Autumnal Equinox Day (Shubun no Hi)

What Is Autumnal Equinox Day?

"Shubun no Hi" (Autumnal Equinox Day) is a Japanese national holiday set on the day of the autumnal equinox, one of the 24 solar terms, and usually falls around September 22–23. Under the national holidays law that took effect in 1948, it replaced the former "Shuki Koreisai" (Autumn Imperial Ancestor Festival) as a day "to honor ancestors and remember those who have passed away." On this day the sun rises almost due east and sets almost due west, and day and night are roughly equal in length; from here, the nights gradually grow longer.

An "Astronomical Holiday" Whose Date Is Set Each Year

The law does not fix a specific date for Autumnal Equinox Day. Based on the day the sun passes the autumnal equinox point, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan announces the following year's date in its almanac ("Rekiyoko") each February. In both 2026 and 2027 it falls on September 23. In recent years it often falls on September 22 in leap years; from 2012 to 2044, the equinox falls on September 22 in every leap year.

• The middle day of Higan: The seven days centered on Autumnal Equinox Day—three days before and three after—make up the autumn "Higan" period. With the sun setting due west, this is traditionally a time to turn one's thoughts to the Buddhist Pure Land said to lie in the west ("higan," the far shore), and visiting family graves is a well-established custom.
• From Shuki Koreisai to Shubun no Hi: Before the war, this was a holiday for the "Shuki Koreisai," a palace ceremony honoring the spirits of past emperors and imperial family members. The ceremony is still held at the Imperial Palace today.

Some Years Bring a "Silver Week"

In years when Respect for the Aged Day (the third Monday of September) falls on September 21 and Autumnal Equinox Day on September 23, the day in between, September 22, becomes a "citizens' holiday." In 2009 this created a five-day break from September 19 to 23, nicknamed "Silver Week" after May's Golden Week. In 2026, too, Respect for the Aged Day is September 21 and Autumnal Equinox Day is September 23, so September 22 is a citizens' holiday.

Things to Know About the Equinox

• Daytime is actually a bit longer: Day and night are said to be equal, but because sunrise is counted from when the sun's upper edge appears, and because the atmosphere bends sunlight, daytime is actually slightly longer than night.
• Ohagi and botamochi: These sweets of glutinous rice wrapped in sweet azuki bean paste are offered during Higan. In the autumn Higan they are usually called "ohagi," after the bush clover (hagi) that blooms in autumn.
• "Heat and cold last until Higan": A Japanese saying expressing that the lingering summer heat eases around the equinox and the weather becomes more comfortable.
• Higanbana (red spider lily): This flower is said to have gotten its name because it blooms bright red around the autumn Higan.

Ideas for Autumnal Equinox Day

• Visit family graves, or talk with family about your ancestors.
• Enjoy ohagi or other sweets associated with Higan.
• In the evening, check where the sun sets—almost due west.
• Find an autumn pleasure, such as reading, to enjoy as the nights grow longer.

Feeling the Season Turn on the Day Light and Dark Are in Balance

Autumnal Equinox Day is a day to remember our ancestors and feel the seasons shift from summer to autumn. From here the nights grow longer day by day, and true autumn arrives. Why not take your time today and savor the start of the harvest season?