Imagine spring break, but for an entire country! That’s what Golden Week in Japan feels like every year. With four holidays spanning the full week, celebrations and festivals are held across the country. This makes it the perfect time to travel for those living in Japan and coming from abroad.
There’s a ton to take in throughout the week, but there are a couple additional steps you’ll need to take to ensure you aren’t overwhelmed by the crowds. We’ve included a full list of travel tips below, along with more detail on the history and traditions of each holiday!
Explore the Japanese language with Rosetta Stone as you learn more about Japan. Our immersive lessons are brimming with engaging content, stories, learning tools, and more for Japanese and 24 other languages. Your introduction to Japanese is only a click away!
What is Golden Week in Japan?
Golden Week is the week in the middle of spring where four national holidays fall within seven days. This means that many people have a whole week off work or school.
The four holidays that make up Golden Week are:
- Shōwa Day (Shōwa no Hi 昭和の日)
- Constitution Memorial Day (Kenpō Kinenbi 憲法記念日)
- Greenery Day (Midori no Hi みどりの日)
- Children’s Day (Kodomo no Hi 子供の日)
Each holiday has its own history and festivities. Shōwa Day and Constitution Memorial Day are both holidays recognizing Japanese history, Greenery Day celebrates the environment, and Children’s Day has a rich cultural history with origins dating back to the Kamakura period (1185–1333) or even further.
Some events may not be directly tied to any one holiday, but are still a joy to see. The Miyako Odori performance by geisha and maiko in Kyoto is held in April and is a stellar example of traditional Japanese dance and culture. If you’re in the Tokyo area, Meiji Jingu, the Shinto shrine where Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken are commemorated, also holds ceremonies and exhibits. If you choose to visit the shrine, do remember that it is a religious place and should be approached with respect.
>> Here are some tips on how to speak to Japanese locals with respect!
When is Golden Week in Japan?
Golden Week begins in late April and continues through the beginning of May.
- Shōwa Day (Shōwa no Hi 昭和の日): April 29
- Constitution Memorial Day (Kenpō Kinenbi 憲法記念日): May 3
- Greenery Day (Midori no Hi みどりの日): May 4
- Children’s Day (Kodomo no Hi 子供の日): May 5
Japanese law stipulates that any day that falls between two national holidays shall also be a holiday, called a “citizens’ holiday.” Before Greenery Day was established, May 4 was one such holiday.
Depending on where April 29 falls on the calendar in any given year, weekends may lengthen Golden Week, or there may be a stretch of up to three days in the middle where there are no national holidays or weekends that would require offices to give the day off. Golden Week 2023 began on Saturday, April 29, which meant that Children’s Day was on a Friday, leading into a little extra time tacked on to the end in the form of a weekend.
Golden Week 2024 will begin on Monday, April 29 and end on Sunday, May 5. While April 30 through May 2 are not national holidays, Golden Week will still be enjoyed throughout the country.
Travel tips for visiting Japan during Golden Week
Thinking about traveling to Japan over this busy week? There are many good reasons to! There are traditional festivals, flowers are in bloom all over the country, and the weather is beautiful in early May. However, it is also worth keeping a few things in mind.
Make reservations
Travelers both in Japan and from abroad have their eyes on Golden Week. To make sure you get to the places on your list, make reservations early: 3 to 6 months in advance, if you can. Tickets sell out for trains, airlines, hotels, tours, and more, so get your bookings in to avoid missing out.
Know what’s open
Not everything is open on national holidays. Nonessential government offices will close, as will banks. It is highly important that you ensure you have access to the funds you need before visiting Japan during Golden Week to avoid any financial disasters.
Stores and restaurants will still be open — and may even have sales! — but their operating hours may be slightly different than normal, so check ahead for any particular places you intend to visit.
Have access to the internet
Maps, messaging services, email…all are necessary for a smooth trip. Especially during such a busy week, schedules can change and it’s easy to get lost in the crowds. Plan to get a temporary SIM card for your phone or a portable Wi-Fi router to keep yourself connected.
Be flexible!
Be prepared for things to happen last minute. Whether rain cancels the parade or it takes longer to get to your hotel than you expected, your trip may have some bumps and hurdles. Don’t let it discourage you and keep some back-up plans in your pocket!
Now that you have those points in mind, let’s look at what holidays are observed during Golden Week.
>> Practice some Japanese before you go with these conversation lessons!
Shōwa Day
On April 29, Japan kicks off Golden Week with a day celebrating Emperor Shōwa’s birthday. He is also known by another name: Hirohito.
The Japanese calendar system was aligned with the Gregorian calendar in the late 19th century, but some elements are still used today. One example is the era name (gengō 元号) system. When a new emperor ascends to the throne, a new era begins and a name is chosen to refer to both him and the era. The era of the current emperor, Naruhito, is the Reiwa Era. Upon an emperor’s death, he is henceforth referred to by that era name.
Emperor Shōwa, or Hirohito, was the reigning emperor from 1926 to 1989. As the emperor during Japan’s period of imperial expansion and World War II, he is sometimes a difficult topic due to the ambiguous extent of his role during that time.
The current emperor’s birthday is a national holiday in Japan (currently February 23 for Emperor Naruhito), but Emperor Shōwa’s birthday is the only one that continues to be observed after his death. While it was once a day to celebrate his birthday, today it is encouraged to reflect on the events during his reign and how Japan has moved forward.
Constitution Memorial Day
In 1947, Japan’s current constitution was enacted. With the cooperation of U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, Japan created their new constitution following World War II, which followed a more modern model. It is the world’s oldest unamended constitution, having not been amended since its enactment!
Much like Shōwa Day, Constitution Memorial Day is a day to contemplate Japanese history and the current state of Japan. The National Diet, Japan’s legislature, opens the doors of its building to the public for tours. You can also find public lectures on World War II and Japanese history, as well as topical pieces in newspapers.
Greenery Day
Greenery Day, celebrated on May 4, is one of many holidays around the world that celebrates the environment and nature. Its origins are directly tied to Shōwa Day.
When it was established in 1989, Greenery Day was held on April 29, which is now Shōwa Day. Emperor Shōwa was fond of nature, so the association was apt. At the time, Greenery Day was used as a replacement holiday for Emperor Shōwa’s birthday because the holiday held for the emperor’s birthday would be that of the new emperor, Emperor Akihito. In 2007, Shōwa Day was established and Greenery Day was moved to May 4, which had already been a citizens’ holiday.
People celebrate Greenery Day by spending time in nature. Zoos around the country offer free admission, trees are planted in honor of the holiday, and the weather during Golden Week is often pleasant for hiking. Japan’s famous cherry blossoms may also still be in bloom in the northernmost parts of the country, and Greenery Day is a perfect day to enjoy hanami (花見, flower viewing).
Children’s Day
Ending Golden Week with a bang, Children’s Day celebrates the children of Japan. It was originally known as Tango no Sekku (端午の節句) and only celebrated boys, while Girls’ Day (Hinamatsuri 雛祭り) was celebrated on March 3. Girls’ Day is still held, but now both boys and girls are included in Children’s Day. However, only Children’s Day is a national holiday.
Traditions
On Children’s Day, families wish for the health and happiness of their children. As children are always growing, measuring them is a fun tradition to see how much taller they’ve become over the course of a year.
Iris flowers and leaves are thought to bring good health, and are included in Children’s Day decorations. Some families even take baths with iris plants on this day.
Displays
Koinobori (鯉のぼり, or carp-shaped windsocks) are flown throughout Japan with each fish representing a member of the family. Black signifies the father, red represents the mother, and various colors can be used for the children (often blue). Even though the holiday only lasts for a day, you may see these decorations flying in the wind for weeks.
Samurai armor is also put on display inside the homes, which is historically associated with wishes for strong and healthy boys. Creating samurai armor or carps out of paper using origami or kirigami (like origami, but the paper is cut as well as folded) is also done as a fun, accessible activity.
Food
Of course, there are also traditional foods to be enjoyed on Children’s Day! Kashiwamochi (柏餅) and chimaki (粽) are both associated with the holiday.
Kashiwamochi is a mochi rice cake wrapped in oak leaves, stuffed with adzuki bean paste. The sakuramochi (桜餅) eaten on Girls’ Day is wrapped with pickled cherry blossom leaves and can be eaten, but the oak leaves covering kashiwamochi should not be.
Chimaki are triangular rice cakes filled with a wide variety of ingredients, unlike the more plain onigiri (おにぎり) found year-round. The glutinous rice (mochigome 餅米) is the primary ingredient, but shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and carrots are common vegetables added to the filling. Soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, and sesame oil can all be used to flavor a savory chimaki.
Celebrate Golden Week with Rosetta Stone
Golden Week is one of the highlights of the year in Japan. Whether you’re observing the holidays from afar or taking advantage of the days off to travel around Japan, diving deeper into Japanese culture by learning the language can only enhance your experience!
Forget about flashcards and rote memorization: Japanese is easily within your reach through Rosetta Stone’s bite-sized lessons and fully immersive environment. We introduce you naturally to new languages with our Dynamic Immersion method, helping you to process the language like a native speaker. Our TruAccent speech-recognition engine will listen to you speak and put you on track to have the perfect accent. Jump into your first lesson and begin your Japanese journey today.
