Vernal Equinox Day (Shunbun no Hi)

What Is Vernal Equinox Day?

Vernal Equinox Day is one of Japan's national holidays. Under the Public Holiday Law promulgated in 1948, it is officially designated as a day "to celebrate nature and to cherish living things." The exact date is decided each year by the cabinet based on the "Reki-sho Nenpyo" (Ephemeris) prepared by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, and usually falls on March 20th or 21st. In 2026, Vernal Equinox Day falls on March 20th.

The Astronomical and Calendrical Facts

Vernal Equinox Day refers to the day on which the sun passes through the "vernal point" in its apparent path.

• Day and night length: Because the sun rises due east and sets due west on this day, daytime and nighttime are nearly equal in length. In practice, however, daytime is slightly longer due to the refraction of sunlight in the atmosphere — a well-documented scientific fact.
• A turning point in the 24 solar terms: This is the fourth of the traditional 24 solar terms (nijushi sekki). From this point on, daylight hours steadily lengthen in the Northern Hemisphere as the season moves toward full spring.

Ohigan and Traditional Customs

In Japan, there's a saying: "Heat and cold last only until higan" — reflecting a long-standing culture of honoring ancestors around this time of year.

• The midpoint of Ohigan: Vernal Equinox Day falls exactly in the middle of a seven-day period called "Haru no Ohigan" (Spring Higan), consisting of three days before and three days after the equinox. In Buddhist tradition, the Western Paradise (the Pure Land) is believed to lie in the direction the sun sets, so prayers for ancestors are offered around this time when the sun sets due west.
• Botamochi: It is customary to offer and eat "botamochi" (sweet rice cakes coated in red bean paste) during this period. The name is said to come from the peony ("botan"), a flower that blooms in spring.

Fun Facts About the Vernal Equinox

• The shifting vernal point: Due to the wobble in the Earth's rotational axis (a phenomenon called precession), the vernal point gradually shifts over time, and over thousands of years the positions of constellations relative to it change as well.
• A celebration shared around the world: The vernal equinox is significant across many cultures. In Persian-speaking regions such as Iran, for example, the New Year festival of Nowruz is celebrated to coincide with the spring equinox.
• The basis for Easter: The Christian festival of Easter is defined as "the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox," making the equinox an important reference point for the calendar.
• The egg-balancing legend: It's sometimes said that eggs can be balanced upright on their end on the equinox due to gravitational balance — but this is a myth with no scientific basis. In reality, an egg can be balanced on any day with enough patience.
• A marker for agriculture: In farming communities, this day has traditionally marked the beginning of the planting season, and rituals praying for a good harvest have been held in many regions.

Tips for Enjoying Vernal Equinox Day

• Take a moment to watch the sun rise due east and set due west, and use all your senses to feel the changing of the seasons and the movement of the Earth.
• Visit family graves or enjoy botamochi together as a family — a traditional way to refresh yourself while giving thanks for the connections that brought you to where you are today.
• Use this turning point in the calendar to do some "spring cleaning": clear out the clutter that built up over winter and prepare your surroundings for new challenges ahead.
• Take time to admire the spring flowers coming into bloom and watch budding plants and newly active insects — a quiet moment to appreciate the richness of nature and the stirrings of new life.

Let the Vitality and Harmony of Life Fill You With the Fresh Energy of Spring

March 20th is a "point of renewal," a day when light and darkness fall into balance and everything is reborn anew. Just as the quiet of winter gives way to the sudden blossoming of dormant potential, your heart too will fill with fresh hope and vitality. Aligning yourself with the harmony of nature brings balance to body and mind, letting your true freshness shine through. With every step you take, the spring sunlight will gently wrap around you, carrying each stride toward joy. May today mark a bright, blossoming start to what will be your most radiant year yet!