Golden Week in Japan

Japanese Golden Week

By Shizuko Mishima, About.com

The end of April through around May 5th is called "Golden Week" in Japan since there are many Japanese national holidaysduring this period. Many Japanese offices close for about a week to 10days, depending on the calender. People take a vacation and travelaround the country or abroad, so tourist attractions in Japan are verycrowded during Golden Week. Also, airports and train stations in Japanare overflowing with people. It is hard to get reservations foraccommodations and transportation during Golden Week.

The firstnational holiday during Golden Week is April 29, which was the birthdayof the former emperor Shouwa. Now, this day is called showa-no-hi(Showa Day). The second holiday is kenpou-kinen-bi (ConstitutionMemorial Day), May 3. The new Japanese constitution was put into effecton May 3, 1947. Then, May 4 is called midori-no-hi (Greenery Day)during which we show appreciation for nature.

The last holidayduring Golden Week is kodomono-hi (Children's Day) on May 5th. On thisday, we pray for the healthy growth of children. Children's Day is alsocalled tangono-sekku. It's Japanese boy's festival and is traditionallythe day to celebrate and pray for the health of boys. Japanese familieswith boys hang up carp streamers (koinobori) outside because carps arebelieved to symbolize successes in children's lives. Also, samuraidolls called gogatsu ningyo are displayed in their houses.

May is a pleasant season to travel in Japan. Try to plan a trip to Japan after Golden Week. It is much better.

Golden Week - Japanese Holidays

• April 29: Showa-no-hi (Showa Day)
• May 3 : Kenpou-kinen-bi (Constitution Memorial Day)
• May 4 : Midori-no-hi (Greenery Day)
• May 5 : Kodomo-no-hi (Children's Day)

KODOMO-NO-HI (CHILDREN'S DAY)
Children's Day on May 5 also known as "Boy's Festival," is held to prayfor the health and success of male children. On this day, householdswith young boys hang out koinobori (carp streamers) and decorate theirhomes with "May dolls."

Koinobori (Carp Streamers) In Japan, the carp has a reputation as a fish with a tremendous will to live, capable of swimming up and over fierce flowing waterfalls.

Gogatsu-ningyo (May Dolls) Also known as Musha (samurai) dolls these dolls are attired in traditional military armor, and incorporate the wish that the boys grow up to be as strong as samurai warriors.

"Golden Week" With three national holidays falling close together on the calendar (The Greenery Day on April 29, Constitution Day on May 3 and Children's Day on May 5), this period is known as "Golden Week" and is utilized as a major spring vacation season in Japan.

Japan Golden Week

02.05.08

Filed Under: Japan

In Japan, there are a series of holidays from late April toearly May which they call it as “Golden Week”. During Golden Week, manycompanies are closing to let their employees to have a long nice restand many Japanese people are going off for long vacation. So duringthis period of time, leisure-based industries will be very busy and allflights and hotel rooms will be fully booked!

The Golden Week kicks off in April 30th which is Greenery Day untilthe 5th of May where the Japanese celebrates Children’s Day. A specificGolden Week holidays are listed below, cited from Wikipedia:

Golden Week

April 29

• Emperor’s Birthday (天皇誕生日, Emperor’s Birthday), until 1988
• Greenery Day, or Nature Day (みどりの日, Midori no hi), from 1989 until 2006
• Shōwa Day (昭和の日, Shōwa no hi), from 2007

May 3

• Constitution Memorial Day (憲法記念日, Kenpō kinenbi)

May 4

• holiday† (国民の休日, Kokumin no kyūjitsu), from 1985 until 2006
• Greenery Day, or Nature Day (みどりの日, Midori no hi) (from 2007)

May 5

• Children’s Day (こどもの日, Kodomo no hi), also customarily known as Boys’ Day (端午の節句, Tango no sekku).

Many Japanese take paid time off on the intervening work days, butsome companies also close down completely and give their employees timeoff. Golden week is the longest vacation period of the year for manyJapanese jobs. According to P. Sean Bramble, the author of CultureShock! Japan:

The Golden Week is always gorgeous: warm sunshine andwithout any oppressive humidity. Many people if they take a vacation atall, will take it as this time, with the result being that publictransport is clogged with vacationers and air ticket prices increasedramatically.

So, I think if want to travel to Japan, it is better to avoid thisperiod of time because the streets of Japan is flooded with vacationersand no more hotel rooms available! To know how is 2008’s Golden Weekand 2009’s Golden Week locate in the calendar, you can visit the Japan Guide’s article on Golden Week.

Finally, Happy Golden Week to all Japanese people out there!