Spring Equinox Day in Japan
Spring Equinox Day, or Shunbun no Hi, is a Japanese national holiday observed on the day of the vernal equinox. Its legal purpose is to honor nature and cherish living things, while many people also observe the day as part of spring higan, a time for remembering deceased family members.[1][2]
A holiday set by the equinox
Japan’s 1948 Act on National Holidays included Spring Equinox Day among the original national holidays. The law gives the day the purpose of honoring nature and cherishing living things; the date is defined as the vernal equinox rather than as a fixed calendar date.[1][3]
The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan calculates when the Sun crosses the vernal equinox point. The holiday date is formally set when the observatory’s calendar data for the following year appears in the official gazette, usually in February.[2]
A seasonal day with an older history
Before the postwar holiday law, a spring observance called Shunki Kōreisai was listed among imperial court festivals. The 1948 law established Spring Equinox Day as a national holiday with a nature-focused purpose; the older festival and today’s holiday have different official meanings.[3][1]
The holiday also falls within spring higan, the seven-day period around the equinox. In Japan, people commonly visit family graves on the equinox, and may offer prayers for deceased relatives at home altars.[4][5]
Grave visits and botamochi
A traditional spring higan food is botamochi: cooked rice, often a mix of glutinous and ordinary rice, is lightly pounded, shaped, and covered with sweet bean paste or other toppings. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries notes that the name is associated with spring’s peony, while regional naming and recipes vary.[4][6]
These customs are not a single required ceremony, and practices differ between households. For visitors, cemeteries and temples may be places to observe family remembrance, but it is best to follow posted rules and give worshippers space.[4][5]
Closures and practical planning
Spring Equinox Day is a national holiday, and schools, companies, local government offices, banks, and post offices commonly close. Individual workplace schedules and service hours can vary, so check directly if you need a particular office or service.[1][5]
Shops and restaurants do not all follow the same holiday schedule; many convenience stores and some chains operate on national holidays, while other businesses may change their hours. Trains generally continue running, but schedules depend on the operator, so check local timetables before traveling.[6]
Spring Equinox Day: Frequently Asked Questions
When is Spring Equinox Day in Japan?
Is Spring Equinox Day a day off?
What do people do on Spring Equinox Day?
Are shops and public transport open?
Some shops and convenience stores open on national holidays, but business hours vary. Trains operate, though schedules depend on the railway or bus operator; check its timetable before setting out.[6]
Sources and references
Sources used for Spring Equinox Day in Japan:
- 各「国民の祝日」について- Cabinet Office, Government of Japan
- 何年後かの春分の日・秋分の日はわかるの？- National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
- 各「国民の祝日」について（参考情報）祝日法制定の経緯- Cabinet Office, Government of Japan
- 令和5年3月：東北農政局- Tohoku Regional Agricultural Administration Office, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
- National holidays- Tokyo Intercultural Portal Site
- Business Hours & Holidays- Japan National Tourism Organization