Obon in Japan Explained: Why Some Regions Celebrate in July and Others in August
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As summer approaches in Japan, you may start hearing people at work or in your neighborhood asking: “When is Obon this year?” For many Japanese families, Obon is one of the most important times of the summer. People return to their hometowns, visit family graves, gather with relatives, or take a family vacation. However, Obon can be confusing when you are living in Japan as a foreign resident. Is Obon a national holiday? Do all companies close during Obon? Why do trains, airports, and highways suddenly become so crowded? And why do some regions celebrate Obon in July while others observe it in August? When I first started living in Japan, I also wondered why train tickets suddenly became difficult to book and why highways were packed with traffic in the middle of August. The most common Obon period in Japan in 2026 will be from Thursday, August 13, to Sunday, August 16. However, Obon is not an official Japanese public holiday. The actual holiday schedule may differ depending on your em...