Golden Week (and Silver Week)

The Golden Week is a collection of four national holidays within seven days. In combination with well placed weekends, the Golden Week becomes one of Japan's three busiest holiday seasons, besides New Year and the Obon week.

Trains, airports and sightseeing spots get very crowded during Golden Week, and accommodation in tourist areas can get booked out well in advance.

The national holidays making up the Golden Week are:

• April 29
  Showa Day (Showa no hi):
  April 29 is the birthday of former Emperor Showa, who died in the year 1989. Until 2006, Greenery Day (see May 4) used to be celebrated on this day.
• May 3
  Constitution Day (Kenpo kinenbi):
  On this day in 1947, the new postwar constitution was put into effect.
• May 4
  Greenery Day (Midori no hi):
  Until 2006, Greenery Day used to be celebrated on April 29, the birthday of former Emperor Showa. The day is dedicated to the environment, because the emperor loved plants and nature. Before being declared Greenery Day, May 4 used to be a national holiday due to a law, which declares a day, that falls between two national holidays, a national holiday.
• May 5
  Children's Day (Kodomo no hi):
  The Boy's Festival (Tango no Sekku) is celebrated on this day. Families pray for the health and future success of their sons by hanging up carp streamers and displaying samurai dolls, symbolizing strength, power and success in life. The Girl's Festival is celebrated on March 3.

Golden Week 2027

In 2027, the weekends are placed to create a 5-day holiday. Travel activity is anticipated to peak on May 1 with people leaving the large urban centers (especially Tokyo) and on May 4 and 5 in the opposite direction.

Mon April 26	Tue April 27	Wed April 28	Thu April 29	Fri April 30	Sat May 1	Sun May 2
Mon May 3	Tue May 4	Wed May 5	Thu May 6	Fri May 7	Sat May 8	Sun May 9

Golden Week 2028

In 2028, the weekends are placed to create a 5-day holiday. Travel activity is anticipated to peak on May 3 with people leaving the large urban centers (especially Tokyo) and on May 6 and 7 in the opposite direction.

Mon April 24	Tue April 25	Wed April 26	Thu April 27	Fri April 28	Sat April 29	Sun April 30
Mon May 1	Tue May 2	Wed May 3	Thu May 4	Fri May 5	Sat May 6	Sun May 7

Silver Week

Usually every five to six years, a favorable accumulation of national holidays (Respect for the Aged Day, Autumn Equinox and a possible in-between holiday) and a weekend creates a longer holiday period similar to Golden Week around late September. The holiday has popularly become known as "Silver Week". The next notable Silver Weeks are expected to be in 2032, 2037 and 2043 when five-day long holidays will be observed.