“Should I visit Japan during Golden Week?”

If possible, avoid it. But if you’re already booked, here’s how to survive.

What Is Golden Week?

“When is it exactly?”

April 29 - May 5 (sometimes extended to May 6)

It includes these holidays:

• April 29: Showa Day
• May 3: Constitution Memorial Day
• May 4: Greenery Day
• May 5: Children’s Day

This is one of only two long holiday periods in Japan (the other is New Year’s). Everyone travels.

Why It’s Challenging

“How bad is it really?”

Very crowded everywhere:

• Shinkansen: Fully booked weeks in advance
• Hotels: Prices double or triple
• Tourist spots: Extremely packed
• Roads: Worst traffic of the year
• Restaurants: Long waits everywhere

Survival Tips

“I’m going anyway. What should I do?”

1. Book everything NOW - Hotels, trains, activities
2. Avoid popular day trips - Kamakura, Nikko, Hakone will be packed
3. Explore lesser-known areas - Skip the top 10 tourist spots
4. Wake up early - Beat crowds at temples by arriving at opening
5. Eat at off-peak hours - Lunch at 11 AM or 2 PM
6. Use reserved seats - Always book Shinkansen reserved seats

What Japanese People Actually Do

Most locals:

• Travel domestically during Golden Week
• Book months in advance
• Many stay home to avoid crowds
• Some take the whole week off by using paid leave

Extra Travel Tips

1. The week AFTER Golden Week is great - Still nice weather, no crowds

2. May weather is beautiful - One of the best months to visit Japan

3. Some businesses close - Smaller shops may take the whole week off

4. ATMs may run out - Withdraw cash before the holidays start

5. Enjoy the festivals - There are special events during Golden Week

Have more questions about when to visit Japan? Follow me on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok for daily tips!