 6.8%, the third consecutive month below the previous year. The driver is a single market. Chinese arrivals fell about 56% in the first half following Beijing's travel advisory. Underneath that, demand is not collapsing at all — it is redistributing. Korea was up 18.6% and Taiwan up 20.9% in the same period, and fifteen markets set June records. So the correct conclusion is not "Japan is empty" and not "Japan is overwhelmed." Japan's crowding problem is no longer about how many people arrive. It is about how few places and how few weeks they arrive into. Autumn concentrates that effect harder than any other season, because the peak is genuinely narrow. When Tōfuku-ji has roughly ten good days and every guidebook names it, the arithmetic does not care about the national total. Japan's own tourism policy has recognised the pattern: the government is funding hundreds of regional projects and selected fifteen destinations for sustainable-management planning in 2026, explicitly to spread visitors beyond the same handful of sites. For a foliage trip, that is not a policy footnote. It is a hint. The rest of Japan is where the season is best anyway. --- #### Follow the leaves: how to actually structure the trip The single most useful shift in planning a foliage trip is to stop choosing places and start choosing windows. Most travellers say: > "Five days in Tokyo, five days in Kyoto." The foliage version asks: > "Where will the colour be during my ten days — and what is my fallback if it runs late?" That one change reorganises everything downstream. - **Fix the frame, not the details.** Book international flights, your first and last nights, and any non-negotiable reservations. Leave the middle deliberately loose. - **Sequence high-to-low, north-to-south.** Start at altitude or in the north and work down and south. You are then travelling *with* the wave instead of against it. - **Buy flexibility where it is cheapest.** Refundable rates on the nights that depend on foliage timing. Pay the small premium on those; save it on your city nights. - **Never build an itinerary around one specific day at one specific temple.** That is the single most common way a foliage trip disappoints. - **Re-plan twice: early September and late October.** Once when the first forecasts land, once when live reports replace them. ##### Sequences that work with the wave **Three days.** Pick one region and commit. Tokyo for gardens and ginkgo. Kyoto for temples. Nikkō for mountains and lakes. Kanazawa for Kenrokuen and preserved districts. Do not attempt to chase anything. **Five days.** One city plus one altitude excursion. Tokyo with Nikkō is the easiest strong combination in the country: the world's largest metropolitan area, then mountains, lakes and waterfalls two hours away — and because of the altitude gap, the two rarely peak together, which means one of them is almost always right. **Seven days.** Now you can follow the season. - *First-timers:* Tokyo → Nikkō → Kyoto - *Nature and fewer crowds:* Tokyo → Nagano/Alps → Kanazawa - *Temples and gardens:* Kyoto → Nara → Osaka, with Takao or Ōhara as the crowd valve **Ten days.** Enough slack to make foliage the organising principle: Tokyo → Nikkō → Nagano → Kanazawa → Kyoto → Osaka, with the number of nights in each decided by the September and October forecasts. Running early? Weight north. Running late? Weight south and later. **Two weeks.** Hokkaidō → Tōhoku → Tokyo → the Alps → Kyoto is the full chase, and it is genuinely spectacular. It is also a lot of transit. Japan is longer than it looks, and a trip optimised purely for maximum red trees can become a sequence of stations and check-ins. The goal is not to photograph the most foliage. It is to experience the season. --- #### Avoiding the worst of the crowds You do not have to avoid Kyoto. You have to avoid the obvious places at the obvious hours. - **Go early — genuinely early.** Major temples open between 06:00 and 08:00 in season. The first ninety minutes are a different city from 11:00. - **Go midweek.** Tuesday and Wednesday against Saturday is often the difference between a garden and a queue. Watch the 3 November and 23 November holidays, which create long weekends. - **Sleep in the city you want to see.** Staying in Kyoto buys you the early morning and the late evening — the two windows day-trippers structurally cannot use. - **Trade fame for elevation.** Takao, Ōhara, northern Kyoto, Mt. Takao near Tokyo, and the ring of mountain districts around any major city. - **Aim off-peak within the window.** The first or last days of a foliage window can be more atmospheric than the presumed perfect weekend, and dramatically less busy. And one piece of perspective that will improve most trips more than any tactic: **a tree at seventy per cent is still beautiful.** Photographers often prefer the late and fallen stages, and there is a reason beyond logistics. The Japanese aesthetic response to autumn is not simply *more colour*. It is bound up with impermanence — *mono no aware*, the poignancy of things that are passing. Under that reading, falling leaves are not the season failing. They are the season doing exactly what it is admired for. Whichever stage you catch, the etiquette at temples and gardens matters more in peak season than at any other time — narrow paths, private lanes, moss you must not step on, and photography rules that vary by site. Our [etiquette guide](/etiquette) covers the specifics. --- #### What actually makes the leaves turn The science is short, and it explains a scheduling problem you will otherwise find baffling. Through the growing season, leaves are dominated by chlorophyll, which is green and which masks everything else. As days shorten and temperatures fall, trees stop maintaining it. As the chlorophyll breaks down, **carotenoids** — yellow and orange, present all along — become visible. The vivid reds of Japanese maple involve **anthocyanins**, which are largely produced in autumn itself, favoured by cool nights and bright days. That is why cold snaps sharpen colour and warm autumns mute it. It also explains the ginkgo-versus-maple gap. Japan's foliage forecasters note explicitly that **ginkgo colours at slightly higher temperatures than maple**, so yellow reliably peaks before red — typically by a week or more in the same city. Which produces the situation visitors find genuinely confusing: On one day, in one city, you can find ginkgo at perfect gold, maples still green, other maples half-turned, and a path already deep in fallen leaves. "Autumn foliage" is not one event. It is several overlapping ones, and knowing that is what lets you plan a good day instead of a disappointed one. --- #### Typhoons, and what they do to leaves Japan's typhoon season runs roughly May to October and peaks in **August and September** — which overlaps the start of foliage season directly. For travel, the disruption is usually logistical rather than dangerous. The mechanism to understand is **keikaku unkyū** (計画運休), planned suspension: Japanese railways and airlines announce cancellations *in advance*, often the day before, including Shinkansen lines. Museums, gardens, ropeways and mountain roads close. None of it is a safety crisis for a sensible traveller, but any of it can remove a day from your itinerary. For foliage specifically there is a second cost that guides rarely mention. Strong wind and driving rain **strip leaves early**. A direct hit in late October can end a location's season a week ahead of schedule. So when a storm approaches, ask two questions, not one: 1. Is my transport running? 2. What will this do to the foliage I came to see? Practical measures: watch **JMA** for tropical cyclone information and warnings, install the **Safety tips** app (supervised by the Japan Tourism Agency, multilingual push alerts), check your actual operator rather than general news, and keep one indoor day in reserve. JNTO also runs a 24-hour multilingual visitor hotline. Our [travel guide](/travel-guide) has the full safety and preparation section. Risk is highest in Okinawa and Kyūshū, lowest in Hokkaidō — which happens to align neatly with the recommendation to start north in September anyway. --- #### Trains: the fastest route is rarely the best one Japan's rail network is what makes foliage chasing realistic. You can genuinely wake up in Kyoto and be in the northern mountains before lunch. But for this particular trip, speed is not the point. Some of Japan's finest autumn experiences are the journeys: narrow-gauge gorge railways, single-track local lines through valleys, ropeways rising through the colour band, lake cruises, and mountain buses. The Shinkansen gets you to the region. Something slower shows it to you. A few 2026 planning notes worth having in one place: - **Rail passes changed.** National and regional pass structures, pricing and Nozomi rules have all shifted in recent years, and a pass is no longer automatically the cheaper option. Our [transportation guide](/transportation) covers the current picture, including IC cards and reservations. - **Reserve early for peak foliage weekends**, and check whether Nozomi services are all-reserved for the dates you want. - **The departure tax tripled to ¥3,000 on 1 July 2026**, so it is already in force for an autumn trip. - **Tax-free shopping changes on 1 November 2026**, switching to a refund-at-departure method — which lands squarely in peak foliage season, so November shoppers should read the new procedure before queueing at a counter. We covered both in [Japan 2026: new rules every tourist must know](/blog/japan-2026-new-rules-changes-tourists). --- #### Packing for a season that spans two climates The classic mistake is packing for "autumn in Japan" as though Japan had one autumn. Daisetsuzan in late September and Kyoto in late November are effectively different countries. Layer, and treat altitude as its own climate zone. - **Layers, not a single coat** Light base layers, a fleece or sweater, and a shell you can drop or add through a day that starts at 6 °C and reaches 20 °C. - **Waterproof outer and a compact umbrella** Autumn brings passing rain, and early season brings typhoon tails. - **Broken-in walking shoes** Gravel, temple steps, gorge trails and long garden circuits. This is a walking season. - **A genuine warm layer for altitude** Plus gloves and a hat if you are going north or above about 1,500 metres. Mountain mornings are near freezing. - **Power and a small daypack** Cold drains batteries faster than you expect, and illumination events mean long evenings out. For mountain destinations, check the forecast for the mountain itself, not the nearest city. Altitude decides. --- #### Your 2026 planning timeline - **Now — early September** First 2026 city dates are on the [forecast page](/autumnfoliage). Compare them against booked weeks. Keep refundable rates on foliage-dependent nights. Reserve access-controlled alpine shuttles if late September matters to you. - **Early October** JMC’s second release, and JWA’s first table. Adjust the order of the route, not usually the whole trip. - **October** Firm up regional decisions. Watch typhoon tracks. Northern and alpine colour is already peaking — if you are travelling now, you are in season. - **Late October to November** Stop reading forecasts. Read live condition reports and recent photographs from the specific spots. Move with what is actually happening. - **Throughout** Keep one flexible day per week, one backup destination per region, and one indoor option for weather. Before you leave home, confirm you have: the latest JMA seasonal outlook and warnings; the current private foliage forecasts; your destinations' **elevation**; at least one backup within reach; opening hours and any advance-reservation requirements for temples, gardens and illuminations; and layers for two climates. --- #### FAQ ##### When is the best time to see autumn leaves in Japan in 2026? It depends entirely on where you are going. For a first trip centred on Tokyo and Kyoto, mid-November to early December is still the strongest window, and JNTO gives the same range nationally. The first 2026 JMC call puts Tokyo maple around 29 November and Kyoto city maple around 11 December. For Hokkaidō, Tōhoku, Nikkō’s highlands or the Japan Alps, go from mid-September to late October. City-by-city maple and ginkgo dates, with the recent record beside them, are on the [autumn foliage forecast page](/autumnfoliage). ##### When do the 2026 Japan autumn foliage forecasts come out? The first 2026 calls are out. Japan Meteorological Corporation published city maple and ginkgo dates on 2 September; Weathernews issued a nationwide “late or slightly late” outlook on 3 September. JMC revises in early October and again into November. The Japan Weather Association (tenki.jp) has said its 2026 table arrives in late September. The Japan Meteorological Agency does not publish a peak-foliage forecast at all — it publishes temperature outlooks, and separately records the dates maple and ginkgo actually coloured. The city table is on the [forecast page](/autumnfoliage). ##### When does Kyoto's autumn foliage peak? Temple and hillside districts generally reach their best from roughly the third week of November into the first week of December. JMC’s first 2026 maple call for Kyoto *city* is 11 December, six days behind its average — a lowland specimen date, not a Tōfuku-ji appointment. Kyoto is warm through October, so an October visit will find green maples in the basin; Takao in the northwestern mountains turns earlier. The Kyoto row on the [forecast page](/autumnfoliage) sits next to the last four seasons. ##### Is Japan's autumn foliage getting later because of climate change? The recent record points that way. Japan Meteorological Agency data show the national autumn mean temperature rising about 1.47 °C per century, and Japan's three warmest autumns since records began in 1898 were 2023, 2024 and 2025. Maples need sustained cool nights to develop strong red colour, so warm autumns tend to delay and sometimes mute the display. Year-to-year weather still varies, so treat historical dates as windows biased late rather than fixed appointments. ##### How does Silver Week 2026 affect an autumn trip? Silver Week runs Saturday 19 September to Wednesday 23 September 2026 — Japan's first full five-day version since 2015, because 22 September falls between two national holidays and becomes a holiday itself under the Holiday Act. It coincides with peak alpine foliage, so mountain accommodation, shuttle reservations and intercity trains are heavily booked. Avoid moving between regions on those days, or shift to the first week of October, when the colour has barely changed and the crowds have gone. ##### Will typhoons ruin autumn foliage plans? Typhoon season peaks in August and September and eases considerably after mid-October. The usual impact is disruption rather than danger: Japanese railways and airlines announce planned suspensions in advance, sometimes a day ahead. For foliage specifically, strong wind and rain can strip leaves early and end a location's season sooner than forecast. Monitor JMA, install the Safety tips app, keep an indoor option, and build one flexible day into each week. ##### Where can I see autumn leaves in Japan in September? Almost exclusively at altitude and in the north. Daisetsuzan in central Hokkaidō is the country's earliest significant foliage, turning from mid-September on its high slopes, followed by the high Japan Alps. This is alpine scenery rather than temple gardens, and several access roads run on reservation-only shuttles during peak weeks, so confirm the rules before booking. ##### Is it too late to see autumn foliage in December? No, if you are in the right half of the country. Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Tokyo's gardens frequently hold strong colour into the first week of December, and Kyūshū carries the last of the season into mid-December. Late-season travel also means thinner crowds and lower prices, plus the particular appeal of fallen leaves over moss and gravel. --- #### Official and credible sources **Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)** — Japan's official meteorological authority: climate records, seasonal temperature trends, warnings and tropical cyclone information, and the biological season observations that record when maple and ginkgo actually coloured. - [JMA English portal](https://www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html) - [Japan's seasonal mean temperature — autumn series, 1898–2025](https://www.data.jma.go.jp/cpdinfo/temp/aut_jpn.html) - [Change to biological season observation species, from January 2021 (PDF, Japanese)](https://www.jma.go.jp/jma/press/2011/10a/20201110oshirase.pdf) **Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)** — the national tourism authority: seasonal guidance and official visitor statistics. - [JNTO — Autumn in Japan](https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/autumn-guide/) - [JNTO — visitor statistics](https://www.jnto.go.jp/statistics/data/visitors-statistics/) - [JNTO — visitor arrivals, June 2026 and first half 2026](https://www.jnto.go.jp/news/press/20260715_monthly.html) - [Safety tips app for travellers](https://www.jnto.go.jp/safety-tips/eng/app.html) **Cabinet Office of Japan** — the statutory list of national holidays, including the September 2026 sequence that creates Silver Week. - [国民の祝日について — Cabinet Office](https://www8.cao.go.jp/chosei/shukujitsu/gaiyou.html) **Private foliage forecasters** — the peak-viewing forecasts most travellers actually use, with published methodology. - [Japan Meteorological Corporation — seasonal forecast services](https://n-kishou.com/corp/service/data/provide/season/) - [Japan Meteorological Corporation — autumn foliage forecast releases](https://n-kishou.com/corp/news-contents/autumn/) - [JMC — 2026 1st forecast (English city table, 2 September 2026)](https://n-kishou.com/corp/news-contents/autumn/?lang=en) - [Weathernews — 2026 1st foliage outlook (3 September 2026)](https://jp.weathernews.com/news/57455) - [Japan Weather Association — tenki.jp foliage forecast](https://tenki.jp/kouyou/) (2026 table stated for late September) **Local tourism authorities** — once you have chosen a destination, these are the sources that matter most for hours, access and illumination dates. - [GO TOKYO — official Tokyo tourism](https://www.gotokyo.org/en/) - [Kyoto City Official Travel Guide](https://kyoto.travel/en/) --- #### The 2026 question is not "where" It is **"when — and where then?"** That is the real secret of Japanese autumn. The season is not a single spectacle waiting on a fixed date. It is a three-month procession down the length of an archipelago. In September it begins on Hokkaidō's volcanic highlands and the roof of the Alps. In October it sweeps through Tōhoku's gorges and Nikkō's lakes. In November it reaches Tokyo's ginkgo avenues, Kanazawa's gardens and Kyoto's temple maples. By December it is retreating into Kyūshū. Somewhere between the first crimson slope above Sōunkyō and the last gold tree in Kumamoto, Japan spends three months being repainted. The temptation is to find the one perfect weekend. Don't. There is something worth noticing in how Japan treats this season. Momijigari is not a hunt for the best tree. It is the practice of going out to meet a moment that is already leaving — and the tradition holds that the leaving is the point. A garden at peak colour and the same garden a week later, its paths buried in red, are not a success and a failure. They are two parts of the same thing. Which is also, conveniently, the correct way to plan the trip. Watch the weather. Understand the geography. Hold your dates loosely. Let the leaves tell you where to go. You do not go looking for autumn in Japan. You follow it. --- *Planning note: this guide was first published on 18 August 2026 and revised on 8 September 2026 after Japan Meteorological Corporation’s 1st forecast (2 September) and Weathernews’ 1st outlook (3 September). Regional windows in the article remain long-term typical ranges. City 2026 maple and ginkgo dates live on the [autumn foliage forecast page](/autumnfoliage) and will move again with the early-October revision. JWA / tenki.jp has not published its 2026 table yet.* --- ## Japan Wanted Foreigners. Now It Is Deciding How Many Is Too Many. URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/japan-immigration-foreign-residents-cap-2026 Published: 2026-08-16 (JST). Category: Culture. *For decades Japan insisted it was not an immigration country. Demographics made that position untenable, and the number of foreign residents passed four million. Now the question has stopped being rhetorical: in August 2026 a government expert panel began studying whether Japan should set a numerical ceiling on the foreign share of its population — with a basic policy due before April 2027.* Japan has always been a country of productive contradictions. It is one of the world's most advanced economies and one of its fastest-shrinking. It depends on foreign workers and has spent forty years avoiding the word "immigration." It courted the world's travellers so successfully that it now taxes them to manage the crowds. It wants global talent while making several of the pathways that talent uses considerably harder to walk. For most of that time the contradiction was survivable, because the numbers were small. They are not small any more. #### The four numbers that define the debate | Measure | Latest official figure | Change | |---|---|---| | Foreign residents (end-2025) | **4,125,395** | +356,418 (+9.5%) — first time above 4 million | | Total population (1 Oct 2025) | **123.05 million** | −3.097 million (−2.5%) since 2020 | | Foreign workers (31 Oct 2025) | **2,571,037** | +268,450 (+11.7%) — record since 2007 | | Foreign share of population | **≈3.4%** | Projected 10.8% by 2070 | Those four lines contain the whole argument. Japan's foreign population grew nearly 10 percent in a single year ([Immigration Services Agency](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/press/13_00062.html)). The country underneath it shrank by 3.1 million people in five years, with population falling in **1,558 of 1,719 municipalities** — 90.6 percent of Japan ([Statistics Bureau of Japan](https://www.stat.go.jp/english/info/news/20260625.html)). And employers kept hiring, to a record 2.57 million foreign workers across 371,215 workplaces ([Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_68794.html)). So Japan needs more people, and is less and less certain how many of them should be foreign. What changed in the last twelve months is that the Japanese state stopped treating that as a rhetorical question and started treating it as an arithmetic one. --- #### Four million sounds enormous. Context matters. Measured against the 2025 census, foreign residents are roughly **3.4 percent** of people living in Japan. Australia's foreign-born share is 29 percent, Canada's 22 percent, Germany's 18 percent; the OECD average is 11 percent, and Japan sits with Poland, Türkiye and Korea in the small group of members below 4 percent ([OECD, International Migration Outlook 2025](https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/international-migration-outlook-2025_ae26c893-en/full-report/japan_ccc89a8d.html)). Japan has not become a country of mass immigration, and saying so is not a defence of anything. It is a precondition for arguing honestly. One caution about that comparison, since it is the same trap this article warns about later. Most countries count the **foreign-born**, a group that includes people who have since naturalised. Japan and Korea count **foreign nationals**. Japan's measure is therefore the narrower one, and a like-for-like foreign-born figure would be somewhat higher — though nowhere near closing a gap of that size. There is a second comparison Japanese readers make instinctively and foreign commentary almost never does: Japanese people leave too. As of 1 October 2025, **1,298,170 Japanese nationals were living abroad**, essentially unchanged on the year, with 416,380 in the United States, 105,566 in Australia and 92,928 in China ([Ministry of Foreign Affairs](https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/press/release/pressit_000001_03172.html)). About 22,000 Japanese citizens emigrated to OECD countries in 2023. That does not rebut anything — 1.3 million Japanese abroad is not an answer to 4.1 million foreign residents at home, and treating it as one would be a debating trick. What it establishes is scale and direction. Japan receives roughly three times more than it sends, which means the country that spent the first half of the twentieth century exporting people to Hawaii, Brazil and Peru — the *nikkeijin* whose descendants it later invited back — is now firmly on the receiving side of the ledger. The mirror is sharper still. Among Japanese abroad, those living overseas without a fixed term rose 1.4 percent to **588,486**, while fixed-term stayers, the corporate postings and study placements, fell 0.4 percent. Settlement is quietly replacing rotation on both sides of Japan's border, and for the same unglamorous reason: people build lives where the work is. The meaningful signal, then, is not the level. It is the **speed, the composition and the direction**. Nepal passed 300,000 for the first time. Indonesia and Myanmar each added more people in one year than live in many Japanese cities. Korea — long one of the old faces of foreign Japan — shrank. Tokyo alone hosts 801,438 foreign residents, 19.4 percent of the national total, though Osaka (+12.5%) and Saitama (+10.9%) grew faster last year than Tokyo did. Read together, those numbers describe something more consequential than an influx. They describe a **shift from temporary rotation to settlement**: a stalled trainee programme, a booming skilled-worker route, and nearly a million people who already hold the right to stay indefinitely. --- #### Japan needed workers long before it wanted immigrants For most of the postwar era Japan ran a deliberate sleight of hand. It admitted foreign labour without conceding that it was building an immigrant society — trainees, students, spouses, *nikkeijin* descendants of Japanese emigrants — each category framed as an exception to a rule nobody stated out loud. Demography ended the trick. The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research projects that Japan's population will fall from 126.15 million in 2020 to about **87 million by 2070** under the medium-fertility, medium-mortality scenario, dropping below 100 million in 2056. The share aged 65 and over rises from 28.6 percent to **38.7 percent** ([IPSS, 2023 revision](https://www.ipss.go.jp/pp-zenkoku/e/zenkoku_e2023/pp2023e_Summary.pdf)). That is not a labour-market cycle. It is a structural transformation, and it is visible in every sector where the work cannot be done remotely: construction, hospitality, food service, manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and above all nursing care. Japan has real alternatives to immigration, and it is using all of them — automation, productivity, higher participation by women and older workers, wage increases, consolidation of small firms, pro-natal policy. None of them produces a working-age adult inside a decade. The labour statistics show what employers did while waiting: - Professional and technical workers: **865,588** (+20.4% in one year) - Status-based residents (permanent residents and family): **645,590** - Technical interns: **499,394** - Students and others working outside their status: **449,324** - Designated activities: **111,074** (+29.6%) Vietnamese nationals alone account for 605,906 workers, 23.6 percent of the total, followed by China (431,949) and the Philippines (260,869). The sector growing fastest is medical and welfare work, up 25.6 percent. Foreign labour is no longer an experiment at the edge of the Japanese economy. It is load-bearing. --- #### The system changed before the vocabulary did Here is the irony at the centre of the Japanese debate: Japan spent two decades building the machinery of an immigration country while refusing the word. The Technical Intern Training Programme — criticised at home and abroad as a labour scheme wearing the costume of technology transfer — will be abolished and replaced by **Employment for Skill Development** (*ikusei shūrō* 育成就労) on **1 April 2027** under Act No. 60 of 2024. The new framework states plainly that its purpose is securing and developing workers, adds a Japanese-language requirement at entry, and permits job changes after one to two years, which the trainee system effectively forbade ([JITCO](https://www.jitco.or.jp/ja/esd/); [MHLW](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/koyou_roudou/jinzaikaihatsu/global_cooperation/index_00029.html)). Alongside it, Specified Skilled Worker created durable pathways in labour-short sectors, the points system privileged the highly skilled, J-Skip and J-Find courted elite talent, and international students became a recruitment pipeline. The consequences were entirely predictable. People stayed. Families formed. Children were born and enrolled in Japanese schools. Permanent residents approached a million. Companies restructured around foreign employees. At which point the distinction between "foreign worker" and "immigrant" became a statement about Japanese vocabulary rather than about anybody's life. If a person arrives at 22, works twenty years, pays taxes, raises children and buys a house, calling them a temporary foreign worker tells you nothing about them and everything about the language available to describe them. --- #### Then the politics arrived Immigration was not a decisive Japanese electoral issue until very recently. In the space of a year it became one of the organising questions of national politics. ##### July 2025: the breakthrough In the Upper House election, Sanseito (参政党) — campaigning on a "Japanese First" platform and warning of a "silent invasion" — won 14 seats, taking it from one seat to 15 in the 248-member chamber ([Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/japanese-first-party-emerges-election-force-with-tough-immigration-talk-2025-07-21/)). A qualifier most coverage dropped: immigration was not what most voters cared about. In NHK polling before that vote, 29 percent named social security and the declining birthrate as their biggest concern and 28 percent named rising rice prices. **Immigration was in joint fifth place at 7 percent.** A small but intense constituency, amplified online, moved the agenda far more than its raw ranking suggested. That is usually how realignments begin. ##### November 2025: the cabinet takes the file Under Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, the cabinet established the **Ministerial Meeting on the Acceptance of Foreign Nationals and the Realisation of an Orderly Coexistence Society** (外国人の受入れ・秩序ある共生社会実現に関する関係閣僚会議) on 4 November, with instructions to produce a governing philosophy rather than another round of ad hoc measures ([Cabinet Secretariat](https://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisakukaigi/gaikokujinzai/index.html)). ##### January 2026: the package On 23 January the council adopted the **Comprehensive Measures for the Acceptance of Foreign Nationals and Orderly Coexistence**. The document's own framing is that it introduces "order" (秩序) as an organising concept, in response to what it calls the public's anxiety and sense of unfairness. Its contents are concrete: - a **Zero Illegal Residents Plan** and tougher action against illegal employment - stricter screening of **permanent residency** and **naturalisation** - a new pre-arrival and post-arrival **Japanese-language and social-rules learning programme** - measures against **unpaid medical bills** - tighter conversion of foreign **driver's licences** - transparency over **land and building ownership**, including apartments and groundwater extraction - a review of **receiving caps** in the Specified Skilled Worker and Employment for Skill Development systems - higher **residence and visa fees** ([full text, PDF](https://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisakukaigi/gaikokujinzai/pdf/kettei_sougoutekitaiousaku_honbun.pdf)) ##### February 2026: an election fought partly on this In the 8 February general election the Liberal Democratic Party won **316 of 465 seats** — the largest haul by a single party in the postwar era — and with Ishin's 36 seats the coalition controls 75.7 percent of the chamber. Sanseito went from 2 seats to **15**, all through proportional representation. Both Ishin and Sanseito campaigned explicitly for a ceiling on the foreign population. The LDP manifesto did not mention one ([Yomiuri](https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/shugiin/20260209-GYT1T00320/); [Jiji on the parties' positions](https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?g=pol&k=2026020300696)). ##### July 2026: a deadline At the council's third meeting on 24 July, the Chief Cabinet Secretary instructed ministries to accelerate: emergency staffing for the Immigration Services Agency, a summer package on land-acquisition rules, and — the decisive item — a **basic policy on how many foreign nationals Japan should accept, to be compiled within FY2026**, aligned with the national population strategy ([Kantei](https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/pages/20260724choukan_gaikokujin.html)). ##### August 2026: the arithmetic begins On 7 August a six-member expert working group chaired by University of Tokyo vice-president Ōhashi Hiroshi held its first meeting. Its assignment is to project the foreign resident and foreign worker population to around 2040 under multiple net-migration scenarios, and to analyse the effects on the economy, social security, public safety and local communities. The LDP–Ishin coalition agreement commits the government to a population strategy including **"quantitative management" (量的マネジメント)** of the foreign resident ratio and caps. Minister for Coexistence Policy Onoda Kimi opened the session by noting that the foreign population is growing "faster than expected" ([Asahi](https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASV872D9FV87UTIL02FM.html); [Tokyo Shimbun / Kyodo](https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/507248)). It is time to discuss what Japan will become, responsibly. — Onoda Kimi, Minister for Coexistence Policy, 7 August 2026 This is the part of the story that most English-language commentary has not caught up with. "How many is too many" is no longer a columnist's framing device. It is an agenda item with a chair, a secretariat, a modelling methodology and a deadline. --- #### The new message: contribution, documented Long before any ceiling is decided, the criteria have already moved. Three changes show the philosophy. ##### The entrepreneur route The Business Manager (経営・管理) status was among the most accessible in the developed world: roughly ¥5 million in capital, or two employees. Since **16 October 2025** an applicant must: 1. Hold **¥30 million** in capital or invested business assets 2. Employ at least one **full-time worker** who is Japanese, a special permanent resident or a status-based resident 3. Demonstrate **CEFR B2-level Japanese** (JLPT N2 or equivalent) personally or through that employee 4. Hold a relevant graduate degree, or **three years** of management experience 5. Submit a business plan **verified by a certified SME consultant, CPA or tax accountant** ([Immigration Services Agency](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/10_00237.html)) The capital figure gets the headlines, but the bundle is the real filter — particularly the language requirement, which quietly excludes a large share of would-be founders. ISA has also pushed back on the panic reading: existing holders are **not** required to produce ¥30 million or leave. Until **16 October 2028**, failing the new bar is not by itself grounds to refuse a renewal, and even after that, sound finances, tax compliance and a credible path to compliance are weighed. Solid small businesses are not being expelled. The door for new arrivals has narrowed sharply. ##### Permanent residency The ISA revised its Guidelines on Permanent Residence Permission on **24 February 2026** to state explicitly that the "national interest" test includes proper fulfilment of public obligations — tax, public pension, public health insurance and immigration notification duties — and, critically, that **paying late counts against you even if everything is settled by the time you apply**. The agency's stated reason is candid: it had seen applicants clear arrears to obtain permanent residency and then stop paying ([ISA guidelines](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/nyukan_nyukan50.html)). Then, on **4 August 2026**, Justice Minister Hiraguchi Hiroshi announced a draft further revision, taking effect in stages from October 2026. It would require income **above the average for a Japanese household** of comparable size, projected pension entitlements equivalent to **30 years of employees' pension enrolment**, and evidence that the applicant "actively and concretely brings benefits to Japan." The income test is reported to apply retroactively to applications filed since April 2026. Lawyers have already objected that requirements of this weight belong in legislation rather than administrative guidance; the labour and immigration lawyer Ibusuki Shoichi called it an encroachment on the Diet's authority ([Jiji, 12 August 2026](https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?g=pol&k=2026081200583)). From **April 2027**, a three-year period of stay will no longer count as the "longest" period for permanent-residency purposes, and permanent residency becomes revocable for wilful non-payment of taxes and social insurance premiums under the 2024 amendment to the Immigration Control Act. Our rule-by-rule breakdown of that shift, including the fee increases and the spouse fast-track, is here: [Japan's Permanent Residency Overhaul: Every 2026–2027 Rule Change](/blog/japan-permanent-residency-visa-changes-2026-2027). ##### Naturalisation Here the direction is the same, and far less widely reported. The Nationality Act still requires, in principle, five years of continuous domicile. But the January 2026 package explicitly flags the "inconsistency" between that five-year rule and the ten years normally expected for permanent residency, and directs the Ministry of Justice to consider requiring, **in principle, ten or more years of residence** as part of the "integration into Japanese society" test. Meanwhile the actual volume remains tiny. **9,258 people naturalised in 2025** out of 14,103 applicants — China 3,533, Korea 2,017, Nepal 695. In a country with 4.1 million foreign residents, fewer than ten thousand a year become Japanese. The common thread across all three is not "foreigners are unwelcome." If you want to stay, document that you contribute and that you followed the rules — including the ones you did not know were being scored. --- #### What the data supports, and what it does not There is nothing illegitimate about a state enforcing its immigration law, or about asking whether arrivals are outpacing the capacity of particular towns to absorb them. The failure mode is different: it is when a legitimate question about **systems and behaviour** silently becomes a claim about **people**. Japan's own statistics are the best corrective, because they cut in both directions. **On enforcement, the numbers do not describe a state losing control.** As of 1 January 2026 the ISA counted **68,488 overstayers**, down 6,375 (−8.5 percent) year on year, with 9,748 newly identified. Overstayers fell across nine of the top ten nationalities. Short-term-stay overstays — visitors who did not leave — account for 41,607 of the total, which is a visa-screening and departure-management issue rather than a foreign-worker issue ([ISA](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/press/13_00061.html)). **On crime, the honest reading is more uncomfortable and still not what the slogans claim.** Clearances involving "visiting foreigners" (来日外国人 — a category that excludes permanent residents and special permanent residents) rose for a third consecutive year in 2025, driven heavily by organised theft and fraud networks, with Vietnam and China together accounting for about half. But Japanese crime rose too: nationwide, reported offences reached **774,142 in 2025 (+4.9 percent)** and cleared persons **200,663 (+4.6 percent)** — the fourth straight annual increase, now above pre-pandemic 2019 ([National Police Agency](https://www.npa.go.jp/publications/statistics/crime/situation/r7_hanzaijyousei__.pdf)). Two things follow. Foreign-linked organised crime is a real enforcement problem that deserves resources and specificity. And the rise in Japanese crime is not explained by foreigners — which means a debate that treats the two as one phenomenon will misdiagnose both. --- #### "Foreigners" are not one group This is the single most important analytical point in the entire argument, and the one political language is least equipped to preserve. A tourist spending five days in Kyoto is not an immigrant. A Vietnamese care worker is not a foreign investor. A Chinese doctoral student is not a permanent resident. A Japanese citizen born abroad is not a foreign resident at all. A highly skilled engineer is not economically interchangeable with a seasonal worker. A refugee applicant is not an overstayer. A permanent resident of thirty years is not the same social phenomenon as someone who landed last month. Yet all of them can be collapsed into a single word — 外国人 — and once that happens, individual behaviour becomes collective evidence. A badly behaved tourist becomes an argument about care workers. One visa fraud becomes an argument about a million permanent residents. A single property purchase becomes proof of takeover. The policy consequence is not abstract. Rules written against a composite villain land on real, different people, and they usually land hardest on the ones least able to absorb them. --- #### Overtourism is real. It is not immigration. Japan is absorbing two historic inflows at once, and conflating them is the most common error in the debate. Inbound travel set a record in 2025: **42,683,600 visitors**, up 15.8 percent and past 40 million for the first time, against 36,870,148 in 2024 ([JNTO](https://www.jnto.go.jp/news/press/20260121_monthly.html)). In 2026 the curve has flattened — 21,084,800 in the first half, with June down 6.8 percent year on year ([JNTO, June 2026](https://www.jnto.go.jp/news/press/20260715_monthly.html)). Cities are responding with instruments aimed precisely at visitors. From **1 March 2026** Kyoto restructured its lodging tax into five bands topping out at **¥10,000 per person per night** for rooms above ¥100,000 — a tenfold increase in the maximum and the highest fixed-rate lodging tax in Japan. The city expects revenue to roughly double, from ¥5.9 billion to about ¥13.2 billion, and is directing it at etiquette campaigns, cultural-property support, *machiya* preservation and transport pressure ([Kyoto City](https://ja.kyoto.travel/news/format.php?id=532)). Other 2026 changes affecting visitors are collected in our guide to [Japan's new rules for tourists](/blog/japan-2026-new-rules-changes-tourists). That is what a targeted response looks like. A crowded bus in Higashiyama is an argument about transport capacity and visitor levies. It is not an argument about the pension record of a Filipino nurse in Gunma. When the two are argued as one problem, the likely outcome is that the tourists keep coming and the residents get the paperwork. --- #### The official projections already assume immigration Here is the fact that reframes the entire ceiling debate. The IPSS projection that Japan's population "only" falls to 87 million by 2070 is **not** a no-immigration scenario. It assumes net inflows of non-Japanese nationals rising to **163,791 per year by 2040** and holding at that level. That single assumption is the main reason the projected decline slowed compared with the previous revision. On the same basis, foreign residents are projected to reach about **10.8 percent** of Japan's population by 2070, up from 2.2 percent in 2020. In other words, the official demographic baseline underpinning Japanese fiscal, pension and regional planning already presumes an immigration-dependent Japan — at a rate far below what has actually been arriving. Foreign residents rose by 356,418 in 2025; that is a stock change, not a net-migration figure, but it is more than twice the annual inflow the 2070 projection assumes from 2040. Suzuki Keisuke, the former justice minister, made the point in an August 2025 report: on current trends the 10 percent threshold arrives far sooner than 2070. So a cap is not a return to a prior baseline. It is a decision to plan for a smaller Japan than the government's own projections currently assume. That is a legitimate choice. It is not a neutral one, and it deserves to be argued as a trade-off rather than a restoration. Which leaves the unavoidable question in two forms: How much economic and fiscal contraction is Japan willing to accept in exchange for fewer foreign residents? How much settlement is it willing to accept in order to sustain the workforce, tax base and care system it currently has? --- #### Immigration cannot solve the population problem either The honest counterweight: immigration is not a fix. Foreign workers age. Migrants' fertility tends to converge toward the host society's. Sustained large-scale immigration would change Japan's cultural and political character — welcome to some, unacceptable to others, but not a technicality. And a policy that imports working-age adults while neglecting the schools, housing and language provision they need does not buy stability. It defers a bill. Japan cannot say "we need workers, so open the doors" and expect the social arithmetic to take care of itself. It also cannot say "fewer foreigners, and everything returns to normal," because the Japan of 1990 no longer exists to return to. Both slogans are ways of avoiding a trade-off. --- #### Not closing the door. Narrowing it, and adding a doorman. Read as a whole, the 2025–2026 record does not describe a closing country. Foreign workers hit a record. Specified Skilled Worker grew by more than 100,000 in a year. Employment for Skill Development arrives in 2027 with better mobility rights than the system it replaces. Student numbers are up. Investment promotion continues. The January 2026 package devotes entire chapters to Japanese-language education — before arrival, for workers, for residents, for children, and for the training and social standing of Japanese-language teachers. At the same time: capital thresholds up sixfold, language tests where there were none, permanent residency priced and means-tested, naturalisation review lengthening, fees rising sharply, revocation powers arriving in 2027, and a formal study of quantitative caps. That is not a shutdown. It is **selection** — and increasingly, selection on documented fiscal contribution. The state is asking: what do you do, what do you earn, do you pay on time, can you support yourself into old age, do you speak Japanese, are your children in school, and does Japan need you? Most of those questions are defensible. Taken together — imposed through guidelines rather than legislation, and in one case retroactively — they also constitute one of the fastest redefinitions of settlement rights in any wealthy democracy right now, and it is happening with very little debate in the languages spoken by the people it affects. --- #### The permanent-resident question is a question about belonging Nearly a million people now hold permanent residency in Japan. They own homes, have Japanese spouses, send children to Japanese schools, pay Japanese taxes, work at Japanese companies and staff neighbourhood associations. Some have lived in Japan longer than many Japanese citizens have been alive. For them the immigration debate is not about borders. It is about how long a person remains a foreigner. Five years? Twenty? Forty? A lifetime? Japan offers two answers and is narrowing both. Naturalisation requires renouncing another nationality — and, if the current review proceeds, ten years of residence rather than five. Permanent residency preserves the original passport but is now conditional, priced, income-tested and revocable. Fewer than 10,000 people a year choose the first route. Nearly a million have chosen the second, and are watching the terms change beneath them. A country can run that arrangement while the foreign population is small. It becomes considerably harder when a million long-term residents conclude that their permanence is provisional. --- #### And then there are the children The next generation is where the old model will break first. Consider a child born in Japan to foreign parents. She speaks Japanese natively. Her friends are Japanese. She sat the same entrance exams, watched the same television, learned the same *kanji*. She may know little about her parents' country. Japan is not merely where she lives; it is where she is from. Depending on her parents' status she may nonetheless spend her life categorised as foreign — and, under the draft permanent-residency rules, her school enrolment becomes a line item in her family's application file. Multiply that across hundreds of thousands of families and the question changes shape. It stops being immigration policy and becomes a question about who counts as Japanese society in the twenty-first century. The answer will be given by administrative practice long before anyone legislates it. --- #### The geography paradox The foreign-resident story is not evenly distributed, and the distribution is politically inconvenient. Tokyo, Osaka and Aichi hold the largest concentrations. But the sharpest growth rates in 2025 were in Osaka and Saitama, outpacing Tokyo — the metropolitan periphery and Kansai are densifying faster than the centre. And in the 1,558 municipalities that lost population between 2020 and 2025, foreign residents are increasingly the reason certain functions still exist at all. A shrinking town has fewer Japanese children every year while foreign workers keep the factory running. A nursing home stays open because it recruited caregivers from Indonesia and Myanmar. A hotel in a tourist town depends on foreign staff to serve foreign guests. A farm brings in the harvest because someone arrived to bring it in. Which produces the paradox worth sitting with: The foreigner who appears locally as a symbol of demographic change is often the reason the local consequences of demographic decline have not yet arrived. --- #### Integration cannot mean only one side adapts What can Japan reasonably expect? Learning Japanese. Paying taxes. Following the law. Understanding refuse rules and noise norms. Participating in the community. These are ordinary expectations and no one serious disputes them. But expectation without provision is not a policy, it is a grievance. - If the state wants Japanese-language ability, language education must be accessible and affordable — which is precisely what the January 2026 package promises, and which will be the fairest test of whether "orderly coexistence" means anything. - If it wants taxes paid on time, notices must be comprehensible to the people receiving them, and guidelines that score late payment should be published in the languages of those being scored. - If it wants labour law observed, it must be enforced against employers, not only against workers. - If it wants community participation, communities need mechanisms for it. The Japanese government's own document acknowledges this. It states that opportunities to learn Japanese and Japanese social norms are "not necessarily sufficient" at present, and that the receiving society has obligations too. That sentence is the most important one in the package, and the one least likely to survive contact with a budget cycle. --- #### Japan has every right to decide. The question is how. No serious person disputes that a sovereign state sets its own immigration levels, categories and conditions. Japan owes no one unlimited immigration, and no one is entitled to permanent residency merely for having entered legally. Tightening rules, enforcing tax law, punishing crime, preventing visa fraud, regulating land purchases and setting category limits are all legitimate exercises of sovereignty. The tests that matter are procedural: - Are the rules based on evidence, or on impression? - Are they proportionate to the problem they name? - Are they applied to individuals for individual conduct, or to categories by association? - Are Japanese citizens and foreign residents held to comparable standards? A Japanese national with late pension payments loses no right to live in Japan. - Are requirements of this magnitude properly enacted — by the Diet, prospectively — rather than imposed retroactively through guidance? - Do they serve Japan's long-term interest, or this election cycle's mood? Those are answerable questions, and they are the ones on which the current package should be judged. --- #### The competitiveness risk is not hypothetical Japan is competing for the same people as Singapore, Australia, Canada, Germany, the Gulf and the United States. Talent is mobile, and it reads rules. The warning is now coming from inside the Japanese policy conversation rather than from foreign critics. Reporting the August 2026 permanent-residency draft, Jiji Press quoted the concern directly ([Jiji, 12 August 2026](https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?g=pol&k=2026081200583)): A country foreigners do not choose. — concern reported by Jiji Press on the August 2026 permanent-residency draft When fees rise, thresholds move and the terms of settlement change retroactively while a cap is under study, the signal received abroad is not "Japan is orderly." It is "Japan is unpredictable" — and unpredictability is the one thing a mobile professional with a decade-long plan cannot price. This matters more for Japan than for most countries, precisely because its demographics make each working-age arrival worth more. A policy designed to reassure domestic voters that the state is in control can simultaneously deter the exact cohort — high-earning, tax-paying, Japanese-speaking, long-staying professionals — that the new rules claim to prefer. --- #### The real question was never a number It is tempting to think a correct figure exists. Three million? Five? Ten percent? A raw number tells you almost nothing. Five million foreign residents would be manageable if they were integrated, employed, geographically dispersed and supported by competent local institutions. Three million could be genuinely destabilising if concentrated in towns whose schools, clinics and housing stock were never funded for them. So the honest version of the question the expert working group has been handed is not "how many foreigners can Japan tolerate." It is: **How many people can Japan integrate well — and is it willing to pay for the integration?** That question has an answer. It is simply more expensive than a ceiling, and much harder to put on a poster. --- #### What to watch next | When | What | |---|---| | Summer–autumn 2026 | Government package on rules for foreign acquisition of land and buildings | | From Oct 2026 | Phased start of revised permanent-residency guidelines (income, pension, national-interest tests); residence-fee increases | | Jan 2027 (planned) | Reported five-year residence requirement for Specified Skilled Worker (ii) | | By 31 Mar 2027 | **Basic policy on the acceptance of foreign nationals** — including whether a cap ("quantitative management") is adopted — plus the national population strategy | | 1 Apr 2027 | Employment for Skill Development replaces the Technical Intern Training Programme; three-year status stops counting as "longest" for PR; PR revocation for wilful non-payment begins | | Ongoing | MOJ review of a ten-year residence expectation for naturalisation | --- #### The bargain Japan has not yet named Japan did not decide one morning to become an immigration country. It arrived here incrementally. A worker came. A student stayed. A company hired ten more. A nursing home recruited caregivers. A founder opened a business. A child was born. A family bought a house. A neighbourhood changed. Then the state looked up and counted 4,125,395 people. Now it is asking a question it could have asked twenty years ago, and it is asking it with a deadline. But the number the working group produces will not settle anything, because the real issue was never capacity. It is whether Japan is prepared to treat foreign residents as permanent participants in Japanese society rather than long-term guests — and to build the schools, language programmes, labour enforcement and legal predictability that treating them that way requires. Japan wanted foreigners. It wanted their labour, their skills, their taxes, their spending, their presence in the industries Japanese workers are no longer numerous enough to staff. It is now confronting the other half of that bargain. If Japan wants foreigners to help sustain Japan, it has to decide what place they are permitted to occupy in the Japan they are sustaining. That is the question behind the headlines, and increasingly behind Japan's politics. The number will come before April 2027. The harder question will outlast it. Not how many foreigners Japan can tolerate, but how much of Japan Japan is willing to change. --- #### FAQ ##### How many foreigners live in Japan in 2026? Japan had **4,125,395 foreign residents** at the end of 2025, the most recent official count, published by the Immigration Services Agency in June 2026. That is an increase of 356,418 people, or 9.5 percent, in one year, and the first time the figure has exceeded four million. Foreign residents are roughly **3.4 percent** of Japan's total population of 123.05 million. ##### Is Japan going to limit the number of foreigners? It is formally studying whether to. On 7 August 2026 a six-member government expert working group began analysing future foreign-population scenarios and the effects of foreign residents on the economy, social security and local communities. The LDP–Ishin coalition agreement commits the government to a population strategy including "quantitative management" (量的マネジメント) of the foreign resident ratio, and the government intends to compile a basic policy on the acceptance of foreign nationals **within FY2026** — that is, by 31 March 2027. No cap has been adopted yet. ##### Is Japan becoming anti-foreigner? The evidence is more specific than that. Foreign worker numbers hit a record 2.57 million in October 2025, the government's January 2026 policy package funds Japanese-language education before and after arrival, and overstayers fell 8.5 percent. At the same time, Japan has raised the Business Manager capital threshold sixfold, tightened permanent-residency criteria twice, is reviewing naturalisation, and is studying caps. The pattern is selective tightening on documented contribution and compliance, not closure — though the retroactive use of administrative guidelines has drawn criticism from Japanese lawyers. ##### Why does Japan need foreign workers? Japan's population fell 3.097 million between 2020 and 2025 and is projected to reach about 87 million by 2070, with 38.7 percent of people aged 65 or over. Foreign workers now number 2,571,037 across 371,215 employers, concentrated in construction, manufacturing, hospitality, food service, agriculture and — the fastest-growing sector, up 25.6 percent in a year — medical and welfare work. Automation, higher participation by women and older workers, and pro-natal policy all help, but none produces working-age adults within a decade. ##### Do foreigners commit more crime in Japan? Clearances involving "visiting foreigners" (来日外国人, a police category that excludes permanent residents and special permanent residents) rose for a third year in 2025, driven mainly by organised theft and fraud groups. But crime overall in Japan also rose: reported offences reached 774,142 (+4.9 percent) and cleared persons 200,663 (+4.6 percent) in 2025, the fourth consecutive annual increase. Foreign-linked organised crime is a genuine enforcement issue; it does not explain Japan's overall crime trend. ##### How many people become Japanese citizens each year? About nine thousand. In 2025, **9,258 people** were granted naturalisation out of 14,103 applicants, led by China (3,533), Korea (2,017) and Nepal (695). The Nationality Act requires five years of continuous domicile in principle, but the government's January 2026 package directs the Ministry of Justice to consider requiring ten or more years as part of the test of integration into Japanese society. ##### Is immigration the top political issue in Japan? Not for most voters, though it has become far more prominent. In NHK polling before the July 2025 Upper House election, immigration ranked joint fifth at 7 percent, behind social security and the birthrate (29 percent) and rising rice prices (28 percent). It became a significant issue in the February 2026 general election, when Ishin and Sanseito campaigned for a ceiling on the foreign population while the LDP — which won a postwar-record 316 seats — did not commit to one. --- #### Sources and methodology This article relies on Japanese government primary sources for all statistics and policy claims. Japanese and international press is used only for political context and for reporting on drafts not yet finalised. Items described as draft are draft. **Population and demographics** - [Immigration Services Agency: foreign residents at end-2025](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/press/13_00062.html) — 4,125,395 residents, +356,418 (+9.5%), with nationality, status and prefecture breakdowns (published June 2026) - [Statistics Bureau of Japan: 2025 Population Census, preliminary counts](https://www.stat.go.jp/english/info/news/20260625.html) — 123.05 million, −3.097 million (−2.5%); 1,558 of 1,719 municipalities declining - [IPSS: Population Projections for Japan, 2023 revision](https://www.ipss.go.jp/pp-zenkoku/e/zenkoku_e2023/pp2023e_Summary.pdf) — 87 million by 2070; 65+ at 38.7%; net non-Japanese migration assumption of 163,791 a year from 2040 - [MOFA: Annual Report of Statistics on Japanese Nationals Overseas, 1 October 2025](https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/press/release/pressit_000001_03172.html) — 1,298,170 nationals abroad; 588,486 without a fixed term (+1.4%); 709,684 fixed-term (−0.4%); US 416,380, Australia 105,566, China 92,928. Excludes stays under three months, and Ukraine, Afghanistan and Syria for safety reasons - [OECD: International Migration Outlook 2025 — Japan](https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/international-migration-outlook-2025_ae26c893-en/full-report/japan_ccc89a8d.html) — comparative population shares (2023 or nearest year) and Japanese emigration to OECD countries. OECD reports foreign-born share except for Japan and Korea, where the measure is foreign nationals **Labour** - [MHLW: notifications on the employment of foreign nationals, as of 31 October 2025](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_68794.html) — 2,571,037 workers at 371,215 employers, with status, sector and nationality breakdowns (published 30 January 2026) **Policy framework** - [Cabinet Secretariat: Ministerial Meeting on the Acceptance of Foreign Nationals and the Realisation of an Orderly Coexistence Society](https://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisakukaigi/gaikokujinzai/index.html) — established 4 November 2025; meetings on 23 January and 24 July 2026 - [Comprehensive Measures for the Acceptance of Foreign Nationals and Orderly Coexistence, 23 January 2026 (full text, PDF)](https://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisakukaigi/gaikokujinzai/pdf/kettei_sougoutekitaiousaku_honbun.pdf) - [Kantei: Chief Cabinet Secretary's remarks after the third ministerial meeting, 24 July 2026](https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/pages/20260724choukan_gaikokujin.html) - [ISA: Guidelines on Permanent Residence Permission, revised 24 February 2026](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/nyukan_nyukan50.html) - [ISA: revision of the criteria for the "Business Manager" status](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/10_00237.html) — in force 16 October 2025, transition to 16 October 2028 - [ISA: number of illegal residents as of 1 January 2026](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/press/13_00061.html) — 68,488, down 8.5% - [JITCO on Employment for Skill Development](https://www.jitco.or.jp/ja/esd/) and [MHLW on the same](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/koyou_roudou/jinzaikaihatsu/global_cooperation/index_00029.html) — in force 1 April 2027 **Crime, tourism, local measures** - [National Police Agency: Crime Situation in 2025 (PDF)](https://www.npa.go.jp/publications/statistics/crime/situation/r7_hanzaijyousei__.pdf) — 774,142 offences known (+4.9%), 200,663 persons cleared (+4.6%) - [National Police Agency: Police White Paper, chapter on crime by visiting foreign nationals](https://www.npa.go.jp/hakusyo/r07/honbun/html/bb4432000.html) - [JNTO: visitor arrivals, 2025 total](https://www.jnto.go.jp/news/press/20260121_monthly.html) — 42,683,600 (+15.8%) — and [first half of 2026](https://www.jnto.go.jp/news/press/20260715_monthly.html) — 21,084,800 - [Kyoto City: lodging tax revision effective 1 March 2026](https://ja.kyoto.travel/news/format.php?id=532) **Political context (press)** - [Reuters: the July 2025 Upper House result and pre-election NHK polling](https://www.reuters.com/world/japanese-first-party-emerges-election-force-with-tough-immigration-talk-2025-07-21/) - [Yomiuri: the 8 February 2026 general election result](https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/shugiin/20260209-GYT1T00320/) - [Jiji: party positions on receiving limits during the 2026 campaign](https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?g=pol&k=2026020300696) - [Asahi](https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASV872D9FV87UTIL02FM.html) and [Tokyo Shimbun / Kyodo](https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/507248) on the expert working group's first meeting, 7 August 2026 - [Jiji: the 4 August 2026 draft permanent-residency guidelines and criticism of them](https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?g=pol&k=2026081200583) **A note on categories.** "Foreign residents," "foreign workers," "visiting foreigners" (来日外国人), "inbound visitors," "overstayers," "permanent residents," "naturalised citizens" and "immigrants" are not interchangeable statistical categories, and the agencies that publish them use different denominators, reference dates and exclusions. The police category 来日外国人 excludes permanent residents and special permanent residents; the MHLW worker count excludes special permanent residents. In international comparison the same problem recurs: most OECD members report the foreign-born population, which includes naturalised citizens, while Japan and Korea report foreign nationals only. This article keeps them separate deliberately, because conflating them is the single most common way Japan's immigration debate is misunderstood — in Japanese and in English alike. *This article is journalism, not legal advice. For an individual case, consult the Immigration Services Agency directly or a licensed* gyōseishoshi *(行政書士).* --- ## Japan’s “Ghost Holiday”: What Obon Really Means—and Why It Matters to Tourists URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/japan-obon-ghost-holiday-tourists Published: 2026-08-13 (JST). Category: Culture. Every August, Japan begins to move. Tokyo residents head for the shinkansen. Osaka empties onto highways. Airports fill. Family homes in rural towns suddenly come alive. Cemeteries are cleaned. Lanterns glow outside houses and temples. People gather in yukata beneath the summer night sky, forming circles around wooden towers and dancing to repetitive folk songs. And then, almost as quickly as it began, it ends. For a visitor, Obon can look like a giant summer festival. It is much more than that. Obon—お盆—is one of Japan’s most important annual traditions for remembering the dead. It is a period when many Japanese families return to their ancestral hometowns, visit graves, participate in Buddhist ceremonies, and gather with relatives. According to traditional belief, the spirits of deceased ancestors return to the world of the living during this period before departing again. That is where the nickname “ghost holiday” comes from. But “ghost holiday” is only a journalistic shorthand—not the Japanese name, and not a literal description of the season. Obon sits at the intersection of Buddhism, older Japanese traditions surrounding ancestors, family life, regional customs and the modern Japanese summer vacation. It is simultaneously solemn and joyful: a time to remember people who have died, but also a time for families to reunite, communities to celebrate, and generations to come together. For tourists, Obon is also one of the most important periods of the Japanese travel calendar. The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) identifies the Bon / Obon period as one of the country’s busiest domestic travel windows—on a practical par with Golden Week and the New Year holidays. Transportation and accommodation can become extremely busy, while some businesses operate reduced hours or close temporarily. If you are visiting Japan in August, understanding Obon can make the difference between wondering why everything suddenly became crowded—and understanding that you are witnessing one of the country’s most meaningful traditions. --- #### What exactly is Obon? Obon is a traditional Japanese period for honoring and remembering deceased ancestors. It is commonly associated with Buddhism, although its modern form reflects a mixture of Buddhist ideas and longstanding Japanese traditions concerning ancestors and the relationship between the living and the dead. The central idea is simple: **The dead are remembered as still belonging to the family.** During Obon, families may return to their ancestral hometowns, clean family graves, visit Buddhist temples, participate in memorial services and gather together. The precise customs differ considerably from one region and family to another. There is no single Obon ceremony performed identically throughout Japan. That is important for visitors to understand. Obon is not simply “Japan’s Halloween.” It is not primarily a celebration of ghosts in the Western pop-culture sense. The spirits of ancestors are treated with respect, affection, and remembrance. JNTO describes the traditional belief as one in which the spirits of deceased family members return to the realm of the living and revisit their loved ones. The atmosphere therefore varies. One evening you might see families quietly visiting a cemetery. A few hours later, you might encounter hundreds of people dancing in a public square. Both can be part of Obon. --- #### Why is Obon called a “ghost holiday”? The phrase is useful for getting a visitor’s attention, but it can be misleading. Obon is better understood as a **homecoming for the ancestors**. According to the traditional belief, deceased family members return during Obon to visit their living relatives. Families prepare for their arrival and later perform rituals associated with sending them back. This is why lanterns and fires are so important in many Obon traditions. Light serves as a guide. The beginning of Obon may involve **mukaebi** (迎え火)—welcoming fires intended to guide ancestral spirits home. The end may involve **okuribi** (送り火), or sending-off fires, which symbolically guide them back. Not every region follows exactly the same customs, however. In Kyoto, for example, the end of Obon is marked by the spectacular **Gozan Okuribi** (五山送り火), when five large fires are lit on mountains surrounding the city on August 16. The fires include enormous characters and symbolic shapes, and the event is traditionally understood as helping guide the visiting spirits back. For a traveler in Kyoto, it is one of the most dramatic manifestations of the season. But the meaning is quieter than the spectacle suggests. The fire is not simply entertainment. It is a farewell. --- #### When is Obon? This is where things become surprisingly complicated. There is **no single nationwide Obon date**. The most commonly observed form of Obon in Japan takes place around **August 13–16**. JNTO describes the summer Bon holiday as typically running from August 13 to 16. But some communities observe Obon in July, while Okinawa and some other areas retain customs based on the traditional lunar calendar, meaning their Obon dates can fall at a different time each year. The reason dates vary is connected to Japan’s adoption of the Gregorian calendar during the Meiji period. Before the calendar change, Obon was associated with the seventh month of the lunar calendar. After Japan adopted the modern solar calendar, communities adapted in different ways. As a result, three broad patterns developed: * **July Obon (Shichigatsu Bon)** — still observed in parts of Tokyo, Yokohama, and some northern communities, typically around July 13–16 * **August Obon (Hachigatsu Bon)** — the dominant pattern across much of Japan, typically August 13–16 * **Lunar-calendar Obon (Kyūbon)** — particularly important in Okinawa and parts of the Amami islands; Gregorian dates shift each year For most international tourists, **mid-August is the date that matters most**. In **2026**, the commonly observed August Obon period falls on **Thursday 13 August through Sunday 16 August**. Okinawa’s Kyūbon falls later, on **25–27 August 2026** (lunar 7th month, days 13–15). And there is another important distinction: ##### Obon is not a national holiday Japan’s Cabinet Office lists the country’s statutory national holidays, and Obon does not appear among them. In 2026, the nearby statutory holiday is **Mountain Day (山の日) on Tuesday 11 August**, which often helps companies extend summer leave into Obon week. So why does so much of the country seem to take time off? Because many companies, schools, organizations and businesses arrange summer vacation around Obon. In practical terms, that makes it function like a major holiday period even though it is not legally a national holiday. --- #### What happens during Obon? There is no universal checklist, but a traditional August Obon period often follows a rough sequence. ##### August 13: Welcoming the ancestors The first day is often associated with welcoming the spirits home. Families may clean their homes and graves and prepare offerings. In some places, **mukaebi**, or welcoming fires, are lit to guide the ancestors. The symbolism is straightforward: **“Come home.”** The rituals surrounding this day vary greatly by region. ##### August 14–15: The ancestors are remembered The middle of Obon is often the period when families spend time together and perform memorial practices. People may visit family graves, attend Buddhist services, make offerings and spend time with relatives. For many Japanese people, this is one of the few periods of the year when geographically dispersed families can reliably reunite. That is one reason Obon has such enormous implications for domestic travel. ##### August 16: Sending the ancestors home The final day is traditionally associated with saying goodbye. In places where the custom is practiced, **okuribi**—sending-off fires—are used symbolically to guide the spirits back. Kyoto’s Gozan Okuribi is Japan’s most famous example. Five large fires are lit on mountains around Kyoto beginning at **8 p.m.** on August 16, with the remaining formations following at five-minute intervals. Each burns for roughly half an hour (Kyoto tourism materials cite about 30 minutes; JNTO describes about 40). The five formations are Daimonji (大), Myō-Hō (妙法), Funagata (船形), Hidari Daimonji (左大文字), and Toriigata (鳥居形). For visitors, it can look like an enormous public spectacle. Culturally, it is a farewell. --- #### Bon Odori: Why is everyone dancing? If you encounter Obon in Japan, there is a good chance you will eventually encounter **Bon Odori** (盆踊り). Bon Odori literally means “Bon dance.” It is one of the most visible and accessible aspects of Obon. People gather in a circle around a raised platform called a **yagura** (櫓), while traditional music plays. Dancers move in repeating patterns, often following simple choreographed movements. The dances vary dramatically from region to region. There isn’t one “Obon dance.” There are hundreds of local variations, each connected to regional music, traditions and history. And unlike some formal religious ceremonies, Bon Odori can be remarkably welcoming to outsiders. JNTO specifically notes that Bon Odori dancing is often open to everyone, and that basic dances are generally easy to learn by following the people around you. For a foreign visitor, this may be one of the easiest ways to participate respectfully in Japanese culture. You don’t need to be Japanese. You don’t need to dance perfectly. Watch first. Follow the people around you. And understand that you are participating in a living community tradition rather than watching a performance created solely for tourists. --- #### Is Bon Odori a religious ritual? It can have religious roots, but the modern reality is more complicated. Bon Odori developed within the broader cultural world of Obon, which has strong Buddhist associations. But contemporary Bon Odori events can also function as neighborhood festivals and community gatherings. Some are deeply connected to local religious traditions. Others feel much more like community summer festivals. Food stalls appear. Children play games. People wear yukata. Music plays. Neighbors meet. Visitors join the dancing. This is one of the defining characteristics of Japanese festivals: the boundary between religious tradition, community celebration and seasonal entertainment is not always as clear-cut as a Western visitor might expect. --- #### Why do Japanese people travel so much during Obon? This is perhaps the most important thing tourists need to understand. **Obon is a homecoming holiday.** Japan is highly urbanized, and millions of people live far from the towns where their families originated. Obon provides one of the major opportunities each year for people to return to those hometowns. Someone who lives in Tokyo may travel to Niigata. Someone working in Osaka may return to Kyushu. Someone living in Nagoya may drive back to their family’s home in the countryside. The result is a huge annual migration. JNTO’s August guidance describes the Bon period as one of Japan’s busiest and most expensive travel periods, noting that seats on planes, trains and highway buses can sell out in advance—and recommending that visitors either plan ahead or consider staying in large cities, which can enjoy fewer crowds than usual as residents leave. This is why Obon matters enormously to tourists. For the wider 2026 peak-travel picture (Golden Week, Silver Week, New Year), see our [Japan 2026 peak travel periods guide](/blog/japan-2026-peak-travel-periods-holidays). --- #### What should tourists expect on trains? If you are traveling between major Japanese cities during Obon, **book ahead**. The most famous example is the Tokaido–Sanyo Shinkansen corridor connecting Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and western Japan. During major holiday periods, demand becomes extraordinary. JR Central and JR West have, in recent peak seasons including Obon 2024 and Obon 2025, operated **Nozomi** trains with **all reserved seats** (no non-reserved cars), increasing the number of reserved ordinary seats per train by approximately 30 percent. The exact Obon window is announced each year—check JR Central, JR West, or SmartEX before you travel. The important lesson is broader: ##### Don’t treat Obon travel like an ordinary Tuesday Normally, Japan’s railway system can give travelers an extraordinary amount of flexibility. During Obon, that flexibility can disappear. If you know you need to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto on a particular day, **reserve your seat rather than assuming you can simply show up.** This is particularly important if you are: * traveling with several people * carrying substantial luggage * trying to sit together * traveling with children * catching a flight immediately afterward * making a connection to another reserved service JNTO also recommends advance planning during major holiday periods because transportation and accommodations can become crowded and expensive. --- #### What about highways? The same phenomenon happens on roads. Millions of people travel by car and highway bus during Obon. That means major expressways can experience significant congestion. For tourists renting a car, the implications are straightforward: **A journey that normally takes two hours may take considerably longer during peak Obon travel periods.** Do not build a tightly timed itinerary around normal driving times. If you have an important flight, hotel check-in or attraction reservation, allow considerably more margin than you would during a normal weekday. --- #### Will everything be closed? No. This is one of the most common misconceptions about Obon. Japan does **not** shut down. Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and other major cities remain very much alive. Restaurants, convenience stores, department stores, attractions and hotels can continue operating normally. However, some independent businesses and family-run establishments may close for several days because their owners and employees are taking their own Obon vacation. JNTO notes that during Japan’s major holiday periods, many businesses may close or operate reduced hours, and advises travelers to check individual operators in advance. So don’t assume: > “Everything will be closed.” Instead think: > **“Some things I want to visit may have unusual hours.”** Check before you go. --- #### Is Tokyo empty during Obon? This is one of the more interesting effects of the holiday. Tokyo can actually feel **less crowded in certain places** because so many residents leave the city to visit family or travel. That doesn’t mean Tokyo becomes empty. It is still one of the world’s largest metropolitan areas, and international tourism continues. But compared with ordinary periods, some central neighborhoods can feel surprisingly relaxed. JNTO specifically recommends considering major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka during the peak Obon period because they can experience fewer crowds than usual as residents leave for their hometowns. This creates a useful strategy for tourists: ##### If everyone is leaving Tokyo, you don’t necessarily have to Instead of following the domestic migration, you can stay in a major city and explore. --- #### Should tourists avoid Japan during Obon? **Not necessarily.** If your priority is the absolute lowest crowds and cheapest domestic transportation, Obon is not ideal. But if your goal is cultural immersion, Obon can be extraordinary. You may encounter: * Bon Odori * summer festivals * traditional dances * family ceremonies * cemetery visits * lantern traditions * regional food * neighborhood celebrations * spectacular evening events The key is planning. Obon is not a reason to cancel a trip. It is a reason to understand the calendar. --- #### The best strategy: travel before or after the peak If your itinerary is flexible, consider traveling between major destinations **before August 13 or after August 16** rather than directly through the core period. Even better, spend the busiest days in one location rather than trying to cross the country. For example: **Less stressful:** Tokyo → Kyoto before Obon → stay in Kyoto during Obon → Osaka afterward **More stressful:** Tokyo → Kyoto on August 13 → Osaka August 14 → Hiroshima August 15 → Tokyo August 16 The second itinerary places you directly inside one of Japan’s biggest annual transportation movements. The first lets you settle somewhere and experience the holiday locally. --- #### Obon is different in every region One of the biggest mistakes tourists make is assuming that “Obon” means the same thing everywhere. Japan’s regional diversity is enormous. Obon traditions have developed differently across communities, producing distinctive dances, rituals, foods and festivals. Some of the country’s most famous summer festivals overlap with the Obon season. --- #### Kyoto: Gozan Okuribi Kyoto’s **Gozan Okuribi** is perhaps the most visually famous Obon-related event. On August 16, enormous fires are lit on mountains surrounding the city. The best-known formation is **Daimonji**, the large character meaning “great.” Four additional fires create other symbolic shapes (Myō-Hō, Funagata, Hidari Daimonji, Toriigata). The fires begin at 8 p.m., with the remaining formations following at five-minute intervals. For visitors, it is one of Kyoto’s great summer spectacles—and viewing spots along the Kamo River fill early. But remember what you are watching: **a farewell to the ancestors.** Entering the mountain sites on the night is restricted; watch from designated city viewpoints. --- #### Tokushima: Awa Odori In Tokushima, the Obon season becomes one of Japan’s largest dance spectacles. The **Awa Odori** takes place annually from **August 12–15** and has roots stretching back more than 400 years. JNTO reports that the festival attracts well over one million people, including dancers and spectators. The streets transform into enormous dance stages. Groups of dancers known as **ren** (連) perform distinctive choreography while musicians provide the soundtrack. Visitors who are not registered with a troupe can often join the **Niwaka Ren** for open participation—an excellent example of how Japanese festival culture can invite outsiders into the celebration rather than merely asking them to watch. --- #### Gifu: Gujo Odori Another extraordinary example is **Gujo Odori** in Gifu Prefecture. The festival has a history of roughly 400 years and features ten recognized dances. (It was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in late 2022.) Its peak occurs during the Obon period, when the town fills with dancers. In 2026, the four Obon nights are scheduled for August 13–16, with all-night dancing on those peak evenings. JNTO describes Gujo Odori as one of Japan’s three most important Bon festivals and notes that it is particularly welcoming to visitors. It is a powerful reminder that Obon isn’t one festival. It is an entire family of regional traditions. --- #### Okinawa: A different Obon experience Okinawa deserves special attention. Okinawan Obon traditions differ significantly from those found in mainland Japan, and dates also differ because many communities retain lunar-calendar practices (**Kyūbon**). In 2026, that window is **25–27 August** (with some areas extending a fourth day). One of the most recognizable Okinawan Obon traditions is **Eisa** (エイサー), a powerful style of group dancing involving drums and movement. Visitors should therefore avoid assuming that mainland Japanese customs automatically apply to Okinawa. Okinawa has its own historical and cultural traditions, and Obon is an excellent example. --- #### What happens at Japanese cemeteries during Obon? For many families, visiting the family grave is one of the most important parts of Obon. Graves may be cleaned. Flowers and offerings may be placed. Incense may be burned. Families may pray or perform memorial rites. This is not a tourist attraction. That distinction matters. You may encounter people performing these rituals at a cemetery or temple. If you do, behave as you would when encountering any private family ceremony. Don’t crowd people. Don’t interrupt. Don’t photograph intimate moments without permission. And don’t treat the presence of graves as an invitation to turn someone’s remembrance of a family member into a photo opportunity. --- #### Can tourists visit temples during Obon? Yes—but with awareness. Japan’s Buddhist temples are deeply connected to Obon, and some hold public ceremonies or events. Visitors may also encounter memorial tablets, offerings, lanterns and other objects associated with the season. Observe the distinction between: **a public festival** and **a private religious ceremony.** A Bon Odori held in a public square is generally designed as a community event. A family’s memorial service at a temple is different. When in doubt, watch quietly and follow posted instructions. --- #### What are the lanterns for? Lanterns are among the most recognizable visual symbols of Obon. They can have several meanings depending on the region and context, but broadly they are associated with guiding or welcoming ancestral spirits. Some families display lanterns at home. Others participate in lantern-related ceremonies. One of the most beautiful traditions is **tōrō nagashi** (灯籠流し), in which lanterns are floated on water. These ceremonies can be especially poignant because they combine light, water and remembrance. But again, the precise practice varies by location. --- #### Why are vegetables sometimes shaped like animals? Visitors may encounter a particularly charming Obon tradition involving vegetables. In some households, cucumbers and eggplants are fashioned into small animal-like forms using toothpicks or chopsticks. The cucumber becomes a **horse** (精霊馬 / *shōryō-uma*). The eggplant becomes an **ox**. The symbolism varies by tradition, but the basic idea is that the horse allows the ancestors to arrive quickly, while the slower ox carries them home again. Not every family does this, and it should not be presented as a universal Japanese custom. It is one of the many household traditions that reveal how intimate Obon can be. --- #### What is Shōjin Ryōri? Some Buddhist traditions associated with Obon involve **shōjin ryōri** (精進料理), vegetarian Buddhist cuisine. Historically, Buddhist dietary practices have influenced Japanese food culture in profound ways. During memorial occasions, vegetarian dishes may be prepared and offered. Again, however, this should not be presented as a nationwide rule that every Japanese family follows during Obon. Modern Japanese Obon meals vary enormously according to family, region and personal practice. --- #### What should tourists wear to Bon Odori? You do not need a traditional Japanese outfit to attend. Locals may wear **yukata**, a lightweight summer kimono, particularly at festivals. Visitors are welcome to do the same if they wish, but ordinary summer clothing is perfectly acceptable at many public events. The more important thing is behavior. Wear something comfortable. Stay respectful. Don’t push into the dance circle. Watch the movements. Join when appropriate. And remember that the event belongs to the community. You are a guest participating in it. --- #### Can foreigners participate in Bon Odori? Often, yes. In fact, Bon Odori can be one of the best cultural experiences available to a visitor. JNTO explicitly encourages visitors to participate in local festivals and notes that Bon Odori dancing is generally open to everyone. You don’t need perfect Japanese. You don’t need perfect dancing. Stand toward the outside of the circle and follow along. Most Bon Odori movements are repetitive, which makes them surprisingly easy to learn. And if you make a mistake? You will probably not be the first person to do so. --- #### What should tourists NOT do? A few rules will take you a long way. - **Don’t treat Obon as Halloween.** The deceased are being remembered, not turned into entertainment. - **Don’t photograph private mourning without permission.** A family visiting a grave is not a tourist attraction. - **Don’t enter restricted religious areas.** Follow signs and barriers. On Gozan Okuribi night, mountain sites are closed. - **Don’t touch religious objects because they look interesting.** Observe first; ask if unsure. - **Don’t block paths during ceremonies.** Especially important in crowded festivals and riverside viewing spots. - **Don’t assume every Obon event is a tourist attraction.** Some are community or family religious events. - **Don’t expect every region to follow the same traditions.** Japan has enormous regional variation. - **Don’t assume August 13–16 is the only Obon period.** July Obon and lunar Kyūbon calendars also exist. --- #### Obon is also a lesson in Japanese family life Perhaps the most important thing for a foreign visitor to understand is that Obon isn’t fundamentally about festivals. It is about **relationships across generations**. Japan has undergone enormous demographic, economic and social changes. People have moved from rural areas to cities. Families have become geographically dispersed. Yet Obon continues to provide an annual moment when many people return to the places from which their families came. The modern journey may involve a high-speed shinkansen instead of a horse-drawn cart. The destination might be a small house in a rural village. The reason is remarkably old: **go home.** Visit the people who came before you. Remember them. Spend time with the people who are still here. Then return to everyday life. --- #### Why Obon can feel both joyful and melancholy This duality is what makes Obon so fascinating. It is not simply a celebration. And it is not simply mourning. It contains both. There is dancing. There is laughter. There are food stalls and children. There are fireworks and summer nights. But there are also graves, incense, memorial services and remembrance. That mixture is not contradictory. It reflects a very human understanding of death: **the dead remain part of the living family through memory.** Obon gives that idea a calendar date, a ritual language and a physical presence. --- #### Is Obon Japan’s version of Day of the Dead? The comparison is tempting. Both involve remembrance of deceased loved ones. Both can include food, family gatherings and distinctive public traditions. But they are not the same tradition. Mexico’s Día de los Muertos developed through its own combination of Indigenous traditions and Catholic influences. Obon developed through Japanese Buddhist traditions and indigenous Japanese approaches to ancestors and the dead. Comparisons can help outsiders understand the emotional role of a festival, but they should not erase the differences between cultures. --- #### The Buddhist roots of Obon The word **Obon** is generally connected with the Buddhist tradition of **Urabon** (盂蘭盆), itself associated with the Sanskrit term *ullambana*. The traditional Buddhist story commonly associated with Obon tells of Maudgalyayana (Mokuren / 目連 in Japanese), one of the Buddha’s disciples, who discovers that his deceased mother is suffering and seeks the Buddha’s guidance. Through offerings and acts of merit dedicated to Buddhist monks, he is able to help her. The story became associated with the practice of honoring and making offerings for deceased ancestors. Over centuries, Buddhist practices interacted with Japanese traditions surrounding ancestors, creating the Obon customs familiar today. The result is not a purely Buddhist festival in the narrow institutional sense. It is a deeply Japanese cultural tradition shaped by multiple layers of history. --- #### Obon and Japan’s complicated relationship with death One reason Obon can seem unfamiliar to Western visitors is that modern societies often separate everyday life from death. Death happens in hospitals. Funerals happen in designated places. Cemeteries are often physically removed from daily life. Obon brings remembrance back into the center of family life. The ancestors are not simply absent. They are symbolically invited home. They are given offerings. Their graves are cleaned. Their memory becomes part of the household. And then they are sent away again. That annual rhythm helps explain why Obon can feel simultaneously intimate and public. --- #### Why August is such a big month for Japan Obon isn’t the only reason August is important. Japan’s summer calendar is filled with festivals and fireworks. Some major events happen immediately before or during Obon. For example, Aomori’s Nebuta Festival (typically early August), Akita’s Kanto Festival and Sendai’s Tanabata Festival occur in early August. Tokushima’s Awa Odori follows during the Obon period. Kyoto’s Gozan Okuribi comes at the end. The result is one of the richest cultural periods of the Japanese calendar. For travelers who understand the timing, August can therefore be much more than simply “hot season.” It is festival season. --- #### But August in Japan is hot There is another practical consideration tourists sometimes underestimate. August is extremely hot and humid across much of Japan. JNTO describes summer across much of Honshu and Kyushu as hot and humid and recommends lightweight, breathable clothing. That matters during Obon because many of the most interesting events take place outdoors. Bon Odori often occurs at night, which helps. But you may still spend hours standing in heat and humidity before the temperature falls. Bring water. Take breaks. Seek shade or air conditioning. And don’t confuse cultural enthusiasm with a requirement to stay outside for hours. --- #### The tourist’s Obon survival guide If you’re visiting Japan during Obon, keep these rules in mind. - **Book long-distance transportation early** Especially if you know the exact day and route. Check yearly Nozomi all-reserved notices. - **Reserve hotels early** JNTO identifies Obon as one of Japan’s major peak travel periods. - **Avoid unnecessary intercity hops on peak days** Choose one base and explore locally through 13–16 Aug. - **Check business hours** Independent restaurants and family shops may close for Obon leave. - **Check festival dates separately** “Obon” does not mean every region celebrates on the same dates. - **Expect crowds at major festivals** Awa Odori and similar events can draw a million people. - **Participate respectfully** Public Bon Odori is often welcoming; private memorial rites are not. - **Give yourself extra transport time** Highways and buses slow dramatically on outbound and return peaks. - **Consider Tokyo or Osaka on peak days** Cities can feel quieter as residents leave for hometowns. - **Don’t confuse “busy” with “bad”** Obon crowds are part of the cultural experience. --- #### The best way to experience Obon as a foreigner There is a temptation when visiting Japan to search for “authentic” experiences. Obon offers something better. It allows you to witness an ordinary part of Japanese life that isn’t necessarily designed for foreigners. Go to a local Bon Odori. Watch the dancers. Eat something from a festival stall. Observe how families and neighbors interact. If people invite you to participate, join in. If a ceremony is clearly private, step back. The objective isn’t to “consume” Japanese culture. It is to encounter it respectfully. --- #### Three things every tourist should remember If you remember nothing else, remember these: - **Obon is about ancestors.** Dancing, lanterns and festivals express a deeper tradition of remembering the dead. - **Obon is one of Japan’s biggest travel periods.** Expect crowded trains, busy roads and scarce accommodation—plan accordingly. - **Obon isn’t one identical festival.** July Obon, August Obon and lunar Kyūbon all exist; regional difference is the point. --- #### So, should you visit Japan during Obon? If you have no choice, don’t worry. Japan remains open. If you have flexibility, however, understand what you are choosing. Traveling during Obon means entering one of Japan’s busiest domestic travel periods. But it also means encountering Japan at one of its most culturally expressive times. You might watch thousands of people dance beneath a summer sky. You might stumble upon a neighborhood festival. You might see lanterns floating down a river. You might stand in Kyoto and watch enormous fires appear on the mountains. Or you might simply notice something quieter: a family returning to an old hometown. A grave being carefully cleaned. Flowers being placed. Incense rising into the summer air. That may be the most important part of Obon. The festival is spectacular. The meaning is intimate. And for a visitor willing to look beyond the crowds and colorful yukata, Obon offers a glimpse into something much deeper than Japanese summer entertainment. It offers a glimpse into how Japan remembers. And, perhaps most importantly, how it continues to make room for the people who are no longer here. --- #### Obon at a glance | Question | Answer | | --- | --- | | **What is Obon?** | A Japanese tradition centered on remembering and honoring deceased ancestors | | **When is it in 2026?** | Most of Japan: 13–16 Aug; parts of Tokyo/Yokohama: ~13–16 Jul; Okinawa Kyūbon: 25–27 Aug | | **Is it a national holiday?** | No (Mountain Day on 11 Aug 2026 is the nearby statutory holiday) | | **Why is August so busy?** | Hometown returns + company summer leave; peak domestic travel ~8–16 Aug | | **What is Bon Odori?** | Traditional community dancing associated with Obon | | **Can tourists participate?** | Often yes, particularly at public Bon Odori events | | **Should you reserve trains?** | Yes—especially long-distance travel; check yearly Nozomi all-reserved notices | | **Will Japan shut down?** | No, although some businesses may close or reduce hours | | **Are all Obon traditions the same?** | No; regional differences are substantial | | **What is Gozan Okuribi?** | Kyoto’s 16 Aug mountain-fire ceremony sending off the ancestors (from 20:00) | | **What should tourists be most careful about?** | Respecting private memorial rituals and planning around peak domestic travel | --- #### FAQ ##### When is Obon in Japan in 2026? Most of Japan observes Obon from **Thursday 13 August through Sunday 16 August 2026**. Parts of Tokyo, Yokohama, and some northern communities keep July Obon around **13–16 July**. Okinawa’s lunar-calendar Kyūbon falls on **25–27 August 2026**. Obon itself is not a statutory national holiday; **Mountain Day on 11 August 2026** is the nearby Cabinet Office holiday. ##### Is Obon a national holiday in Japan? No. The Cabinet Office list of 国民の祝日 does not include Obon. Many companies still grant summer leave around mid-August, so trains, highways, and hotels behave as if it were a major national holiday period. ##### Should tourists avoid Japan during Obon? Not necessarily. Intercity transport and some accommodations are expensive and crowded, especially around **8–16 August 2026**. Cultural experiences such as Bon Odori, Awa Odori, and Kyoto’s Gozan Okuribi can be exceptional. Reserve seats early, avoid unnecessary city-to-city hops on peak days, or base yourself in Tokyo or Osaka while residents leave for hometowns. ##### Can foreigners join Bon Odori dancing? Often yes. JNTO notes that Bon Odori is generally open to everyone and that basic steps are easy to learn by following the circle. Public neighborhood dances are welcoming; private family memorial rites at graves or temples are not spectator events and should not be photographed without permission. ##### Will shops and restaurants close during Obon? Japan does not shut down. Convenience stores, major attractions, hotels, and many restaurants in large cities stay open. Some independent and family-run businesses close or reduce hours while owners take Obon leave—check hours for specific places you care about. ##### What are the busiest Obon travel days in 2026? Japan Guide anticipates the peak domestic travel window between **8 and 16 August 2026**, with outbound surges on **8 and 11–13 August** and return surges on **15–16 August**. Mountain Day on 11 August often intensifies the outbound rush. Reserve Shinkansen seats early and confirm whether Nozomi trains are all-reserved for that year’s Obon notice. --- #### Sources and further reading * **Japan National Tourism Organization** — [Japan in August](https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/august/) (Bon period travel advice; big-city strategy); [Awa Odori](https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/203/); [Gujo Odori](https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/156/); [Kyoto Gozan Okuribi](https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/76/); [summer budget tip on Obon](https://www.japan.travel/en/uk/inspiration/summer-in-japan-on-a-budget/) * **Cabinet Office of Japan** — [国民の祝日](https://www8.cao.go.jp/chosei/shukujitsu/gaiyou.html) (2026 statutory holidays; Obon not listed; Mountain Day 11 Aug 2026) * **Kyoto City / Kyoto Travel** — [Gozan Okuribi](https://kyoto.travel/en/travel-inspiration/gozan-okuribi-bonfire/) (lighting sequence from 20:00; ~30-minute burn) * **Japan Guide** — [Obon](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2286.html) (regional date patterns; 2026 peak travel 8–16 Aug, outbound/return days) * **JR Central** — Obon / peak-period [Nozomi all-reserved-seat notices](https://global.jr-central.co.jp/en/news/) (year-specific; ~30% more reserved ordinary seats when applied) * **Gujo Hachiman Tourism** — [2026 Gujo Odori schedule](https://www.gujohachiman.com/kanko/odori_schedule_e.html) (Obon nights 13–16 Aug) * **Okinawa cultural calendars** — Kyūbon 2026 as lunar 7/13–15 → **25–27 August 2026** (confirm local Unkee / Nakabi / Ūkui practice) ##### A final note on the title “Japan’s ‘Ghost Holiday’” is deliberately provocative, but the phrase is **a journalistic shorthand, not the Japanese name or a literal description of Obon**. The heart of Obon is not fear of ghosts. It is remembrance. And that distinction is exactly what makes the tradition worth understanding. --- ## Earthquakes in Japan: The Complete Guide for Visitors and Residents URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/japan-earthquakes-complete-guide-visitors-residents Published: 2026-08-11 (JST). Category: Travel. Japan is one of the easiest countries in the world to fall in love with. The trains run to the second. The cities are orderly. The buildings are engineered with a quiet, obsessive awareness of natural hazard. And underneath all of it, the ground moves. Japan sits where several tectonic plates meet. Earthquakes happen offshore along enormous subduction trenches, and inland along faults that run directly beneath towns and cities. The result is a country where earthquakes are not an interruption to normal life — they are one of the conditions of it, and Japan has spent generations building a society around that fact. For a tourist, that can sound alarming. For someone moving here, it raises a harder question: **what does it actually mean to live in an earthquake country?** The honest answer sits between the two stories people usually tell. "Japan is dangerous" is wrong. "Japan is completely prepared, so don't worry about it" is also wrong — and, as the July 2026 Kumamoto earthquake demonstrated with painful clarity, it is the more expensive mistake. A modern Tokyo apartment, a century-old wooden house in Kyoto, a shopping mall in Kyushu, a Shinkansen at 285 km/h and a beach on the Pacific coast are five completely different earthquake risks. Understanding the difference, and knowing what your body should do in the first three seconds, is the single most useful thing a foreigner can learn about this country. This guide is written to be that briefing. Every hard number is sourced to the Japan Meteorological Agency, MLIT, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, the Cabinet Office, the Geospatial Information Authority, or Japan's Earthquake Research Committee. Where figures are provisional, we say so. For what is shaking across Japan *right now*, keep our [live earthquake tracker](/earthquake) open alongside this page — it uses the same Shindo colour bands you will learn below. --- #### Read this part even if you read nothing else **Pro Tip:** When the shaking starts, do not spend a single second working out how big it is. You cannot know yet, and it does not change what you should do. **Protect your head. Get low. Get away from anything that can fall on you. Stay put until it stops.** Then — and only then — assess. If you are near the coast and the shaking was strong or unusually long, move to high ground immediately without waiting for a warning. The five rules that cover almost every situation: - **Protect your head first, move second.** Most earthquake injuries in Japan come from falling objects and furniture, not collapsing buildings. - **Do not run outside while it is still shaking.** Glass, roof tiles, signage and air-conditioning units come off buildings. The inside of a modern Japanese building is usually the safer place. - **Strong or long shaking near the coast means tsunami.** Do not wait for the alert, do not go to look, do not return for belongings. - **The first earthquake is not necessarily the biggest.** In 2016, Kumamoto's second Shindo 7 arrived 28 hours after the first. - **Follow staff.** Japanese hotel, station, mall and railway staff are drilled for this. They are usually the best-informed people in the room. For live intensity around Japan right now — the same Shindo colour bands used throughout this guide — open the [earthquake tracker](/earthquake). *Figure: Indoors, get under something solid and hold on. If there is no table, get low against an interior wall away from glass and shelving, and cover your head. Outdoors, protect your head and move away from façades, walls and utility poles.* --- ### Part 1 — The Honest Picture #### How often does Japan actually shake? Roughly **2,000 earthquakes a year** are strong enough to be felt somewhere in Japan — about five a day. Around **50 a year** reach Shindo 4, the level at which hanging objects swing and people are startled. Most of those never make the news outside the affected prefecture. Scaled up, Japan and its surrounding waters absorb about **10% of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 and above**, in a country occupying a fraction of a percent of the planet's surface. Read that chart the right way. The M8-and-above line is the one that produces national catastrophes, and it runs at roughly **once a decade**. The M7 line — the Kobe, Kumamoto and Noto class — runs at about **once a year**, and those are the earthquakes most likely to affect an individual person's life, because they happen inland, close to where people actually live. #### Why Japan shakes: three different machines Japan's seismic environment is genuinely complicated, because earthquakes here are produced by several different mechanisms that behave differently and require different responses. ##### 1. Subduction-zone earthquakes Oceanic plates are being forced beneath the Japanese archipelago at several centimetres a year. When the locked interface between plates finally releases, it can produce the largest earthquakes on Earth. The key structures are the **Japan Trench** and **Kuril Trench** to the northeast, the **Sagami Trough** off Kanto, and the **Nankai Trough** running along the Pacific side of southwestern Japan. These are the earthquakes that generate major tsunamis. The 2011 Tōhoku disaster was one. ##### 2. Crustal (inland) earthquakes Japan is laced with active faults that run beneath populated land. These earthquakes are much smaller in magnitude — typically M6.5 to M7.5 — but they occur at shallow depth, directly under towns. Kobe in 1995, Kumamoto in 2016, Noto in 2024 and Kumamoto again in 2026 were all crustal earthquakes. They rarely produce large ocean-wide tsunamis. They are, however, disproportionately deadly, because the energy arrives directly underneath buildings rather than travelling a hundred kilometres from an offshore epicentre. **This is the category most people underestimate.** ##### 3. Offshore earthquakes near the coast Between the two: earthquakes beneath coastal seas and bays. These can shake hard and still generate local tsunamis very quickly — the 2024 Noto earthquake produced tsunami waves along the Sea of Japan coast within minutes. #### The two numbers: magnitude and Shindo The first thing that confuses foreigners watching Japanese earthquake coverage is that Japan reports two numbers. You will hear something like *"magnitude 7.1, maximum intensity 7."* These are not the same measurement and they are not in conflict. **Magnitude** describes the size of the earthquake at its source — one number for the whole event. **Shindo (震度)**, the JMA Seismic Intensity Scale, describes **how hard the ground shook where you are standing**. One earthquake produces hundreds of different Shindo readings across the country. It runs on a 10-step scale: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5-lower, 5-upper, 6-lower, 6-upper, and 7. Japanese broadcasters lead with Shindo, not magnitude, and you should too. A magnitude 7 offshore earthquake 200 km away might give you Shindo 3 — mildly interesting. A magnitude 6.5 earthquake eight kilometres beneath your neighbourhood can give you Shindo 6-upper — potentially life-changing. The colour bands above are the same ones on our [live earthquake tracker](/earthquake) — once you learn them here, you can read the map without translating. There is also a third scale you will increasingly hear on Japanese television: **long-period ground motion intensity** (長周期地震動階級), a 1–4 scale added in 2023 that describes the slow, rolling sway that affects tall buildings. If you live above the tenth floor of a high-rise, this is your number — it is why furniture in Osaka skyscrapers can slide across the floor during an earthquake centred hundreds of kilometres away. --- ### Part 2 — Five Earthquakes That Made Modern Japan Almost every element of Japanese disaster policy — building codes, warning systems, shelter standards, railway automation — can be traced to a specific earthquake that exposed a specific failure. Click any marker for the short version of what that earthquake taught Japan. For what is shaking *right now*, switch to the [live tracker](/earthquake). #### 1995 — The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake (Kobe) On 17 January 1995, a magnitude 7.3 crustal earthquake struck beneath the Kobe area at 5:46 a.m. It reached Shindo 7 and killed more than 6,400 people. Over 100,000 buildings were completely destroyed, and fires burned through dense wooden neighbourhoods that fire engines could not reach because the roads were blocked with rubble. Kobe demolished the comfortable assumption that only magnitude-9 monsters were dangerous. **A shallow M7.3 under a city is a national catastrophe.** It triggered Japan's seismic-retrofit programme, transformed emergency-response coordination, and created the modern volunteer disaster-relief culture. #### 2011 — The Great East Japan Earthquake (Tōhoku) At 2:46 p.m. on 11 March 2011, a magnitude **9.0** earthquake struck off northeastern Japan — the largest ever recorded in the country. JMA recorded Shindo 7 in Kurihara, Miyagi, with Shindo 6 and below observed from Hokkaido to Kyushu. The earthquake itself killed relatively few people. **The tsunami killed almost everyone.** More than 90% of victims drowned. As of March 2026, the official tally stands at **19,787 dead and 2,549 missing**, with 122,204 homes completely destroyed. Tōhoku rewrote Japan's tsunami doctrine. The old model — check the warning, then decide — was replaced with a blunt instruction that is now taught to every schoolchild on the coast: *if the shaking is strong or long, run uphill immediately.* #### 2016 — The Kumamoto Earthquakes On 14 April 2016, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake hit Kumamoto Prefecture and reached Shindo 7. Emergency services deployed, residents returned to check their homes, and many slept in damaged houses. **Twenty-eight hours later, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake hit the same area** and also reached Shindo 7. Buildings that had survived the first shock collapsed in the second, in some cases with people inside who had gone home. Japan does not use the words "foreshock" and "aftershock" as casually as it used to. JMA now warns explicitly that shaking of similar intensity can recur, particularly in the first week. The 2016 sequence also produced the single most important dataset in Japanese housing safety, which we come to in Part 6. #### 2024 — The Noto Peninsula Earthquake At 4:10 p.m. on New Year's Day 2024, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture. It reached Shindo 7, generated a tsunami along the Sea of Japan coast within minutes, triggered landslides that severed the peninsula's only road access, and started a fire in Wajima that burned about 240 buildings. Noto broke two more assumptions. First, that Japan's serious earthquake risk lives on the Pacific side. Second — and far more important — the assumption that the earthquake is the dangerous part. This is, for anyone actually living in Japan, the most consequential chart in this article. Two hundred and twenty-eight people died in the earthquake. **Five hundred and twenty-two died afterwards** — of hypothermia in unheated evacuation centres on a January peninsula, of dehydration, of chronic conditions that went untreated when hospitals and pharmacies were cut off, of infections that spread in crowded shelters, of the slow physical collapse that comes from weeks without running water. Your emergency kit is not really about the ninety seconds of shaking. It is about the three weeks afterwards. #### 2026 — The Kumamoto Earthquake (令和8年熊本地震) If you are reading this guide in 2026, the subject cannot be treated as history. At **4:27 p.m. on Tuesday 28 July 2026**, a magnitude **7.1** earthquake struck the Kumamoto region at a depth of about 16 km. JMA recorded **Shindo 7 in Uki City and Hikawa Town**, Shindo 6-upper in Kumamoto City, Yatsushiro, Uto, Misato and Mashiki, and shaking down to Shindo 1 as far away as the Hokuriku region. JMA named the sequence the **2026 Kumamoto Earthquake**. | Detail | Value | |--------|-------| | Time | 28 July 2026, 16:27 JST | | Magnitude | Mj 7.1 (Mw 6.8) | | Depth | approx. 16 km (provisional) | | Mechanism | Strike-slip, crustal — near the Futagawa–Hinagu fault zone | | Estimated rupture length | approx. 30 km | | Maximum Shindo | **7** — Uki City, Hikawa Town | | Long-period ground motion | Class 4 (maximum) in Kumamoto | | Tsunami advisory | Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas, issued 16:29, lifted 18:10 | | Ground deformation | GEONET station "Senchō" moved approx. **87 cm northeast** and subsided approx. **32 cm** | The human toll, as reported by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency on 5 August 2026 and still provisional: **38 dead**, 18 seriously and 109 slightly injured, **699 homes completely destroyed**, 1,045 half-destroyed and 6,076 partially damaged. At the peak, Kumamoto Prefecture opened 465 evacuation centres sheltering nearly 10,000 people. ##### What the 2026 earthquake teaches that the others did not Two of the deadliest incidents had nothing to do with houses collapsing. **A shopping mall.** At about 5:50 p.m., roughly eighty minutes after the earthquake, an explosion occurred at Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima Town. Part of the second floor collapsed, trapping people inside; a gas leak was reported by officials at the scene. Aeon confirmed seven deaths and 26 injuries. The mall had been evacuated and staff had swept the building visually — and it was still not over. **An industrial chimney.** At the Nippon Paper mill in Yatsushiro, an 80-metre heavy-oil boiler chimney snapped near its midpoint and fell onto a two-storey building. Eleven workers were trapped; nine died. The chimney had been installed in 1970 and reinforced after the 2016 earthquake. Meanwhile the Kyushu Shinkansen recorded **more than 200 points of damage including broken rail**, expressway bridges suffered girder displacement, and MLIT temporarily lowered landslide-warning thresholds across the affected municipalities to 70–80% of normal, because shaken slopes fail in rain that would ordinarily be harmless. The lessons compound: - **A magnitude 7-class earthquake can produce Shindo 7.** Even far from any famous subduction zone — inland crustal faults are enough. - **The hazard does not end when the shaking does.** Gas, structural failure, fire and landslides can arrive minutes, hours or days later. - **Evacuated is not the same as safe.** Confirming a building is empty does not mean the structure has finished failing. - **Rain after an earthquake is more dangerous than rain before it.** Shaken slopes fail in rainfall that would ordinarily be harmless. - **Tsunami advisories cover inland seas and bays.** Not just open Pacific coastline — Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas proved that in 2026. And the point that matters most for anyone reading a "is Japan safe?" article: the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake was **not** the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake. They were separate events in the same broad region, ten years apart. Neither was predicted. --- ### Part 3 — Japan's Warning Systems, and Their Limits #### Earthquake Early Warning (緊急地震速報) You have probably heard it in a film without knowing what it was: the two-tone chime, phones shrieking simultaneously across a train carriage, television programming cut off mid-sentence. This is **Kinkyū Jishin Sokuhō**, and the critical thing to understand is that **it is not a prediction**. The earthquake has already happened. Seismometers near the source detect the fast-travelling P-wave, JMA's systems estimate location, magnitude and expected intensity in seconds, and the warning races ahead of the slower, destructive S-wave to areas further away. JMA issues a warning when seismic waves are detected at two or more stations and the maximum expected intensity is **Shindo 5-lower or above**. If Shindo 6-lower or above is expected, it is escalated to an **Emergency Warning** (特別警報). That chart contains the most misunderstood fact about the system. **There is a blind zone.** Directly above a shallow inland earthquake — the Kobe, Kumamoto and Noto scenario — the strong shaking can physically arrive before the alert does. JMA is explicit about this: the interval is "several seconds to at most several tens of seconds," people near the source may be warned only after shaking has begun, and predicted intensities carry an error of about ±1 Shindo level. **When you hear the alert, do not investigate.** Do not check your phone to see how big it is. Protect your head, get low, get away from windows and tall furniture. You can find out what happened afterwards. #### Tsunami warnings After a relevant earthquake, JMA evaluates tsunami potential and aims to issue warnings within roughly **two to three minutes**. There are three levels, and the number that matters is the expected wave height: For very large earthquakes — above roughly magnitude 8 — JMA cannot calculate the true magnitude quickly, and deliberately issues warnings based on conservative assumptions rather than waiting for accuracy. Initial estimates may later be revised upward. None of which should be read as *"I have three minutes to decide."* You do not. *Figure: Learn this sign before you need it. Japan's coastal towns are threaded with marked evacuation routes, staircases and purpose-built evacuation towers. On arrival in any coastal accommodation, spend two minutes finding the nearest one.* **If you are near the coast and the shaking was strong or unusually long, move inland or uphill immediately.** Do not wait for the warning. Do not go down to the waterfront to look — this instinct kills people in every tsunami event, everywhere in the world. And remember that tsunami travel **up rivers**: being a kilometre inland on a riverbank is not safety. #### Aftershocks and the hazards that follow The main shock is not a finish line. After the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake, 195 felt earthquakes were recorded within about 44 hours, and JMA warned that shaking of similar intensity could recur — with the first week being the critical period. What follows an earthquake in Japan, in rough order of how often it catches people out: - **Aftershocks** Can equal the main shock. A building that survived once may not survive twice. Watch the [live tracker](/earthquake) for the sequence, not just the first event. - **Structural weakening you cannot see** Cracked shear walls, damaged connections, compromised chimneys and parapets. - **Landslides** Made far more likely by subsequent rain — this is why MLIT lowers rainfall warning thresholds after major quakes. - **Fire and gas** Ruptured gas lines and damaged wiring. Japanese homes have seismic gas shut-off meters; know where yours is and how to reset it. - **Liquefaction** On reclaimed land and soft river sediment — buildings tilt, utilities shear, manholes rise out of the road. - **Infrastructure loss** Water is usually the slowest utility to return, and its absence is what turns an emergency into a health crisis. --- ### Part 4 — What To Do, Situation by Situation #### In a hotel Get away from windows and anything on wheels or shelves. Take cover under a desk or table; if there is none, get low beside a solid interior wall — not under a hanging light fixture — and cover your head with a pillow or bag. Do not run into the corridor or outside during the shaking. When it stops: check yourself for injury, put on shoes (broken glass is the most common post-quake injury), locate the stairs, and follow staff instructions. **Do not use lifts** until they have been confirmed safe. Japan's official tourist guidance for visitors is explicit that going outside during strong shaking exposes you to falling glass and masonry. #### In a restaurant, shop or shopping mall Move away from shelving, glass display cases, hanging signage and stacked stock. Get low and protect your head. Large retail ceilings are heavy: modern Japanese malls have been retrofitted for this, but ceiling panels and light fittings still fall. When shaking stops, follow staff — and then keep following instructions once you are outside. The 2026 Aeon Mall Kumamoto explosion happened more than an hour after the earthquake, in a building people had already evacuated. **Do not re-enter a large building to retrieve belongings.** #### On a train or Shinkansen This is the scenario foreigners fear most and should probably fear least. Japanese railways receive early-warning data directly and apply emergency braking automatically; the Shinkansen has never lost a passenger to earthquake derailment. Hold a handrail or strap with both hands. Protect your head. **Stay in the carriage.** Do not open doors and do not climb down onto the track — overhead lines may still be live and adjacent tracks may be in use. Trains can stop between stations for a long time; staff will manage evacuation. #### In a lift Press the buttons for every floor and get out at the first one that opens, if it is safe. Modern Japanese lifts have seismic sensors that stop at the nearest floor automatically. If you are trapped, use the emergency call button and wait — do not try to force doors or climb out. #### Outdoors in a city Protect your head with a bag, and move away from building façades, glass, signage, vending machines, block walls and utility poles. Old concrete block walls (ブロック塀) are a known killer and Japan has been steadily removing them. Do not follow a crowd reflexively. Look at where they are going. Move toward an open space — a park, a school ground, a wide plaza. Japanese municipalities designate these as **evacuation areas** (避難場所), which are different from **evacuation shelters** (避難所) where you actually stay. #### Driving Do not brake hard. Slow gradually, pull to the left, stop, and turn on hazard lights. Listen to the radio. If you must abandon the car, **leave the key in it, leave it unlocked, and take your documents** — emergency services need to be able to move vehicles. #### In an onsen or public bath An uncomfortable but realistic scenario. Get low, protect your head from falling tiles and light fittings, and be aware that wet stone floors plus violent shaking is a serious fall risk. Grab a towel and a yukata on your way out if you can, but do not delay for modesty. Staff will direct you. #### Near the coast, anywhere Strong or long shaking means move inland and uphill, immediately, on foot. Roads jam. Do not return until authorities lift the warning. --- ### Part 5 — If You Actually Live Here Tourists need about twenty minutes of preparation. Residents need a weekend, and then an hour a year. #### Know your specific neighbourhood Your municipality publishes a **hazard map** (ハザードマップ) showing expected shaking intensity, liquefaction risk, landslide zones, tsunami inundation and flood extent for your actual street — usually in the city office and online, often with English versions in areas with large foreign populations. The national portal at **hazardmap.gsi.go.jp** aggregates them. Then find and **physically walk to** each of these, once, in daylight: - **Evacuation area and shelter** Your nearest designated 避難場所 (open refuge) and 避難所 (overnight shelter) — they are often two different places. - **Tsunami evacuation building or tower** Coastal areas only. Note the entrance, and whether it is unlocked at night. - **Hospital and koban** The nearest emergency hospital and police box (交番), where you can report injuries or find someone who is missing. - **Emergency water supply point** Municipal 給水拠点 taps and reservoir points. Water is the slowest utility to come back. Do this once. It takes an afternoon and it is the difference between deciding under pressure and simply executing. #### Secure your home — this is the highest-value hour you will spend Japanese fire departments consistently find that a large share of earthquake injuries come from **furniture and objects, not structural failure**. A perfectly engineered building does not help if a wardrobe lands on you. Everything below is available in any home centre for the price of a decent dinner. - **Anchor tall furniture to walls** L-brackets, or tension poles (突っ張り棒) between the top of the unit and the ceiling. - **Gel pads under electronics** Adhesive anti-slip pads stop televisions and microwaves from walking off their stands. - **Latches on kitchen cabinets** Otherwise the contents empty across the floor you will be walking on. - **Shatter film on large glass** Keeps a broken pane in one sheet instead of across the room. - **Clear the high shelves** Move heavy and glass objects down — especially above beds and above where you sit. - **Torch and hard-soled shoes under the bed** Broken glass in the dark is the classic post-quake injury. - **Nothing heavy on top of a wardrobe** Least of all in a bedroom, and never above a pillow. #### Build a kit that reflects the Noto lesson *Figure: A standard Japanese bōsai (防災) kit. Home centres and Muji sell pre-assembled versions, but building your own lets you include the things generic kits never have: your medication, your prescriptions, and your documents.* Japanese authorities recommend **at least three days** of supplies, and **seven days** in areas that may be cut off — which, as Noto proved, includes any peninsula, valley or island. The standard list: water (3 litres per person per day), food that needs no cooking, torch, spare batteries, power bank, hand-crank or battery radio, first-aid supplies, work gloves, masks, wet wipes, a whistle, a thermal blanket, and sturdy shoes. The list that actually saves lives, and that generic kits omit: - **Prescription medication** At least a week's buffer, plus a photograph of the prescription and your medicine notebook (お薬手帳). - **Warmth** Noto's disaster-related deaths were substantially a winter-and-hypothermia story. Thermal blankets, disposable heat pads (カイロ), a sleeping bag. - **Sanitation** Portable toilet bags. Water goes out and stays out — this is not optional, and it is what makes shelters unbearable. - **Cash in small denominations** Japan is increasingly cashless, and cashless systems die with the power and the network. - **Identity and paperwork** Copies of your residence card, passport, insurance card and lease — physical and in cloud storage. - **Personal essentials** Contact lens solution, glasses, spare hearing-aid batteries, baby formula, pet supplies — the things nobody stocks for you. #### Communications when the network is overloaded Voice calls fail first in a disaster; data often survives. Japan operates a **disaster message board** service (災害用伝言板) through every mobile carrier, and NTT runs **171**, a voice message dial service. Both are activated during major disasters and can be practised on the 1st and 15th of each month. Agree with your family, in advance, on a single check-in method and a single overseas contact who can relay messages. Then do the unglamorous thing: **tell people abroad that you are fine, early.** In every Japanese disaster, an enormous amount of anxious energy is spent by relatives overseas watching footage of a prefecture nowhere near you. Install **Safety tips**, the Japan Tourism Agency's free multilingual app, which pushes earthquake early warnings, tsunami warnings, evacuation guidance and emergency phrases in English and a dozen other languages. **NHK WORLD-JAPAN** is the other essential — it broadcasts live in English during major events. Our own [live earthquake tracker](/earthquake) is useful for awareness and context, but for warnings, use JMA and NHK. **Pro Tip:** Do not rely on social media during a disaster. Every major Japanese earthquake since 2011 has been accompanied by a surge of fabricated rescue requests, AI-generated damage imagery and false tsunami claims — which actively obstructs emergency services. Verify against JMA, NHK, or your municipality before you share anything. --- ### Part 6 — Buildings, Property and the Money Question This is the section that matters most if you are staying in Japan, and it is the one that real-estate listings are quietest about. *Figure: Three generations of Japanese house. The visible differences — roof weight, wall bracing, foundation type, connection hardware — are exactly the differences that determine whether a building stands up.* #### The two dates that matter: 1981 and 2000 Japanese building standards were fundamentally strengthened on **1 June 1981**, when the New Earthquake-Resistant Standard (新耐震基準, *shin-taishin*) came into force. Buildings whose construction confirmation is dated before that are *kyū-taishin* — old standard. The modern framework is designed so that a building suffers no major damage in moderate earthquakes, and **does not collapse** under shaking in the Shindo 6-upper to 7 range. Most guides stop there. They shouldn't, because the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake produced the closest thing Japanese housing has to a controlled experiment. Government researchers surveyed **every wooden house in central Mashiki town** — 1,955 of them — after the area was hit by two Shindo 7 shocks in 28 hours. Same town, same ground, same shaking. The only variable was the code they were built under. A pre-1981 house was **thirteen times** more likely to collapse than a post-2000 house. But look at the middle column, because that is the one that surprises people: houses built under the celebrated 1981 standard still collapsed at **four times** the rate of post-2000 houses. The reason is that a further revision in **June 2000** tightened the things the 1981 standard had left vague for wooden houses in particular: mandatory ground surveys, specified foundation design, and — critically — **specified metal connectors at structural joints** (hold-downs anchoring columns to the foundation). The 1981 code got the walls right. The 2000 revision stopped houses from lifting off their own foundations. So the working rule for anyone renting or buying: Pre-1981 | danger | Assume a seismic evaluation and retrofit are required. Price accordingly — the Mashiki data makes this cohort thirteen times more likely to collapse than a post-2000 house. 1981–May 2000 | caution | Better, but not settled. Ask specifically about joints, hold-downs, foundation type and wall balance. MLIT has published a dedicated verification method for exactly this cohort of wooden houses. June 2000 onward | ok | Current standard. Still ask about ground conditions — code compliance does not cancel liquefaction or landslide risk. #### The national retrofit gap Japan has moved its housing stock from 75% seismic conformity in 2003 to about **90% in 2023**, and aims to substantially close the gap by 2035. But roughly **5.7 million dwellings** remain seismically inadequate, and MLIT's assessment of them is not subtle: they are at risk of collapse in shaking comparable to Noto or Kumamoto. Almost all of that gap is in **detached houses** (85% conformity) rather than apartment blocks (96%) — and disproportionately in rural and ageing regions. Which is to say: it is concentrated in exactly the stock that foreign buyers find most romantic and most affordable. #### If you are buying property in Japan Foreigners face no legal restriction on buying land or buildings in Japan, and the rural property market is genuinely one of the most interesting in the developed world. But an akiya priced at ¥3 million is not a bargain if it needs ¥8 million of structural work — or if it sits on a slope that MLIT has flagged for landslide risk. Stop asking *"is this house cheap?"* and start asking *"why is this house cheap?"* The due-diligence list that earthquake risk actually demands: - **Construction confirmation date** Not the listing's "built year" — the official date. Pre-1981, 1981–2000, or post-2000? - **Seismic diagnosis (耐震診断)** Has one been done, and can you see the report? - **Retrofit history (耐震改修)** What was done, by whom, and is it certified? - **Structural system and roof weight** Heavy clay-tile roofs on old timber frames are a specific, well-documented vulnerability. - **Foundation** Stone-and-timber, unreinforced concrete, or reinforced slab? Any visible cracking or settlement? - **Joint hardware** Are there hold-down connectors anchoring the frame to the foundation? - **Ground conditions** Reclaimed land, old paddy, river sediment and filled valleys amplify shaking and can liquefy. - **Slope and landslide designation** Is the plot inside a 土砂災害警戒区域 (landslide hazard zone)? - **Tsunami inundation zone** Check the municipal hazard map, not the agent's reassurance. - **Distance to known active faults** The national seismic hazard maps at jishin.go.jp let you check this. - **Rebuildability (再建築不可)** Some cheap plots cannot legally be rebuilt on at all — seismic risk becomes existential rather than reparable. - **A professional inspection** For an older Japanese property, this is the best money in the entire transaction. This is a genuinely hard research problem for a foreign buyer: the hazard maps are municipal, the terminology is technical Japanese, and the listing portals surface none of it. ![Akiya X Logo](/akiyax-icon-white.png) #### Run this due diligence before you buy **Partner resource for property buyers.** *The Japanist* has partnered with **Akiya X**, a foreigner-focused Japanese property platform built around exactly the due diligence this section describes — scored and qualified listings, integrated hazard-map context, structural and rebuildability flags, and total-cost calculators that surface the acquisition and ownership expenses Japanese listings routinely omit. Use promo code **JAPANISTAKIYAX20** for an exclusive **20% discount** on the annual plan. [Explore Akiya X](https://akiyax.com) If you want the longer analysis of how the akiya market actually works for foreign buyers — qualification, hidden costs, the affidavit process, and why most listings never should have been listed — we covered it in depth in [Navigating Japan's Akiya Opportunity](/blog/navigating-japans-akiya-opportunity-akiyax). And if you are weighing a long-term move rather than a holiday home, the residency rules changed substantially this year; see [Japan's Permanent Residency Overhaul](/blog/japan-permanent-residency-visa-changes-2026-2027). #### Earthquake insurance: the thing almost nobody explains Here is a fact that surprises most foreign residents and buyers: **standard Japanese fire insurance does not cover earthquake damage.** It does not cover tsunami or volcanic damage either. Earthquake cover (地震保険) is a separate, government-backed rider that must be attached to a fire policy. Note the two numbers people confuse. The **attachment rate** — the share of new fire policies that add earthquake cover — passed 70% for the first time in FY2024. The **household penetration rate** is only **35.4%**. Roughly two-thirds of Japanese households have no earthquake cover at all. Three things to understand before you buy it: - **Payouts are capped** At **30–50% of the fire policy's insured value**, with a statutory ceiling. It is designed to help you restart your life, not to rebuild your house. - **Claims settle in bands** Total loss, major, minor, partial — not by itemised repair estimate. - **Diligence pays you back** Premiums vary by prefecture and structure, and **discounts of 10–50% apply** for post-1981 construction, certified seismic grades, and completed retrofits. --- ### Part 7 — The Nankai Trough and the Prediction Question If you have researched Japanese earthquakes at all, you have met the phrase **Nankai Trough**. It is a submarine plate boundary running along the Pacific side of southwestern Japan, and it has produced enormous earthquakes on a roughly 100–200 year cycle for as long as Japan has kept records. A future Nankai earthquake could affect a vast area from Tokai through the Kii Peninsula, Shikoku and into Kyushu. For years, one number dominated the conversation: *80% within 30 years.* In September 2025, Japan's Earthquake Research Committee revised its assessment and did something unusual — it published two. Both models are rated **Rank III, the highest hazard category**. The committee says it cannot currently judge one method superior to the other, and recommends that the public and municipalities plan around the higher figure on the principle of "when in doubt, act." What a probability like this does **not** mean: - **Not a forecast for next year** It is a 30-year window — a long-term planning number, not a calendar alert. - **Not a date prediction** And it never becomes one. Preparedness is the response, not countdown culture. - **High ≠ imminent, low ≠ safe** A low figure would not mean safe, and a high figure does not mean the earthquake is coming this year. Japan also operates a **Nankai Trough Earthquake Extra Information** system, which issues advisories when unusual activity is detected in the region. An advisory is a call for heightened readiness. JMA is explicit that even when such information is issued, the earthquake may not occur — and equally, that a Nankai earthquake could arrive with no advisory at all. #### Do not believe earthquake predictions on social media Every year or two, a claim circulates that someone has predicted an exact date for a catastrophic Japanese earthquake. The sources vary — a manga, a dream, an astrological calculation, an "insider," a viral video, a cloud formation. In 2025 one such rumour measurably damaged inbound tourism to Japan, and JMA's own director-general publicly called it a hoax and urged people to disregard it. The scientific position is unambiguous and has not changed: **earthquakes can be assessed probabilistically, monitored continuously, and warned about seconds in advance — but they cannot be predicted by date, place and magnitude.** Anyone claiming otherwise is selling something, even if the price is only your attention. The correct response to any viral earthquake prediction is the same as the correct response to no prediction at all: check that your furniture is anchored and your water is in date. --- ### Part 8 — Vocabulary, Checklists and Sources #### The words worth recognising You do not need Japanese to be safe here. You need about twelve words, most of which you will see written on signs or hear in announcements. | Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | |----------|--------|---------| | 地震 | jishin | Earthquake | | 津波 | tsunami | Tsunami | | 震度 | shindo | Seismic intensity (how hard it shook here) | | 余震 | yoshin | Aftershock | | 緊急地震速報 | kinkyū jishin sokuhō | Earthquake Early Warning | | 避難 | hinan | Evacuation | | 避難場所 | hinan basho | Evacuation **area** — open space you go to immediately | | 避難所 | hinanjo | Evacuation **shelter** — building where you stay | | 高台 | takadai | High ground | | 大津波警報 | ōtsunami keihō | Major Tsunami Warning | | ハザードマップ | hazādo mappu | Hazard map | | 土砂災害 | dosha saigai | Landslide disaster | | 耐震 | taishin | Earthquake-resistant | | 安否確認 | anpi kakunin | Safety confirmation / check-in | #### The checklist Three phases. Do the first one today; the other two are what you fall back on when there is no time to think. pin | Know your accommodation's full address **in Japanese**, and the nearest major station phone | Install **Safety tips** and enable emergency alerts on your phone map | Check the [hazard map](https://disaportal.gsi.go.jp/) for where you are staying or living uphill | **If coastal:** identify the nearest high ground or tsunami evacuation building *on arrival* anchor | **Residents:** anchor furniture, build a 3–7 day kit, keep cash, agree a family check-in method building | **Renting or buying:** know your building's construction date and seismic history head | **Protect your head** — this is the single highest-value action cover | Get low, get away from glass, shelving and tall furniture cover | Take cover under something solid and hold on glass | Stay inside; do not run out during the shaking train | If on a train, hold on and stay aboard uphill | If near the coast, prepare to move the instant it stops people | Check yourself and the people around you shoes | **Put on shoes** — before you take a single step gas | Turn off the gas and open a door for an exit route warning | Expect aftershocks of similar strength lift | Do not use lifts; do not re-enter damaged buildings uphill | Near the coast or a river mouth — **go uphill now**, do not wait for the warning news | Check [JMA](https://www.jma.go.jp/bosai/map.html) or NHK, and message family that you are safe terrain | Stay out of steep terrain, especially if rain is forecast For live intensity readings and the last 24 hours of activity, keep [The Japanist earthquake tracker](/earthquake) bookmarked. --- #### Frequently Asked Questions ##### Should I cancel my trip to Japan because of earthquakes? No. Millions of visitors travel Japan every year without experiencing a significant earthquake, and Japan's monitoring, building standards, warning systems and emergency response are among the best in the world. The rational response is twenty minutes of preparation, not cancellation. ##### Is Tokyo safe from earthquakes? Tokyo is exposed — it has multiple potential earthquake sources and an enormous concentration of people and infrastructure — but modern Tokyo buildings are engineered to standards that barely resemble those of fifty years ago. The more useful question is not "is this city safe?" but "what kind of building am I in, what is the ground beneath it, and what is around it?" ##### What is the difference between magnitude and Shindo? Magnitude measures the energy released at the earthquake's source — one number per earthquake. Shindo measures how strongly the ground shook at a specific location, on a 10-step scale from 0 to 7. One earthquake produces many different Shindo readings. Pay attention to Shindo. ##### How much warning does Japan's earthquake early warning system give? Several seconds to at most several tens of seconds, depending on your distance from the epicentre. If you are close to a shallow inland earthquake, the shaking may reach you before the warning does. Treat the alert as a signal to protect yourself immediately, not as a countdown. ##### What should I do if an earthquake happens while I'm on a Shinkansen? Stay in the carriage, hold onto a handrail or seat with both hands, and protect your head. Japanese trains brake automatically on receiving earthquake data. Never open doors or climb onto the tracks — follow railway staff instructions, even if the train is stopped for a long time. ##### Do I need earthquake insurance in Japan? Standard Japanese fire insurance does not cover earthquake, tsunami or volcanic damage — you need a separate earthquake rider. Only about 35% of Japanese households hold one. Payouts are capped at 30–50% of the fire policy's insured value and are intended to help you restart, not to rebuild. Discounts of 10–50% apply for post-1981 construction and certified retrofits. ##### Is it safe to buy an old house in Japan? It can be, but the construction date is the single strongest predictor of earthquake performance. After the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, wooden houses in central Mashiki built before June 1981 collapsed at 28.2%, those built between 1981 and May 2000 at 8.7%, and those built after June 2000 at 2.2%. Commission a seismic diagnosis, check the municipal hazard map for landslide and liquefaction risk, and budget for retrofit before you commit. ##### Can earthquakes in Japan be predicted? No. Japan can assess long-term probability, monitor seismic activity continuously, and issue warnings seconds after an earthquake begins — but no one can currently predict the date, place and magnitude of an earthquake. Viral predictions circulating on social media have been publicly rejected by Japan's meteorological authorities. --- #### Trusted sources worth bookmarking For readers who want primary information rather than social-media speculation: * [Japan Meteorological Agency — Earthquake information](https://www.jma.go.jp/jma/en/Activities/earthquake.html) — Japan's official warning and monitoring authority * [JMA — Earthquake Early Warning](https://www.jma.go.jp/jma/en/Activities/eew.html) — how the system works, and its documented limits * [JNTO Safety Tips for Travelers](https://www.jnto.go.jp/safety-tips/eng/emergency/earthquake/) — official earthquake guidance written for international visitors * [Safety tips app](https://www.jnto.go.jp/safety-tips/eng/app.html) — free multilingual push alerts for earthquakes and tsunami * [GSI Hazard Map Portal](https://disaportal.gsi.go.jp/) — national portal for municipal hazard maps * [Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion](https://www.jishin.go.jp/main/w_shokai-e.htm) — national seismic hazard maps and long-term evaluations * [MLIT — seismic retrofitting of housing](https://taishin-kaishu.mlit.go.jp/) — official information on standards, diagnosis and retrofit subsidies * [Geospatial Information Authority — 2026 Kumamoto crustal movement](https://www.gsi.go.jp/chibankansi/chikakukansi_20260728_kumamoto_2.html) — GNSS observations of ground deformation * [Geological Survey of Japan — 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake](https://www.gsj.jp/hazards/earthquake/kumamoto2026/index.html) — geological analysis of the July 2026 event * [JMA — 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake](https://www.jma.go.jp/jma/menu/20240101_noto_jishin.html) — official record of the M7.6 disaster * [NHK WORLD-JAPAN](https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/) — English-language live coverage during major events --- There is a quiet philosophical lesson inside Japan's relationship with its own ground. Preparedness here is not an expression of fear. Nobody anchoring a bookshelf in Setagaya believes an earthquake is coming this month. You do not buy a fire extinguisher because you expect a fire tonight, or wear a seatbelt because you expect to crash. You prepare because you do not know when. Japan's record — Kobe in 1995, Tōhoku in 2011, Kumamoto in 2016, Noto in 2024, Kumamoto again in 2026 — is a record of events that were different in every measurable way. Different mechanisms, different regions, different magnitudes, different consequences. None of them was predicted. All of them were, to varying degrees, survived because of decisions made years earlier by people who had no idea which specific earthquake they were preparing for. That is the entire discipline, and it is available to you from the moment you land. **You cannot control when the earth moves. You can decide, in advance, what you will be standing under when it does.** When you want the live picture rather than the history — intensity, epicentres, the last few hours — that is what the [earthquake tracker](/earthquake) is for. --- *Last researched: 11 August 2026. Casualty and damage figures for the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake are provisional and continue to be revised by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. This article is general information, not engineering, legal, insurance or investment advice — for property and structural decisions, engage licensed Japanese professionals.* --- ## Japan's Permanent Residency Overhaul: Every 2026–2027 Rule Change, Old vs. New URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/japan-permanent-residency-visa-changes-2026-2027 Published: 2026-08-04 (JST). Category: Travel. For nearly a million foreign nationals, *eijūken* (永住権)—permanent residency—has been the quiet finish line of a Japan life: no more renewal queues, no employer tether, the freedom to change jobs, buy property with fewer frictions, and plan a decade instead of a visa cycle. That finish line is moving. In the span of roughly thirty months—from the 2024 Immigration Control Act amendment, through the Immigration Services Agency's (**ISA** / 出入国在留管理庁) February 2026 guideline revision, to the July 2026 draft tightening that landed in every major Japanese newspaper—Japan has rewritten what permanent residency means. It is shifting from a status that felt nearly absolute once granted into something closer to a **conditional privilege**: harder to earn, more expensive to apply for, and—for the first time in modern practice—revocable for willful tax and social-insurance delinquency. This guide is written to be the definitive English-language briefing for that shift. Every hard claim below is sourced. Where rules are still in **draft** (public comment pending), we say so. This is not legal advice; for your case, consult ISA directly or a licensed *gyōseishoshi* (行政書士). --- #### TL;DR — What Changed and When | Change | Status | Effective | |--------|--------|-----------| | PR guidelines: tax/pension/health insurance as national-interest test; on-time payment expected | **In force** (official guideline) | Feb 24, 2026 | | Business Manager visa: capital ¥5M → ¥30M + staffing + language | **In force** (ministerial ordinance) | Oct 16, 2025 | | Consular visa fees ~5× | **In force** | July 1, 2026 | | Residence-status renewal fees tiered; PR application fee ¥10,000 → ¥200,000 | **Draft / targeted** | Oct 1, 2026 | | Stricter PR income, pension, language, spouse wait times | **Draft guidelines** | Guidelines from Oct 1, 2026; apply to filings from April 2027 (income rule reported as retroactive to April 2026 filings) | | 3-year period of stay no longer counts as "longest" for PR | **Announced** (official) | April 1, 2027 | | PR revocation for willful tax/social-insurance non-payment | **Law enacted**; enforcement guidelines finalizing | April 2027 (within 3 years of 2024 promulgation) | **Pro Tip:** If you already meet today's PR criteria, the practical window is **before September 30, 2026** for the old ¥10,000 filing fee (applications received by that date are widely reported as grandfathered), and **before April 2027** for the current spouse fast-track and for clearing any tax/pension arrears ahead of the revocation regime. --- #### The Numbers Behind the Policy Japan is not tightening residency in a vacuum. Official ISA statistics show a foreign-resident population that has crossed a historic threshold: - **End of 2025 (令和7年末):** **4,125,395** foreign residents—the first time above four million—up **356,418** (+9.5%) from end-2024. ([ISA press release](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/press/13_00062.html)) - **Permanent residents (*eijūsha* 永住者):** **947,125** at end-2025 (+29,009 year-on-year)—still the single largest status category. - **Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services:** 475,790 (+57,084) - **Specified Skilled Worker (*tokutei ginō* 特定技能):** 390,256 (+105,830)—the fastest climber - **Special permanent residents:** 266,896 (declining cohort) A decade earlier, permanent residents were already the backbone of long-term foreign settlement. Today they are nearly a million people nested inside a workforce Japan needs—yet a political climate that increasingly demands proof of contribution, language, tax compliance, and fiscal self-sufficiency. The policy response is not a closed border. It is a **filter**: keep the people who look, on paper, like long-term fiscal and social contributors; make freeriding and under-capitalized entrepreneurship much harder. For income context, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's *Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions* (国民生活基礎調査) reports **average household income of ¥5.242 million** for 2022 (令和4年). ([MHLW / e-Stat series](https://www.e-stat.go.jp/stat-search/database?tclass1=000001219191&toukei=00450061&tstat=000001219189)) That figure is **not** yet an official PR cutoff—ISA has said income must exceed the average for a Japanese household of comparable size—but it is the best public benchmark for what "above average" means in Japanese statistical language. --- #### Part 1 — How You Get PR: Old Rules vs. New ##### The three legal pillars (unchanged in statute) Under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (入管法) Article 22 and the ISA's [Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/nyukan_nyukan50.html) (永住許可に関するガイドライン, revised **February 24, 2026**), permission still rests on three pillars: 1. **Good conduct** (*素行が善良であること*) 2. **Independent livelihood** (*独立の生計を営むに足りる資産又は技能*) 3. **National interest** (*日本国の利益に合する*) What is changing is how harshly those pillars are **measured**. ##### What the official February 2026 guidelines already require The current official text—not a media leak—is unambiguous on public obligations: - Applicants must properly fulfill **tax, public pension, and public health-insurance** payment duties, plus immigration notification duties. - Even if everything is paid up at the moment of application, **late payment during the original due period is, in principle, evaluated negatively**. - Standard track: **10 consecutive years** in Japan, including **at least 5 years** on a work or residence status (**excluding** Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker Type 1). - You must generally hold the **longest period of stay** available for your current status. - Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) points routes remain: roughly **70 points / 3 years** or **80 points / 1 year**, with points that must be **continuously maintained**. **Critical deadline already on the books:** From **April 1, 2027**, ISA will stop treating a **3-year** period of stay as if it were the "longest." You will need the actual maximum period (typically **5 years** for many work statuses). Holders of a 3-year card as of March 31, 2027 get a **one-time transitional exception** if their application is decided within that card's validity. ([ISA permanent residence page](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/eizyuu_00001.html)) ##### The July 2026 draft: the bigger leap (not yet final) In late July 2026, Asahi Shimbun, The Japan Times, Nikkei Asia, and The Japan News (Yomiuri) reported an ISA **draft revision** that would harden pillars 2 and 3. ISA planned to publish the draft for **public comment** and finalize afterward. Treat every item in this subsection as **draft until ISA publishes the final PDF**. | Requirement | Old / current practice | Draft new standard | |-------------|------------------------|--------------------| | Independent livelihood | Must not become a "public burden"; "stable life expected" | Must be capable of self-support into the future; economic conditions **equal to or higher than Japanese nationals** of comparable household size | | Income | Informal case-by-case review (often ~¥3M+ discussed in practitioner lore; never a hard public number) | Household income **exceeding the Japanese average** for household size; savings/assets can offset shortfalls (especially for younger applicants) | | Pension | Payment compliance checked | Projected benefits roughly equal to **30 years of *kōsei nenkin* (厚生年金)** enrollment at that income level; assets can fill a gap | | National interest | Broad discretionary finding | Must **"actively and concretely bring benefits to Japan"** | | Japanese language | Not a hard PR guideline threshold | Weighed at **"independent user"** level (CEFR **B2** / roughly JLPT N2 territory) | | School-age children | Not highlighted | Negative evaluation if compulsory-school-age children are **not enrolled** | | Spouse fast track | **3 years** of genuine marriage + **1 year** residence | **5 years** marriage + **3 years** residence | | Timing | Current guideline | Guidelines targeted **Oct 1, 2026**; apply to applications from **April 2027**; income rule reported as applying to filings since **April 2026** | Sources for the draft comparison: [Asahi Shimbun (July 27, 2026)](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16759560), [The Japan Times](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/07/26/japan/japan-permanent-residency-requirements/), [Nikkei Asia](https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/japan-immigration/japan-plans-to-tighten-permanent-residency-requirements-for-foreigners), [The Japan News / Yomiuri](https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20260725-339916/). ##### Spouse route — the change that hits families hardest | | Current official guideline | Draft | |--|---------------------------|-------| | Marriage duration | 3 years (genuine marital life) | 5 years | | Residence in Japan | 1 continuous year | 3 continuous years | | Who it covers | Spouses of Japanese nationals, permanent residents, and special permanent residents | Same categories, longer wait | If you are two years into a marriage and banking on the old track, the draft is a calendar shock. If the final text keeps the reported timeline, couples who can file under today's rules before the new guideline application date should treat that window as strategic—not panic-driven, but deliberate. --- #### Part 2 — How You Can Lose PR: The April 2027 Revocation Regime ##### Old world Once granted, permanent residency was extraordinarily sticky. Revocation existed mainly for **fraud in the original application** and certain serious immigration violations. Tax delinquency was a municipal and tax-office problem, not an immigration-status problem. ##### New world (2024 Act amendment) The 2024 revision of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (法律第60号, 2024) expanded revocation grounds. Reporting across Asahi, Japan Forward, and immigration-law analyses converges on an **April 2027** operational start (within three years of promulgation). New or clarified grounds include: 1. **Willful non-payment** of taxes or social-insurance premiums (pension, health insurance) 2. Serious / repeated **immigration-law violations** 3. **Criminal convictions** involving imprisonment of **one year or more** (including, in relevant categories, suspended sentences) ##### What "willful" means in the draft enforcement guidelines ISA materials and September 2025 guideline discussions, as reported by [Asahi](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16057632) and [Japan Forward](https://japan-forward.com/government-drafts-guidelines-strip-permanent-residency-unpaid-taxes/), frame a two-part test for deliberate non-payment: - There were **no unavoidable circumstances** (serious illness, disaster, involuntary unemployment, etc.), **and** - The person **knew** of the obligation and still did not pay Revocation is reserved for **malicious** cases—repeated large delinquencies, clear intent not to pay even after demands or asset seizure—not for someone who fell behind, engaged with the city office, and is on an installment plan. Final operational guidelines were expected through **2026** after stakeholder input. **No transitional free pass:** Pre-2027 arrears can matter. Settling debts **before** the law bites is the agency's own signal that you are outside the "malicious" frame. **Not automatic deportation:** In many scenarios, authorities may convert status to **Long-Term Resident** (*teijūsha* 定住者) or another status rather than immediate removal—still a severe downgrade (renewals return; travel and life certainty shrink). **Already hold PR?** Check your *nenkin* (年金) record via Nenkin Net, confirm resident tax (*jūminzei* 住民税) and national health insurance payments with your municipality, and fix gaps now—not in March 2027. --- #### Part 3 — The Fee Shock (October 1, 2026) Following a May 2026 legal amendment that raised statutory fee ceilings, ISA unveiled a draft fee structure reported by [The Japan Times (July 3, 2026)](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/07/03/japan/society/residence-permit-fees/) and subsequent coverage: | Application | Previous | Proposed (from Oct 1, 2026) | |-------------|----------|-------------------------------| | Permanent residence permission | ¥10,000 (~$65) | **¥200,000** (~$1,300) — **20×** | | Status change / extension (was flat ~¥6,000 at counter) | Flat low fee | **Tiered by length of stay granted**, up to roughly ¥65,000–¥75,000 for the longest periods; online filings often discounted | | Consular short-term visas (MOFA) | ¥3,000 single / ¥6,000 multiple | **¥15,000 / ¥30,000** from **July 1, 2026** (first major rise since 1978) | Permanent residence applications are reported as **counter-only** (no online discount path) under the draft. Applications **officially received on or before September 30, 2026** are widely described as staying on the ¥10,000 rate even if the card arrives later—confirm at your regional immigration bureau when you file. For tourists and short-stay visitors, see also our earlier briefing on [2026 tourist rule changes](/blog/japan-2026-new-rules-changes-tourists) and the [hidden costs audit](/blog/2026-japan-travel-costs-hidden-taxes-fees). --- #### Part 4 — Related Visa Changes You Cannot Ignore Permanent residency does not exist in isolation. Japan is rebuilding the entire ladder beneath it. ##### Business Manager (*keiei・kanri* 経営・管理) — already law Effective **October 16, 2025**, ISA raised the landing standards for the Business Manager status. Official page: [ISA — Amendment concerning "Business Manager"](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/10_00237.html). | Item | Before | After (Oct 16, 2025) | |------|--------|----------------------| | Capital / investment | ¥5 million | **¥30 million** | | Full-time staff | Often alternative to capital | **At least one** full-time employee (Japanese national, permanent resident, or equivalent qualifying categories) | | Japanese language | Not required | Applicant **or** a full-time employee at CEFR **B2** or higher | | Experience / education | Soft | **3 years** management experience **or** relevant master's/doctorate | | Business plan | Document review | Must be confirmed by a qualified professional (e.g. SME consultant, CPA, tax accountant) | | Existing holders | — | Transitional review window through roughly **October 16, 2028** ("2028 cliff") | This closes the era of the thinly capitalized "visa company." For founders, the path to PR now often runs through heavier capitalization first—or a pivot into Engineer/Humanities or HSP routes. ##### From Technical Intern Training to *Ikusei Shūrō* (育成就労) ISA's published materials on the **Employment for Skill Development** system (*ikusei shūrō*) target a **April 2027** start, replacing the much-criticized Technical Intern Training Program with a framework oriented toward skill formation, Japanese-language progress, and clearer pathways into Specified Skilled Worker status. For employers and trainees, the message mirrors the PR story: Japan wants workers who **stay, skill up, and integrate**—not rotating underpaid labor with no settlement horizon. ##### Highly Skilled Professional and Special Highly Skilled HSP and J-Skip / Special Highly Skilled routes remain the fast lane—but the February 2026 guidelines emphasize **maintaining** points, not gaming a snapshot. Pair that with the April 2027 "longest period of stay" rule, and high earners should plan card length and timing together. ##### Naturalization (*kika* 帰化) — watch, don't invent Japanese media in late 2025 and 2026 reported government moves to **lengthen residence requirements for naturalization** and tighten screening—sometimes described as doubling the usual period. As of this writing, treat naturalization reforms as **policy under discussion / separate from PR guidelines**. Do not assume PR changes automatically equal citizenship changes; confirm against Ministry of Justice civil-affairs notices when they finalize. ##### JESTA (~2028) Visa-exempt travelers will eventually face pre-travel authorization (JESTA). That is an entry system, not a residency system—but it completes the picture of a Japan that is digitizing and pricing every stage of presence. Details in our [2026 tourist rules article](/blog/japan-2026-new-rules-changes-tourists). --- #### What This Means for Japan Long Term Here is the strategic read—grounded in the official numbers, not vibes. **1. Japan is choosing "selected settlement" over "open settlement."** Foreign residents just topped **4.1 million**. Permanent residents approach **950,000**. Specified Skilled Workers grew by more than **100,000** in a single year. Labor demand is real; political tolerance for unmanaged settlement is not. The PR overhaul is how a shrinking, aging society keeps the labor valve open while narrowing the path to *forever*. **2. The fiscal state is asserting itself inside immigration law.** Linking PR to on-time tax, pension, and health-insurance payments—and making willful non-payment a revocation ground—imports the tax office into the immigration file. For a country with rising social-security burdens and a household average income around **¥5.24 million**, that is coherent statecraft: permanent members of the community must be permanent contributors. **3. Language and schooling become soft borders.** A B2 expectation and negative marks for keeping children out of compulsory school are integration tests dressed as "national interest." Over a decade, that favors applicants who already live Japanese institutional life—PTA, *nenkin*, resident tax—and disadvantages those who treated Japan as a high-salary layover. **4. Entrepreneurship bifurcates.** The ¥30 million Business Manager bar plus a ¥200,000 PR fee plus above-average household income selects for capitalized, employable, Japanese-capable founders. Boutique lifestyle companies and "visa-first" shells lose. Corporate-sponsored Engineer/Humanities and HSP talent become relatively more attractive PR pipelines. **5. A rush, then a chill.** Expect a filing surge through **September 2026** (fees) and into early **2027** (guideline application / revocation start), then slower PR growth and a thicker middle layer of renewable statuses. ISA's own end-2025 data already show work and skills statuses growing faster than PR in percentage terms; the new rules will amplify that pattern. **6. Soft-power tradeoff.** Japan's brand for skilled foreigners has long included a credible path to permanence. Raise the bar too bluntly—especially for spouses and mid-income specialists outside Tokyo dual-income households—and competitors (Korea, Taiwan, Canada, parts of the EU) gain relative appeal. The sophisticated version of this policy succeeds if HSP and SSW-to-settlement pathways stay clear while freeriding exits. The clumsy version succeeds only at optics. None of this requires assuming bad faith. It is the demography of a country that needs people, and the politics of a country that wants to choose which people become permanent. --- #### Action Checklists by Situation ##### If you already hold permanent residency - Pull tax, pension, and health-insurance records for the past several years; erase arrears. - Keep your residence card address current; renew the card on time (card renewal ≠ status renewal, but non-compliance is newly salient). - Stay out of the "malicious non-payment" fact pattern: respond to city-office notices; use installment plans when needed. ##### If you plan to apply for PR in 2026 - File when your documents are clean—**on-time** payment history matters under the February 2026 guideline. - Target receipt **on or before September 30, 2026** if you want the ¥10,000 fee. - If you hold only a 3-year card, plan toward a 5-year card before April 2027 unless you qualify for the transitional exception. - HSP applicants: document continuous points, not a one-month spike. ##### If you are on the spouse track - Map your marriage and residence dates against **both** the current 3+1 rule and the draft 5+3 rule. - If you clearly qualify today, discuss timing with a *gyōseishoshi* before the draft hardens. ##### If you are a Business Manager - Treat **October 2028** as a hard capitalization and staffing milestone. - Rebuild the PR story around durable employment, tax compliance, and language—not a thin Kabushiki Kaisha. --- #### FAQ **Is permanent residency being abolished?** No. Japan is raising the bar to obtain it and adding revocation tools for willful public-charge non-payment and serious misconduct. Nearly 950,000 people already hold it. **I paid my taxes late last year but am current now. Am I finished?** Not automatically. Under the February 24, 2026 guidelines, late payment during the original due period is, in principle, a negative factor even if you later pay in full. Clean, on-time history is the new gold standard. **What income do I need?** No final yen figure has been published by ISA. Draft reporting says household income above the average for a Japanese household of the same size. MHLW's survey puts overall average household income at about **¥5.24 million** (2022). Assets can offset gaps. Wait for the official draft PDF before treating any blogger's number as law. **Will unpaid pension from five years ago get my PR revoked in 2027?** ISA has emphasized malicious, ongoing refusal—not every historical gap. Still, there is **no transitional immunity** written into the amendment as reported. Settling or formalizing exemptions/deferrals before April 2027 is the conservative move. **Does this affect Special Permanent Residents?** Special permanent residents (*tokubetsu eijūsha* 特別永住者) are a distinct legal category (largely zainichi Koreans and related cohorts) and are not the same as ordinary permanent residents. Do not assume identical treatment; check category-specific rules. **Is this legal advice?** No. Rules are moving through draft, comment, and ordinance stages. Primary sources are ISA/MOJ pages linked below. For decisions with life consequences, use the regional immigration bureau and a licensed professional. --- #### Primary Sources & Further Reading ##### Official (start here) - [永住許可に関するガイドライン（令和８年２月２４日改訂）— ISA](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/nyukan_nyukan50.html) - [永住許可（入管法第22条）— ISA](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/eizyuu_00001.html) - [永住許可申請 — ISA procedures](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-4.html) - [在留資格「経営・管理」上陸基準省令改正 — ISA](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/10_00237.html) - [令和７年末 在留外国人数 — ISA press release](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/press/13_00062.html) - [在留外国人統計 — ISA statistics portal](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/policies/statistics/toukei_ichiran_touroku.html) - [国民生活基礎調査（所得）— MHLW / e-Stat](https://www.e-stat.go.jp/stat-search/database?tclass1=000001219191&toukei=00450061&tstat=000001219189) ##### Major reporting on the July 2026 draft & fees - [Asahi: Japan raising financial rules for permanent residency](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16759560) - [Asahi: PR revocation guidelines](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16057632) - [The Japan Times: tougher PR requirements](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/07/26/japan/japan-permanent-residency-requirements/) - [The Japan Times: residence permit fee hikes](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/07/03/japan/society/residence-permit-fees/) - [Nikkei Asia: tighten permanent residency requirements](https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/japan-immigration/japan-plans-to-tighten-permanent-residency-requirements-for-foreigners) - [Japan Forward: draft guidelines on unpaid taxes](https://japan-forward.com/government-drafts-guidelines-strip-permanent-residency-unpaid-taxes/) *Last researched: August 4, 2026. Draft guidelines and fee ordinances may change after public comment. Always verify against the latest ISA PDF before filing.* --- ## Navigating Japan’s Akiya Opportunity: How Akiya X Brings Clarity and Qualification to Foreign Buyers URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/navigating-japans-akiya-opportunity-akiyax Published: 2026-07-14 (JST). Category: Travel. > **Disclosure:** *The Japanist* has a commercial partnership with Akiya X. Links to akiyax.com in this article are partner links, and the promo code below gives readers a discount. This article describes the platform’s published features; it is not legal, tax or financial advice. Japan’s countryside and regional towns hold millions of vacant or underused properties—known as *akiya*—a direct consequence of long-term demographic shifts, aging populations, and urbanization. For foreign buyers seeking affordable second homes, vacation properties, lifestyle escapes, or a deeper connection to specific regions, these homes represent compelling entry points into unique settings: coastal villages, onsen towns, mountain retreats, historic districts, or rural *satoyama* landscapes. Yet the path from interest to ownership is rarely straightforward. Language barriers, unfamiliar legal and transactional norms, seismic and structural due diligence requirements (particularly around post-1981 building standards), land rights nuances, hidden costs, and the sheer volume of unfiltered listings create significant friction. Many prospective buyers encounter “signal versus noise” problems: endless raw listings, properties with rebuildability issues or severe hazard exposure, and surprises around total acquisition and ownership expenses. A platform like **Akiya X** (akiyax.com) has emerged to address these exact pain points through a structured, foreigner-focused approach centered on a proprietary qualification system, lifestyle curation, transparency tools, and educational resources. This article examines its features, methodology, and positioning relative to broader Japanese real estate portals and other akiya-focused sites. ![Akiya X Logo](/akiyax-icon-white.png) **Exclusive Partner Offer:** *The Japanist* has partnered with **Akiya X** to provide an exclusive **20% discount** for a limited time on their annual plan. Use the promo code **JAPANISTAKIYAX20** on checkout to claim this special offer. [Get 20% Off Akiya X](https://akiyax.com) --- #### 🗺️ The Foreign Buyer Context: Opportunities and Realities Foreigners face no legal restrictions on purchasing land, houses, or apartments in Japan. Ownership does not confer residency or visa status—buyers must still qualify independently through work, business manager, spouse, or other visas (including the newer Digital Nomad option). Most transactions, especially for non-residents or those without Permanent Residency and stable local income, proceed on a cash basis, as bank financing remains difficult. Practical hurdles are substantial. Non-residents cannot easily register a standard *inkan* (personal seal); instead, they typically prepare a notarized Affidavit (executed in their home country or at a Japanese embassy/consulate) alongside their passport for identity and signature verification. Contracts and the Important Matters Explanation (*Jūyō Jikō Setsumei-sho*) are legally binding only in Japanese; English versions serve as reference only. Closing costs commonly range 6–10% of the purchase price, encompassing registration tax, real estate acquisition tax, stamp duties, judicial scrivener fees, and capped agent commissions. Annual fixed asset taxes require appointment of a local Tax Administrator (*nōzei kanrinin*). Older stock frequently carries risks including dry rot, wood-boring insects, asbestos, non-earthquake-compliant construction, or rural infrastructure gaps (e.g., lack of public sewage, landslide or flood exposure). Properties left vacant long-term benefit from professional management services (often ¥5,000–10,000/month) for airing, weeding, and leak checks. These realities make upfront qualification and education especially valuable. Platforms that filter for viability, surface risks transparently, and streamline handoff to licensed Japanese professionals (judicial scriveners, architects, inspectors) can materially reduce wasted effort and unexpected costs. --- #### 🔍 What Akiya X Offers: A Qualification-First Platform Akiya X positions itself as a curated gateway for international buyers interested in second homes, vacation properties, and high-potential akiya. Rather than presenting exhaustive raw listings, it emphasizes scored, handpicked opportunities aligned with realistic lifestyle goals—“Where can I realistically build my intended lifestyle in Japan?”—with clear visibility into location fit, property condition and rebuildability, transaction readiness for non-Japanese speakers, and relative value. The core innovation is the **Akiya X Score**, a 100-point proprietary qualification system applied to public listings. It weights four layers: - **Location & Lifestyle (35%)**: Regional desirability, access, geocode confidence, hazard context, and lifestyle clarity (e.g., proximity to beaches, onsen, hiking, or historic districts). - **Property Viability (30%)**: Rebuildability, land rights (distinguishing Freehold/*Shoyuken* full ownership from Leasehold/*Shakuchiken* land rental), zoning, structure, age, renovation state, and usable features. Hazard overlays inform this layer; hard filters reject listings with impossible rebuild status or severe hazard exposure. - **Buyer Readiness (20%)**: Legal certainty, utilities documentation, English-language data availability, transaction clarity, and photo coverage—directly addressing foreign buyer friction. - **Value for Money (15%)**: Asking price benchmarked against comparable local listings (with caps to avoid extreme low-price distortion). A separate confidence signal reflects data completeness. “Signature” or “Approved” listings display the reasoning behind the score—positives and explicit caveats. Listings failing hard rules never appear publicly. Scores function as research signals and decision-support tools, not professional appraisals, structural inspections, or legal advice; users are directed to conduct their own due diligence and consult licensed experts. Examples of scored properties illustrate the range (prices approximate and fluctuate with exchange rates; data as referenced on the platform): - Coastal Living (Score 75): ~$76,800 — Atami, Shizuoka (2LDK detached, 396 m²). - Onsen Living (Score 82): ~$95,360 — Yugawara, Kanagawa (3K detached, 300 m²). - Mountain Living (Score 75): ~$76,800 — Karuizawa, Nagano (3LDK detached, 117 m²). - Historic Town Living (Score 83): ~$62,720 — Kanazawa, Ishikawa (5K detached, 257 m²). - Snow Country (Score 80): ~$99,136 — Toyako, Hokkaido (3LDK detached, 289 m²). - Rural Living (Score 77): ~$43,520 — Morioka, Iwate area (3LDK detached, 199 m²). These demonstrate curation across premium lifestyle contexts rather than volume of the cheapest vacancies. --- #### 🎨 Lifestyle Categories and Discovery Tools Instead of generic keyword searches, users browse scored properties through curated lifestyle lenses: Coastal Living, Island Living, Mountain Living, Onsen Living, Snow Country, Outdoor Living, Historic Town Living (machiya/kominka potential), Rural Living, and Connected Living (regional cities with good transit). This helps align properties with intended use—wellness immersion in an onsen town, seasonal coastal escapes, cultural depth in a historic district, or nature-connected rural living—rather than defaulting to lowest price. Interactive maps support discovery with 10+ toggleable layers covering natural hazards (landslide, flood, etc.), demographics, transportation access, amenities, and short-term rental regulatory context where relevant. These layers feed the scoring and provide immediate geographic and risk context. A free **Cost Calculator** estimates all-in acquisition costs (acquisition tax, registration, stamp duty, agent commission, scrivener fees) plus first-year property taxes, displayed in both yen and USD with current rates. Example outputs on the platform show how a ¥8,000,000 (~$51,000) purchase might add roughly ¥870,000 (~$5,600) in one-time costs and ¥45,000 (~$290) in first-year tax, for a clearer total picture. The **Buyer Dossier** feature generates print-ready PDF summaries compiling listing research, custom briefs, scrivener checklists, timelines, and due-diligence action items. This facilitates a smoother handoff to Japanese legal and professional services once a shortlist is identified. --- #### 📚 Educational Resources and Transparency Akiya X includes a dedicated FAQ and buyer guide addressing foreigner-specific questions: legality of purchase, visa/residency implications, Freehold versus Leasehold distinctions and implications, Affidavit process as *inkan* alternative, mortgage realities, typical closing cost ranges, binding nature of Japanese contract versions, common structural and hazard risks in older properties, Tax Administrator requirements, and recommendations for vacant-property management. These resources promote realistic expectations and reduce reliance on assumptions carried over from other markets. A downloadable guide specifically covers hidden fees and how the platform’s tools aim to surface them earlier. --- #### ⚖️ Differentiation from Other Portals and Akiya Sites Major Japanese portals (e.g., Suumo, athome) offer massive inventory but are primarily Japanese-language experiences optimized for domestic buyers. They rarely provide systematic viability scoring, foreigner-tailored legal/process education, integrated USD cost transparency, or lifestyle-based curation. International-facing English sites exist but often present unfiltered or lightly curated listings, assuming buyers will engage local agents early for due diligence. Other akiya-focused or niche platforms may emphasize volume, low prices, or specific regions, sometimes with social media or direct-sales angles. Akiya X differentiates through its qualification engine (explicitly filtering and ranking on multi-factor viability and buyer readiness), lifestyle-context browsing, hazard-aware mapping, cost and dossier tools, and built-in education calibrated to non-resident challenges. It functions more as a pre-qualification and decision-support layer than a comprehensive marketplace—prioritizing “qualified shortlists” and “signal, not noise.” --- #### ⚖️ Realistic Assessment: Strengths and Boundaries For foreign buyers whose Japan interest extends beyond tourism toward seasonal living, wellness retreats, cultural immersion in specific locales, or testing rural/second-home ownership, Akiya X offers meaningful efficiencies. It surfaces properties with documented lifestyle alignment and viability indicators, flags risks and data gaps via scores and caveats, provides cost clarity early, and generates professional handoff materials. This can shorten the research-to-professional-engagement timeline and help avoid properties likely to involve disproportionate renovation, legal, or hazard complications. Limitations are important to state objectively. The score is a proprietary algorithmic signal derived from available data overlays and standardized factors; it does not replace on-site inspections, licensed architectural or structural assessments (especially for seismic performance and renovation feasibility), full title searches, or independent legal advice. Total project costs (renovation, utilities connection where missing, ongoing maintenance in harsh climates, potential short-term rental regulatory compliance) vary widely and require separate budgeting. Liquidity, resale dynamics, and personal circumstances (visa strategy, time spent in Japan, risk tolerance) remain individual considerations. As with any real estate decision, professional verification and personal due diligence are essential. --- #### 🗺️ A Tool for the Engaged Japan Explorer Readers drawn to *The Japanist* for its depth on culture, etiquette, seasonal experiences (Hanabi, sakura, koyo), regional exploration, and practical navigation of Japan already demonstrate a desire for informed, respectful engagement. For those whose interest evolves toward rooted experiences—owning a base for repeated visits, seasonal rituals, or lifestyle experimentation—platforms that prioritize clarity, education, and qualification can serve as a logical bridge. Akiya X does not promise effortless ownership or guaranteed outcomes. What it does provide is a structured, transparent framework tailored to the documented realities foreign buyers encounter: language and process friction, viability uncertainties, cost opacity, and the need to match property to intended use. By filtering for high-potential opportunities and equipping users with context and handoff tools, it represents one evolution in making Japan’s distinctive property landscape more accessible to serious international participants. Prospective buyers should approach any platform, including this one, as a starting point for research and shortlisting—always complemented by direct verification, licensed Japanese professionals, and careful personal assessment of fit, finances, and long-term goals. For those ready to move from admiration of Japan’s landscapes and culture to informed consideration of ownership, tools emphasizing qualification and transparency offer a clearer on-ramp than volume-driven alternatives. Explore scored listings, lifestyle categories, maps, and the cost calculator directly at [akiyax.com](https://akiyax.com), and cross-reference with independent professional advice as your Japan journey deepens. ![Akiya X Logo](/akiyax-icon-white.png) **Exclusive Partner Offer:** Ready to start your Japan property search? Use the special promo code **JAPANISTAKIYAX20** on checkout at Akiya X to receive **20% off** your annual plan. [Claim Your Discount at Akiya X](https://akiyax.com) --- ## Japan's 2026 Summer Fireworks (Hanabi) Guide: Dates, Tickets, and Best Viewpoints URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/japan-summer-fireworks-guide-2026-schedules Published: 2026-06-11 (JST). Category: Culture. Summer in Japan is synonymous with *Hanabi Taikai* (花火大会)—massive fireworks festivals that are as much a cultural ritual as they are a visual spectacle. Unlike Western fireworks, which are usually short displays marking a national holiday, Japanese *hanabi* are hours-long artistic exhibitions where master pyrotechnicians compete to show off complex patterns, shapes (like anime characters and flowers), and synchronized musical choreography. If you are planning to travel to Japan in July or August 2026, attending a fireworks festival is an absolute must. However, with massive crowds (often exceeding one million people) and strict ticketing regulations, you need a solid plan. Here is your ultimate guide to the 2026 summer fireworks season, how to secure tickets, and where to watch. --- #### 📅 The 2026 Major Fireworks Calendar While hundreds of local shows happen across Japan's 47 prefectures, these are the flagship national displays you should consider booking your trip around: | Festival Name | 2026 Date | Location | Expected Attendance | |---------------|-----------|----------|---------------------| | **Sumidagawa Fireworks** | **Saturday, July 25, 2026** | Asakusa, Tokyo | 950,000+ | | **Nagaoka Fireworks** | **August 2 & August 3, 2026** | Nagaoka, Niigata | 1,000,000+ | | **Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks** | **Saturday, August 1, 2026** | Osaka | 600,000+ | | **Lake Biwa Fireworks** | **Friday, August 7, 2026** | Otsu, Shiga | 350,000+ | | **Miyajima Water Fireworks** | **Late August 2026** | Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima | 300,000+ | --- #### 🚩 The "Big Two" Fireworks Spectacles ##### 1. Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival (Tokyo) Dating back to 1733, this is Japan's oldest and most prestigious fireworks competition. Over **20,000 shells** are launched from barges along the Sumida River near Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree. * **The Experience:** High-density urban viewing. The streets are closed off, and crowds shuffle slowly through designated walking routes. * **Pro Tip:** Do not expect to sit down. Most free spectators see the fireworks in gaps between buildings while walking. For a stationary view, paid seats or a Tokyo Skytree observation deck package are essential. ##### 2. Nagaoka Fireworks Festival (Niigata Prefecture) Considered one of the "Three Great Fireworks Festivals of Japan," Nagaoka is less about competition and more about remembrance and resilience, commemorating the victims of WWII bomb raids and the 2004 Chuetsu earthquake. * **The Experience:** A massive, 2-kilometer wide launch area along the Shinano River. The highlight is the *Phoenix Shells*, which span the entire launch area to the tune of Jupiter by Ayaka Hirahara, creating a gold curtain of light that leaves the crowd in tears. * **Pro Tip:** Nagaoka is entirely ticketed. Free viewing areas are virtually non-existent now. You must plan ahead. **Looking for local fireworks near you?** Explore our [Interactive Fireworks Calendar](/fireworks) and [Local Festivals Database](/festivals) to find real-time schedules, locations, maps, and detailed information for all 47 prefectures! --- #### 🎟️ How to Get Tickets for 2026 Hanabi In recent years, to manage overtourism and improve safety, almost all major fireworks festivals have shifted to a **100% paid seating model** for the best viewing zones. ##### 1. Official Lotteries (May – June) Ticket sales usually start 2 to 3 months in advance via official lotteries. * **How to Enter:** Applications are handled through Japanese ticket portals like Lawson Ticket, Ticket Pia, or e-plus. * **The Catch:** These portals often require a Japanese phone number for SMS verification. * **The Workaround:** Use international concierge booking services or travel agencies that purchase seats in bulk for foreigners. ##### 2. General Sales (June – July) Any remaining tickets go on sale on a first-come, first-served basis. You can purchase these at convenience store terminals (like Lawson's Loppi or 7-Eleven's Multi-Copy machines) once you arrive in Japan, though major shows sell out during the lottery phase. **Where to Stay:** If attending the Nagaoka Fireworks, hotel availability in Nagaoka city sells out a year in advance. Book a hotel in **Niigata City** or **Yuzawa** instead, and take the Joetsu Shinkansen (bullet train) to Nagaoka Station. The train ride is only 20–30 minutes, and extra trains are run specifically for the festival. --- #### 👘 Hanabi Survival & Etiquette Guide To make the most of your evening, you should adopt "The Japan Hack" mindset: * **Yukata Rental:** Wearing a *Yukata* (casual summer kimono) adds to the magic of the night. Rent one in advance in Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto. Most rental packages include styling, obi tying, and traditional wooden sandals (*geta*). *Warning:* Geta can cause blisters; pack standard walking shoes in your bag just in case! * **The 3 PM Rule:** For festivals with free grass areas (like Yodogawa or Lake Biwa), you must arrive by **3:00 PM** to claim a spot with a blue tarp. Leaving tarps unattended is generally fine, but write your name on it. * **Cash is King:** Festival food stalls (*Yatai*) selling Takoyaki, Yakisoba, and shaved ice rarely accept credit cards or IC cards (Suica/Pasmo). Bring plenty of ¥100 and ¥500 coins. * **Bathroom Planning:** Lines for portable restrooms can exceed 45 minutes. Limit your liquid intake before the show starts, and locate the nearest convenience store or public park restroom beforehand. * **Patience at Departure:** When the show ends, do not rush to the station. Stations implement strict crowd control gates, and it can take 2 hours to walk a distance that normally takes 15 minutes. Wait 30–45 minutes at your viewing spot, enjoying the post-show atmosphere, before making your way back. --- ##### References & Resources * [Official Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival Site](https://www.sumidagawa-hanabi.com/) * [Official Nagaoka Fireworks Festival Association](https://nagaokamatsuri.com/en/) * [JNTO Japan Summer Festivals Guide](https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/summer-festivals/) --- ## Japan 2026: New Rules & Changes Every Tourist Must Know URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/japan-2026-new-rules-changes-tourists Published: 2026-02-04 (JST). Category: Travel. Planning a trip to Japan in 2026? You're in for an incredible experience—but there are some important changes you need to know about before you go. From tripled departure taxes to a completely revamped tax-free shopping system, Japan is updating several key policies that will affect how you travel, shop, and budget. Here's your comprehensive guide to navigating Japan's new rules in 2026. --- #### 💸 Departure Tax Triples (July 2026) **The Change:** Starting **July 1, 2026**, Japan's International Tourist Tax (commonly called the departure tax) will increase from **¥1,000 to ¥3,000** per person. **Who Pays:** Everyone aged 2 and older leaving Japan by air or sea, regardless of nationality. This includes Japanese residents. **How It Works:** The tax is typically included in your airline ticket price, so you won't pay it separately at the airport—but expect ticket prices to reflect the increase. | Before July 2026 | After July 2026 | |-----------------|-----------------| | ¥1,000 (~$7 USD) | ¥3,000 (~$20 USD) | **Why It's Happening:** Japan is using the revenue to improve tourism infrastructure and manage overtourism in popular destinations like Kyoto and Mount Fuji. **Pro Tip:** If you're planning a 2026 trip, booking flights that depart Japan before July 1 will save you about ¥2,000 per person. --- #### 🛍️ Tax-Free Shopping Overhaul (November 2026) **The Change:** From **November 1, 2026**, Japan's tax-free shopping system shifts from **instant exemption to a refund-based system**. ##### Current System (Until October 31, 2026): - Show passport at participating stores - Get immediate 10% consumption tax exemption - Items sealed for export; don't open until you leave Japan ##### New System (From November 1, 2026): - **Pay full price** (including 10% tax) at the store - Keep all receipts - **Claim refund at the airport** when departing - Must claim within **90 days** of purchase **Why It's Changing:** The government aims to reduce tax fraud from tourists who claimed exemptions but consumed goods in Japan. **What This Means for You:** - Budget for the full price when shopping - Keep receipts organized - Allow extra time at the airport for refund processing - Minimum purchase still ¥5,000 for tax-free eligibility **Pro Tip:** If you're planning a major shopping trip, consider visiting before November 2026 to take advantage of the simpler instant-exemption system. --- #### 🚄 Shinkansen Luggage Rules (Already in Effect) While not new for 2026, many first-time visitors are still caught off guard by Japan's bullet train baggage rules. **The Rule:** Bags with **total dimensions exceeding 160cm** (length + width + height) require a **reserved seat with oversized baggage area**. | Bag Size | What to Do | |----------|-----------| | Under 160cm total | No reservation needed | | 160-250cm total | Must reserve "Seat with Oversized Baggage Area" | | Over 250cm total | Cannot bring on Shinkansen | **Affected Lines:** Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, and Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen. **How to Reserve:** Use the **SmartEX app** or book at JR ticket counters. Request a "seat with oversized baggage area" (無料の特大荷物スペースつき座席). **The Fine:** Bringing oversized luggage without a reservation incurs a **¥1,000 fee**. **Pro Tip:** Most standard travel suitcases (around 70-75cm tall) are under the 160cm limit. Measure before you go! --- #### 🛂 JESTA: Japan's New Visa System (Coming 2028) **Looking Ahead:** Japan is developing **JESTA** (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization), similar to the US ESTA or EU ETIAS. **Timeline:** Expected to launch in **2028** (not 2026). **What It Will Require:** - Online pre-registration before travel - Processing fee (amount TBD) - Mandatory for visa-exempt travelers **For 2026:** No visa required for most Western travelers—just a valid passport. But keep JESTA on your radar for future trips. **Living in Japan longer-term?** Permanent residency rules are also changing in 2026–2027 (fees, income tests, and April 2027 revocation grounds). See our deep dive: [Japan's Permanent Residency Overhaul](/blog/japan-permanent-residency-visa-changes-2026-2027). --- #### 🏨 Accommodation Tax Increases (Varies by City) Several Japanese cities are raising or introducing accommodation taxes: | City | Current Tax | 2026 Change | |------|-------------|-------------| | **Kyoto** | ¥200-1,000/night | Increased tiers; luxury hotels pay more | | **Tokyo** | ¥100-200/night | Under review for increase | | **Osaka** | ¥100-300/night | Possible increase | | **Hiroshima** | None | May introduce ¥100-200/night | **Pro Tip:** Budget an extra ¥1,000-2,000 per night for accommodations in major tourist cities. --- #### ✅ Quick Reference: 2026 Changes Timeline | Date | Change | |------|--------| | **Already Active** | Shinkansen oversized baggage reservation rules | | **July 1, 2026** | Departure tax triples to ¥3,000 | | **November 1, 2026** | Tax-free shopping shifts to refund system | | **2028** | JESTA visa system expected | --- #### 🎯 Planning Tips for 2026 1. **Book early flights** departing before July 1 to avoid the higher departure tax 2. **Shop before November** if you want the simpler instant tax-free system 3. **Measure your luggage** before taking the Shinkansen 4. **Budget extra** for accommodation taxes in major cities 5. **Keep receipts** if visiting after November for tax refund claims --- #### The Bottom Line Japan remains one of the world's most rewarding travel destinations, and these changes shouldn't deter you from visiting. They're mostly about improved infrastructure and fairer taxation—things that will ultimately benefit travelers through better services. The key is being prepared. Now that you know what's coming, you can plan your 2026 Japan trip with confidence. **Ready to start planning?** Check out our [festivals calendar](/festivals) and [cherry blossom forecast](/cherryblossoms) to time your trip perfectly. --- ## Setsubun 2026: Your Guide to Japan's Demon-Banishing Bean Festival URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/setsubun-bean-throwing-festival-japan-2026 Published: 2026-02-03 (JST). Category: Culture. Every February 3rd, something wonderfully strange happens across Japan. Children chase their fathers around the house, pelting them with roasted soybeans. Office workers eat entire sushi rolls in complete silence while facing southwest. And at the entrance of countless homes, you'll find sardine heads impaled on holly branches, their glassy eyes staring outward. Welcome to **Setsubun** (節分)—one of Japan's most beloved, bizarre, and genuinely fun cultural traditions. At The Japanist, we believe that understanding Japan's seasonal rituals is the key to experiencing the country on a deeper level. While cherry blossoms get all the international attention, Setsubun offers something arguably more authentic: a window into the playful, superstitious, and community-driven heart of Japanese culture. --- #### What is Setsubun? The word *Setsubun* literally means "seasonal division." It marks the day before *Risshun* (立春), the first day of spring according to the traditional Japanese lunar calendar. While the old calendar had four Setsubun (one before each season), the spring Setsubun became the most significant because it represented the boundary between the old year and the new. **2026 Date:** February 3rd (Monday) Think of Setsubun as Japan's spiritual spring cleaning. Just as you might air out your home after a long winter, Setsubun is about expelling the accumulated bad luck, evil spirits, and negative energy of the past year to make room for fresh fortune. --- #### The Main Event: Mamemaki (Bean Throwing) The heart of Setsubun is **mamemaki** (豆撒き, "bean scattering")—and yes, it's exactly what it sounds like. ##### How It Works 1. **The Beans:** Roasted soybeans called *fukumame* (福豆, "fortune beans") are used. The roasting is important—raw beans might sprout, symbolically allowing evil to "take root." 2. **The Demon:** Someone in the household (traditionally the father) dons an *oni* (demon/ogre) mask. In some regions, the *toshiotoko* (年男, the man born in that year's zodiac sign) performs the throwing instead. 3. **The Chant:** While throwing beans at the "demon," everyone shouts: > **"Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!"** > (鬼は外! 福は内!) > "Demons out! Fortune in!" 4. **The Slam:** After driving the oni outside, the door is slammed shut to prevent evil from returning. 5. **The Eating:** Finally, everyone eats the number of beans equal to their age (plus one for good luck in the coming year). If you're 35, that's 36 beans—which becomes increasingly challenging as you get older. ##### The Watanabe Exception Here's a fun cultural footnote: families with the surname **Watanabe** (渡辺) traditionally don't need to throw beans. Why? Because the legendary samurai Watanabe no Tsuna was so fearsome in defeating the oni Ibaraki-dōji during the Heian period that demons have allegedly avoided anyone named Watanabe ever since. With over 1 million Watanabes in Japan, that's a lot of bean savings. --- #### The Silent Sushi Roll: Ehomaki If mamemaki is Setsubun's action movie, **ehomaki** (恵方巻, "lucky direction roll") is its meditative art film. ##### What Is It? Ehomaki is a thick, uncut sushi roll—essentially a giant futomaki—eaten in its entirety on Setsubun night. The catch? You must: 1. **Face the "lucky direction"** of the year (*eho*, determined by the zodiac) 2. **Eat the entire roll without speaking** 3. **Not cut it** (cutting would "sever" your good fortune) 4. **Make a wish** while eating ##### 2026 Lucky Direction: South-Southwest (南南西) For Setsubun 2026, the auspicious direction is **south-southwest**. Grab your compass (or smartphone), find your bearing, and prepare for the most contemplative sushi experience of your life. ##### The Marketing Genius Behind Ehomaki While the tradition has roots in Osaka's geisha districts from the Edo period, the modern ehomaki phenomenon is largely thanks to convenience store marketing. In 1989, 7-Eleven Japan began aggressively promoting the regional custom nationwide. Today, ehomaki sales have become a multi-billion-yen industry, with convenience stores, supermarkets, and sushi restaurants competing to create increasingly elaborate (and expensive) rolls. The standard ehomaki contains **seven ingredients**, representing the Seven Gods of Fortune (*Shichifukujin*): - Cucumber - Kanpyo (dried gourd) - Shiitake mushrooms - Tamagoyaki (sweet egg) - Unagi or anago (eel) - Denbu (sweet fish flakes) - Sakura denbu or shrimp --- #### The Sardine Guardian: Hiiragi Iwashi Perhaps the most visually striking Setsubun tradition is **hiiragi iwashi** (柊鰯)—a sardine head skewered on a holly branch, hung at the entrance of homes. ##### Why Sardines and Holly? The logic is beautifully practical in a supernatural way: - **The smell** of the roasted sardine head repels oni (demons have sensitive noses, apparently) - **The thorns** of the holly leaves poke the eyes of any demon foolish enough to approach This combination creates what amounts to a DIY demon security system. The tradition dates back to the Heian period and is still practiced in many parts of Japan, particularly in the Kansai region. --- #### Where to Experience Setsubun in 2026 While Setsubun is primarily a household celebration, major shrines and temples hold spectacular public ceremonies that are absolutely worth attending. ##### Top Setsubun Events | Location | Event | What to Expect | | --- | --- | --- | | **Sensoji Temple (Tokyo)** | Bean Throwing Ceremony | Celebrities and sumo wrestlers throw beans to crowds of 100,000+ | | **Yasaka Shrine (Kyoto)** | Maiko Bean Throwing | Geisha and maiko in full regalia toss beans with elegant grace | | **Naritasan Temple (Chiba)** | Grand Setsubun Festival | Massive crowds, celebrity appearances, and spectacular atmosphere | | **Yoshida Shrine (Kyoto)** | Tsuina Ceremony | Ancient demon-expelling ritual with elaborate costumes | | **Ikuta Shrine (Kobe)** | Celebrity Mamemaki | Famous faces from entertainment and sports | ##### Pro Tips for Shrine Visits 1. **Arrive early.** Popular temples see tens of thousands of visitors. Get there at least 2-3 hours before the main ceremony. 2. **Wear layers.** February 3rd is still deep winter in Japan. You'll be standing outside for extended periods. 3. **Bring a bag.** Beans (and sometimes prizes, money envelopes, or snacks) are thrown into the crowd. A small bag helps you catch your fortune. 4. **Check schedules.** Most shrines hold multiple ceremonies throughout the day. Evening ceremonies tend to be less crowded. --- #### Regional Variations Like many Japanese traditions, Setsubun has fascinating regional twists: ##### Tohoku & Hokkaido: Peanuts Instead of Soybeans In northern Japan, **peanuts** (often still in their shells) replace soybeans. The practical reasoning? They're easier to find and clean up afterward, and in snowy regions, shells stand out better against the white ground. ##### Aizuwakamatsu: The Battle Cry In this Fukushima city, the chant changes to the more aggressive: > **"Oni no medama buttsubuse!"** > (鬼の目玉ぶっつぶせ!) > "Crush the demon's eyeballs!" ##### San'in Region: Whale Meat In parts of Tottori and Shimane prefectures, eating whale meat on Setsubun is traditional, believed to bring large-scale good fortune. ##### Shikoku: Konjac The gelatinous konjac (konnyaku) is eaten to "cleanse" the body of accumulated impurities from the past year. --- #### The Deeper Meaning: Seasonal Living Beyond the beans and sushi rolls, Setsubun represents something fundamental to Japanese culture: **seasonal consciousness**. Japan's traditional calendar was intimately tied to nature's rhythms. Setsubun marked not just a date, but a threshold—a liminal moment when the boundaries between worlds were thinner, when transition was possible, and when active participation in one's own fortune was required. In our modern, climate-controlled, globally connected world, such seasonal awareness has largely faded. But Setsubun persists, adapted and commercialized perhaps, but still carrying that core message: **life moves in cycles, and each new phase deserves to be welcomed intentionally.** When you throw those beans—whether at a shrine ceremony or in your apartment kitchen—you're not just performing a quaint custom. You're participating in a 1,300-year-old ritual of hope, renewal, and the very human desire to start fresh. --- #### Setsubun 2026: Quick Reference | Detail | Information | | --- | --- | | **Date** | February 3, 2026 (Monday) | | **Lucky Direction (Eho)** | South-Southwest | | **What to Shout** | "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" | | **Beans to Eat** | Your age + 1 | | **Ehomaki Rules** | Face south-southwest, no talking, don't cut it | --- #### For Travelers: Making the Most of Setsubun If you're visiting Japan in early February, Setsubun offers an incredible opportunity to experience authentic Japanese culture that most tourists miss. ##### Where to Stay For temple ceremonies, consider staying near the action: - **Tokyo:** Hotels in Asakusa put you walking distance from Sensoji Temple's famous ceremony - **Kyoto:** The Gion district offers proximity to both Yasaka Shrine and the geisha performances - **Narita:** Many travelers pass through anyway—extend your layover and catch the spectacular Naritasan festival ##### What to Buy Every convenience store and supermarket will be stocked with Setsubun goods: - **Fukumame bags** (roasted soybeans in festive packaging) - **Oni masks** (paper or plastic demon masks for family fun) - **Ehomaki** (pre-made or DIY kits) ##### The Language Impress locals with these Setsubun phrases: - *"Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!"* — The bean-throwing chant - *"Kotoshi no eho wa dochira desu ka?"* — "Which is this year's lucky direction?" - *"Fukumame o kudasai"* — "Roasted beans, please" --- #### Final Thoughts Setsubun won't make headlines like cherry blossom season or autumn foliage. There are no UNESCO recognitions or viral Instagram moments. But that's precisely why it matters. This is Japan at its most authentic—families laughing as dad dodges soybeans, office workers sneaking bites of sushi while checking their compass apps, grandmothers hanging sardine heads with the same care their grandmothers did generations before. Whether you throw beans at imaginary demons in your Tokyo apartment or brave the crowds at Sensoji, may your 2026 be filled with *fuku* (fortune) and free of *oni* (demons). **Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!** --- ##### References & Resources * [Japan Guide: Setsubun](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2283.html) * [JNTO: Setsubun Traditions](https://www.japan.travel/en/japan-magazine/setsubun/) * [Sensoji Temple Official Site](https://www.senso-ji.jp/) * [Yasaka Shrine Official Site](https://www.yasaka-jinja.or.jp/) --- ## Galloping into 2026: Understanding the Year of the Horse in Japan URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/year-of-the-horse-2026-japan Published: 2026-01-14 (JST). Category: Culture. In the rhythmic cycle of the Japanese zodiac (*eto*), few animals carry as much dynamic energy, spiritual weight, and historical intrigue as the Horse. As Japan prepares to transition from the Year of the Snake to the **Year of the Horse in 2026**, the nation braces for a year defined by movement, progress, and a rare, fiery superstition that comes around only once every six decades. Whether you are an enthusiast of Japanese culture or born under this sign, here is a comprehensive look at what the Year of the Horse means in the Land of the Rising Sun. --- #### 1. The Horse as a Divine Messenger In Japanese tradition, the horse is far more than a beast of burden; it is a sacred vehicle for the gods (*kami*). Ancient beliefs held that deities traveled between the heavens and the earth on horseback. This spiritual connection birthed one of Japan's most visible shrine traditions: the **Ema**. Historically, wealthy patrons would donate live horses to shrines to gain divine favor. Over time, this evolved into the practice of writing wishes on small wooden plaques adorned with horse imagery. When you hang an *ema* at a shrine today, you are participating in a ritual that began with the literal "offering" of a horse to the gods. #### 2. 2026: The Rare and Fiery "Hinoe-uma" While every 12th year is a Horse year, 2026 is particularly significant because it marks the arrival of the **Fire Horse (*Hinoe-uma*)**. This specific combination of the "Fire" element and the "Horse" zodiac sign occurs only once every 60 years, and it is steeped in deep-seated superstition. * **The Legend of Fierce Spirits:** Traditional Japanese folklore suggests that women born in the Year of the Fire Horse possess a temperament so "fiery" and strong-willed that they would "consume" their husbands or lead to stormy marriages. * **Historical Impact:** This superstition is so potent that in the last Fire Horse year (1966), Japan saw a dramatic 25% drop in birth rates as families sought to avoid having children during the "unlucky" year. * **The Arsonist's Tale:** The superstition is often linked to the story of Yaoya Oshichi, a young girl born in the Fire Horse year of 1666, who famously committed arson in an attempt to reunite with her lover, eventually meeting a tragic end. However, modern Japan views 2026 with a mixture of caution and optimism. While the "Fire" element can imply volatility, it also represents intense energy, passion, and the potential for rapid economic momentum. #### 3. Personality of the Horse Those born in the Year of the Horse (1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026) are generally celebrated for their vibrant traits: * **Energy and Independence:** Horses are known for their tireless drive and desire for freedom. * **Social Charm:** They are often the life of the party—cheerful, talkative, and popular. * **Action-Oriented:** A Horse doesn't just sit on an idea; they gallop toward it. This makes the Horse year a time for "movement"—a great year for starting new projects or traveling. #### 4. New Year Traditions: Welcoming the Horse In Japan, the New Year (*Oshogatsu*) is the most important holiday. As 2026 approaches, the country will transform: * **Hatsu-hinode:** Many will head to the coast or mountains to witness the first sunrise of the Horse year, a ritual of renewal and hope. * **Joya no Kane:** At midnight, Buddhist temples will ring their large bronze bells 108 times to dispel the worldly desires of the previous year. * **Nengajo:** Expect to see millions of New Year's postcards featuring "lively horse motifs" circulating through the mail, symbolizing a wish for a year that moves forward with strength. #### 5. Looking Ahead: Reiwa 8 In the Japanese Imperial calendar, 2026 will be known as **Reiwa 8**. While the world uses the Gregorian calendar, many official documents in Japan will denote the year by the reign of Emperor Naruhito. For travelers and locals alike, the Year of the Horse is an invitation to embrace progress. It is a year to break through obstacles with the power of a galloping steed. While the "Fire Horse" myths add a layer of mystery and historical drama, the prevailing sentiment for 2026 is one of **acceleration and bright beginnings.** --- **Are you a Horse?** *Check your birth year to see if you carry the spirit of the zodiac's most energetic traveler. As 2026 approaches, may your year be filled with the steady stride of success and the fiery passion of new discovery!* --- ## Navigating Japan 2026: A Guide to Peak Travel Periods & Holidays URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/japan-2026-peak-travel-periods-holidays Published: 2026-01-11 (JST). Category: Travel. Japan is a dream destination, but timing is everything. In 2026, several unique "calendar clusters" will create massive domestic travel surges. While these periods offer incredible cultural insights—like vibrant festivals and traditional customs—they also bring the "three Cs": **Crowds, Costs, and Congestion.** If you are planning your 2026 adventure, here is a comprehensive breakdown of the dates to watch, why they matter, and how to navigate them like a pro. --- #### 📅 The 2026 "No-Go" Dates: Peak Travel Windows If your goal is budget travel and empty Shinkansen (bullet train) seats, try to avoid these specific windows. | Period | Dates | Holiday/Event | | --- | --- | --- | | **New Year Period** | Dec 29, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026 | *Shogatsu* (New Year) | | **January Weekend** | Jan 10 – Jan 12 | Coming of Age Day | | **February Weekend** | Feb 21 – Feb 23 | Emperor's Birthday | | **March Weekend** | March 20 – March 22 | Vernal Equinox | | **Golden Week** | **April 29 – May 6** | **The "Big One" (Multiple Holidays)** | | **July Weekend** | July 18 – July 20 | Marine Day | | **Obon Season** | **August 8 – August 16** | Ancestor Festival (Peak Travel) | | **Silver Week** | **Sept 19 – Sept 23** | Rare 5-day Autumn Break | | **October Weekend** | Oct 10 – Oct 12 | Sports Day | | **November Weekend** | Nov 21 – Nov 23 | Labor Thanksgiving Day | --- #### 🚩 The "Big Three" to Watch in 2026 ##### 1. Golden Week (April 29 – May 6) Golden Week is a cluster of four national holidays. In 2026, because of how the weekends fall, the peak travel period will stretch from **April 29 to May 6**. • **The Impact:** This is the busiest week of the year. Hotels in Kyoto and Tokyo can double or triple in price. Express trains often sell out weeks in advance. • **Pro Tip:** If you must visit, stay in **Tokyo**. While popular tourist sites will be packed, the business districts often become surprisingly quiet as locals flee the city for the countryside. ##### 2. Obon (August 13 – 16) Obon is a Buddhist tradition where families return to their hometowns to honor ancestral spirits. • **The Impact:** In 2026, the peak travel rush will likely begin as early as **August 8** and last through **August 16**. Expect extreme congestion on trains leaving major cities (like Tokyo/Osaka) at the start, and trains returning to cities at the end. • **The Bonus:** This is the season of *Matsuri* (festivals) and *Bon Odori* dances. If you don't mind the heat and the crowds, the cultural atmosphere is unmatched. ##### 3. Silver Week (September 19 – 23) Unlike Golden Week, "Silver Week" only happens when the calendar aligns perfectly. 2026 features a **rare 5-day consecutive holiday** from Saturday, Sept 19 to Wednesday, Sept 23. • **The Impact:** This is the first major Silver Week in years. Many Japanese residents will take the opportunity for a long autumn getaway. • **The Draw:** September is the start of the autumn foliage in Hokkaido and higher elevations. --- #### 💡 Survival Tips for 2026 Travelers ##### 1. The "Shoulder Season" Strategy To get the best of Japan without the stress, aim for the weeks **immediately following** a major holiday. * **Mid-May:** Right after Golden Week, the weather is perfect, and crowds vanish. * **Early June:** The "rainy season" brings lush greenery and significantly lower hotel rates. * **Late October/Early November:** Ideal for autumn colors with fewer domestic "long weekend" interruptions. ##### 2. Book Transportation Early If your trip overlaps with a holiday, use the **SmartEX app** or **JR West/East websites** to book Shinkansen seats exactly 30 days in advance. In 2026, unreserved cars on the Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka) may be converted to **reserved-only** during peak periods like New Year and Golden Week. ##### 3. Watch for New Year Closures Unlike Western holidays, Japanese New Year (*Shogatsu*) is a time when many businesses—including small restaurants and even some museums—**close entirely** from Dec 29 to Jan 3. * **Lifesaver:** Convenience stores (*Konbini*) like 7-Eleven and Lawson remain open 24/7. --- #### 🔗 Resources for Further Planning * [Japan-Guide: 2026 Public Holidays](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2273.html) * [Matcha Japan: 2026 Travel Calendar](https://matcha-jp.com/en/3662) * [Japanspecialist: Planning for 2026](https://japanspecialist.com/w/japan-holidays-2026-what-you-need-to-know-for-your-trip) > **The Bottom Line:** Japan is incredible year-round, but a little calendar awareness goes a long way. If you can avoid the "red days" on the 2026 calendar, you’ll save money and have the Fushimi Inari gates (almost) to yourself. **Would you like me to create a customized 14-day itinerary that avoids these peak 2026 dates?** --- ## The Ekiden: Japan's National Ritual of Endurance and Team Spirit URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/ekiden-japan-national-ritual Published: 2026-01-05 (JST). Category: Culture. In the first week of January, while much of the world is slowly waking up from New Year's Eve, millions of people in Japan are glued to their televisions. They aren't watching a ball drop or a parade; they are watching the **Ekiden**. If you aren't familiar with Japanese sports culture, an Ekiden might look like just another long-distance race. But to Japan, it is a national ritual, a masterclass in human endurance, and the ultimate symbol of the Japanese spirit. As the first week of January 2026 comes to a close, Japan is catching its breath after yet another explosive display of grit on the road to Hakone. While the core of the sport remains rooted in its 100-year-old history, the modern era has become a high-tech, record-shattering spectacle. #### What is an Ekiden? The word *Ekiden* (駅伝) is a combination of two kanji: **Eki** (station) and **Den** (transmit/convey). The name harkens back to the Edo period, when government messengers would travel by foot or horse between relay stations to deliver news between the old capital of Kyoto and the new capital of Tokyo. Today, an Ekiden is a long-distance road relay. Instead of a baton, runners carry a **tasuki**—a thin cloth sash. This sash is the heart of the race; it is soaked in the sweat of previous teammates and represents the collective effort and honor of the entire group. Official rules state the sash must be worn diagonally over the shoulder. If a runner fails to reach a relay station within the time limit (usually 20 minutes) of the leader, a "white tasuki" (neutral sash) is used, and the team's official time is penalized—a moment of deep collective shame and heartbreak often caught on live TV. #### The Crown Jewel: The Hakone Ekiden While there are many Ekiden races throughout the year, the **Hakone Ekiden** (held every January 2nd and 3rd) is the undisputed king. Officially known as the **Tokyo-Hakone Round-Trip College Ekiden Race**, it's sanctioned by the **Inter-University Athletic Union of Kanto (KCRR)** and is strictly for universities in the Kanto region. The race features 20 elite university teams battling it out over a grueling **217.1-kilometer** (134.9-mile) round trip between Tokyo and the mountain town of Hakone. The course is divided into **10 stages** (5 outbound on January 2nd, 5 inbound on January 3rd), including the legendary "Stage 5," where runners must climb nearly 800 meters into the freezing, thin air of the Hakone mountains. #### The 102nd Race: A Historic 2026 The race that just concluded on January 3rd, 2026, will be remembered for the total dominance of **Aoyama Gakuin University (AGU)**. ##### The "Green Monster" Three-Peat Aoyama Gakuin, led by the legendary and outspoken **Coach Susumu Hara**, achieved a historic "three-peat" (winning three years in a row) for the second time in the school's history. They didn't just win; they obliterated their own course record, finishing with a staggering total time of **10:37:34**. ##### The MVP: Asahi Kuroda The narrative of 2026 was defined by 4th-year runner **Asahi Kuroda**. On Stage 5—the brutal uphill climb into the Hakone mountains—Kuroda broke the stage record by nearly two minutes. He earned the **Kanakuri Cup** (the race MVP award), named after Shizo Kanakuri, the "father of the Japanese marathon." ##### Sustainability on the Road In a nod to the future, the 2026 race was the first to feature a fully electrified fleet of support vehicles provided by Toyota, including the high-profile **FCEV Century**, signaling a shift toward a "Carbon Neutral Ekiden." #### Why is it so popular? To understand the popularity of the Ekiden, you have to look beyond the athleticism. * **The Ultimate Team Sport:** In a marathon, you run for yourself. In an Ekiden, you run for the *tasuki*. If a runner collapses or fails to finish their leg, the entire team is disqualified. This creates a high-stakes "all-for-one" drama that resonates deeply with the Japanese value of **wa** (harmony and collective responsibility). * **The New Year Tradition:** New Year (*Oshogatsu*) is the most important holiday in Japan. Families gather under *kotatsu* (heated tables) to eat traditional foods, and the Hakone Ekiden provides the soundtrack to these two days. In terms of national reach relative to population, it is often compared to the Super Bowl. * **The Human Drama:** The broadcast doesn't just show the leaders. It highlights the "white-shirt" runners (those at risk of being cut off), the tears of athletes who feel they let their teammates down, and the grit of those pushing through injuries. It is a soap opera of human willpower. ##### The Scale: "Belief-Defying" Viewership Calling it “popular” undersells it. The Hakone Ekiden is routinely one of the biggest television broadcasts of the year in Japan. According to **Video Research Ltd.** ratings as compiled and translated by **Japan Running News** (Brett Larner), the Hakone Ekiden captures roughly **~30%** of Japan’s TV audience across the two-day broadcast: | Year | Avg. Household Rating (2-day) | Day 1 | Day 2 | Total Reach (2-day) | Peak “Minute” Rating | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **2026** | **29.4%** | 28.5% | 30.2% | **56,217,000** | **34.7%** (Jan 3 morning) | | **2025** | **28.4%** | 27.9% | 28.8% | **55,400,000** | — | | **2021** (record avg.) | **32.3%** | — | — | **64,700,000** | — | That’s why the race is often described as Japan’s “second-biggest TV ritual” of the holiday period—typically rivaled only by *Kōhaku Uta Gassen* (the New Year’s Eve music special). ##### The Crowds on the Course (In Person) Television is the headline metric, but the physical crowds along the **217.1 km** route are part of the spectacle too. Reported **estimates** for roadside spectators (沿道観客) in recent years include: | Year | Estimated Roadside Spectators | | --- | --- | | **2022** | 600,000 | | **2020** (pre-pandemic baseline) | 1,210,000 | | **2019** | 1,240,000 | ##### A Quick Comparison (Why it Feels So Massive) To calibrate those numbers: even baseball’s biggest showcases usually don’t live in the Hakone Ekiden’s neighborhood nationwide. * The **World Series** in Japan has been reported at roughly **10–13 million** viewers even in Ohtani-era peaks. * The **Japan Series** tends to peak regionally (often **10%–20%** in the local markets of the teams involved), not as a synchronized national ritual. #### The Drama: Rivals and Modern Narratives The past few years (2024–2026) have seen a shifting power dynamic in Japanese collegiate running: ##### The Fall of the "Triple Crown" Kings In 2023-2024, **Komazawa University** was the team to beat, having won the "Triple Crown" (Izumo, Nationals, and Hakone). However, the recent dominance of Aoyama Gakuin has turned the rivalry into a David-vs-Goliath battle, with Komazawa struggling to reclaim the top spot, finishing 6th in 2026. ##### The "Mountain Detective" One of the most beloved figures recently is Waseda University's **Shinsaku Kudo**. Nicknamed the "Great Detective of the Mountains" for his uncanny resemblance to the anime character *Detective Conan* (complete with glasses), he became a social media sensation for his performance on the mountain stages, proving that Waseda is once again a contender for the top 3. ##### The Chuo University Comeback Chuo holds the record for the most total wins (14), but they have faced a "seed-loss" crisis in recent years. In 2026, they fought back to finish 5th, securing their "seeded" status (top 10) for 2027 and proving that the old guards of Japanese running are finding their second wind. ##### The "White Tasuki" Heartbreak The gap between the top-tier "Power 5" schools and the rest of the field has widened. This has led to more frequent **"Tsurumi Relay Station" tragedies**, where the leading runner arrives so far ahead that the trailing teams are forced to start their next leg with a generic "White Tasuki" because their own teammate hasn't arrived yet. Seeing an athlete arrive at the station only to find their teammate already gone is considered the most emotional moment in Japanese sports television. It happened to three schools this year, sparking a national debate about whether the "20-minute rule" should be relaxed. ##### The Super-Shoe Era Like the professional marathon circuit, the Ekiden is currently obsessed with "shoe tech." Almost every runner in the 2026 top 10 was wearing specialized carbon-plated foam shoes. This has led to an era where nearly every stage record has been broken in the last 24 months, leading some purists to wonder if the "human" element of the race is being overshadowed by technology. #### Cultural Significance: The Spirit of Perseverance For many Japanese people, the Ekiden is a mirror of life itself. It celebrates **gaman** (enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity). Seeing a young athlete push their body to the absolute limit for the sake of their team provides a sense of inspiration and renewal for the year ahead. When you see a runner finally hand off their *tasuki*, often collapsing into the arms of their teammates immediately after, you aren't just seeing a sports highlight. You are seeing the physical manifestation of trust, duty, and the ties that bind people together. Watching the Ekiden is the first shared experience of the Japanese public every year. It represents the idea that no matter how difficult the "climb" (Stage 5) or the "descent" (Stage 6) of the coming year may be, you keep moving forward because others are counting on you. --- #### Resources & Further Reading To dive deeper into the world of the Ekiden, these official resources provide the most accurate and real-time information: * **[Official Hakone Ekiden Site](https://www.hakone-ekiden.jp)** – The primary hub for race results, granular data on stage times, and team rosters * **[Kanto Inter-University Athletic Union (KCRR)](http://www.kgrr.org)** – The governing body managing technical rules and athlete eligibility * **[Hakone Tourism Association](https://hakone-japan.com/plan-your-trip/stories/helpful-info/the-hakone-ekiden/)** – An excellent English-language resource for understanding the geography and history of the course * **[Japan Running News](http://japanrunningnews.blogspot.com)** – Run by Brett Larner, offering incredible blow-by-blow recaps and analysis of the Japanese running scene in English * **[Japan Running News: 2026 viewership breakdown](https://japanrunningnews.blogspot.com/2026/01/hakone-ekiden-viewership-rating-hits.html)** – Video Research numbers (reach/avg/peak) with Japanese-source citations * **[Japan Running News: 2025 viewership breakdown](https://japanrunningnews.blogspot.com/2025/01/hakone-ekiden-viewership-up-from-last.html)** – Prior-year rating/reach context * **[German Road Races: Hakone Ekiden broadcast records (Japan Running News)](https://news.germanroadraces.de/international/hakone-ekiden-broadcast-breaks-records-with-41-8-peak-viewership-rating-and-audience-of-65-million-brett-larner-japan-running-news/)** – Pandemic-era record viewership summary * **[World Athletics feature: Hakone Ekiden](https://worldathletics.org/news/feature/hakone-ekiden-japans-most-popular-annual-sporting-event)** – Background on the event’s global recognition and cultural footprint --- ## The Great Holiday Flip-Flop: A Traveler's Guide to Christmas and New Years in Japan URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/christmas-and-new-year-in-japan-holiday-flip-flop Published: 2025-12-22 (JST). Category: Travel. Forget everything you know about the winter holidays. In Japan, Christmas is for lovers, New Year is for family, and Colonel Sanders is Santa Claus. Here is your thoughtful, fun guide to navigating the festive season in the Land of the Rising Sun. If you are planning a trip to Japan between late December and early January, preparation goes beyond packing thermal underwear and figuring out the train system. You need to prepare for a cultural somersault. For those raised in Western traditions, landing in Tokyo during the holiday season can feel like stepping through the looking glass. The elements are familiar — there are trees, tinsel, and familiar carols blasting in convenience stores — but the underlying script has been completely rewritten. In the West, broadly speaking, Christmas is the hallowed family gathering, a day of quiet streets and closed shops. New Year’s Eve is the raucous party with friends, followed by a day of recovery. In Japan? Flip that entirely upside down. As a travel writer specializing in Japan, I often see visitors bewildered when they can’t find a turkey dinner on the 25th, or when they find themselves in an eerily silent metropolis on January 1st. To help you navigate this fascinating cultural inversion, let’s break down how Japan celebrates — and perceives — these two massive winter holidays. --- #### Christmas in Japan: The Romantic Commercial Spectacle In Japan, with only about 1% of the population identifying as Christian, Christmas is stripped of its religious weight. It is not a national holiday. Schools are in session; offices are buzzing. It is, essentially, a very sparkly, very commercial, normal weekday. But oh, is it sparkly. ##### The Vibe: Valentine’s Day in December If Christmas in the West is about cozying up with grandma, Christmas in Japan is about cozying up with a significant other. It has evolved into the premier date night of the year, carrying the same romantic pressure as Valentine’s Day back home. Young couples book high-end French or Italian restaurants months in advance. Fancy hotels are booked solid for romantic staycations. The goal is an evening of sophisticated glamour, culminating in a stroll through an "illumination." ##### The Visuals: The War of Lights Japan takes Christmas lights — called "illuminations" — very seriously. These aren’t just a few strings of bulbs on a bush. Whole districts, from Tokyo’s Roppongi Hills to Kobe’s Luminarie, transform into blindingly beautiful LED wonderlands. They are spectacular, free, and incredibly crowded with couples taking selfies. > **Where to Stay for the Glow** > * **Tokyo:** **Grand Hyatt Tokyo** in Roppongi Hills is the gold standard. You are quite literally steps away from the famous Keyakizaka illumination. Many rooms offer views of the sparkling trees and Tokyo Tower — ideal for that romantic vibe. > * **Osaka:** **The St. Regis Osaka** sits right on Midosuji Boulevard, which hosts one of the longest and most breathtaking street illuminations in the world. > * **Alternative Experience:** For a "Christmas in the Clouds" vibe, the **Park Hyatt Tokyo** (reopening in late 2025) offers that cinematic *Lost in Translation* atmosphere that pairs perfectly with a holiday cocktail. ##### The Food: The Gospel of Colonel Sanders This is the detail that brings the most joy (and confusion) to Western travelers. The traditional Christmas dinner in Japan is KFC. Thanks to a brilliantly successful marketing campaign in the 1970s ("Kentucky for Christmas!"), a bucket of fried chicken is now synonymous with the holiday. This is not a joke; people put in pre-orders for their party barrels weeks in advance, and the lines outside KFC outlets on Christmas Eve can stretch down the block. ##### The Dessert: Christmas Cake Forget rich fruitcakes or spiced cookies. The Japanese Christmas cake is lighter than air: a delicate sponge cake covered in whipped cream and perfectly adorned with strawberries (the red and white mimicking Santa colors). It is consumed on Christmas Eve, and it is delightful. **What Travelers Should Expect on Christmas** Don’t expect a quiet day. The cities will be manic, shops will be open late, and restaurants will be packed. If you want a special dinner on the 24th or 25th, you *must* book weeks ahead. Otherwise, embrace the local vibe: grab a convenience store fried chicken, visit a dazzling illumination, and enjoy the energy. --- #### The Pivot: The Lull Between the Storms On December 26th, the whiplash occurs. In the West, Christmas decor lingers. In Japan, the trees and Santa statues vanish overnight, replaced instantly by *kadomatsu* (bamboo and pine decorations) and *shimekazari* (sacred ropes) to welcome the New Year gods. The shift in atmosphere is palpable. The frenetic commercial energy begins to wind down, replaced by a sense of hurried preparation for something truly significant. --- #### Oshōgatsu (New Year): The Sacred Family Homecoming This is it. The Big One. *Oshōgatsu* (New Year) is Japan’s most important holiday, akin to the Western Christmas combined with Thanksgiving. It is a time of deep tradition, family reunion, and spiritual renewal. ##### The Vibe: Hushed Reverence and Family Ties While Westerners are looking for a countdown party on December 31st, most Japanese people are at home, watching the annual "Red and White Song Battle" (*Kōhaku Uta Gassen*) on TV, and eating *toshikoshi soba* (year-crossing noodles). The long noodles symbolize a wish for a long life and a clean break from the hardships of the past year. As midnight approaches, the atmosphere isn’t explosive with fireworks; it becomes meditative. Across the country, Buddhist temple bells begin to ring 108 times — a solemn ritual to cleanse humanity of its 108 worldly desires. It is a haunting, beautiful sound that echoes through the crisp winter air. ##### The Main Event: January 1st–3rd New Year’s Day is not for recovering from a hangover. It is for family. People return to their hometowns, dressed in their best kimono or suits. The primary activity is *Hatsumōde*: the first shrine or temple visit of the year. Major shrines like Meiji Jingu in Tokyo see millions of visitors over three days. People line up to toss coins, pray for good fortune, and buy new amulets. It is crowded, yes, but the mood is joyous and respectful. > **Where to Stay for the Tradition** > * **Tokyo:** **Hotel New Otani Tokyo** is famous for its elaborate New Year’s program. They host lion dances, mochi-pounding, and have their own internal shrine. It’s a "resort" experience where the holiday comes to you. > * **Kyoto:** **The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto** or **Hotel Okura Kyoto**. Staying in Kyoto for New Year is a bucket-list experience. These hotels are near the Kamogawa River and within walking distance of Gion, putting you close to the city’s most sacred temples for *Hatsumōde*. > * **The Heritage Choice:** **Palace Hotel Tokyo** overlooks the Imperial Palace gardens. It is the pinnacle of Japanese refinement, offering a world-class *Osechi* breakfast and a front-row seat to the serene atmosphere of the palace grounds on January 1st. ##### The Food: Culinary Jewelry Boxes The mother of all holiday meals is *Osechi Ryōri*. These are elaborate, multi-tiered lacquered boxes filled with foods cooked specifically to last for several days (giving the cooks a break). Every ingredient has a symbolic meaning: sweet black beans for hard work, herring roe for fertility, shrimp for longevity. They are stunningly beautiful, often expensive, and an acquired taste for some Western palates. **What Travelers Should Expect on New Year’s** This is the most challenging time for tourists. From January 1st through January 3rd (and sometimes longer for small businesses), Japan largely shuts down. * **The Great Slumber:** Major department stores, many restaurants, and small shops will be closed. Tokyo can feel eerily deserted on the morning of January 1st. * **Transport Clogs:** Trains leading out of major cities before New Year’s Eve, and back into cities around January 3rd, are packed to capacity. * **Survival Mode:** As a tourist, you will rely heavily on convenience stores (which blessedly stay open) and hotel restaurants during these three days. Plan your meals ahead. --- #### The Final Takeaway To enjoy the holidays in Japan is to accept the flip-flop. Don’t search for the Christmas you left behind; you won’t find it. Instead, dress up and marvel at the Tokyo lights, and maybe even try that holiday bucket of KFC just to say you did. And when New Year’s arrives, step away from the party urge. Visit a local shrine at midnight to hear the bells ring. The sight of thousands of people quietly praying for a fresh start in the cold night air is far more memorable than any champagne toast. --- > **A Pro-Tip for Families** > If you are traveling with a family and want to avoid the "closed restaurant" scramble, look into apartment-style hotels like **MIMARU**. They have locations in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto with kitchenettes. This allows you to visit a high-end department store basement (*Depachika*) on December 31st, buy your own *Osechi* boxes or festive treats, and enjoy a private family feast in your room while the city takes its annual nap. --- ## The 2026 Japan "Hidden Costs" Audit: New Taxes & Fee Increases You Need to Know URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/2026-japan-travel-costs-hidden-taxes-fees Published: 2025-12-20 (JST). Category: Travel. The 2026 travel landscape in Japan is undergoing its most significant fiscal shift in decades. While the "weak yen" era of 2023–2024 made Japan feel like a budget destination, the Japanese government and local municipalities are moving aggressively to combat "overtourism" with a suite of new levies. At **The Japanist**, we've audited the upcoming changes to ensure your 2026 budget remains accurate. Based on recent industry projections, the realistic daily spend for a mid-range to high-end traveler has shifted to the **$300–$500 range**. Here are the specific "hidden costs" you need to factor into your itinerary before you touch down. --- #### 1. Kyoto's New 5-Tier Accommodation Tax Kyoto is leading the charge in aggressive tax restructuring. Effective **March 1, 2026**, the city's accommodation tax is moving from a nominal fee to a tiered system that heavily targets high-end travelers. | Nightly Room Rate (Per Person) | Current Tax | New Tax (March 2026) | | --- | --- | --- | | Under ¥6,000 | ¥200 | ¥200 | | ¥6,000 – ¥19,999 | ¥200 | ¥400 | | ¥20,000 – ¥49,999 | ¥500 | ¥1,000 | | ¥50,000 – ¥99,999 | ¥1,000 | ¥4,000 | | Over ¥100,000 (~$650+) | ¥1,000 | ¥10,000 (~$65 USD) | **The Budget Trap:** If you stay at a luxury ryokan, a couple will now pay **$130 per night** just in local taxes. These are often not included in the initial booking price on many platforms, leading to "sticker shock" at check-out. **Where to Stay:** To avoid these surprises, we recommend booking hotels that offer "all-inclusive" amenity packages or member-only rates. Onyado Nono Kyotoshichijo Natural Hot Springs is a favorite by travelers. It provides a high-end Ryokan experience with an onsen, but because its base rate often sits in the mid-tier, your tax burden is significantly lower than at the international 5-star chains. #### 2. The "Sayonara" Tax Hike: Triple the Exit Fee Since 2019, Japan has levied a ¥1,000 International Tourist Tax on everyone leaving the country. Starting in **Fiscal Year 2026 (April 2026)**, the government is officially set to triple this fee. **The Change:** From ¥1,000 to **¥3,000** per person. **How it's paid:** It is automatically bundled into your airline ticket price. **The Impact:** For a family of four, this adds roughly **$80 USD** to your total exit costs. While small individually, it signals the start of a "premium" entry/exit model for Japan. #### 3. The "Tourist Premium": Dual Pricing at Landmarks 2026 marks the first year where "dual pricing" moves from a theory to a formalized reality at major landmarks. **Himeji Castle** has officially announced its transition to a dual-rate system starting **March 1, 2026**. **Local Residents:** ¥1,000 **International Tourists:** **¥2,500** (a 150% increase). **Wider Trend:** Other UNESCO sites and private "English-speaking" restaurants in Gion and Shibuya are expected to follow suit with 10–20% "service premiums" for international visitors. **Where to Stay:** While you can't avoid the castle tax, you can offset these costs by saving on your Tokyo stay. The Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku is currently offering early-bird 2026 specials. Booking your "home base" here at a locked-in rate can save you enough to cover all your dual-pricing surcharges for the week. #### 4. The Tax-Free Overhaul: A Cash Flow Crisis Historically, Japan allowed tourists to deduct the 10% consumption tax instantly at the cash register. On **November 1, 2026**, this ends. Japan will switch to a **"Pay First, Refund at Airport"** system. **The Hidden Cost:** You must now pay the full 10% tax at the store. If you buy a $2,000 camera, you must have an extra $200 in your "active" budget. **The Risk:** You only get that $200 back if you clear the refund counter at the airport. If the queue is too long, you may be forced to forfeit the refund, making your trip 10% more expensive by default. #### 5. Visa Fee "Normalization" & JESTA For travelers from countries requiring a visa, fees are being adjusted to "Western standards" in **FY 2026**. **Short-term Visas:** Expected to rise from ¥3,000 to approximately **¥15,000 ($100+)**. **JESTA:** Travelers from visa-exempt countries (USA, UK, Australia) should prepare for the pilot phase of the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA), which carries a mandatory processing fee. --- ##### **Summary: Why the $300–$500 Daily Estimate?** The average daily cost for a comfortable traveler in 2026 has been adjusted to **$310–$570**. This is calculated by combining: 1. **Accommodation ($150–$250):** Including the new Kyoto/Tokyo nightly taxes. 2. **Dining ($80–$120):** Factoring in "Tourist Surcharges" at popular hubs. 3. **Experiences ($50–$100):** Adjusted for "Dual Pricing" at castles and museums. 4. **Buffer ($30):** To cover the increased Departure Tax and "Tax-Free" cash flow gap. --- #### The Japanist Pro-Tip: The "Satellite City" Strategy To mitigate these costs, consider staying in "Satellite Cities." By staying just outside the major hubs, you bypass the highest tiers of the 2026 accommodation taxes while remaining minutes away from the action. **Where to Stay:** Instead of Kyoto: Stay in **Otsu** (10 mins away). The Lake Biwa Otsu Prince Hotel offers stunning water views and much lower tax rates than downtown Kyoto. Instead of Tokyo: Stay in **Yokohama** (20 mins away). The Hotel Associa Shin-Yokohama is highly recommended. You get a luxury experience at a fraction of the Shinjuku price point. By pre-booking your 2026 itinerary, you can pay in your local currency now, effectively "locking in" current exchange rates and protecting your budget from the 2026 tax hikes. --- ## 2026 Japan Cherry Blossom Forecast Released: Early Blooms Predicted for Tokyo & Kyoto URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/2026-japan-cherry-blossom-forecast-early-blooms Published: 2025-12-18 (JST). Category: Travel. The news is officially out, and for many travelers, it's a wake-up call. On **December 18, 2025**, the **Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC)** released its highly anticipated first forecast for the 2026 cherry blossom season. The headline? **Tokyo is set to bloom significantly earlier than the historical average.** If you have been eyeing the first week of April for your "Classic Sakura" trip, you may need to reach for your booking app immediately. With flowering in Tokyo and Nagoya predicted for **March 19**, the window of peak beauty is shifting into late March. As a Japan-based travel specialist, I'm here to help you navigate this "Sakura Panic" with data, strategy, and the essential "pivot" plans to ensure your 2026 spring trip is still a pink-hued success. --- #### The 2026 "Kaika" (Flowering) Map The JMC utilizes complex AI modeling and data from over 1,000 Somei Yoshino observation points. This year's first forecast shows a distinct trend: a "fast-moving" front that rewards the early traveler. ##### **2026 Sakura Forecast Schedule (First Release)** | City | Flowering Date (Kaika) | Peak Bloom Date (Mankai) | vs. Average Year | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **Tokyo** | March 19 | March 26 | 5 Days Early | | **Nagoya** | March 19 | March 28 | 5 Days Early | | **Fukuoka** | March 20 | March 29 | 3 Days Early | | **Kyoto** | March 24 | March 31 | 2 Days Early | | **Osaka** | March 24 | March 31 | 3 Days Early | | **Kanazawa** | March 31 | April 7 | 2 Days Early | | **Sendai** | April 5 | April 10 | 3 Days Early | | **Aomori** | April 19 | April 22 | 3 Days Early | | **Sapporo** | April 28 | May 1 | 3 Days Early | > **Note:** These dates are estimates based on current weather patterns. The JMC will provide its second update on **January 8, 2026**. **Planning your 2026 sakura trip?** [Check out our comprehensive cherry blossom forecast map](/cherryblossoms) to accurately plan your travels with real-time bloom status, interactive maps, and detailed location information. --- #### Why 2026 is Different (The Weather Factor) The "Sakura Front" is dictated by two things: the depth of winter dormancy and the speed of spring warming. According to the JMC, while January and February are expected to be seasonally normal, **March 2026 is projected to be uncharacteristically warm.** This warmth acts as a catalyst, waking the buds from their slumber and pushing them toward *Kaika* (first bloom) faster than we've seen in recent years. **The Value for You:** If you arrive in Tokyo on April 5—traditionally a "safe" bet—you are likely to see *Hazakura* (cherry trees with green leaves) rather than the iconic clouds of pink. **The "Goldilocks Zone" for Tokyo and Kyoto in 2026 is now March 25 to March 31.** --- #### The "Sold Out" Solution (Pivot Strategy) If you just checked your favorite hotel in Shinjuku or Gion and saw "No Availability," do not panic. Japan's geography is your greatest asset. ##### **Option A: The Early Bird (Izu Peninsula)** If you are traveling in **February or early March** and think you've missed the window, head to **Kawazu** on the Izu Peninsula. The *Kawazu-zakura* variety is a deeper pink and blooms for a full month starting in early February. It is the perfect "fail-safe" for early arrivals. **Where to Stay:** The Izu Peninsula offers a mix of traditional ryokans and modern hotels with onsen access—perfect for unwinding after early morning sakura viewing. For travelers seeking authentic Japanese hospitality, consider a ryokan-style stay or hotel that offers traditional kaiseki dining and private hot spring baths—ideal for a relaxing early-season sakura experience. ##### **Option B: The "Little Kyoto" Pivot (Kanazawa)** While Tokyo and Kyoto are nearing 80–90% hotel capacity, **Kanazawa** (blooming March 31) often remains a hidden gem for a few weeks longer. It offers the same traditional aesthetic—samurai districts and tea houses—without the crushing density of the capital. **Where to Stay:** Kanazawa's hotel scene has expanded significantly in recent years, offering everything from luxury properties near Kenrokuen Garden to boutique hotels in the historic Higashi Chaya district. For the best sakura viewing experience, choose accommodations with easy access to both the garden and Kanazawa Castle Park, where evening illuminations during peak bloom create unforgettable memories. ##### **Option C: The Mid-April Rescue (Tohoku)** If your flight is already locked for mid-April, move your itinerary North. **Sendai** (April 5) and the world-famous **Hirosaki Park in Aomori** (April 19) offer arguably better viewing experiences than Tokyo, featuring millions of petals and ancient castle backdrops. **Where to Stay:** Tohoku's accommodation options range from business hotels in Sendai's city center to traditional inns near Hirosaki Castle. For Sendai, choose hotels near the city center for easy access to Nishi Park and Tsutsujigaoka Park, both prime sakura viewing spots. For Hirosaki, consider staying within the city for convenient access to Hirosaki Park's 2,600 cherry trees and the castle's stunning backdrop. Choosing a property in this area offers a peaceful base for exploring the region's spectacular late-season blooms. Many properties in this region offer better value than Tokyo or Kyoto during peak season, making Tohoku an excellent choice for both budget-conscious and luxury travelers. --- #### Pro-Tips for "Hanami" 2026 The 2026 season is expected to break records for inbound tourism. Survival in the crowds requires "The Japan Hack" mindset. * **The "Luggage Hack":** Do not try to bring large suitcases onto the Shinkansen or through Kyoto Station during peak bloom. Use **Takkyubin** (luggage forwarding). Book it **48 hours in advance**, as the sheer volume of tourists often causes slight delays in delivery during late March. * **The 7:00 AM Rule:** If you want that "clean" shot of the Meguro River or the Philosopher's Path, you must be there at **sunrise**. By 9:00 AM, the most popular spots will have thousands of visitors, making photography nearly impossible. * **The "Depachika" Picnic:** Avoid the long lines at restaurants near parks. Head to the basement of a major department store (like Isetan or Takashimaya) to buy a high-end *Sakura Bento*. It's faster, more authentic, and designed for *Hanami*. --- ##### **References & Resources** * [Official 2026 Forecast - Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC)](https://n-kishou.com/corp/news-contents/sakura/?lang=en) * [Real-time Updates - Otenki Navigator](https://s.n-kishou.co.jp/w/sp/sakura/sakura_top.html) * [Official Travel Guide - Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)](https://www.jnto.go.jp/) Would you like me to design a **7-day "Pivot Itinerary"** for late March that avoids the most crowded areas while still hitting peak bloom? --- ## The Hidden Meaning Behind 2025's Kanji of the Year: Kuma (熊 - Bear) URL: https://thejapanist.net/blog/kanji-of-the-year-2025-kuma Published: 2025-12-15 (JST). Category: Culture. Every December, Japan holds its breath for a brushstroke. A single kanji, chosen by public vote, is unveiled at Kyoto's Kiyomizu-dera Temple, encapsulating the year's triumphs, tribulations, and prevailing mood. At The Japanist, we've diligently tracked this tradition, from the transformative "Kin" (金 - Gold) to the reflective "Mitsu" (密 - Density). This year, the chosen kanji for 2025 is **熊 - Kuma (Bear)**. At first glance, it might seem an unusual, even simplistic choice. Is it merely a nod to Japan's growing wildlife challenges, or is there a deeper, more profound meaning burrowed within this powerful character? Let's delve into the layers of "Kuma" and uncover why it resonated so strongly with the Japanese people in 2025. #### More Than Just a Beast: The Literal & Cultural Facets of 熊 (Kuma) Literally, 熊 (Kuma) refers to the bear, an animal deeply ingrained in Japanese folklore and increasingly relevant in its modern landscape. ##### Wildlife Encounters 2025 saw a significant increase in bear sightings and encounters across rural Japan, even spilling into urban fringes. This led to heightened discussions around environmental balance, rural depopulation, and coexistence with nature. The kanji reflects a growing awareness of Japan's wilder side. ##### Symbol of Strength & Protection Culturally, the bear is a powerful symbol. In Hokkaido, the Ainu people revere the bear as a deity (Kamuy). Across Japan, the bear represents strength, resilience, and even protection – a formidable guardian. This could symbolize a desire for national strength or a feeling of being "protected" through collective effort. ##### "Kuma-san" (Mr. Bear) Despite its wild nature, "Kuma" also carries a softer, often endearing connotation in popular culture, seen in mascots and children's stories. This duality hints at a year that might have been tough, yet found moments of warmth and charm. #### The Hidden Depths: Why "Kuma" Was Truly Chosen for 2025 While the literal interpretations are compelling, the Kanji of the Year often carries a more abstract, symbolic weight. Here's where the deeper meaning of 熊 (Kuma) for 2025 truly emerges: ##### 1. The "Hibernation" of Recovery & The "Awakening" of Potential Many commentators suggest 熊 reflects a period of **strategic hibernation and eventual awakening**. Following several years of global flux, 2025 may have been a year where Japan, and perhaps the world, felt like it was "hibernating" – consolidating, rebuilding, and quietly gathering strength. The bear's emergence from its den symbolizes: * **Economic Rebound:** A gradual but steady economic recovery after previous challenges. * **Re-evaluation:** A national introspection, much like a bear reflecting in its den, on future directions and priorities. * **Anticipation:** The quiet build-up of energy, anticipating a more dynamic and active period to come. ##### 2. "Bearish" Sentiments & The Strength to Endure In financial markets, "bearish" implies a downward trend. While we never wish for such a thing, the choice of 熊 could reflect: * **Global Pressures:** Lingering international uncertainties that required Japan to be resilient and cautious. * **Inner Fortitude:** The spirit to withstand external pressures, much like a bear endures harsh winters. This points to a year where endurance and fortitude were key. ##### 3. The "Bear Hug" of Community & Support Less aggressive, more comforting. The idea of a "bear hug" (in English, at least) is one of strong, reassuring embrace. In 2025, perhaps there was a renewed focus on: * **Community Bonds:** Strengthening local ties and mutual support. * **Compassion:** A year where empathy and helping others became more prominent, offering a strong, comforting presence amidst challenges. #### The TheJapanist Perspective: Kuma as a Symbol of E-E-A-T At The Japanist, our mission is to provide an authentic, trustworthy lens into Japan. The selection of 熊 for 2025 resonates deeply with the core of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trust) in a uniquely Japanese way: * **Experience:** The direct experiences with wildlife, the shared feeling of navigating challenging times. * **Expertise:** The deep understanding of seasonal changes, the balance between nature and urban life. * **Authoritativeness:** The strength to stand firm, to lead with conviction, like a powerful bear. * **Trust:** The comforting, protective aspect of the bear, fostering a sense of security and reliability. #### What Does "Kuma" Mean for Your 2025 Japan Travels? For travelers planning a trip to Japan in 2025, 熊 (Kuma) offers a unique lens through which to view your journey: * **Embrace Resilience:** Be prepared for unexpected discoveries and navigate with an adaptable spirit. * **Seek Natural Beauty:** Perhaps 2025 is the year to explore more of Japan's stunning national parks and less-trodden paths, where you might genuinely appreciate the balance with nature. * **Discover Hidden Gems:** Just as a bear hibernates, seek out the quiet, unassuming places that hold profound beauty and meaning. The Kanji of the Year is more than just a word; it's a mirror reflecting Japan's collective soul. In 2025, 熊 (Kuma) tells a story of strength, resilience, and a powerful, perhaps quiet, awakening. # Festival guides ## Mito Plum Blossom Festival (水戸の梅まつり) URL: https://thejapanist.net/festivals/mito-ume-matsuri Where: Mito, Ibaraki. When: Mid-February to late March (February 11 – March 22 in 2026). Verified: 2026-10-03. Mito's Plum Blossom Festival runs from mid-February to late March at Kairakuen and Kodokan, home to about 3,000 and 800 plum trees respectively. #### When it is held The Mito Plum Blossom Festival (水戸の梅まつり, *Mito no Ume Matsuri*) is held every year from mid-February to late March at Kairakuen (偕楽園) and Kōdōkan (弘道館) in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture. The 130th festival ran from February 11 to March 22, 2026. The festival has more than 120 years of history; the dates for 2027 had not been published on the official site when we last checked. #### Kairakuen Kairakuen, counted with Kenroku-en in Kanazawa and Kōraku-en in Okayama among Japan's three great gardens, is the main venue. About 3,000 plum trees of around 100 varieties grow there. With early-, mid- and late-blooming varieties, the season is long, and in 2026 the Ibaraki Shimbun reported that all three could be seen in bloom together from late February to early March. The garden is said to have been laid out around a contrast of *in* and *yō*, shade and light. The recommended way in is through the Kōbuntei front gate, the entrance to the "shade" world, along a quiet grove of Mōsō bamboo and past the Gyokuryūsen spring, before the plum groves open out ahead. #### Kōdōkan Kōdōkan was the school of the Mito domain, founded in August 1841 (Tenpō 12), and the largest domain school of its day. It taught Confucian and Japanese learning and martial arts alongside medicine, astronomy and Western studies, much like a university. Its grounds hold about 800 plum trees of some 60 varieties. Kōdōkan is a Special Historic Site, and its main gate, main hall and Shizendō, which escaped repeated wartime fires, are Important Cultural Properties. During the 2026 festival Kōdōkan was open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, and admission was 420 yen for adults. #### Events The program changes every year. In 2026 it included: - an opening day on February 11, when "Mito Kōmon" and his retinue and the Mito plum ambassadors greeted visitors; - outdoor tea ceremonies (*nodate*), martial arts demonstrations and *hina-nagashi*, the floating of paper dolls; - "Kairakuen UME The Lights", an evening light-and-sound show in the garden on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from February 13 to March 15; - the national umeshu festival at Tokiwa Shrine from March 13 to 15, with more than 120 plum wines from breweries across Japan. #### Tips - Bloom timing depends on the weather; the official site posts bloom updates from late January. - Visit both venues: Kairakuen for the scale of the plum groves, and Kōdōkan for the plums among historic buildings. - An evening visit on an illumination night shows the garden in a completely different light. Sources checked: - Mito no Ume Matsuri official site: Mito no Ume Matsuri — https://mitokoumon.com/ume/ - Mito no Ume Matsuri official site: Events and admission — https://mitokoumon.com/ume/ume_event.html - Ibaraki Shimbun: 130th Mito Plum Blossom Festival opens February 11 — https://ibarakinews.jp/news/newsdetail.php?f_jun=1770635382135400 --- ## Sapporo Snow Festival (さっぽろ雪まつり) URL: https://thejapanist.net/festivals/sapporo-yuki-matsuri Where: Sapporo, Hokkaido. When: Eight days in early February (February 4–11 in 2026 and 2027). Verified: 2026-10-03. The Sapporo Snow Festival fills Odori Park with giant snow statues for eight days each February; the 77th edition runs February 4–11, 2027. #### When and where The Sapporo Snow Festival (さっぽろ雪まつり, *Sapporo Yuki Matsuri*) runs for eight days in early February. The 77th festival is scheduled from Thursday, February 4 to Thursday, February 11, 2027; the last day is National Foundation Day, a public holiday. The 76th festival in 2026 ran over the same dates. The festival is spread across three sites in Sapporo: - **Odori site** (大通会場): the main venue, along Odori Park from West 1-chome to West 11-chome. The statues are lit until 10 pm. - **Tsudome site** (つどーむ会場): held at Tsudome, a city sports facility, and open during the day. - **Susukino site** (すすきの会場): ice sculptures along Ekimae-dōri between Minami 4-jō and Minami 6-jō in the Susukino district. #### What to see at Odori Park The centerpiece is five large snow statues, placed at 4-, 5-, 7-, 8- and 10-chome. Each is the size of a building, and the subjects change every year. In 2026 one reproduced Hokkaido University's Furukawa Hall and was built by a Ground Self-Defense Force unit, and another was a 13-meter version of Kakkū, a hollow clay figurine of the Jōmon period that is a National Treasure. After dark, some of the large statues become screens for projection mapping. Medium and small statues and winter attractions fill the blocks in between. The 11-chome block hosts the International Snow Sculpture Contest, and in 2027 the 2-chome block will host the Sapporo International Art Festival 2027. Look out for the citizens' snow statues (市民雪像, *shimin setsuzō*), made by local groups. In 2026 there were 80 of them at 2-chome and 9-chome, and visitors voted for their favorites; the top groups earn a place in the next festival. #### History The festival began in 1950, when local junior and senior high school students displayed six snow statues in Odori Park. It now draws more than two million visitors from Japan and abroad, and it is Sapporo's biggest winter event. #### Planning your visit - Visit the Odori site after dark to see the lit statues, and again by day to see the carving in detail. - Dress for snow and ice underfoot; almost everything is outdoors. - Book accommodation early, as the festival brings large numbers of visitors to the city. - In 2027 a linked event, Sapporo Snow Sports Park, runs from February 12 to 14 at Daiwa House Premist Dome, straight after the main festival. Statue themes and site maps are announced by the organizers in the run-up to each festival, so check the official site for the final program. Sources checked: - Sapporo Snow Festival official site: 2027 Sapporo Snow Festival (77th): outline — https://www.snowfes.com/news/948.html - Sapporo Snow Festival official site: Odori site — https://www.snowfes.com/sites/odori/ - Sapporo Travel (official Sapporo tourism site): Sapporo Snow Festival — https://www.sapporo.travel/en/event/event-list/sapporo_snow_festival/ --- ## Inuyama Matsuri (犬山祭) URL: https://thejapanist.net/festivals/inuyama-matsuri Where: Inuyama, Aichi. When: First Saturday of April and the following Sunday. Verified: 2026-10-03. The Inuyama Festival pulls 13 three-tier floats with karakuri puppets through Inuyama's castle town on the first Saturday of April and the Sunday after. #### When it is held The Inuyama Festival (犬山祭, *Inuyama Matsuri*) is the festival of Harutsuna Shrine (針綱神社), held on the first Saturday of April and the Sunday after it in the old castle town below Inuyama Castle, in Aichi Prefecture. The Saturday is the *shigakusai* (試楽祭) and the Sunday the *hongakusai* (本楽祭). In 2026 they fell on April 4 and 5. If the rule holds, the 2027 festival will be on April 3 and 4. The festival is cancelled in rain. #### The floats Thirteen three-tiered floats called *yama* (車山) take part, along with three *nerimono* (練り物) processions, from 16 neighborhoods in all. Every one of the 13 yama carries *karakuri* puppets, which perform to flutes and drums. The floats have been an Aichi Prefectural Tangible Folk Cultural Property since 1964, and the float event was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 2006. In December 2016 it was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list as one of 33 float festivals in Japan; Aichi has five of them, more than any other prefecture, including the [Owari Tsushima Tennō Festival](/festivals/owari-tsushima-tenno-matsuri). #### The two days On both days the yama leave their storehouses in the morning and are pulled through the castle town, and in the evening each one is lit with lanterns and pulled through the streets again. On the Sunday morning, the 13 yama and three nerimono gather in front of Harutsuna Shrine, by the plaza below Inuyama Castle. Lined up with the shrine behind them, they offer their karakuri performances and nerimono one after another in festival order (from 9:20 am in 2026), then split into two groups for the rest of the day. After dark the lantern-lit floats, the *yoru-yama*, wind through the town under the cherry blossoms, which are often in full bloom at festival time. #### History The festival is said to have begun in 1635 (Kan'ei 12) as the festival of Harutsuna Shrine, the guardian shrine of the area. The Naruse family, lords of Inuyama Castle and senior retainers of the Owari Tokugawa, are said to have encouraged it. The participating neighborhoods are those of the shrine's parish in the old castle town. In the Meiji era, as the calendar and daily life changed, the festival moved from August to April. It was held at first on April 27 and 28, and after several further changes it settled on the first Saturday of April and the following Sunday. #### Getting there The main venue in front of Harutsuna Shrine is about a 20-minute walk from the west exit of Meitetsu Inuyama Station. Roads around the castle town are closed during the parades, and the car parks fill early, so public transport is strongly recommended. #### Tips - See the karakuri on the Sunday morning, when every float performs in front of the shrine. - Stay for the evening, when the lantern-lit yama are the festival's most photographed scene. - Rain cancels the festival, so check the official site on the morning of each day. Sources checked: - Inuyama Festival Preservation Society: History of the Inuyama Festival — https://inuyama-matsuri.com/history/ - Inuyama City: Inuyama Festival float events — https://www.city.inuyama.aichi.jp/kurashi/bunka/1003487/1001066.html - Inuyama Tourism Association: Inuyama Festival — https://inuyama.gr.jp/event/detail/1 - Aichi Now (Aichi Prefecture): Inuyama Festival — https://www.aichinow.pref.aichi.jp/events/detail/67/ --- ## Ogiyama Fire Festival (扇山火まつり) URL: https://thejapanist.net/festivals/ogiyama-fire-festival Where: Beppu, Oita. When: Early April, during the Beppu Hatto Onsen Matsuri. Verified: 2026-10-03. The Ogiyama Fire Festival sets the grass slopes of Mount Ogiyama in Beppu alight each April, outlining its fan-shaped ridges in flame during the onsen festival. #### What it is The Ōgiyama Fire Festival (扇山火まつり, *Ōgiyama Hi Matsuri*) is a burn of the grass slopes of Mount Ōgiyama, a 792 m mountain in Beppu, Oita Prefecture. The flames trace the mountain's fan-shaped ridges (*ōgi*, 扇, means "folding fan"). It is held every year as part of the Beppu Hatto Onsen Matsuri, the city's spring hot-spring festival, and the organizers describe it as the event that tells the gods of the hot springs that spring has arrived. #### When it is held The fire festival takes place in early April, on a date set each year by the onsen festival's organizers. Beppu marks April 1 as *Onsen Kansha no Hi* (温泉感謝の日), its day of thanks for the hot springs, and the festival is built around it. In 2026 the 112th Beppu Hatto Onsen Matsuri ran from April 1 to 5, and the 50th Ōgiyama Fire Festival was held on April 2. The burn is postponed in rain; the backup date in 2026 was April 6. #### What happens The onsen festival opens on April 1 at Hachiman Asami Shrine (八幡朝見神社), where a sacred flame (御神火, *goshinka*) is lit at the opening ceremony. On the evening of the fire festival, members of the Ōgiyama grass-harvesting association (扇山採草組合) climb the mountain and set the slope alight with that flame at 6 pm. In 2026 about 95 hectares were burned, and 200 fireworks were launched at 7 pm to mark the 50th edition. Spectators gathered at the foot of the mountain to watch the line of fire spread. The blackened slope turns green again during April. #### The rest of the onsen festival The Beppu Hatto Onsen Matsuri celebrates the blessings of the hot springs; *Beppu Hattō* refers to the city's eight hot-spring areas. Besides the fire festival, mikoshi are paraded through the shopping streets. The 2026 program also included: - **April 4:** events at eight venues around the city, including Kaimonji Park and Matsubara Park, with *mochi-maki* (rice-cake scattering), *zenzai* (sweet bean soup), *amazake* and children's Japanese dance. - **April 5:** events at six venues including Kannawa, and from 3 pm the *Yu-bukkake Matsuri* on the street in front of JR Beppu Station. A record 213 tonnes of hot-spring water were thrown from buckets and ladles over about 1,000 mikoshi bearers from 30 groups, and from 3:30 pm over the spectators too. - **April 2–5:** the "Furo Marathon" stamp rally, with a fee of 6,000 yen and places for the first 200 people. #### Tips - The date is not fixed; check the onsen festival's official site each spring. - Rain moves the burn to the backup date, so keep an evening free if you can. - If you are visiting for the fire festival, it is worth staying on for the Yu-bukkake Matsuri at the end of the week. Sources checked: - Beppu Hatto Onsen Matsuri official site: Beppu Hatto Onsen Matsuri — https://beppu-event.jp/onsenmatsuri/ - Oita Godo Shimbun: 112th Beppu Hatto Onsen Matsuri opens April 1 — https://www.oita-press.co.jp/1010000000/2026/03/30/JDC2026032603023 - Oita Godo Shimbun: Ogiyama Fire Festival lights up Beppu (2026) — https://www.oita-press.co.jp/1010000000/2026/04/02/JDC2026040202238 - NTV News: Ogiyama Fire Festival, a spring tradition — https://news.ntv.co.jp/category/society/toa7407e8e691c4a92962ab24abc89d4fa --- ## Takayama Festival (高山祭) URL: https://thejapanist.net/festivals/takayama-matsuri Where: Takayama, Gifu. When: April 14–15 (spring) and October 9–10 (autumn) every year. Verified: 2026-10-03. Takayama's festival is held twice a year in its old town: the Sanno Matsuri on April 14–15 and the Hachiman Matsuri on October 9–10, each with ornate floats. #### Two festivals, two shrines The Takayama Festival (高山祭, *Takayama Matsuri*) is the shared name of two separate shrine festivals in the old town of Takayama, in the Hida region of Gifu Prefecture. - **Spring: the Sannō Matsuri** (山王祭), every year on April 14 and 15. It is the festival of Hie Shrine (Hida Sannō-gū) and belongs to the southern half of the old castle town. Twelve floats take part. - **Autumn: the Hachiman Matsuri** (八幡祭), every year on October 9 and 10, fixed dates since 1968. It is the festival of Sakurayama Hachimangū and belongs to the northern half of the town. Eleven floats take part. #### The floats The 23 festival floats (屋台, *yatai*) are National Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties, and the float events are an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. In December 2016 they were inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list as part of "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in Japan". The festival's origins go back to the rule of the Kanamori clan (1585–1692), and floats have taken part since around 1718. Some floats carry *karakuri* (からくり), mechanical puppets worked from inside the float. In spring the Sanbasō, Shakkyō-tai and Ryūjin-tai floats perform at the Jinya-mae intersection, facing the temporary shrine (*otabisho*), at 10 am and 2 pm on both days; each performance lasts about 20 minutes. In autumn the karakuri is performed by the Hotei-tai float. #### The autumn festival in 2026 Ten of the eleven autumn floats are on show in 2026, because Gyōjin-tai is under repair. The published schedule: - **October 9:** floats lined up for viewing (*hikisoroe*) from 9 am to 5 pm; karakuri at noon and 2 pm; the shrine procession from 1:20 to 3:30 pm; floats pulled through the streets (*hikimawashi*) from 1:30 to 3:30 pm; and the night festival (*yoi-matsuri*) from 6 to 9:30 pm, when each float is lit by about 100 lanterns and heads home to the parting song "Takai Yama". - **October 10:** hikisoroe from 9 am to 4 pm; karakuri at 11 am and 1 pm; the shrine procession from 8:30 am to noon and from 1:30 to 4 pm. In rain the floats stay in their storehouses (*yatai-gura*) and are shown there, and the hikimawashi and night festival are cancelled. #### The spring festival The spring procession includes *tōkeiraku* (闘鶏楽) dancers and lion dances, and the night festival is held on April 14 (from 6 to 8:30 pm in 2026). The 2027 spring festival falls on Wednesday, April 14 and Thursday, April 15. #### Tips - Arrive early for the karakuri performances, which draw the densest crowds. - Watch the weather forecast: rain changes the program on the day. - Book accommodation in Takayama well ahead for either festival. The Takayama Festival is counted with Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and the [Chichibu Night Festival](/festivals/chichibu-yomatsuri) among Japan's three great float festivals. Sources checked: - Hida Takayama Tourism Association: Spring Takayama Festival (Sanno Matsuri) — https://www.hidatakayama.or.jp/hidatakayama/maturi_spring/ - Hida Takayama Tourism Association: Autumn Takayama Festival (Hachiman Matsuri) — https://www.hidatakayama.or.jp/hidatakayama/maturi_autumn/ - Takayama City via PR TIMES: 2026 autumn Takayama Festival schedule — https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000405.000124925.html --- ## Fukuno Yotaka Matsuri (福野夜高祭) URL: https://thejapanist.net/festivals/fukuno-yotaka-matsuri Where: Nanto, Toyama. When: May 1–3 every year. Verified: 2026-10-03. The Fukuno Yotaka Festival parades towering lantern floats through Fukuno in Nanto, Toyama, every May 1–3, peaking in a lantern-smashing fight late on May 2. #### When it is held The Fukuno Yotaka Festival (福野夜高祭, *Fukuno Yotaka Matsuri*) is the spring festival of Fukuno Shinmei-sha (福野神明社), held every year from May 1 to 3 in the Fukuno district of Nanto, Toyama Prefecture. - **May 1–2: Yoi-matsuri** (宵祭). Towering lanterns are paraded through the streets from 6:30 pm until late at night. - **May 3: Hon-matsuri** (本祭). The festival floats (曳山, *hikiyama*) and the shrine's mikoshi tour the town. #### The lanterns The festival's *yotaka andon* (夜高行燈) are lantern floats more than 6 m tall, made by the young men of seven neighborhoods: Shinmachi, Kamimachi, Nanatsuya, Yokomachi, Uramachi, Tatsumimachi and Okuramachi. Work on them begins around March each year. More than 20 lanterns, large and small, are carried through the streets to drums, flutes and the call "*Yoiyasa, yoiyasa*", and on May 1 a contest names the year's best lanterns. #### The lantern fight The climax is the *hikiai* (引き合い), a ritual fight that starts at about 11 pm on May 2. As lanterns from two neighborhoods pass each other in the narrow streets, young men riding on top of them tear at the rival lantern with their hands and feet, trying to smash it. Elsewhere, floats usually clash head-on; in Fukuno the fight is at close quarters, 5 to 6 m above the street. Local tradition holds that the wilder the fight, the more it pleases the gods and the better the harvest. The fight is dangerous up close, and visitors are kept back. The lanterns gather on Kamimachi-dōri for the fight from around 10 pm, so arrive early if you want a good view. #### May 3: floats and mikoshi At 10 am the *hikiyama* and *yatai* of four neighborhood groups (Kamimachi and Nanatsuya, Shinmachi, Uramachi and Tatsumimachi, and Yokomachi) gather at the Ginkō Yotsukado crossroads for a ceremony and then head to the shrine; this part is cancelled in rain. From 1 pm the mikoshi sets out from Fukuno Shinmei-sha and the floats tour their neighborhoods. Sending out two kinds of float, lanterns and hikiyama, for the same welcoming of the gods is unusual in Japan. #### History The festival began in 1652. When Fukuno Shinmei-sha was built as a symbol of the town's recovery from a great fire, the townspeople went out at dusk carrying lanterns to welcome a share of the deity's spirit from Ise Jingū. In the late Edo period the neighborhoods competed to build ever larger and more ornate lanterns. The festival was interrupted in the turmoil after the Second World War and later revived. Fukuno's festival is said to be the original of the *yotaka* festivals that spread to other areas. In 2017 it was listed as a "Future Heritage" (未来遺産) project by the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan, a civic program that is separate from UNESCO's own heritage lists. #### Getting there The festival takes place in central Fukuno around the Ginkō Yotsukado crossroads, which is closed to cars during festival hours. The nearest station is Fukuno on the JR Jōhana Line. Sources checked: - Gokayama NANTO Tourism Organization: Fukuno Yotaka Festival — https://www.tabi-nanto.jp/fukuno_yotaka/ - Gokayama NANTO Tourism Organization via PR TIMES: Fukuno Yotaka Festival special viewing plan (2026) — https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000008.000160520.html - Fukunote: Fukuno Yotaka Festival 2026 guide — https://fukunote.jp/event/https-fukunote-jp-event-reiwa-8-fukuno-yotaka-festival/ --- ## Hakata Dontaku (博多どんたく港まつり) URL: https://thejapanist.net/festivals/hakata-dontaku Where: Fukuoka, Fukuoka. When: May 3–4 every year. Verified: 2026-10-03. Hakata Dontaku fills central Fukuoka with costumed parades and dance stages every May 3–4, drawing more than two million spectators over the two days. #### When it is held Hakata Dontaku (博多どんたく港まつり, *Hakata Dontaku Minato Matsuri*) is held in Fukuoka on May 3 and 4 every year, during Japan's Golden Week holidays. Its full title is the Fukuoka Citizens' Festival "Hakata Dontaku Port Festival", and it is run by the Fukuoka Citizens' Festival Promotion Association. The 65th festival took place on May 3–4, 2026, with an eve event on May 2. #### What happens Over the two days, around 650 groups with some 33,000 performers, the *dontaku-tai* (どんたく隊), parade and dance through the city in costumes of their own choosing, many of them clapping wooden rice paddles (*shamoji*). Stages and squares are set up at about 40 locations for dance and performing arts. The festival draws more than two million spectators, and it is said to be the biggest festival in Japan during Golden Week. Highlights of the 2026 program: - **The Dontaku parade**, the main event, on Meiji-dōri between Gofukumachi and Tenjin: 1:05 to 7 pm on May 3 and 2:05 to 7 pm on May 4, with decorated "flower cars" (*hana-jidōsha*) and a continuous stream of dontaku groups. - **Hakata-eki-mae Dontaku Street**, in front of Hakata Station, on both mornings. - **Performance stages** (*enbutai*) around the city from 9 am to 9 pm, with hours varying by stage. - **Sō-odori** (総おどり), a mass dance at several sites from 5:50 to 6:20 pm on May 4. #### Hakata Matsubayashi The festival's roots are in the *Hakata Matsubayashi* (博多松囃子), a folk procession said to have begun in 1179 (Jishō 3), according to the *Chikuzen no Kuni Zoku Fudoki* by Kaibara Ekiken. The matsubayashi still goes around the city during the festival: the three lucky gods (三福神, *san-fukujin*) make their rounds on both days, and in 2026 the official site showed their position live on the day. #### The name *Dontaku* is said to come from the Dutch word *zondag*, meaning Sunday or a day off. #### History The festival was halted during the Second World War. In 1946, just after the war, volunteers from the Naraya district revived it, and their homemade music rang out over a city still scarred by air raids. In 1962 it became the "Fukuoka Citizens' Festival", open to all. The 2026 festival marked 80 years since the revival. #### Tips - In 2026 the organizers added paid "walking-tour viewing seats" for the first time, combining parade viewing with a guided walk through the area's history. - The parade route on Meiji-dōri is the easiest place to see the most groups in the least time. - Golden Week is one of the busiest travel periods in Japan, so book transport and accommodation early. Sources checked: - Fukuoka Citizens' Festival Promotion Association: About Hakata Dontaku — https://www.dontaku.fukunet.or.jp/about/dontaku/ - Yokanavi (Fukuoka City official tourism site): Hakata Dontaku Port Festival 2026 — https://yokanavi.com/events/274296 - Fukuoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry: 65th Hakata Dontaku Port Festival press release — https://www.fukunet.or.jp/top-activity/release_20260424/ --- ## Kanda Matsuri (神田祭) URL: https://thejapanist.net/festivals/kanda-matsuri Where: Tokyo, Tokyo. When: Mid-May; the full festival with the Shinkosai procession is held in odd-numbered years. Verified: 2026-10-03. Kanda Myojin's festival is held in mid-May of odd-numbered years, with a day-long Shinkosai procession through central Tokyo and neighborhood mikoshi. #### When it is held The Kanda Matsuri (神田祭) is the festival of Kanda Myōjin (神田明神), the shrine that has guarded central Tokyo since the Edo period. Its full form, the *honmatsuri* (本祭), is held in mid-May of odd-numbered years. In even-numbered years the shrine holds a smaller *kage-matsuri* (陰祭) without the Shinkōsai procession or the mikoshi entry into the shrine; 2026 is one of those years. The annual grand rite (*reitaisai*) on May 15 is held every year. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet. For reference, the 2025 festival ran from May 8 to May 15: - **May 8:** the evening rite moving the deities into their palanquins. - **May 10:** the Shinkōsai procession through Kanda, Nihonbashi, Ōtemachi–Marunouchi and Akihabara, joined from 3 pm by the *tsuke-matsuri* pageant. - **May 11:** the Mikoshi Miyairi, when the neighborhood mikoshi are carried into the shrine one after another. - **May 14:** a tea offering and Myōjin Noh. - **May 15:** the reitaisai at 2 pm. #### The Shinkōsai procession The Shinkōsai (神幸祭) is a day-long procession of about 30 km that carries the shrine's three deities: Ōnamuchi in the Ichi-no-miya *hōren* (phoenix palanquin), Sukunahikona in the Ni-no-miya mikoshi, and Taira no Masakado in the San-no-miya hōren. It sets off early in the morning (about 7:40 am in 2025), stops for a rite at the Masakado-zuka mound in Ōtemachi and a midday rite in Nihonbashi, and returns to the shrine in the evening along Chūō-dōri and through Akihabara. The tsuke-matsuri pageant joins it in the evening at Mitsukoshi in Nihonbashi. #### The neighborhood mikoshi For many visitors the highlight is the Mikoshi Miyairi, when portable shrines from the parish neighborhoods are carried up to Kanda Myōjin to the chants of their bearers. The shrine grounds are packed for most of the day, so expect to queue and move slowly near the gate. Kanda Myōjin is a short walk from Ochanomizu and Akihabara stations. #### History Shrine tradition dates Kanda Myōjin's founding to 730, near today's Ōtemachi, where the Masakado-zuka still stands. Taira no Masakado was enshrined in 1309. Tokugawa Ieyasu is said to have prayed at the shrine before the Battle of Sekigahara, which he won on September 15, then the festival day. In 1616 the shrine moved to its present site, guarding the northeast of Edo Castle, and became the guardian shrine of all Edo (江戸総鎮守). In the Edo period the procession entered the grounds of Edo Castle and was watched by the shogun and his wife, which earned it the name *Tenka Matsuri* (天下祭), "the festival of the realm". From the Enpō era (1673–1681) it alternated years with Hie Shrine's [Sannō Matsuri](/festivals/sanno-matsuri), the other Tenka Matsuri. After the Second World War the procession was renamed Shinkōsai and first held under that name in 1952. The San-no-miya hōren carrying Masakado joined it in 1987. Sources checked: - Kanda Myojin: About the Kanda Festival — https://www.kandamyoujin.or.jp/kandasai/r5/about/ - Kanda Myojin: Shinkosai procession — https://www.kandamyoujin.or.jp/kandasai/r5/schedule/shinkosai/ - Kanda Myojin: Shrine history — https://www.kandamyoujin.or.jp/profile/ - Kanda Matsuri: Kanda Matsuri official site — https://www.kandamatsuri.com/ --- ## Atsuta Matsuri (熱田まつり) URL: https://thejapanist.net/festivals/atsuta-matsuri Where: Nagoya, Aichi. When: June 5 every year. Verified: 2026-10-03. Atsuta Matsuri is Atsuta Jingu's grand annual festival in Nagoya on June 5, with lantern-covered makiwara at the gates and about 1,000 fireworks at night. #### When it is held Atsuta Matsuri (熱田まつり) is the annual grand festival, or *reisai* (例祭), of Atsuta Jingū in Nagoya. It is held on June 5 every year, beginning with the rite at 10 am. It is also known as the *Shōbu-sai* (尚武祭). In 2026 it fell on a Friday. #### The rite The reisai is the most important and solemn of Atsuta Jingū's ceremonies, and it is attended by an imperial envoy (勅使, *chokushi*) sent by the Emperor. The chief priest reads a prayer, the envoy presents offerings and reads the imperial message, and prayers are offered for the prosperity of the imperial family and peace in the nation. The rite is held at the main sanctuary and at all 43 auxiliary shrines in and around the grounds. #### Festival day After the rite the grounds fill with offerings and events, and about 250,000 people visit over the day. - **Kentō makiwara** (献灯まきわら): from the evening, lantern towers are lit at the shrine's gates. In 2026 there were five at three gates, each hung with 377 lanterns, one for each day and month of the year (365 plus 12). - **Fireworks**: about 1,000 shells are launched from Jingū Park, next to the shrine (7:40 to about 8:30 pm in 2026), announcing the start of summer in Nagoya. - **Martial arts and culture**: tournaments in *kyūdō* archery, judo, kendo and sumo, as well as performing arts, haiku and calligraphy, and offerings of tea and flowers. - **Music**: Owari Shinjirō drumming and Atsuta kagura in the grounds. - **Neighborhood offerings**: children's lion dances and *makiwara mikoshi* from the surrounding districts. Local people traditionally put on their first yukata of the year for this festival, carrying a fan and browsing the food stalls, which gives the evening a strong sense of the season. #### Watching the fireworks The fireworks are hard to see from inside the shrine grounds, and Jingū Park is closed to visitors while they are being launched. Viewing from outside, such as from Shirotori Park, is recommended. #### Getting there Meitetsu Jingū-mae Station is a three-minute walk from the shrine. Parking at the shrine may be restricted on festival days and on-street parking is banned across Atsuta Ward, so come by train. #### About Atsuta Jingū Atsuta Jingū holds about 60 regular ceremonies and about 10 special rites each year, many of them tied to the farming year, handed down in their traditional form. The reisai on June 5 is the largest of them. Combine a visit with the shrine's daytime events to see the martial arts tournaments and offerings that give the festival its other name, *Shōbu-sai*, a festival honoring martial spirit. Sources checked: - Atsuta Jingu: Reisai (Atsuta Matsuri) — https://www.atsutajingu.or.jp/jingu/about/event/event_detail12.html - Atsuta Jingu: Festivals and rites — https://atsutajingu.or.jp/jingu/about/event.html - Aichi Now (Aichi Prefecture): Atsuta Matsuri (Shobu-sai) — https://aichinow.pref.aichi.jp/events/detail/1318/ - Chunichi Shimbun: Makiwara lanterns and fireworks at Atsuta Matsuri (2026) — https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/1262502 - Jorudan: Atsuta Matsuri fireworks — https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/hanabi/spot_J0034.html --- ## Sanno Matsuri (山王祭) URL: https://thejapanist.net/festivals/sanno-matsuri Where: Tokyo, Tokyo. When: Every June; the Shinkosai procession is held in even-numbered years. Verified: 2026-10-03. Hie Shrine's Sanno Matsuri runs through June in central Tokyo; in even-numbered years its Shinkosai procession covers about 23 km of the city. #### When it is held The Sannō Matsuri (山王祭) is the festival of Hie Shrine (日枝神社, *Hie Jinja*) in Nagatachō, Tokyo. It is held every June, with more than 20 rites and events over about ten days; in 2026 it ran from June 7 to June 17. Its grand procession, the Shinkōsai (神幸祭), takes place only in even-numbered years, alternating with the [Kanda Matsuri](/festivals/kanda-matsuri). After 2026, the next Shinkōsai is due in 2028. In odd-numbered years the shrine's June rites still take place, but without the procession. #### The Shinkōsai procession On June 12, 2026, the procession left Hie Shrine at 8 am and returned at about 6 pm. Around 500 participants in court and festival dress formed a column roughly 300 m long, escorting two *hōren* (phoenix palanquins), a shrine mikoshi and festival floats along a route of about 23 km through central Tokyo. At 2:05 pm it stopped for a rite at the temporary shrine (*otabisho*) in Nihonbashi. Because the procession moves all day, the easiest way to see it is to choose a point on the published route and wait there rather than follow it. The shrine publishes the route and timetable before each main festival. #### Other highlights - **Shitamachi Rengō Togyo** (下町連合渡御): on June 14, 2026, 16 neighborhood mikoshi were carried together through the old merchant districts, and Chūō-dōri was closed to traffic between Kyōbashi and Nihonbashi from noon to 3 pm. - **Reisai** (例祭): the shrine's annual rite on June 15. - **Tea offerings**: the Omotesenke school offered tea on June 10 and the Urasenke school on June 17 in 2026. #### History Hie Shrine was the guardian shrine of Edo Castle, and its festival was one of the two *Tenka Matsuri* (天下祭), "festivals of the realm", whose processions entered the castle grounds. Shoguns watched it from the time of Iemitsu onward; 1635 is the first recorded viewing, and the mikoshi entered the castle 106 times in all. Because the shogunate met its costs, the festival was also called the *Goyō Matsuri* (御用祭), the "official festival". The Kanda Matsuri, the other Tenka Matsuri, has alternated years with the Sannō Matsuri since the Edo period, which is why each city-wide procession comes around only every second year. #### Tips - Hie Shrine is close to Tameike-Sannō and Akasaka stations. - June is the rainy season in Tokyo, so bring rain gear. - Check the shrine's schedule for the exact times of the procession, the Shitamachi Rengō Togyo and the tea offerings; they change from festival to festival. Sources checked: - Hie Shrine (Sanno Matsuri official site): About the Sanno Matsuri — https://www.tenkamatsuri.jp/about/ - Hie Shrine (Sanno Matsuri official site): Festival schedule — https://www.tenkamatsuri.jp/nittei/ - Visit Chiyoda (Chiyoda City tourism): Sanno Matsuri — https://visit-chiyoda.tokyo/sannoumatsuri/ --- ## Owari Tsushima Tenno Matsuri (尾張津島天王祭) URL: https://thejapanist.net/festivals/owari-tsushima-tenno-matsuri Where: Tsushima, Aichi. When: Fourth Saturday of July and the following Sunday. Verified: 2026-10-03. The Owari Tsushima Tenno Festival floats lantern-covered boats across the Tenno River in Tsushima, Aichi, on the fourth Saturday of July and the Sunday after. #### When it is held The Owari Tsushima Tennō Festival (尾張津島天王祭, *Owari Tsushima Tennō Matsuri*) is the summer festival of Tsushima Shrine (津島神社) in Tsushima, Aichi Prefecture. It once followed the lunar calendar and is now held on the fourth Saturday of July and the Sunday after it, at Tenno River Park (天王川公園). In 2026 those were July 25 and 26. If the rule holds, the 2027 festival falls on July 24 and 25. The festival has been held for close to 600 years and is counted among Japan's three great river festivals (日本三大川まつり). #### Yoi-matsuri: the lantern boats The highlight is the *yoi-matsuri* (宵祭) on Saturday evening. Five *makiwara-bune* (まきわら船), boats from Tsushima's five districts, each carry more than 500 lanterns on a frame above the deck. From 6:30 pm the lanterns are lit at the boat basin (車河戸, *kurumakōdo*) in a ceremony called *nyoi-tenka* (如意点火), and at 8:15 pm the boats set off across the Tenno River toward the *otabisho* (temporary shrine), playing Tsushima flutes as they go. Lanterns swaying on the dark water are the image the festival is known for, and the yoi-matsuri draws close to 200,000 people. #### Asa-matsuri: the danjiri boats After the yoi-matsuri, the five boats are worked on through the night: the lanterns come off and the boats are redecorated as *danjiri-bune* (車楽舟), topped with figures modeled on scenes from Noh plays. On Sunday morning (from 9:10 am in 2026) the Ichie boat from neighboring Aisai leads them, and the six boats cross the river to music. Ten *hoko-mochi* (鉾持) on the Ichie boat leap into the water carrying cloth halberds, swim across and run to the shrine. #### Designations The danjiri boat event was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1980, and the danjiri themselves an Aichi Prefectural Tangible Folk Cultural Property in 1984. In December 2016 the festival was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list as one of 33 float festivals in Japan, alongside Aichi's [Inuyama Festival](/festivals/inuyama-matsuri). #### The festival weekend The festival weekend begins on Friday night, when children carried by adults are taken around the front of the worship hall at Tsushima Shrine (*chigo uchimawashi*, 稚児打廻). Before the yoi-matsuri on Saturday, the city has held a welcome event, TenAgeFes, mainly at the Tsushima Culture Hall. #### Tips - Both the yoi-matsuri and the asa-matsuri go ahead in light rain. - The best moment of the evening is the lighting at the boat basin and the departure at 8:15 pm; arrive early for a place by the water. - If you cannot attend, local channel Clover TV has streamed both days on YouTube, with recordings kept online afterwards. - For questions about the rites, the festival's support association is based at Tsushima Shrine; for events, contact the Tsushima Tourism Association. Sources checked: - Tsushima City: Owari Tsushima Tenno Festival — https://www.city.tsushima.lg.jp/shokai/matsurikyoudo/tennnoumaturi/tennoumatsuri.html - Tsushima Tourism Association: Owari Tsushima Tenno Festival — https://tsushima-kankou.com/tenno/ - Aichi Now (Aichi Prefecture): Owari Tsushima Tenno Festival — https://www.aichinow.pref.aichi.jp/events/detail/320/ - Chunichi Shimbun: Owari Tsushima Tenno Festival begins (2026) — https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/1285289 --- ## Kumano Fireworks Festival (熊野大花火大会) URL: https://thejapanist.net/fireworks/kumano-fireworks Where: Kumano, Mie. When: August 17 every year. Verified: 2026-10-03. The Kumano Fireworks Festival is held every August 17 on the Shichiri-mihama coast in Mie, with about 10,000 shells and blasts echoing off the Onigajo cliffs. #### When it is held The Kumano Fireworks Festival (熊野大花火大会, *Kumano Ō-hanabi Taikai*) is held every year on August 17, whatever the day of the week, on the Shichiri-mihama coast (七里御浜) in Kumano, Mie Prefecture. It is organized by Kumano City and the Kumano City Tourism Association. The 2026 festival took place on Monday, August 17. #### The show About 10,000 shells are launched, making it the largest fireworks festival in the Kishū region, and it draws crowds of well over 100,000 from across Japan. Its signature pieces use the coast itself as a stage. - **Sanshakudama kaijō jibaku** (三尺玉海上自爆): a three-shaku shell, 90 cm across and weighing 250 kg, is set on a steel raft about 4 m square, anchored about 400 m offshore and set off where it sits. It opens into a flower about 600 m across, and the blast is powerful enough to bend the steel raft. - **Onigajō ōjikake** (鬼ヶ城大仕掛け): the finale at Onigajō (鬼ヶ城), a stretch of rocks and caves carved by the rough waves of the Kumano Sea. Creative fireworks on themes of the seasons are followed by "*Gantō no todoroki*" (巖頭のとどろき), a barrage of large shells and many *jibaku* (自爆), shells set off on the spot, whose roar echoes off the cliffs. The roar is said to feel like an earthquake of intensity 7 on the Japanese scale. Because the shells burst low over the sea, the long trails of light they leave on the water are part of the spectacle, something the organizers single out as unique to sea fireworks. #### Origins The festival grew out of fireworks offered to console the spirits of the dead (諸精霊供養). It has since become the largest fireworks show in the region, but it still keeps its fixed date of August 17. #### The setting Shichiri-mihama is a long gravel beach on the Kumano coast, described by the broadcaster CBC as the longest gravel beach in Japan. Onigajō is a line of sea cliffs and caves eroded by the waves. Together they give the festival its sound: the blasts of the *jibaku* reverberate off the rock and through the caves, and viewers feel them in their bodies as much as they hear them. #### Watching - The festival is watched from the Shichiri-mihama shore. Check the tourism association's site for the year's program and the viewing and parking arrangements, which can change; in 2026 one of the temporary car parks could not be used. - If you cannot travel to Kumano, the festival has been streamed live in recent years, including on YouTube in 2025 and 2026. - August 17 falls on a different day of the week each year, so it is often a weekday; plan time off and accommodation early. #### Getting the most out of it The jibaku and the Onigajō finale are the reasons people travel here. Stay for the whole show rather than leaving early to beat the crowds: the finale is the loudest and most dramatic part of the evening. Sources checked: - Kumano City Tourism Association: Kumano Fireworks Festival program — https://www.kumano-kankou.info/kumano-fireworks/program1/ - Kumano City Tourism Association: Kumano Fireworks Festival — https://www.kumano-kankou.info/kumano-fireworks/ - Kumano City Tourism Corporation: Kumano Fireworks Festival, every August 17 — https://kumano-kankou.com/?p=359 - CBC TV via MANTANWEB: Kumano Fireworks Festival live stream (2026) — https://mantan-web.jp/prtimes/article/20260814prt00m200000385a.html --- ## Nanki-Shirahama Fireworks Festa (南紀白浜花火フェスタ) URL: https://thejapanist.net/fireworks/shirahama-fireworks Where: Shirahama, Wakayama. When: August 10 in 2025 and 2026, with a rain date later in August. Verified: 2026-10-03. The Nanki-Shirahama Fireworks Festa lights up Shirarahama Beach in Wakayama each August with about 2,500 shells, including fireworks that burst in the bay. #### When it is held The Nanki-Shirahama Fireworks Festa (南紀白浜花火フェスタ, *Nanki Shirahama Hanabi Fesuta*) is the summer fireworks show at Shirarahama Beach (白良浜) in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture. It is organized by the Nanki-Shirahama Tourism Association. In 2026 it was held on Monday, August 10, from 8:10 to 8:40 pm, with Sunday, August 23 at the same time as the reserve date in bad weather. In 2025 it was also planned for August 10, but bad weather pushed it back to the reserve date, August 24, when it went ahead. #### The show About 2,500 shells are launched in 30 minutes. In 2025 they went up from Gongenzaki (権現崎), the cape on one side of the beach, from Ponporo-jima (ポンポロ島), the small island on the other, from a barge in the bay, and from boats that drop fireworks into the water. These underwater fireworks (水中花火, *suichū hanabi*) burst in the water of the bay, and starmines and underwater starmines are the highlights of the show. When the weather makes the barge unusable, the organizers plan the show from Gongenzaki, Ponporo-jima and the boats alone. #### Where to watch The beach itself is the viewing area. There is no admission charge and no paid seating; you watch from the sand with the fireworks reflected on the sea. Arrive early to find space on the beach, and bring a mat to sit on. There were no food stalls at the 2025 festival, so bring water and anything you want to eat. #### Getting there - **By train:** from JR Shirahama Station, take a bus of about 14 to 15 minutes toward Sandanbeki and get off at Shirarahama, right by the beach. - **By car:** about 10 minutes from the Nanki-Shirahama interchange of the Kisei Expressway via the Flower Line prefectural road. Roads around the venue are closed during the show; the tourism association published a traffic restriction map for the 2025 festival. In 2026 the festival car park was at the site of the former Nanki-Shirahama Airport, with no shuttle bus. #### Tips - If the weather looks doubtful on August 10, check the tourism association's site on the day; it announces postponements there. - The show lasts only half an hour, so be settled before 8:10 pm. - Shirahama is a hot-spring resort, and staying the night avoids the post-show traffic. - Other events on the beach, such as separate ticketed music festivals, are not part of the Festa; check which event you are booking for. Sources checked: - Nanki-Shirahama Tourism Association: 2025 Nanki-Shirahama Fireworks Festa — https://www.nankishirahama.jp/news/18037/ - Walkerplus: Nanki-Shirahama Fireworks Festa 2026 — https://www.walkerplus.com/event/ar0730e466889/data.html - Cocorade: Nanki-Shirahama Fireworks Festa 2026 — https://www.cocorade.net/event/shirahamahanabifes2026 - Rurubu&more (JTB Publishing): Nanki-Shirahama Fireworks Festa 2026 — https://rurubu.jp/andmore/spot/20002771 --- ## Shinjo Matsuri (新庄まつり) URL: https://thejapanist.net/festivals/shinjo-matsuri Where: Shinjo, Yamagata. When: August 24–26 every year. Verified: 2026-10-03. The Shinjo Festival fills Shinjo, Yamagata, with 20 elaborate floats and a samurai-era procession every August 24–26; its float events are UNESCO-listed. #### When it is held The Shinjō Festival (新庄まつり, *Shinjō Matsuri*) is held in Shinjō, Yamagata Prefecture, on August 24, 25 and 26 every year: - **August 24: Yoi-matsuri** (宵まつり), the evening float parade. - **August 25: Hon-matsuri** (本まつり), the main day, with the mikoshi procession and the float parade. - **August 26: Ato-matsuri** (後まつり), with deer dances and the closing ceremony. #### The floats Twenty floats (山車, *yama*) take part. Each is built by a neighborhood young men's group (*wakaren*, 若連) over more than a month, and they recreate famous scenes from kabuki and history. "The float events of the Shinjō Festival" were inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2016 as one of 33 float festivals in Japan, and they are also a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. #### Day by day **August 24.** In 2026 the day began with offerings of *Shinjō hayashi* music at the town's shrines at 8:10 am and the grand festival of Tozawa Shrine at 10 am. At 6 pm the floats' lights are switched on at the Chūō-dōri intersection (*hi-ire-shiki*, 灯入式). The floats set off from the north and south of the town, meet at the Minami-honchō crossroads and, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, parade along the station road to Abies, the plaza in front of Shinjō Station, where the evening reaches its peak. They move to the call "*Cheren koyassā*". **August 25.** At around 9 am the deity of the Tenmangū is transferred into its mikoshi, and a procession of more than 200 people leaves Tozawa Shrine. For the day, parish representatives and neighborhood leaders dress as samurai of the Shinjō domain. The 20 floats then set off again and parade along the station road to Abies. **August 26.** The Hagino and Nitayama *shishi-odori* (鹿子踊), deer dances handed down in the north of the city, are offered at Tozawa Shrine and Gokoku Shrine on the castle ruins. In recent years the city has also held exchange parades with traditional performing arts from across Japan. All 20 floats then gather in the town center for the *kazari-yama* (飾り山車), and the festival ends with a hand-clapping ceremony (*tejime*) at the Minami-honchō crossroads. #### History The festival began in 1756 (Hōreki 6). After a disastrous harvest the year before, the domain lord Tozawa Masanobu held the festival of the Tenmangū, the Tozawa clan's tutelary shrine, across the whole domain to lift his people's spirits and pray for a good harvest. It has more than 260 years of history. #### Tips - Paid viewing seats are sold for the float parades; see the official site for details. - The finish at Abies, by Shinjō Station, is where the parades end and the crowds are thickest. - The city's commerce and tourism division sells a limited number of each year's festival posters, and festival goods are sold at the Mogami Bussankan next to the station. Sources checked: - Shinjo Matsuri official site: About the Shinjo Festival — https://shinjo-matsuri.jp/db/kigen/outline - Shinjo Matsuri official site: August 24: Yoi-matsuri — https://shinjo-matsuri.jp/date24.html - Shinjo City: Shinjo Festival — https://www.city.shinjo.yamagata.jp/g/kanko/010/index.html --- ## Katakai Fireworks Festival (片貝まつり) URL: https://thejapanist.net/fireworks/katakai-fireworks Where: Ojiya, Niigata. When: Second Saturday of September and the Friday before (since 2024). Verified: 2026-10-03. Katakai's fireworks are offered to Asahara Shrine every September in Ojiya, Niigata; both nights end with a four-shaku shell about 800 m across. #### When it is held The Katakai Festival (片貝まつり, *Katakai Matsuri*) is officially the offering fireworks of the Asahara Shrine autumn grand festival (浅原神社秋季例大祭奉納大煙火), held in Katakai-machi, a town in Ojiya, Niigata Prefecture. Since 2024 it has taken place on the second Saturday of September and the Friday before it; in 2026 that meant September 11 and 12. The older fixed dates of September 9 and 10 no longer apply. If the rule holds, the 2027 festival falls on September 10 and 11, but those dates have not been announced yet. #### Fireworks as offerings Katakai's fireworks are offerings to Asahara Shrine, and townspeople dedicate shells to mark events in their own lives. About 15,000 shells go up over the two nights, and 70 to 80 percent of them are large *shakudama* (尺玉), one-shaku shells about 30 cm across. The headline shell is the *yonshakudama* (四尺玉), a four-shaku shell, launched at 10 pm on both nights. It bursts to about 800 m across. According to Ojiya City, Katakai launched the world's first three-shaku shell in 1891 and its first four-shaku shell on September 10, 1985. #### The 2026 program The shows ran from 7:30 to 10:20 pm on both nights. Three-shaku shells went up at 8:30 and 9:30 pm on September 11, and at 2 pm (a daytime shot) and 9 pm on September 12, ahead of the four-shaku shell at 10 pm each night. #### Rituals The festival keeps rituals tied to the shrine, including *tama-okuri* (玉送り), carrying the shells to the shrine, and *tsutsu-hiki* (筒引き), hauling a launch tube. The fireworks go ahead rain or shine and are postponed only in storms. #### Echigo's three great fireworks Katakai is counted among the three great fireworks of Echigo, the old name for Niigata, with Nagaoka, known for its river fireworks, and Kashiwazaki, known for its sea fireworks. Katakai is the mountain fireworks of the three. The festival draws an estimated 180,000 to 200,000 people. #### Getting there and seats - Buses run to Katakai from Ojiya Station (about 20 minutes) and Nagaoka Station (about 30 minutes). - Paid *sajiki* (桟敷) seats cost 33,000 yen for both days or 25,300 yen for one day in 2026. - The fireworks association publishes each year's program, including the times of the three- and four-shaku shells, on its official site. #### Tips - The four-shaku shell is the moment most people come for; be in place well before 10 pm. - Check the official program for the year before you go: the times of the three-shaku shells change from year to year. Sources checked: - Niigata Prefectural Tourism Association: Katakai Festival (Asahara Shrine offering fireworks) — https://niigata-kankou.or.jp/event/detail_2024.html - Ojiya City via PR TIMES: Katakai Festival 2026 — https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000071.000147972.html --- ## Kurama Fire Festival (鞍馬の火祭) URL: https://thejapanist.net/festivals/kurama-fire-festival Where: Kyoto, Kyoto. When: October 22 every year. Verified: 2026-10-03. The Kurama Fire Festival is held every October 22 at Yuki Shrine in Kurama, north of central Kyoto, with torch processions from 6 pm until after midnight. #### When it is held The Kurama Fire Festival (鞍馬の火祭, *Kurama no Hi Matsuri*) is the annual festival of Yuki Shrine (由岐神社) in Kurama, in the mountains north of central Kyoto. It is held on October 22 every year, from about 6 pm until after midnight; in 2026 that is a Thursday. It goes ahead in rain, but a typhoon or other severe weather can lead to cancellation or changes. Yuki Shrine counts it among Japan's three great fire festivals, and it is one of Kyoto's three great unusual festivals (京都三大奇祭). #### What happens - **9 am:** the annual rite in the main hall, followed by the transfer of the shrine's deities, Yuki Daimyōjin and Hassho Daimyōjin, into two mikoshi. - **6 pm:** at the call "*Jinji ni mairasshare*" ("come to the festival"), the bonfires (篝, *eji*) stacked in front of every house in the village are lit at once. Boys carry small torches through the streets, and young men carrying huge blazing torches join them, chanting "*Sairei, sairyō*" as word of the departure times is passed between the groups. - **At the San-mon gate:** as men in armor and the festival's halberds (chrysanthemum, paulownia, butterfly, hollyhock, phoenix, centipede and temple) emerge, the stone steps in front of the San-mon gate of Kurama-dera fill with young men holding up their torches. At a drum signal the sacred rope stretched between green bamboo is cut (*shimenawa-kiri*), and the festival turns from torches to mikoshi. - **The mikoshi descent:** the mikoshi of Hassho Daimyōjin and then of Yuki Daimyōjin come down the approach with men in armor riding on top, while young women of the village hold ropes at the back to stop them rushing down the slopes and steps; pulling the rope is said to bring an easy childbirth. As each mikoshi descends the San-mon steps, two young men hang upside down from its poles with their legs spread wide, the *choppen* rite, said to be a remnant of a coming-of-age ceremony. - **Late night:** the mikoshi tour the village and come to rest at the *otabisho*, where kagura is offered and four great kagura torches circle the grounds. On the morning of October 23 the deities return to the main hall. #### History In 940 (Tengyō 3), after earthquakes and the rebellion of Taira no Masakado had unsettled the capital, Emperor Suzaku ordered Yuki Daimyōjin, then enshrined in the Imperial Palace, moved to Kurama, north of the city, to pray for peace. The procession, said to have stretched about 1 km, was lit by torches made from reeds of the Kamo River and by bonfires along the road. Moved by the ceremony, the people of Kurama kept its memory alive, and this is said to be the origin of the fire festival. #### How to watch There are no seats. Spectators walk along a set route through the village and are asked not to stop or linger, following the directions of police and stewards. Before the procession the shrine closes the area above the San-mon gate, and its offering counter closes at about 4:30 pm. From 3 pm the road between Kibuneguchi and Kurama Onsen is closed to general traffic and all car parks are closed, so take the Eizan Railway to Kurama Station, a six-minute walk from the shrine. In 2025 about 4,600 people came to watch, according to the Kyoto City Fire Department. Sources checked: - Yuki Shrine: About Yuki Shrine and the Kurama Fire Festival — https://www.yukijinjya.jp/about/index.html?id=about05 - Kyoto City official travel guide: Kurama Fire Festival (2026) — https://ja.kyoto.travel/event/single.php?event_id=4978 - Kyoto City Fire Department: Fire safety operation at the Kurama Fire Festival (2025) — https://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/shobo/page/0000347434.html - Maidona News: Keeping the Kurama Fire Festival going — https://maidonanews.jp/article/16882547 --- ## Nagasaki Kunchi (長崎くんち) URL: https://thejapanist.net/festivals/nagasaki-kunchi Where: Nagasaki, Nagasaki. When: October 7–9 every year. Verified: 2026-10-03. Nagasaki Kunchi is Suwa Shrine's autumn festival, held October 7–9 every year, with dances and floats offered by the city's districts in a seven-year rotation. #### When it is held Nagasaki Kunchi (長崎くんち) is the autumn festival of Suwa Shrine (諏訪神社), held on October 7, 8 and 9 every year. The three days are called *Maebi* (前日), *Nakabi* (中日) and *Atobi* (後日). In 2026 they fall on Wednesday to Friday. The word *kunchi* is said to come from *ku-nichi*, the ninth day of the ninth month, the old date of the chrysanthemum festival. #### The dancing towns The performances are offered by Nagasaki's *odori-chō* (踊町), the dancing towns. The 58 participating districts are divided into seven groups, and each group performs once every seven years, so any one town's float or dance appears only once in seven festivals. The 2026 dancing towns and their offerings: - **Imakago-machi**: kasaboko and *hon-odori* (classical dance) - **Aburaya-machi**: kasaboko and *kawafune* (river boat) - **Motofuna-machi**: kasaboko and a Chinese ship float - **Uwa-machi**: kasaboko and the Uwamachi Kokkodesho - **Kajiya-machi**: kasaboko and a treasure ship with the Seven Lucky Gods - **Chikugo-machi**: kasaboko and the *ja-odori* (dragon dance) Each town's performance is led by its *kasaboko* (傘鉾), a large parasol-shaped float. In the Kokkodesho (コッコデショ), the bearers throw a drum float (*taiko-yama*) high into the air and catch it one-handed. #### Venues and times in 2026 Each town performs for about 30 minutes, and a full program at one venue lasts about three hours. - **October 7:** Suwa Shrine at 7 am and 4 pm; the Chūō Kōen viewing stands at 8:10 am and 5:10 pm; the Otabisho at Ōhato at 9:10 am. - **October 8:** Yasaka Shrine at 7 am; Chūō Kōen at 8 am. - **October 9:** the Otabisho at 7 am; Suwa Shrine at 8:20 am. Between programs the towns perform *niwasaki-mawari* (庭先回り), short performances at the doorsteps of homes and businesses across the city. On October 7, from 1 to 2:30 pm, the deities of Suwa, Morisaki and Sumiyoshi are carried down to the Otabisho in mikoshi (the *Okudari*), followed by the kasaboko. On October 9, from 1 to 3 pm, they return to the shrine (the *Onobori*). #### Watching like a local Audiences call for encores with set phrases: "*Motte kōi*" ("bring it back") for floats that are pulled or carried, "*Shomō yare*" for the dances, and "*Futō maware*" for the kasaboko. Paid seats at Suwa Shrine and Chūō Kōen go on sale months ahead (June 7 and August 3 in 2026), while the processions and niwasaki-mawari can be watched from the street. The festival year begins on June 1 with *koya-iri*, when the dancing towns start rehearsing. On October 3 the towns display their costumes and props at their homes and halls (*niwamise*), and on October 4 they hold a full dress rehearsal (*ninzu-zoroi*). #### History The festival dates from 1634 (Kan'ei 11), when two courtesans, Takao and Otowa, offered *komai* dances before Suwa Shrine; construction of Dejima began the same year. Its dance offerings were designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1979. The rites belong to Suwa Shrine, and the performances are coordinated by the Nagasaki Traditional Performing Arts Promotion Association. Sources checked: - Nagasaki Traditional Performing Arts Promotion Association: About Nagasaki Kunchi — https://nagasaki-kunchi.com/about/ - NBC Nagasaki Broadcasting: Kunchi Navi 2026 — https://kunchi.nbc-nagasaki.co.jp/ - Nagasaki City: Nagasaki Kunchi — https://www.city.nagasaki.lg.jp/site/kodomo/66349.html --- ## Zuiki Matsuri (ずいき祭) URL: https://thejapanist.net/festivals/zuiki-matsuri Where: Kyoto, Kyoto. When: Early October; the zuiki mikoshi procession is held on October 4. Verified: 2026-10-03. Kitano Tenmangu's autumn festival in Kyoto is known for the zuiki mikoshi, a palanquin roofed with taro stems and harvest produce, paraded on October 4. #### What it is The Zuiki Festival (ずいき祭, *Zuiki Matsuri*) is the name long used for the autumn festival of Kitano Tenmangū in Kyoto, a thanksgiving for the harvest. It is named after the *zuiki mikoshi* (ずいき神輿), a portable shrine whose roof is thatched with *zuiki*, the stems of the taro plant, and whose every part is decorated with vegetables, grains and flowers. #### Dates and the 2027 change The festival runs in early October. Until 2026 the pattern has been: - **October 1:** the deity is carried in procession from the main shrine to its *otabisho* (temporary shrine) in Nishinokyō, and the zuiki mikoshi goes on display there. - **October 2–3:** a tea offering and other rites at the otabisho. - **October 4:** the return procession, while the zuiki mikoshi tours the Nishinokyō area. - **October 5:** a closing rite and *Yaotome* dance at the main shrine. In 2025 the shrine renamed its festival the Kitano Festival (北野祭, *Kitano-sai*), and in 2026 it was held as the "Kitano Festival Shinkōsai and Kankōsai" from October 1 to 5. According to the Kyoto Shimbun, from 2027 the shrine will move its outward procession to the second Sunday of September and the return to the third Sunday, closer to its annual rite on September 4. The zuiki mikoshi procession, made by local residents, will stay on October 4 under the name Zuiki Matsuri. #### The zuiki mikoshi The mikoshi is made by the Nishinokyō Zuiki Mikoshi Preservation Society, using crops mostly grown in members' own fields. Work begins on September 1 with the picking of globe amaranth flowers and takes about a month. The roof is thatched with taro stems, the ornaments at the corners and the pillars are made from produce such as red eggplant and five-colored peppers, and the side panels are remade each year with scenes from history or the news. Once the procession ends, the mikoshi is taken apart. #### History According to the shrine, the Kitano Festival began in 948, the year after Kitano Tenmangū was founded, and became an imperial festival in 987. It lapsed after the Ōnin War (1467–1477). Residents of Nishinokyō had long offered vegetables to the gods of the area, and over the centuries their offerings grew into the zuiki mikoshi; the Nakagyo Ward Office notes that it became a mikoshi about 400 years ago and took its present form about 200 years ago. The mikoshi was abolished in 1874 and revived in 1890, on condition that it parade outside the shrine's own procession. After the Second World War, the shrine kept its procession going under the name Zuiki Matsuri. #### Getting there Kyoto City Bus route 50 stops at Kitano Tenmangū-mae, right by the shrine. The otabisho is in Nishinokyō Mikoshioka-chō, Nakagyō Ward. Sources checked: - Kitano Tenmangu: Kitano Festival: Shinkosai and Kankosai — https://kitanotenmangu.or.jp/ - Kyoto Shimbun: Why the Zuiki Festival changed its name — https://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/articles/-/1724280 - Kyoto City Nakagyo Ward Office: Zuiki Festival — https://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/nakagyo/page/0000304184.html - Kyoto City official travel guide: Kitano Festival Shinkosai and Kankosai (2026) — https://ja.kyoto.travel/event/single.php?event_id=4906 --- ## Akiha Fire Festival (秋葉の火まつり) URL: https://thejapanist.net/festivals/akiha-fire-festival Where: Hamamatsu, Shizuoka. When: December 15–16 every year. Verified: 2026-10-03. The Akiha Fire Festival is held every December 15–16 at Akihasan Hongu Akiha Shrine in Hamamatsu, ending with a fire dance by priests at 10 pm on the 16th. #### When it is held The Akiha Fire Festival (秋葉の火まつり, *Akiha no Hi Matsuri*) is held on December 15 and 16 every year at Akihasan Hongū Akiha Shrine (秋葉山本宮秋葉神社) on Mount Akiha, in the Haruno area of Tenryū Ward, Hamamatsu. The main rites take place at the upper shrine (上社, *kamisha*) near the summit: - **December 15, 2:30 pm:** the *Miare-sai* (御阿禮祭). - **December 16, 1:30 pm:** the annual grand festival (*reitaisai*). - **December 16, 10 pm:** the fire festival itself, the *Hibuse no Matsuri* (防火祭), the "festival of fire prevention". #### The three dances At 10 pm on December 16, three priests who inherit the dances as a secret tradition perform them in the darkness of the shrine's dance hall, with musicians lined up beside them: - **The bow dance** (弓の舞, *yumi no mai*): the first priest dances with a bow in his left hand and a bell in his right, starting slowly and growing wilder, then shoots five arrows to the four directions and finally to the ceiling. Where they land is said to foretell the coming year's harvest. - **The sword dance** (剣の舞, *ken no mai*): the second priest dances with a sword and a bell to calm the spirits of the earth and hold back evil, then with a sword in each hand to cut away sin and impurity. - **The fire dance** (火の舞, *hi no mai*): a torch lit from the perpetual sacred flame kept deep inside the main hall (万年の御神燈) is brought to the dance hall, and the priest swings it high and low to drive away fire, flood, misfortune and illness. The fire dance has been handed down only at this shrine. #### The shrine According to the shrine, Akihasan Hongū Akiha Shrine was founded in 709 and is the head shrine of the many Akiha shrines across Japan. As a shrine to the god of fire prevention, it draws visitors who work with fire, from firefighters and thermal power plant staff to cooks. Tokyo's Akihabara district takes its name from an Akiha shrine set up there in the Meiji era, when fires were frequent in the city. The festival is said to have its origins in the Nara period (710–794), and the three dances took their present form in the Kamakura period. #### Akiha-dera About 20 minutes' walk down the mountain from the upper shrine is the temple Akiha-dera (秋葉寺, *Shūyōji*), which enshrines Sanjakubō, a deity of fire prevention, and holds its own fire festival on the same two days. At the temple, December 15 is the send-off of Sanjakubō on a round of fire festivals across the country, and December 16 is the welcome of his return. #### Tips - The main rite starts at 10 pm on a mid-December night near a mountain summit, so dress for real cold. - Plan the journey back before you go; the shrine is in the mountains of northern Hamamatsu. - The rites are religious ceremonies, so follow the instructions of shrine staff. Sources checked: - Akihasan Hongu Akiha Shrine: Akiha Fire Festival — https://www.akihasanhongu.jp/himatsuri/ - iN HAMAMATSU.COM: Akihasan Hongu Akiha Shrine — https://www.inhamamatsu.com/japanese/culture/akihasan-hongu-akiha-jinja.php - Hamamatsu tourism association (jp-hamamatsu.com): Akiha Fire Festival 2025 at Akiha Shrine and Akiha-dera — https://jp-hamamatsu.com/akiha-himatsuri-news/ --- ## Chichibu Night Festival (秩父夜祭) URL: https://thejapanist.net/festivals/chichibu-yomatsuri Where: Chichibu, Saitama. When: December 2–3 every year. Verified: 2026-10-03. Chichibu Shrine's night festival on December 2–3 hauls lantern-lit floats through Chichibu, Saitama, up the Dangozaka slope under winter fireworks. #### When it is held The Chichibu Night Festival (秩父夜祭, *Chichibu Yomatsuri*) is the annual grand festival of Chichibu Shrine (秩父神社) in Chichibu, Saitama. It is held on the same dates every year: the eve, *yoimiya* (宵宮), on December 2 and the main day, *taisai* (大祭), on December 3. In 2026 these fall on a Wednesday and Thursday. It is counted with Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and the [Takayama Festival](/festivals/takayama-matsuri) among Japan's three great float festivals (日本三大曳山祭), and Chichibu Shrine expects more than 200,000 people each year. #### The floats Six floats take part: two *kasaboko* (笠鉾), from Nakachika and Shitagō, and four *yatai* (屋台), from Miyaji, Kamimachi, Nakamachi and Motomachi. The heaviest weigh up to 20 tonnes. All six are National Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties, and the float events together with the shrine's kagura are a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. In December 2016 the festival was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list as one of 33 float festivals in Japan. The yatai double as stages. Stages built out from their sides host local kabuki (*yatai shibai*, Chichibu kabuki), and *hiki-odori* (曳き踊り) dances by local dance schools accompany the floats. #### The two days - **December 2 (yoimiya):** the four yatai tour the town until about 8 pm. It is the calmer day, with time to see the floats up close, and in the daytime visitors can sometimes help pull the ropes. In 2025 the Nakamachi yatai staged kabuki from 6 to 9 pm. - **December 3 (taisai):** all six floats are out from early morning until the next morning. The festival peaks from around 7 pm, when the shrine procession and the floats leave Chichibu Shrine, until they reach the *otabisho* (temporary shrine) at about 10 pm. The climax is hauling the floats up the steep Dangozaka slope to the otabisho as fireworks burst overhead. #### Fireworks The fireworks are launched from Hitsujiyama Park. In 2025 about 370 shells went up from 7 to 8 pm on December 2, and about 4,100 from 7:30 to 9:55 pm on December 3. #### Tips - The Chichibu Tourism Association sells paid seats for watching the floats; 2026 details were due on October 10. - Drones are banned during the festival. - December nights in Chichibu are cold; dress for several hours outdoors. - Large areas of the town are closed to traffic on December 3, and central car parks fill up, so come by train. #### History Records show the festival already existed in the Kanbun era (1661–1672), giving it more than 350 years of history. In the Edo period a Chichibu silk market was held with the festival, which earned it the name *Okaiko Matsuri* (お蚕祭り), the "silkworm festival"; locals also call it *Myōken-sama* (妙見様). The festival honors the shrine's deity Myōken. It was once held on the 3rd day of the 11th lunar month and moved to December 3 with the calendar reform of the Meiji era. Sources checked: - Chichibu Tourism Association: Chichibu Night Festival — https://www.chichibuji.gr.jp/event/yomatsuri/ - Chichibu Tourism Association: Chichibu Night Festival 2025 program — https://www.chichibuji.gr.jp/yomaturi2025/ - Chichibu Kanko Navi (Chichibu City): Chichibu Night Festival — https://navi.city.chichibu.lg.jp/p_festival/1030/ - Chichibu Shrine: The Chichibu Night Festival — https://www.chichibu-jinja.or.jp/yomatsuri/ - Chichibu Shrine: Deities and history — https://www.chichibu-jinja.or.jp/saijin/ --- ## Kasuga Wakamiya On-matsuri (春日若宮おん祭) URL: https://thejapanist.net/festivals/kasuga-wakamiya-onmatsuri Where: Nara, Nara. When: December 15–18 every year (main day December 17). Verified: 2026-10-03. The Kasuga Wakamiya On-matsuri, held December 15–18 at Kasuga Taisha in Nara, has been performed without a break since 1136; its main day is December 17. #### When it is held The Kasuga Wakamiya On-matsuri (春日若宮おん祭) is the festival of the Wakamiya, an auxiliary shrine of Kasuga Taisha in Nara. Its central rites are held from December 15 to 18 every year, and the main day is December 17. Preparatory ceremonies begin months earlier, from July onward. #### December 17 - **Midnight: Senkō no gi** (遷幸の儀). In complete darkness, the deity is carried from the Wakamiya sanctuary to the *angū* (行宮), a temporary shrine at the Otabisho, more than 1 km along the approach. Two great pine torches and incense purify the way, priests surround the deity with sakaki branches and call out a continuous "*Ō, ō*", and musicians follow playing processional music. The journey takes about 50 minutes. Viewing areas are restricted, and photography and any light, even a flashlight, are forbidden. According to the shrine, this is the only surviving example of Japan's oldest form of moving a deity, the same form used at Ise Jingū until the Heian period. - **Noon: Owatari-shiki** (お渡り式). This procession is not the deity's: it is the performers and participants of the festival going to pay their respects to the Wakamiya at the angū. About 1,000 people and 50 horses, in costumes from the Heian period onward, walk from the Nara Prefectural Office past Kintetsu Nara and JR Nara stations and up Sanjō-dōri to the Otabisho. On the way it stops for the *Nandaimon kyōmyō no gi* (南大門交名の儀) at the site of the old south gate of Kōfuku-ji, where the roll of participants is checked before the temple's *shuto* (衆徒), and for the *Matsu-no-shita-shiki* (松の下式) under the Yōgō pine (影向の松) inside the first torii, said to be the origin of the pine painted on the back wall of every Noh stage. Along the approach there are horse races and *yabusame*, archery on horseback, by children. - **About 2:30 pm: Otabisho-sai** (御旅所祭), when the festival's ritual performing arts are offered before the angū. - **11 pm: Kankō no gi** (還幸の儀). The deity returns to its sanctuary in darkness, before midnight, so that the sanctuary is not left empty across two days. #### History The Wakamiya deity, Ame-no-Oshikumone-no-Mikoto, is the child of the deities of the third and fourth sanctuaries of Kasuga Taisha. In the Chōshō era (1132–1135), years of heavy rain and floods brought famine and epidemics, and in 1135 the court, led by the regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi, built a new sanctuary for the Wakamiya. In 1136 (Hōen 2), on the 17th day of the 9th lunar month, they welcomed the deity to Kasugano and held a festival. That was the first On-matsuri, held to pray for good harvests and the well-being of the people. The rains are said to have stopped, and the festival has been held without a break for nearly 900 years. Around 1416 it moved to the 27th day of the 11th month, and since the Meiji era it has been fixed on December 17. The Owatari-shiki and the festival's ritual performing arts are a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. #### Tips - The midnight and late-night transfers are sacred rites: stay in the viewing areas, keep silent and keep every light off. - The Owatari-shiki is the easiest part to see, as it passes through central Nara from noon. - Nara in mid-December is cold at night; dress warmly for the midnight rite. Sources checked: - Kasuga Wakamiya On-matsuri Preservation Society: About the On-matsuri — https://onmatsuri.kasugataisha.or.jp/wakamiya/ - Kasuga Wakamiya On-matsuri Preservation Society: Festival rites — https://onmatsuri.kasugataisha.or.jp/gyouji/ - Kasuga Taisha: December rites — https://www.kasugataisha.or.jp/calendar/winter12/