What is Golden Week?
Golden Week is essentially a week-long national holiday in Japan. This is because it is a period when a series of national events take place at the same time. While many students in Japan are eager to enjoy this holiday, many workers do not really feel the same way. For them, this is simply a time when they can escape from long working days and the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Time
Golden Week usually runs from late April (April 29) to the first week of May (around the 5th or 6th). Events that take place during this week include: Showa Day (April 29) - the birthday of former Emperor Showa Hirohito; Constitution Memorial Day (May 3); Greenery Day (May 4) - a day when people take time to appreciate nature and appreciate its importance; and Children's Day (May 5) - a time when families pray for and celebrate the happiness of their children (also known as Children's Day in Japan).
Always book in advance
For many, Golden Week is nothing more than a travel rush, as it’s the only time workers can get out of the city for their own personal vacation plans. If you’re a last-minute traveler, Golden Week is definitely not a good idea. Many hotels, flights, and most importantly, shinkansen (bullet train) tickets are already booked. But if you still want to plan a trip to Japan during this time, make sure you secure shinkansen tickets to certain domestic destinations for your itinerary.
Budget conscious
These discount ticket shops are located northwest of Shinjuku Station.
Like anywhere else in the world, peak holiday season always means “peak” prices, and Golden Week is no exception! International flights, train tickets, and hotel prices are all higher than usual. However, check out Tokyo’s discount ticket shops, which sometimes offer cheaper train tickets and discounted admission to other attractions across the country. In Tokyo, you can find these shops lined up northwest of Shinjuku Station.
plan accordingly
If you have planned your accommodation and transportation carefully and are only staying for a short time, then you should be able to rest assured that there is a good chance that you will not have any problems during Golden Week. However, if you want to extend your stay in Japan or already live here, then you should note that most offices are closed at this time of year. While shops and restaurants are still operating as usual, government buildings, banks and other administrative points are not. Therefore, you should also prepare all your documents carefully, not leave it to the last minute, and avoid as much trouble as possible.
densely populated areas
There are some tourist spots that are always packed during the festival period because, for example, Kyoto. It is also worth noting that people often flock to popular cherry blossom areas such as Sapporo and Aomori.
Resting place
Oddly enough, one of the best places to avoid the crowds during Golden Week is actually within the city itself! As Tokyo's population begins to spread out, the city is pretty much deserted. This is a great time to see the highlights of the city and explore new places. If you're in Tokyo, head to the city's Shinto Shitamachi—or old-world downtown areas, like Yanaka, Kita-Senju, and Nezu—with their independent shops and weathered restaurants. With fewer people, this is a great place to take a dip and take a break from the Golden Week chaos.
