Vernal Equinox Day (Shunbun no Hi)

What Is Vernal Equinox Day?

Vernal Equinox Day (Shunbun no Hi) is one of Japan's national holidays. The Public Holiday Law, promulgated and enacted in 1948, designates it as a day "to celebrate nature and to cherish living things." The date is the astronomically determined day of the vernal equinox: based on the equinox calculated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, the following year's date is announced on February 1 in the official gazette as part of the "Rekiyoko" (calendar summary). In recent years it has fallen on March 20th or 21st; in 2026 it is March 20th.

The Equinox in Astronomy and the Calendar

Vernal Equinox Day is the day that contains the moment the sun passes through the "vernal point."

• Day and night length: Because the sun rises almost due east and sets almost due west, day and night are said to be nearly equal in length. In practice, however, daytime is slightly longer because of atmospheric refraction and other effects.
• A turning point in the 24 solar terms: The vernal equinox is the fourth of the traditional 24 solar terms. From this day on, daytime is longer than nighttime in the Northern Hemisphere as the season moves into full spring.

Ohigan and Traditional Customs

Japanese people have long said, "Heat and cold last only until higan," and honoring ancestors at this time of year is a deeply rooted custom.

• The midpoint of Ohigan: Vernal Equinox Day is the "middle day" of the seven-day spring Ohigan period, which includes the three days before and after it. In Buddhism, the Pure Land is said to lie far to the west, and ancestors have been remembered at this time of year when the sun sets due west.
• Shunki Koreisai: Before World War II, this day was a festival day called "Shunki Koreisai," honoring the spirits of past emperors and imperial family members. The postwar Public Holiday Law turned it into today's Vernal Equinox Day.
• Botamochi: It is customary to offer "botamochi" (rice cakes coated in sweet bean paste) during spring Ohigan. The name is said to come from the peony (botan), which blooms in spring.

Fun Facts About the Vernal Equinox

• The shifting vernal point: Because of the wobble of the Earth's axis (precession), the vernal point moves little by little over long periods of time.
• New Year around the world: In Iran and other regions, the New Year festival of Nowruz is celebrated at the spring equinox.
• The basis for Easter: Easter is set as "the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox," making the equinox a reference point for the calendar.
• The egg-balancing story: It is sometimes said that eggs can stand on end on the equinox, but this is an unfounded folk belief; with the right conditions, an egg can be balanced on any day.
• An unusual way to set a holiday: A national holiday whose date is set each year by astronomical observation is said to be rare worldwide.

Tips for Enjoying Vernal Equinox Day

• Check the direction of sunrise and sunset and notice the changing of the seasons
• Visit family graves or enjoy botamochi together and take time to remember your ancestors
• Put away winter things and tidy up your surroundings ahead of the new fiscal year
• Take a spring walk and enjoy the flowers and fresh buds starting to appear

A Seasonal Turning Point When Day and Night Are in Balance

Vernal Equinox Day marks the point when day and night are nearly equal, after which daytime becomes longer than nighttime. In keeping with the holiday's purpose of "celebrating nature and cherishing living things," why not spend it enjoying nature nearby, remembering your ancestors, and welcoming the start of spring?