There is a summer vacation of several weeks, as well as two weeks off for the New Year. The school year ends in March, and there is a two-week break before the next year begins. Students usually attend classes five or six days a week. The teaching may utilize both conventional methods and such modern techniques as computer instruction. If classes are held on Saturday, they usually end by noon.
Many students attend juku or have sports or other extracurricular activities in the afternoon.
Classes may be as large as 40 students in elementary school. Student groups are therefore an important part of both learning and other activities. Groups of students in each class take turns cleaning the classrooms, hallways, toilets, playgrounds, and other areas. Neatness is a major part of the dress code, too. Some schools require students to wear uniforms.