GUIDE · PAID LEAVE
Paid leave in Japan: employer rules
年次有給休暇Nenji yukyu kyuka
Every employee in Japan — including part-timers — earns paid leave. Since 2019, employers must also make sure staff actually take at least five days a year.
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First grant
10 days
After 6 months, 80%+ attendance
Must take
5 days
A year, for staff with 10+ days
Since
Apr 2019
Employer duty
Fine
¥300K
Up to, for each breach
When leave is earned
- After 6 months of continuous work and attendance of 80% or more of working days, an employee gets 10 days of paid leave
- The number of days grows with years of service
- Part-timers earn leave too, in proportion to the days they work
The 5-day rule
For every employee who is granted 10 or more days in a year — including part-timers and managers — the employer must make sure they take at least 5 days within a year of the grant date. If the employee has already taken 5 days, you do not need to set dates.
Keep a leave register
Record each employee’s grant date, days and dates taken. Breaking the 5-day rule can lead to a fine of up to ¥300,000.
Related guides
- Attendance and payroll software — tracks leave automatically
- Employment contracts — what to write down
- Hiring and social insurance
FAQ
How many days of paid leave do employees get in Japan?
After six months of continuous work with at least 80% attendance, 10 days. The number increases with length of service.
Do part-time workers get paid leave in Japan?
Yes. Part-timers earn paid leave in proportion to the days they work.
Must employers make staff take paid leave in Japan?
Yes. Since April 2019, employers must ensure that staff granted 10 or more days take at least 5 days within a year. Breaking this can lead to a fine of up to ¥300,000.
Sources
- Making sure staff take 5 days of annual leave (guide) — Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
- Annual paid leave (年次有給休暇) — Check Your Working Conditions, MHLW
This page is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. The official Japanese guidelines always take priority.
NEED HELP IN ENGLISH?
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Sharoshi who set up leave rules and records for foreign employers — in English.
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USEFUL TOOLS
- Kintai Cloud — attendance tracking for small businesses ↗Japanese-language service
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