State of emergency: Golden Week in Japan

Every year from the end of April to the beginning of May, Japan turns into a country on the move because it's Golden Week! Golden Week is one of the longest and most popular vacation periods in the country. For many Japanese, it is a rare opportunity to escape the stress of everyday working life and spend a few days with family, friends or traveling.

What is Golden Week?

Golden Week is a collection of several national public holidays that take place in quick succession. By cleverly combining them with weekends or bridging days, many employees get a lot of free time. Depending on how the weekdays fall, there can be up to ten days off - a real state of emergency in Japan. From Showa Day (Shōwa no Hi), this year on April 29, to Children's Day(Kodomo no Hi) on May 5, people are busy traveling, spending time with their families and, of course, eating and drinking well. Of course, a glass or two of sake and shochu is a must.

Why is Golden Week so special?

In a country where vacations are often only taken in small doses, Golden Week is almost sacred. Many Japanese use the time to travel - be it abroad, to distant islands such as Okinawa or simply to visit family in the countryside. Trains, flights and highways are overcrowded, cities seem empty, while tourist hotspots are overflowing.

What sets Golden Week apart is not only its length, but also its special atmosphere: a mixture of collective relaxation, festivity and a touch of nostalgia. With a bit of luck, the last cherry blossoms are still in bloom in parks, festivals are held in temples and shrines, and smiling families with picnic blankets and bento boxes can be seen everywhere.

Travel tips for Golden Week

For tourists, Golden Week is a double-edged sword: on the one hand, it offers a unique opportunity to experience Japan in a festive mood - on the other hand, it is logistically challenging. Accommodation, Shinkansen tickets and flights are often fully booked months in advance. If you want to travel during Golden Week, you should plan at least four months in advance - especially for popular destinations such as Kyoto, Nara or Hiroshima. Large cities such as Tokyo or Osaka, on the other hand, sometimes empty out during Golden Week as many residents head to the countryside. Those who don't like it so crowded can benefit from this right now. Many towns and villages celebrate their own matsuri (festivals) during Golden Week. 

Golden Week is therefore much more than just a vacation. It shows a lot about Japanese culture: the need for harmony with nature, the deep roots of rituals and the importance of community. At the same time, it makes it clear how much society longs for relaxation - a collective breath of fresh air in a country that otherwise never stands still. The economic significance is also enormous. There is hardly any other week of the year when so many people travel around the country or abroad.