Golden Week Japan: Essential Guide for Travellers in 2026

It's said that back in 1951, a film called Jiyū Gakkō (School of Freedom) became an unexpected box office smash. A studio director, quick on the uptake, declared the period of national holidays a Golden Week, borrowing the term from the radio industry’s Golden Time which was peak listening hours. It was a marketing stunt, and it worked, sticking permanently to the calendar.

Today this glorious stretch, which incorporates four separate national holidays, is when workers who usually only take five days of paid leave all year suddenly have a massive, compulsory block of time off.

The latest survey data shows that domestic travel during a major Golden Week often surpasses 22 million trips. That's like the entire population of the Netherlands, 17 million people, simultaneously deciding to go on a road trip across a country roughly the size of the Australian state of Victoria.

But despite the traffic-jams, Golden Week is when Japan is at its most fun. It’s the sweet spot for weather in Japan, the period of most intense regional festivals, and the chance to see the country truly celebrating its spring and its history.

This is your guide to making the most of Golden Week in Japan with strategic planning for an authentic adventure without being wedged into the bullet train vestibule with a thousand suitcases!

The Golden Week holiday is defined by a fortunate calendar arrangement that pulls together four separate public holidays into a single break. It is the longest consecutive period of rest for many Japanese workers outside of the New Year period.

If a weekday falls between two holidays, it legally becomes a holiday, and if a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes a substitute holiday.

The four holidays, in chronological order, are Showa Day on April 29th, Constitution Memorial Day on May 3rd, Greenery Day on May 4th, and Children’s Day on May 5th.

Shōwa Day (Shōwa no Hi) commemorates the birthday of the late Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito), encouraging reflection on the difficult and transformative period of his reign (1926–1989).

Constitution Memorial Day (Kenpō Kinenbi) celebrates the enforcement of the post-war Constitution in 1947, a day dedicated to reflecting on democracy, and ironically the only day when the National Diet Building (Japan's parliament house) opens its doors, attracting one of the year's longest queue lines.

Greenery Day (Midori no Hi) was a nod to Emperor Shōwa's love of nature, now a day to appreciate Japan's staggering natural beauty, which naturally drives millions toward the parks and mountains.

Finally, Children’s Day (Kodomo no Hi) is a celebration of the health and happiness of all children, marked by the powerful visual of koinobori (carp streamers) flying in the wind.

Transport and hotels, which are already notoriously competitive in Japan, evaporate months in advance of Golden Week.

• May 2nd (Saturday) and May 3rd (Sunday/Constitution Memorial Day) will see a massive influx of people into all major tourist cities, especially Kyoto.
• May 5th (Children’s Day) and May 6th (Substitute Holiday) are the busiest days for return travel, as every salaryman, student, and family attempts to return to Tokyo and Osaka before Thursday morning.
• Your best defence is to plan long-distance journeys on the middle days, April 30th or May 1st, or ideally, travel against the flow, heading north or south to more remote destinations while the crowds are bottlenecked in the centre.

The shinkansen (bullet train) is the primary transport of the Golden Week crowd, so being spontaneous is simply not an option. You must secure your reserved seats the moment they become available, which for many services is three months prior.

If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you can only reserve seats once you are physically in Japan, which means you might be stuck with non-reserved carriages. These carriages get full, really really full.

If you can’t get a reserved seat, target trains on less popular routes or travel during the less popular hours which are mid-morning or late evening.

Unless you are staying exclusively in a single, regional area, you also can't rely on driving. The traffic jams leaving Tokyo can easily last half a day.

Stick to rail, but consider local and rapid express lines for shorter hops as they're less crowded and less expensive than the bullet train.

When it comes to travel snacks, the Japanese konbini (convenience store) is a sanctuary of efficient, high-quality, pre-made food. Grab a fresh onigiri, a coffee, and a tamago sando (egg sandwich), and eat it on the go. You’ll be saving time and money, allowing you to hit your first temple before the first domestic tour bus arrives.

For a genuinely good time, pivot to experiences that are either regional, nature-based, or specifically tied to the festival dates. Your goal is to see Japan not as a rushed tourist, but as a traveller who understands the country's rhythm.

If you want a huge, ridiculously fun street party, bypass Kyoto’s inevitable gridlock and head south to Fukuoka for the Hakata Dontaku Festival on May 3rd and 4th.

This is one of Japan's biggest festivals, attracting millions, but because it’s a modern city with great logistics, it absorbs the crowds better than older, narrower hubs. It’s a full-throttle carnival dating back 840 years, featuring elaborate parade floats (kazariyama), traditional shamisen music, and vibrant dancers moving through the streets. It’s a powerful dose of regional energy that you won't find in the more manicured Tokyo events.

If you missed the cherry blossoms in Tokyo and Kyoto in March, Golden Week is your second chance.

The sakura front moves north, and the beginning of May is the perfect time for the late bloomers in the Tōhoku region. The Hirosaki Park Cherry Blossom Festival in Aomori Prefecture is famous for its stunning concentration of trees, where the blossoms hang over the castle moat, sometimes forming a beautiful ‘cherry blossom carpet’ on the water.

By taking a domestic flight or the northern shinkansen to Aomori, you are effectively travelling against the main flow of the domestic tourist migration, immediately cutting down on stress and earning yourself one of the most sublime views Japan offers.

On Children’s Day (May 5th), we recommend skipping the major city zoos and theme parks and instead seek out a large, regional display of koinobori (carp streamers). These displays, where hundreds of colourful carp windsocks are flown high over rivers or mountain valleys, are a powerful cultural expression of strength and perseverance.

Look for regional parks outside of city centres, such as the one in Sagamihara (Kanagawa Prefecture), which often features a massive display stretched over the Sagami River. It’s a genuine, family-focused cultural moment that is relatively spread-out and easier to absorb when compared with a busy city event.

If you're looking for that postcard shot of Mt. Fuji, head to the fields near Lake Motosuko in Shizuoka for the Fuji Shibazakura Festival. This is where Shibazakura (moss phlox) bloom in vibrant carpets of pink, white, and purple, with the magnificent Fujisan standing sentinel in the background.

While popular, the sheer size of the fields allows the crowds to dissipate far better than they would in an ancient shrine. It’s a dedicated, seasonal nature trip that offers a unique experience, perfect for a day trip planned around off-peak travel times.

Golden Week is an annual series of four national public holidays in Japan that are clustered together, usually between April 29th and May 5th. It is one of the longest annual consecutive breaks for many Japanese workers, making it one of the busiest and most expensive domestic travel periods of the year.

Golden Week dates for 2026 officially run from Wednesday, April 29 (Shōwa Day) to Wednesday, May 6 (a substitute holiday). If you are looking to travel, aim to move between cities on the shoulder days, like May 1st or May 7th, to avoid the peak travel congestion on April 29th and May 5th-6th.

To avoid the worst of the congestion, consider travelling against the flow. Instead of joining the crowds between Tokyo and Kyoto, explore destinations like Fukuoka, for the lively Hakata Dontaku Festival, or the Tōhoku Region around Aomori, to catch the last of the cherry blossoms at Hirosaki Park. These regional areas offer unique, large-scale festivals and natural experiences that spread the crowds more thinly.

The weather during Golden Week Japan is generally considered the best of the year. Temperatures are typically mild and pleasant, averaging between 15°C and 25°C in the major cities, with low humidity. It's ideal weather for walking, hiking, and enjoying outdoor festivals, though the far north (like Hokkaido) will still be cooler.

Key cultural events revolve around Children's Day (May 5th), where koinobori (carp streamers) are flown nationally. Major festivals include the Hakata Dontaku Festival in Fukuoka (May 3rd-4th) and the Hamamatsu Kite Festival in Shizuoka. These are large, high-energy events that offer a deeper dive into regional Japanese culture than the typical urban tourist trail.

For tackling massive, crowded hubs like Tokyo or Osaka, ibis and ibis Styles hotels in Japan are essential, no-fuss basecamps. They’re usually located near major train stations, offering the vital sleep, shower, sight-see routine.

If you are travelling with children during Children’s Day and need more space to retreat from the overwhelming crowds, look for family-centric hotels like Novotel. Often featuring larger rooms and family facilities, Novotel hotels provide a sanctuary where the kids can properly decompress after a day of dealing with packed parks or attractions.

Wherever you're travelling during Golden Week, Accor hotels in Japan have options for all types of travel experience from budget friendly hotels to luxury escapes.