Golden Week is a period in Japan from 29 April to early May.
Golden Week is a popular time for holiday travel. Despite significantly higher rates, flights, trains, and hotels are often fully booked. Popular sites for visitors may be very crowded during these times.
Popular destinations for Japanese include Asia, Guam, Saipan, and Hawaii, and major cities on the West Coast of North America such as Los Angeles, Seattle, San Diego, San Francisco, and Vancouver, and a number of cities in Europe and Australia.
Golden Week is avoided by many international travelers because of the challenges of navigating crowded transportation and attractions. The busiest days are May 3, when many people leave the major cities, and May 5 and 6, when they returning home. From 2019, the government has proposed to extend Golden Week to include April 30 and May 1 to mark the expected abdication of the Emperor and the subsequent succession. This would make travel impacts harder to predict.
Most offices in Japan close during Golden Week, some up to 10 days. Make sure you have enough cash on you as you might have a hard time withdrawing money. Typically ATMs do not allow withdrawals during Golden Week.
During Golden Week, festivals are celebrated in nearly every Japanese city. These may include events for viewing wisteria or azalea flowers, historical parades, or cultural celebrations.
Many Tokyoites vacation elsewhere during Golden Week, so you'll have shorter waits and fewer crowds at Tokyo’s restaurants, parks, museums, and other attractions. A Hawaiian festival takes place in Tokyo during Golden Week, and there is the Spring Grand Festival at the Meiji Shrine.
The weather is typically mild during Golden Week, with comfortable outdoor temperatures. However, flower parks may be crowded with people going to see the azaleas, wisteria, and tulips.
If possible, avoid traveling to Japan during Golden Week. If you can't help it, consider the following tips to manage your trip: