Silver Week 2026 runs from Saturday, 19 September, through Wednesday, 23 September. It’s the first full five-day Silver Week since 2015, and the next one is not expected until 2032.
Silver Week 2026 at a Glance
- Saturday, 19 September and Sunday, 20 September—weekend
- Monday, 21 September—Keirō no Hi (Respect for the Aged Day)
- Tuesday, 22 September—Kokumin no Kyūjitsu (Citizens’ Holiday)
- Wednesday, 23 September—Autumnal Equinox Day
In Japan, there are 16 public holidays a year, and with so many, you may get confused by the overlapping dates. To consolidate this, the government decided to place these holidays together at the end of the week to create an extra-long holiday known as Golden Week in May and Silver Week in September.
What is Silver Week?
Silver Week is the name given to a week in which consecutive public holidays fall. In 2009, the term “Silver Week” gained popularity as a secondary, more minor version of Japan’s Golden Week. The holidays found during Silver Week are as follows:
Respect for the Aged Day (third Monday of September)
Monday, 21 September, 2026
In celebration of Japan’s elderly citizens, during this holiday, it’s customary for elderly citizens over the age of 100 to receive commemorative silver sake cups. Families will also return home to pay respects and spend time with their elderly relatives. Volunteers may even gather to create free lunch boxes for the elderly.
Autumnal Equinox Day (usually September 23rd)
Wednesday, 23 September 2026
The holiday marks the sun passing south of the equator (southward equinox), and the exact date needs to be measured each year astronomically; the official date of the autumnal equinox cannot be declared until February of the previous year. Japan has celebrated Autumnal Equinox Day since 1948. Before this, it was known as Shuki Koreisai, a Shinto event, but it was changed to separate Japan’s religion from the state in the post-war constitution. On this day, families meet and have a meal together; it’s also customary to eat sweet Botamochi, a ball of sweet rice in azuki paste.
Kokumin no Kyūjitsu (falling between the two other holidays)
Tuesday, 22 September 2026
Kokumin no Kyujitsu translates to “citizen’s holiday”. Under Japanese law, if a single working day falls between two public holidays, that day automatically becomes a holiday too.
When is the next Silver Week?
Since the holidays need to line up with the weekend, Silver Week can only officially happen every 5–6 years. The last time there was a five-day weekend in September before 2026 was in 2015. The next five-day weekend after this one is expected in 2032. In fact, only 15 official Silver Weeks are predicted for this century.
Silver Week dates are confirmed based on the autumnal equinox, which is determined based on the predictions of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. The autumnal equinox is a day when day and night are approximately the same length. Although the autumnal equinox can be predicted in advance, the official date will be decided in the previous year, as the movement of the Earth is constantly changing.
Japanese residents tend to extend Silver Week (and Golden Week) by taking off the days between the holiday and the following weekend as well. In September 2026, that means taking off Thursday, 24 September and Friday, 25 September for a full nine-day holiday. If you’re visiting major cities in Japan around this time, expect massive crowds. The best move is to book a cultural experience or plan an excursion or day trip out of the city.
How to avoid crowds during Silver Week in Japan
If you’ll be in Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto, it’s best to avoid these tourist hotspots:
- Tokyo: Sensoji Temple, Meiji-Jingu Shrine, Harajuku
- Kyoto: Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Osaka: Dotonbori, Osaka Castle
Instead, spend the time on cultural experiences you can book ahead of the crowds.Take a class on kintsugi and learn the art of repairing broken pottery with gold lacquer. Or, try your hand at katana swordplay like a samurai with a trained instructor.
Cooking classes are my personal favourite: there’s nothing like going home and cooking Japanese food for friends and family. This Japanese home cooking class teaches you to make classics like gyoza and ramen in a real homeowner’s kitchen.
And there are so many more ways to connect with Japanese culture, even during the busiest time. You’ll definitely want to check out our full list here: Japan Cultural Experiences.
Where to go during Silver Week?
September is the perfect time for travelling and going out as the heat and humidity (finally) ease down. If you’re already in Japan for Silver Week 2026, these are some easy one-night or day trips from Tokyo worth adding to your trip. Early booking is recommended, since it’s is one of the busiest travel windows of the year.
Mount Nokogiri, Chiba
Mount Nokogiri has a massive stone Buddha (Nihon-ji Daibutsu) carved right into the mountain slope and Jigoku Nozoki, a cliffside lookout with sweeping views over Tokyo Bay. A ropeway takes visitors most of the way up the mountain, so it doesn’t require a full hike to reach the views. It also makes a quieter alternative to busier day trips like Kamakura or Hakone.
Access: About 2 hours from Tokyo Station via the JR Sobu Line to Chiba Station, then the Uchibo Line to Hama-Kanaya Station. From there, the Nokogiriyama Ropeway takes you up the mountain. Alternatively, ride the Yokosuka Line to Kurihama Station and take the Tokyo Wan Ferry from Kurihama Port (Kanagawa) to Kanaya Port (Chiba), a scenic 40-minute crossing.
Nagano
Nagano Prefecture is home to many highland resorts such as Kamikochi and Karuizawa. Trekking and strolling in the great outdoors is ideal this season when the weather is cooler, and it’s easier to walk without the harsh heat of the summer months.
It’s also the season when you can taste the new chestnuts in Obuse, known as the Little Kyoto of Shinshu, but you’ll have to be quick as they’re only available from mid-September to late October. Many people come to Obuse just for these exquisite sweets. It’s easy to visit if you travel from the Kanto region, even if you stay overnight. Bus tours combined with Hida Takayama are also popular.
Access: Karuizawa and Nagano Station are both about 65–100 minutes from Tokyo Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, with Karuizawa the closer of the two. Obuse is a further 25–35 minutes from Nagano Station on the Nagano Dentetsu (Nagaden) line.
Izu, Shizuoka
The Izu Peninsula has some of Kanto’s most idyllic, white-sand beaches. Atami tends to draw the biggest crowds, especially over a holiday like Silver Week, so smaller towns further down the peninsula, such as Shimoda, are worth considering instead. September weather is absolutely still warm enough for a dip, so head to Shirahama Beach and Tatadohama Beach if you’re still in summer mode. Alternatively, the peninsula has incredible inland waterfalls called the Kawazu Seven Waterfalls.
Access: Atami is about 40 minutes from Tokyo Station by Tokaido Shinkansen. Shimoda is further, at around 2 hours 40 minutes by the limited express Odoriko, which runs directly from Tokyo Station and also stops at Kawazu for the waterfalls.
Silver Week 2026 FAQs
What happens during Silver Week in Japan?
Silver Week in Japan is a rare cluster of public holidays in September that creates consecutive multi-day holidays, triggering a nationwide domestic travel surge. Cities and tourist hotspots become extremely crowded.
Do stores and restaurants close during Silver Week in Japan?
No, unlike major cultural and religious holidays like Obon or New Year, tourist attractions, restaurants, and shops remain open.
Is Silver Week a good time to visit Japan?
Silver Week is generally a good time to visit Japan due to cooler weather, but it brings heavy domestic travel and higher prices.
Is there a Silver Week in Japan in 2027
There is no Silver Week in Japan in 2027. Silver Week only occurs when Respect for the Aged Day and Autumnal Equinox Day are separated by just a single weekday, turning that middle day into a bridge holiday, called Citizens’ Day.
