Labor Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in Japan.

On November 23, Japan celebrates Labor Thanksgiving Day to express gratitude to one another for work done throughout the year. 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.

A Little About This Japanese Holiday

Labor Thanksgiving Day celebrates not just the work done by oneself, but also serves as an opportunity to thank others for doing 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.It is believed that the festival was celebrated as early as November of 678.Tradition has it that the emperor would dedicate the season’s fresh harvest to the gods and taste the rice himself for the first time.

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.