--- title: Everything You Need To Know About Golden Week In Japan date: 2026-02-20T17:30:00+09:00 author: Gwen Magdamit canonical_url: "https://uchijapan.com/news/golden-week-in-japan" section: News --- [Japan](https://uchijapan.com/news/japan)# Everything You Need To Know About Golden Week In Japan Feb 20, 2026 - [ ](mailto:?subject=Everything%20You%20Need%20To%20Know%20About%20Golden%20Week%20In%20Japan%20on%20Uchi&body=https%3A%2F%2Fuchijapan.com%2Fnews%2Fgolden-week-in-japan "Share by Email") - [ ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fuchijapan.com%2Fnews%2Fgolden-week-in-japan&title=Everything%20You%20Need%20To%20Know%20About%20Golden%20Week%20In%20Japan&description=How%20to%20make%20the%20most%20of%20Japan%E2%80%99s%20busiest%20and%20most%20vibrant%20season%2C%20Golden%20Week.&caption=Uchi) ![Adobe Stock 128982604](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_480x270_crop_center-center_60_line/300814/AdobeStock_128982604.jpg)Here's the lowdown on Golden Week aka one of Japan's busiest holiday periods, outdone only by New Year and Obon – along with some tips for travelling (and celebrating!) during this time. **What Is Golden Week In Japan?** Golden Week has nothing to do with actual gold but nonetheless, is a highly prized event on the Japanese calendar. Taking place in mid-spring, toward the end of April/beginning of May, it consists of four national holidays held across the space of just one week. Naturally, many Japanese people use this time to visit family and friends or go on vacation—and that means that things (flights, accommodation, tourist attractions etc.) can get kinda hectic. Throw a bunch of festivals and other events into the mix—along with a tonne of business closures—and things get even more interesting. Naturally, this can be overwhelming for visitors (especially first-timers), but with a little preparation, there's no reason why Golden Week shouldn't be a fun and memorable holiday for you, too. **The Four Holidays** The four holidays that make up Golden Week are: - Shōwa Day (April 29) - Constitution Memorial Day (May 3) - Greenery Day (May 4) - And finally, Children's Day (May 5). ![Water Hanami](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/WaterHanami.jpg) Kickstarting the celebrations is Shōwa Day (Showa no hi) – named in honour of Emperor Shōwa, who had the longest reign in Japanese history (1926-1989) and was responsible for seeing the country through a number of significant historical events, including World War II. This date also marks his birthday and was the original Greenery Day (more on that in a mo). It's not uncommon for people to visit friends and family on this day, much like Thanksgiving in America; while many choose to spend it outdoors (picnicking amongst the cherry blossoms, for example) as a nod to Shōwa's fondness for nature. Some people even like to pay their respects the traditional way, by visiting Shōwa's place of burial at the [Musashi Imperial Graveyard](https://www.japan-experience.com/all-about-japan/tokyo/attractions-excursions/musashi-imperial-graves) in Tokyo. Constitution Memorial Day (kenpo kinenbi) is up next, and marks the date in 1947 when the Constitution of Japan first took effect. Created in the wake of World War II, this coincided with the country's new democratic direction and introduced a number of key clauses including the abolishment of war, and the prohibition of armed forces for warfare. It's only fitting that on the day people visit places of political importance, including the [National Diet Building](https://www.sangiin.go.jp/japanese/taiken/bochou/kengaku.html) (Japanese parliament) in Tokyo, which runs public tours of its normally-closed halls. Those wanting to take a deeper dive into the topic can also attend lectures and other educational events for free. ![Koinobori Huang Lin](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/347992/koinobori-Huang-Lin.jpg) Greenery Day (midori no hi) is closely linked to Shōwa Day, and celebrates Emperor Shōwa's love of nature. In fact, Shōwa Day was originally known as Greenery Day until it was decided there should be two separate holidays, due to May 4 already being an unnamed public holiday (according to Japanese law, a day that falls between two national holidays—in this case, Constitution Day on May 3 and Children's Day on May 5—must also be a national holiday). People mark this occasion by visiting gardens, parks and forests, as well as planting seedlings or contributing to the environment in other ways. As Golden Week typically coincides with the first crop of green tea for the season, visiting a tea room and taking part in a traditional tea ceremony is also a popular custom on this day. This brings us to the fourth and final event on the Golden Week calendar: Children's Day (kodomo no hi). Also known as the Boy's Festival (there's a separate Girl's Festival on March 3), this is certainly the most vibrant of all the Golden Week festivities. Despite its alternate name, this holiday celebrates children of all genders, along with the mothers who have raised them. It is also the reason for those famous carp-shaped flags or 'koinobori', which are hung outside homes as a type of prayer for a child's health and success (in Chinese legend, a carp was the only species of fish to transform into a dragon). Samurai dolls might also be displayed for the same reason. Not surprisingly, this day is often spent partaking in family-friendly activities like visiting zoos, amusement parks, and festivals, held especially for the occasion, complete with their own incredible koinobori displays. Families may also take iris baths or 'shobu-yu', an ancient practice believed to be both good for your health, AND for your fortune. ![Japan scenery](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/348013/japan-scenery.jpg) **Tips For Travelling During Golden Week** The most important piece of advice we can give you for Golden Week is to be prepared. That means booking your accommodation and travel ASAP (three to six months ahead, if you can), as popular options fill up quick. This also applies to public transport—trains and buses can be booked out many months' beforehand, so consider hiring a car for a few days if you need to travel. Similarly, any major tourist attractions that require tickets should also be secured ahead of time—and you may want to consider whether visiting these, along with any famous free attractions, is worth braving the inevitable crowds and queues for (if it can be shuffled to a later date, do it). Also keep in mind surge pricing, and the fact that many businesses close during this time. If you want a more relaxed Golden Week experience, we advise checking out some lesser-visited spots and staying in local areas away from the tourist mainstays. Having said that, Tokyo, aka one of the world's biggest and busiest cities, is considerably quieter during this time due to the fact that many workers have escaped the rat race for their own getaways. However you choose to spend the holidays, whether it's beneath the boughs of a cherry blossom tree, a koinobori-filled sky, or the ceiling of your hotel room as you hunker down—the golden rule for Golden Week is simply this: enjoy! Explore Uchi’s [curated Japanese properties](https://uchijapan.com/properties?search%5BsortBy%5D=date_desc), from city apartments to countryside retreats, and find the perfect place for your next adventure. [ Find your home in Japan. ](https://uchijapan.com/properties)