Golden Week (ゴールデンウィーク) or Ōgon Shūkan (黄金週間) is a holiday period in Japan. It consists of several national holidays that are clustered together and covers the period 29 April to 5 May.
Although only 4 days of the week are official holidays, many people take the entire week off work. It is a popular time for Japanese workers to travel or to enjoy family events and so is peak travel season in Japan.
Golden Week Spring Holidays
The national holidays that Golden Week spans are as follows:
Shōwa Day ( 昭和の日) (April 29) – a day that commemorates the birthday of Emperor Showa.
Constitution Memorial Day (憲法記念日) (May 3) - this marks the ratification of the Japanese Constitution.
Greenery Day (みどりの日) (May 4) - a national celebration of nature.
Children's Day (子供の日) (May 5) – also known as Boy’s Festival, this is a special day for children.
A Compensation Holiday is held either 30 April or 6 May should any of the Golden Week holidays fall on a Sunday.
Why is the holiday known as Golden Week?
Nine official public holidays were created in 1948. As so many of these were concentrated in a single week, many leisure-related businesses experienced increased revenues during that period. In 1951, the movie Jiyū Gakkō recorded its highest ticket sales causing the managing director of Daiei Film Co., Ltd. to refer to the period as “Golden Week”. The moniker referenced the phrase “golden time” which was used to describe peak listening times for Japanese radio.
How is Golden Week celebrated?
There are no hard and fast rules regarding how to celebrate each holiday or the entire period. It is for each individual or family to decide how to spend their time. It is a significant time for domestic travel and some families will take the opportunity to travel overseas. Greenery Day sees outdoor enthusiasts visit parks to appreciate nature.
On Children’s Day, families hang koinobori (flying carp streamers) from their windows which create colourful displays.
The Takatsuki Jazz Street Festival takes place during Golden Week. It offers two days of live jazz performances featuring 300 acts and over 3,000 artists. Performances take place in 72 different locations in the Takatsuki area of northern Osaka.
Held 4 May, The Super GT Fuji 500 km car race is also a popular event synonymous with Golden Week.
Traditional Festivals
Further events to enjoy during Golden Week include:
Hanami cherry blossom viewing – enjoy Japan’s iconic cherry blossoms in full bloom in/or around Tokyo, Hokkaido, Kyoto, or Osaka.
Atami Odori Geisha dance festival – this is an annual dance festival that takes place in Atami in the Shizuoka prefecture.
Haru No Fujiwara Matsuri – a spring festival that is celebrated in the city of Hiraizumi, in Iwate prefecture. It features processions in traditional dress.
Hakata Dontaku Festival – a significant event in Japan, this vibrant festival takes place annually in Fukuoka City.
Is Golden Week a good time to visit Japan?
Golden Week can be an expensive time to visit the country. Many hotels raise their prices by around 10% and demand for accommodation is high. Both the roads and public transport can be very busy as so many people head out of the cities. Train tickets should be booked a long time in advance.
Certain businesses such as smaller family-run operations, may be closed for the holiday due to their owners taking breaks. Administrative businesses including banks and post offices, and many doctors and dentists will also be closed.
However, the cities can be less busy than normal and boast a more relaxed atmosphere. The weather tends to be ideal for experiencing the country, being neither too hot nor too cold.
A visit to Japan during Golden Week should be planned in advance to ensure that accommodation and flights are secured. But the period is a great time to experience most areas of the country.
