How to Say “Holiday” in Japanese (And Why It’s More Confusing Than You Think!)

So, you’re planning a trip to Japan and want to impress the locals by casually slipping “holiday” into conversation? Sounds easy, right? Just look up the word and boom, instant fluency!

Well, not so fast.

Turns out, Japanese has multiple ways to say “holiday,” and picking the wrong one can make you sound anywhere from “slightly weird” to “mildly cursed.” But don’t worry, I’ve got your back. We’re about to dive into the world of Japanese holidays with zero boring grammar explanations (okay, maybe one or two, but I promise they won’t hurt).

The Many Faces of “Holiday” in Japanese

Unlike English, where we can just say “holiday” and be done with it, Japanese has a whole bunch of words that mean “holiday” but in slightly different ways. Here are the main contenders:

1. 休日 (kyūjitsu) – “Day off”
2. 祝日 (shukujitsu) – “National/public holiday”
3. 休暇 (kyūka) – “Vacation/leave from work”
4. ホリデー (horidē) – “Holiday” (the borrowed English word)

Now, you might be wondering, “Why so many words for one simple concept?” Great question. Let’s break them down.

1. 休日 (Kyūjitsu) – The Lazy Day Off

Let’s say it’s Sunday, and you have zero plans except lying in bed and binge-watching anime. That’s a kyūjitsu.

• Use it when: You’re talking about a personal day off from school or work.
• Example:
  • 今日は休日だから、ずっと寝てたよ。
  • Kyō wa kyūjitsu dakara, zutto neteta yo.
  • “Today was my day off, so I slept the whole time.”

Sounds nice, right? Until your boss calls you at 7 AM because they “forgot” you were off.

2. 祝日 (Shukujitsu) – The Official Party

If the government says, “Everyone, take a break!”—that’s a shukujitsu. Think of it like New Year’s, Golden Week, or any other “officially recognized” holiday in Japan.

• Use it when: Referring to national holidays, the kind that show up in red on your calendar.
• Example:
  • 来週の月曜日は祝日です！
  • Raishū no getsuyōbi wa shukujitsu desu!
  • “Next Monday is a national holiday!”

Translation: “You get a free day off, congrats!”

3. 休暇 (Kyūka) – The Glorious Vacation

Ah, kyūka, the holy grail of all working people. This one means “vacation” in the sense of taking time off from work or school. If you’re requesting leave, this is the word you want.

• Use it when: Talking about an extended holiday or vacation.
• Example:
  • 今年の夏休みは一週間の休暇を取ります。
  • Kotoshi no natsuyasumi wa isshūkan no kyūka o torimasu.
  • “This summer, I’m taking a one-week vacation.”

In Japan, paid vacation days are a rare and precious resource, so if you hear a Japanese person say they’re taking kyūka, be sure to congratulate them like they just won the lottery.

4. ホリデー (Horidē) – The Western Wannabe

Ever been to a fancy coffee shop in Tokyo and seen something like “ホリデーラテ (horidē rate)” on the menu? That’s because Japan loves borrowing English words—but they don’t always mean what you think.

• Use it when: Referring to a holiday in a Western sense, like “Christmas Holiday” or “Summer Holiday.”
• Example:
  • クリスマスホリデーを楽しみにしてる！
  • Kurisumasu horidē o tanoshimi ni shiteru!
  • “I’m looking forward to the Christmas holidays!”

Sounds totally normal, right? Except most Japanese people don’t actually say this in everyday life. It’s mostly used in advertisements, marketing, or when trying to sound trendy.

Wait… What About “Vacation” in a School Setting?

Glad you asked! If you’re a student, you might use:

• 夏休み (natsuyasumi) – Summer vacation
• 冬休み (fuyuyasumi) – Winter vacation
• 春休み (haruyasumi) – Spring break

“Yasumi” (休み) basically means “break”—so these words just describe specific school holidays.

Which One Should You Use?

If you’re stuck wondering which word to use, just ask yourself these three questions:

1. Is this a national/public holiday? → Use 祝日 (shukujitsu).
2. Is this just a random day off? → Use 休日 (kyūjitsu).
3. Am I taking a planned vacation? → Use 休暇 (kyūka).

And if you’re ever unsure, just throw in ホリデー (horidē) with enough confidence, and people will probably just nod along politely.

Fun Fact: Japan Has a LOT of Public Holidays

If you think your country has a decent number of public holidays, let me introduce you to Japan’s love for random days off.

Japan has 16 national holidays (yes, sixteen), including:

• Coming of Age Day (for people turning 20)
• Mountain Day (because… mountains?)
• Culture Day (a day to appreciate culture, obviously)

It’s honestly impressive how they managed to schedule so many breaks while still being one of the most overworked countries.

Final Thoughts: Now You Know How to Say “Holiday” in Japanese!

So there you have it—four different ways to say “holiday” in Japanese, plus some bonus vacation words to impress your friends. Whether you’re talking about a national holiday, a personal day off, or planning your dream vacation, you now have the right words for the job.

Oh, and next time someone asks you “How do you say holiday in Japanese?”, just take a deep breath and say:

“Well, actually… it depends.”

And then watch their face fill with regret for ever asking.

Which Japanese holiday word surprised you the most? Let me know in the comments! 😊