Coming of Age Day Description
Coming of Age Day (成人の日, Seijin no Hi) on the second Monday of January (January 12, 2026) celebrates young people who have turned 20 — Japan's legal age of adulthood — between April 2 of the previous year and April 1 of the current year. Municipal governments across Japan hold formal Seijin-shiki (coming-of-age ceremonies) at city halls and public venues, where new adults receive congratulations from local officials and listen to speeches about their new responsibilities as full members of society. The young women typically wear elaborate furisode (long-sleeved kimono) with intricate hairstyles and accessories, while most young men wear formal Western suits or occasionally traditional hakama. It is one of the most photographed days in Japanese life, with professional photography studios fully booked weeks in advance. After the ceremony, many celebrate with reunions with old classmates from elementary and junior high school. Government offices and schools close. Retail businesses and restaurants remain open — izakaya and restaurants see large groups of new adults celebrating. In 2026, with the legal age of adulthood lowered from 20 to 18 (effective April 2022), some municipalities have adapted ceremonies to include 18-year-olds.
