Showa Day, or Showa no hi, on April 29 is the birthday of the late Emperor Showa, or Hirohito, who ruled Japan during World War II. What is the meaning of Golden Week to the Japanese people? If you visit Tokyo during the golden week, expect to see the shopping districts full. If you want to see Cherry Blossom but aren’t excited about the prospect of crowds, we’d urge you to avoid Golden Week, and instead travel to Japan during early March. According to an estimate by major travel company JTB Corp., about 24 million domestic tourists spent ¥883.6 billion during the 10-day Golden Week holiday period last year. If you are planning to visit Japan in December, it's best to avoid traveling to the country during the last week of the month and the first week of January, because this period is one of the busiest travel seasons in Japan. Two other Japanese holidays are observed for most or all of a week: Japanese New Year in January and Obon Festival in August. The number of domestic tourists is particularly high during the Golden Week holiday period. Many Japanese companies give the gap days as company holidays. As much as I have fallen in love with Japan, I must advise against visiting during a very specific time of the year; the Golden Week. Golden Week is a series of four national holidays in spring. It's a great time for a walk in the park or a picnic. Most offices in Japan close during Golden Week, some up to 10 days. Golden Week 2021.

With this in mind, just because it is a major public holiday it doesn’t mean that you can’t have a successful trip. But while many businesses close to allow their workers some downtime, the shops are definitely open during Golden Week in Japan, as the period is a major highlight of the commercial calendar. But for the unsuspecting tourist it can be bit overwhelming! The Golden Week holiday period is between late April and early May, and is one of Japan's busiest travel periods With major tourist destination packed, May is a good time to explore lower-key options The giant carp streamers you can see around rural Japan in May are … Festivals, meaning and holidays. ... Do not go to Japan during Golden Week. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has discouraged holiday travel during "Golden Week" to prevent the spread of infections. It's one of the busiest travel seasons in Japan and should be avoided if possible. Despite significantly higher rates, flights, trains, and hotels are often fully booked. During each day between April 29th and May 5th Japan celebrates a different holiday beginning with Showa Day and ending with Children's Day.

You can use my previous Golden Week trips as a refercen to see how crowded several places were: Golden Week 2012 / Golden Week 2013 / Golden Week 2014. Golden Week in Japan is an exciting time for Japanese people: they can visit family, travel around Japan or go abroad on holiday. Things to Know About Visiting Japan During Golden Week Mt Fuji, Hakone, Lake Ashi Cruise and Bullet Train Day Trip from Tokyo. Golden week is one of the busiest weeks in Japan besides the Japanese new year. Travel activity is anticipated to peak on May 1 with people leaving the large urban centers (especially Tokyo) and on May 4 and 5 in the opposite direction. The trains get replaced with new shiny ones, food festivals are being held, live music is found everywhere, and fun events will be held at many hostels. The beginning of May is holiday season in Japan called Golden Week and every touristic spot gets extremely packed. Join a full-day guided tour from Tokyo that... Tokyo Robot Restaurant Show Ticket. In 2021, the weekends are placed in a way to create a 5-day weekend. I’m going to be honest, I don’t think we would travel to Japan during Golden Week because of the insane crowds. Frequently Asked Questions about Visiting Japan. This year, however, the … But, there is a very big downside to this. In such cases, the company may completely shutdown for the week.