Golden Week - Definition and Overview

Golden Week (Japanese: ゴールデンウィーク or 黄金週間, abbreviation: GW) is a Japanese term applied to the period containing the following public holidays:

• April 29, Greenery Day (みどりの日)
• May 3, Constitution Memorial Day (憲法記念日)
• May 4, Bank Holiday (国民の休日, since 1985)
• May 5, Children's Day (子供の日, Kodomo no hi), also known as Boys' Day (端午の節句, Tango no Sekku)

Note Girls' Festival (Hinamatsuri) is March 3

Note that May Day (May 1) is not a public holiday, but is nevertheless often granted as a holiday by companies.

The term was coined by movie theater operators after a new law in 1948 created the consecutive holidays, and thus increased attendance. At the time, April 29 was a national holiday for the birthday of Emperor Showa, but after his death in 1989, the day was renamed in order to retain Golden Week.

Many Japanese take paid time off on the intervening work days. The longest vacation period of the year, Golden Week is an extremely popular time to travel. Flights, trains and hotels are often fully booked despite higher rates at this time.

See also

• Japanese festivals