Outdoor Lifestyles

Labor Thanksgiving Day is celebrated as a national holiday in Japan.

Every year on 23rd November, Japan spends a day reflecting on the work done throughout the previous year by celebrating Labor Thanksgiving Day. If you’re visiting Japan on this day it’s important to know that this day is a national holiday and so many banks and government offices will be closed.

The History of this Japanese Holiday

The festival in Japan is a time to reflect not just on the work one has done over the last year, but also to give thanks for others who may have performed work on your behalf. The festival actually is a modern version of the ancient Rice Harvest Festival which has been celebrated for hundreds of years. The festival can be traced all the way back to the year 678, which is the earliest recorded instance of Niiname-Sai. Traditionally it would be the emperor who would dedicate some of the season’s new harvest to the Gods, while also being the first person to taste the newly harvested rice.

It was during the Meiji Era (1868-1912) that the date for this festival was set on November 23rd, and it has been maintained ever since. The ancient traditions of the Japanese imperial family are still maintained, but in modern times behind closed doors. For the rest of Japan, this is a day of public holiday.

Japan travel tip:

Planning a trip to Japan or even further afield? Avoid major public and religious holidays by planning with our international planner. Ours is the only one to include full listings of Japanese public and national holidays, as well as the public holidays in over 200 countries.

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