Japan’s Paid Leave System, Explained (2026)

One of the most surprising parts of working in Japan for many foreign employees is the paid leave system (yukyu, or statutory annual paid leave). If you’re used to a system where paid leave isn’t required by law — in the US, the FLSA doesn’t require payment for vacations — or you’re unfamiliar with Japan’s specific eligibility rules and accrual table, you can end up missing out on leave you’re legally entitled to. Here’s how eligibility works, how many days you accrue by tenure, and a mandatory-use rule that catches a lot of people off guard.

When Does Paid Leave Kick In — Eligibility Requirements

Under Article 39 of Japan’s Labor Standards Act, paid leave requires meeting two conditions simultaneously:

• Six continuous months of employment — this applies equally to full-time, part-time, and hourly workers.
• At least 80% attendance on scheduled workdays during that period — excessive unexcused absences can mean you don’t meet the eligibility bar at all.

Once you meet these conditions, you’re granted 10 days of paid leave, and the number grows as your tenure increases. Each later grant also requires 80% attendance in the preceding year.

Days Accrued by Tenure — Standard Full-Time Table

Tenure	Days Granted
6 months	10 days
1 year 6 months	11 days
2 years 6 months	12 days
3 years 6 months	14 days
4 years 6 months	16 days
5 years 6 months	18 days
6 years 6 months or more	20 days

Part-time workers get a prorated table only if both of these apply: you’re scheduled for 4 days a week or fewer (or 216 days a year or fewer) and fewer than 30 hours a week (Enforcement Regulations, Article 24-3). If you work 30 hours or more, you get the full-time table above even on a 4-day week.

Days/week (days/year)	6 mo	1.5 yr	2.5 yr	3.5 yr	4.5 yr	5.5 yr	6.5 yr+
4 (169–216)	7	8	9	10	12	13	15
3 (121–168)	5	6	6	8	9	10	11
2 (73–120)	3	4	4	5	6	6	7
1 (48–72)	1	2	2	2	3	3	3

What Many Foreign Workers Miss — the Mandatory 5-Day Usage Rule

A 2019 labor reform (“work style reform”) introduced a rule that many foreign employees never hear about: if you’re granted 10 or more days of paid leave per year, your employer is legally required to ensure you actually use at least 5 of those days, coordinating the timing with your preferences. The company can’t simply shrug and say “you never requested it” — in fact, employers who fail to ensure this usage can face fines. Many foreign workers assume that not using leave due to workplace pressure is just how things are, but employers carry a real legal obligation here, which can make it easier to actually ask for the days you’re entitled to.

Unused Leave Expires — Know the Timeline

Paid leave earned in a given year that goes unused can only be carried over into the following year before it expires. In other words, after two years, unused leave disappears entirely — so it’s worth checking your remaining balance each year and planning to use it deliberately.

How to Combine Leave With Japan’s Holiday Clusters

1. Bracket Obon (mid-August) — many companies already give official time off around Obon; adding 1-2 days of paid leave on either side can turn it into a longer break with minimal leave spent.
2. Use the year-end/New Year period (around Dec 29 – Jan 3) — many companies close for this stretch, making it a good anchor for a trip home or vacation.
3. Pair with Golden Week (late April – early May) — with public holidays already clustered together, just 1-2 extra paid days can stretch this into a 9-10 day break.
4. Plan your year early — discussing your mandatory 5 days plus your preferred dates with your manager early in the year also helps with booking flights during peak season.

This article is for general informational purposes only. Actual paid leave entitlements, prorated calculations, and company-specific work rules vary — confirm details with your employer and the local Labor Standards Office.