Golden Week
The Golden Week is a collection of four national holidays within seven days. In combination with well placed weekends, the Golden Week becomes one of Japan's three busiest holiday seasons, besides New Year and the Obon week.
Trains, airports and sightseeing spots get very crowded during Golden Week, and accommodation in tourist areas can get booked out well in advance.
The national holidays making up the Golden Week are:
- April 29
Showa Day (Showa no hi):
April 29 is the birthday of former Emperor Showa, who died in the year 1989. Until 2006, Greenery Day (see May 4) used to be celebrated on this day. - May 3
Constitution Day (Kenpo kinenbi):
On this day in 1947, the new postwar constitution was put into effect. - May 4
Greenery Day (Midori no hi):
Until 2006, Greenery Day used to be celebrated on April 29, the birthday of former Emperor Showa. The day is dedicated to the environment and nature, because the emperor loved plants and nature. Before being declared Greenery Day, May 4 used to be a national holiday due to a law, which declares a day, that falls between two national holidays, a national holiday. - May 5
Children's Day (Kodomo no hi):
The Boy's Festival (Tango no Sekku) is celebrated on this day. Families pray for the health and future success of their sons by hanging up carp streamers and displaying samurai dolls, both symbolizing strength, power and success in life. The Girl's Festival is celebrated on March 3.
Golden Week 2017
In 2017, the weekends are placed in a way to create a five-day holiday period in the second half of the Golden Week. Travel activity is anticipated to peak on May 3 with people leaving the large urban centers (especially Tokyo) and on May 6 and 7 in the opposite direction.
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Mon
April 24 |
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April 25 |
Wed
April 26 |
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April 27 |
Fri
April 28 |
Sat
April 29 |
Sun
April 30 |
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May 1 |
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May 2 |
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May 3 |
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May 4 |
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May 5 |
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May 6 |
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May 7 |
Golden Week 2018
In 2018, the weekends are placed in a way to create a 3-day weekend in the first half and a 4-day holiday in the second half of the Golden Week. Travel activity is anticipated to peak on May 3 with people leaving the large urban centers (especially Tokyo) and on May 5 and 6 in the opposite direction.
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Mon
April 23 |
Tue
April 24 |
Wed
April 25 |
Thu
April 26 |
Fri
April 27 |
Sat
April 28 |
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April 29 |
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April 30 |
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May 1 |
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May 2 |
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May 3 |
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May 4 |
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May 5 |
Sun
May 6 |
Silver Week
Every five to six years, a favorable accumulation of national holidays (Respect for the Aged Day, Autumn Equinox and an eventual in-between holiday) and a weekend creates a longer holiday period similar to Golden Week around late September. The holiday has popularly become known as "Silver Week". The next notable Silver Weeks will be in 2020 when a four-day long holiday will be observed and in 2026 with a five-day long holiday.
