A complete guide to this one-of-a-kind Golden Week in Japan

Have you ever heard of the Golden Week before? The Golden Week is a collection of four national holidays within seven days.

It’s one of Japan’s three busiest holiday seasons, as all are in combination with well placed weekends.

Public transportations like trains, buses, and airplanes are usually fully booked.

Airports and sightseeing spots also get very crowded during Golden Week, and of course, hotels and other accommodation facilities in popular tourist areas are usually fully booked in advance.

Today we introduce the national holidays included in the Golden Week.

Showa Day (昭和の日, Showa no hi)

The birthday of former Emperor Showa, who died in 1989, falls on April 29.

The Greenery Day, which falls on May 4, used to be celebrated on this day until 2006.

Constitution Day (憲法記念日, Kenpo kinenbi)

The new postwar constitution was put into effect on May 3 in 1947.

Greenery Day (みどりの, Midori no hi)

 

The Greenery Day was celebrated on April 29 until 2006, which is also the birthday of former Emperor Showa.

It was celebrated on that day because the emperor loved plants and nature. Now the Greenery Day is celebrated on May 4.

Children’s Day (こどもの日, Kodomo no hi)

Falls on May 5, the Boy’s Festival (端午の節句, Tango no Sekku) is celebrated on this day. Families pray for the health and success of their sons by hanging up koinobori (carp streamers) and displaying samurai dolls, which both symbolize strength, power, and success in life.

Golden Week 2020

This year’s Golden Week is a 5-day weekend. The peak of travel activity is predicted to fall on May 2, with people leaving the urban areas like Tokyo and Osaka, and on May 5 and 6, with people leaving for the opposite direction. The government made May 6 as a replacement holiday for the Constitution Day, because May 3 falls on Sunday.

Golden Week travel tips

• Make your reservations in advance
  Travelers usually plan their Golden Week travel three to six months in advance. The reservations include reserved train seating, airline tickets, hotels, and tours.
• Expect delays while traveling
  A lot of people are traveling around Japan during the Golden Week. You might have to wait in long lines or encounter delays when traveling.
• Visit Tokyo
  Tokyo’s residents go somewhere else for vacation only during the Golden Week, and this means you’ll see shorter lines and fewer crowd at Tokyo’s restaurants, parks, museums, and other popular attractions.