Sports Day Description
Sports Day (スポーツの日, Supotsu no Hi) on the second Monday of October (October 12, 2026) promotes sports and a healthy, active lifestyle. Originally established in 1966 to commemorate the opening of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics on October 10th, it was moved to the second Monday of October in 2000 under the Happy Monday system. The holiday was renamed from 'Health and Sports Day' (体育の日, Taiiku no Hi) to simply 'Sports Day' in 2020 to align with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (which were postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19). Schools and communities across Japan hold undokai (sports festivals) around this time, featuring relay races, tug-of-war, folk dancing, and other team activities — these are quintessential Japanese autumn events, often held on weekends adjacent to the holiday. Government offices and schools close. Gyms, sports centers, and public pools offer free or discounted admission. Professional baseball enters its postseason, and major marathons and road races are scheduled around this period. Parks and recreational areas are busy with families and sports clubs. The Monday placement creates a three-day weekend popular for autumn hiking, leaf-viewing trips to early-changing areas like Hokkaido, and outdoor recreation before winter sets in.
