Paid Leave in Japan: Your Japanese Vacation Days & More

Working in Japan means you are entitled to paid leave. But specifically, how many? And are there exceptions?

So here, we explain everything you need to know about paid leave in Japan. 

An overview of paid leave in Japan

Paid annual leave request form in Japan

All employees in Japan, whether you are full- or part-time, are entitled to annual paid leave (有休, yūkyū). Depending on your position and how long you've been working will determine how much-paid leave you will have. 

1. Worked continuously in the same company for at least 6 months.

2. Been present for 80% of the working hours

As part of paid leave, you can take time off and still receive your salary monthly.

Your work contract should have how many days you are entitled to while working for your company. 

Saving your paid leave to take consecutive days off is possible. However, you must notify the employer or HR team in advance if your colleagues need to cover your work during normal business operations.

Additionally, your employer can reject your paid leave request for a valid reason. 

How many days of paid leave in Japan?

Full-time employees in Japan receive a minimum of 10 vacation days; however, their employment companies can offer more paid leave.  

Can I save my paid leave in Japan for next year?

Number of remaining paid vacation days

Most Japanese companies allow your unused saved leave to roll over to the next year. However, those unused paid leave can't roll over for the second year. All that depends on your employer and their paid leave policy. 

Other types of paid leave in Japan (statutory leave)

Japan has additional types of paid leave that employees are entitled to, mostly family-related. 

Maternity leave

Japan's statutory maternity leave (産前産後休業, sango kyūgyō) is divided into two parts: 

• Prenatal period: 6 weeks before the expected due date.

• Postnatal period: 8 weeks after birth.

For maternity leave in Japan, you must submit a "Maternity Leave Notification" and other documents two weeks in advance. 

During your maternity leave, you will receive ⅔ of your salary.

Child care leave

Child care is post-maternity and paternity leave, where both parents can take leave to care for their child for up to one year. However, it can be extended for special cases.

Child care leave in Japan includes:

• Childcare at Birth Leave (出生時育児休業, shusshouji ikuji kyuugyou)

• Childcare Leave (育児休業, ikuji kyuugyou)

• Child-Nursing Leave (子の看護休暇, ko no kango kyuuka)

During the first six months of child care leave, employers can still receive ⅔ of their monthly salary, which is then reduced to ½ afterward.

Family care leave

Family care leave (介護休業, kaigo kyuugyou) allows employees to take care of their family members who are inquired, sick, or have a physical or mental disability for more than two weeks. 

This period is limited to 93 days per family member.

Additionally, employers usually receive about ⅓ of the salary as a benefit of employment insurance.

Menstrual leave

Article 68 of the Labor Standards of Japanese law allows female employees menstrual leave and can not be forced to work when there's extreme pain and difficulty during menstruation.

However, employers are not obligated to pay leave for menstrual reasons. That is up to the company's policy on whether it is paid leave or not.

Special paid leave in Japan

There are also additional special paid leave in Japan for congratulatory or mourning events.

It includes:

• Your marriage: 3-5 days

• Your children's wedding: 1-2 days

• Spouse gives birth: 1-3 days

• Death of your spouse: 7-10 days

• Death of your child or parents: 5-7 days

However, the number of days and these events will depend on your company. 

Holidays in Japan

There are two types of holidays in Japan: legal and regular holidays. Legal holidays are Sundays, national holidays, and observed holidays. In contrast, regular holidays are determined by the Japanese company if there is no legal obligation to have them. For example, regular holidays can be Saturdays, the day before and after national holidays, and company-specific celebrations.

On any of these days, you are not obligated to work. However, if you do, you should be paid extra.

Frequently asked questions

How many paid holidays are there in a year in Japan?

There are 16 paid holidays in Japan each year. These are public holidays where employees get paid time off.

What is the minimum PTO in Japan?

Japan's minimum PTO is 10 days. You can receive more annual paid leave days, depending on your company. 

Is there sick leave in Japan?

Japan does not have paid sick leave. Most employees will use their annual sick leave to take the day off to rest.

In closing

Despite Japan's paid leave being quite small compared to other countries, there's almost a national holiday every month. Take advantage of the annual paid leave in Japan as well as other special leave for significant life events and to have a work-life balance.

You can also check your employment contract and company policies and talk with your employer to see if it's possible to take extra days off as an employee in Japan.