Traveling During Golden Week in Japan
Last Updated on February 28, 2025 by Kay
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Is traveling in Japan during Golden Week really that bad? Well, as someone who has been living in Japan for more than fifteen years now, I will say… it depends.
No, your vacation will not be ruined. In fact, I think everything will be okay as long as you know the following.
Table of Contents
When is Golden Week in Japan?
Golden Week is a series of national holidays that fall on April 29th, May 3rd, May 4th, May 5th and 6th.
April 29th is Showa Day, the birthday of Emporer Showa who passed in 1989.
May 3rd is Constitution Day, when Japan adopted its new postwar constitution back in 1947.
May 4th is Greenery Day, which celebrates the Earth and nature.
May 5th is Children’s Day, celebrating the health and well-being of sons.
Is Golden Week Busy?
In terms of Golden Week, the busiest days are the actual national holidays, which are April 29th, May 3rd, May 4th, May 5th, and May 6th.
Some Japanese people take days off in between so they have an extended holiday that runs from April 30th to May 6th. Since Golden Week starts on a Tuesday this year (April 29th), I believe many people will also take April 28th off so they can start their holiday on April 26th (a Saturday).
May 3rd and 4th fall on the weekend, so it doesn’t make a difference for people who work on weekdays. However, people who work weekends might have those days off.
I can’t see many people taking May 7th to 9th off for an extended holiday.
My family doesn’t take additional vacation days during Golden Week unless we’re traveling abroad, so it’s business as usual for us. Schools are also still in session for days that aren’t national holidays.
So what does this all mean?
Well, this year, I think the busiest days for Golden Week will be the weekends (April 26-27, May 3-4) as well as April 29th, May 5th and May 6th.
As long as you avoid popular places during those days or at least know that wherever you’re planning to go will likely be busy, you should be fine.
You should also make all your hotel and Shinkansen reservations well in advance. Also note that hotels will be more expensive than usual during this time.
To help make your trip even easier, I suggest booking activities or classes in advance during the Golden Week national holidays. This way you can experience something fun while avoiding crowds.
For instance, my family had a lot of fun making wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) in Kyoto.
There are so many exciting things you can try in Japan, such as making your own replica food.
Or even learn how to make Japanese food, such as at this highly reviewed cooking class in Kyoto. For those with kids, check out this article about kid-friendly cooking classes in Japan.
For those who don’t have small children, I highly suggest crafting your own Japanese knife with Japanese wordsmiths for a unique souvenir. There are classes in Tokyo, in Kyoto, as well as Osaka.
Where Should I Avoid During Golden Week?
The busiest places in Japan, I’m guessing from April 25 to May 6th, will be:
- Theme parks such as Tokyo Disney and Universal Studios Japan
- Famous tourist spots like Shibuya and Harajuku in Tokyo, Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi in Osaka, and basically everywhere in Kyoto except for the outer areas of the city (the harder it is to get to using public transport, the better — and you get to experience an adventure!)
I also remember making the mistake of going to Kamakura once during Golden Week and it was so awful that I never went back. Ever.
So avoid popular tourist spots if you can.
Train stations where the bullet trains run from (Shin-Osaka, Tokyo Station) will be bonkers as well, especially from April 26th to 29th and May 6th. Major highways to and from Tokyo will also be jammed if you’re driving.
Restaurants can also be very packed during Golden Week, especially since some are closed during this time. I recommend making a reservation if possible. To do this, use Google Maps to find a restaurant near you and see if they have a Find a Table option.
You can also use Tabelog, which is my family’s favorite site to find great restaurants in Japan and reserve a table.
What Events Are Happening During Golden Week?
One thing you should absolutely keep an eye out for is all the beautiful carp-shaped streamers, called koinobori. These are displayed in large parks, at famous landmarks like Tokyo Tower, as well as at houses by families with boys to celebrate one of the Golden Week national holidays called Children’s Day (May 5).
Off the top of my head, there are also a lot of food festivals but they’re not that great. I find they’re becoming more expensive every year and the food isn’t great for the price.
Food festivals in Japan are typically where you only go for the experience and to socialize.
If you’re curious, here are some food festivals you can check out:
- Odaiba Meat Festival in Tokyo
- Craft Gyoza Festival in Tokyo
- Taiwan Festival in Tokyo
Other major events happening during Golden Week include:
- DINO-A-LIVE DINO SAFARI 2025 in Tokyo
- Sakura Festival in Tokyo (no real cherry blossom trees)
- Wisteria Festival in Tochigi
- Flower Festival in Ibaraki
Keep in mind that these festivals will likely be quite busy.
What Do Locals Do During Golden Week in Japan?
My family likes to lie low during Golden Week. We tend to have barbeques with our friends and family, but we have to book BBQ sites well in advance if we’re not hosting at home.
Since we have a daughter, we also like to go to places that are hard to visit using public transport, such as Harvest Hill in Osaka. Another place we visited that was surprisingly not that busy during Golden Week was Nunobiki Herb Garden.
Since the weather is usually quite nice during Golden Week, we also like to visit playgrounds with our child, such as these in Osaka and Suzaku Yume Park in Kyoto. Sakurazaka Park is also a nice playground in Tokyo, but I highly recommend going outside of the city to visit great playgrounds surrounded by nature.