|
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 post war 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, by the way, is celebrated on March 3.
Golden Week 2012
In 2012, weekends are placed in a way to create two separate holidays of three and four days. Travel activity is anticipated to peak on May 3 with people leaving the large urban centers and on May 5 and 6 in the opposite direction.
Mon
April 23
|
Tue
April 24
|
Wed
April 25
|
Thu
April 26
|
Fri
April 27
|
Sat
April 28
|
Sun
April 29
|
Mon
April 30
|
Tue
May 1
|
Wed
May 2
|
Thu
May 3
|
Fri
May 4
|
Sat
May 5
|
Sun
May 6
|
Golden Week 2013
In 2013, weekends are placed in a way to create two separate holidays of three and four days. Travel activity is anticipated to peak on May 3 with people leaving the large urban centers and on May 5 and 6 in the opposite direction.
Mon
April 22
|
Tue
April 23
|
Wed
April 24
|
Thu
April 25
|
Fri
April 26
|
Sat
April 27
|
Sun
April 28
|
Mon
April 29
|
Tue
April 30
|
Wed
May 1
|
Thu
May 2
|
Fri
May 3
|
Sat
May 4
|
Sun
May 5
|
Mon
May 6
|
Tue
May 7
|
Wed
May 8
|
Thu
May 9
|
Fri
May 10
|
Sat
May 11
|
Sun
May 12
|
Any Questions? Ask them in our question forum.
|
