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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 post war 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 and nature, 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, both symbolizing strength, power and success in life. The Girl's Festival, by the way, is celebrated on March 3.
Golden Week 2010
In 2010, the Golden Week will consist of an isolated public holiday (April 29) and a 5-day weekend (May 1-5). Travel activity is anticipated to peak on May 1 with people leaving the large urban centers and on May 5 in the opposite direction. Heavy traffic can also be expected on April 29 and May 4.
Mon
April 26
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Tue
April 27
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Wed
April 28
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Thu
April 29
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Fri
April 30
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Sat
May 1
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Sun
May 2
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Mon
May 3
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Tue
May 4
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Wed
May 5
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Thu
May 6
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Fri
May 7
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Sat
May 8
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Sun
May 9
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Golden Week 2011
In 2011, weekends are unfavorably placed to create two separate holidays of three days each. Travel activity is anticipated to peak on April 29 and May 3 with people leaving the large urban centers and on May 1 and 5 in the opposite direction.
Mon
April 25
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Tue
April 26
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Wed
April 27
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Thu
April 28
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Fri
April 29
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Sat
April 30
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Sun
May 1
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Mon
May 2
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Tue
May 3
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Wed
May 4
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Thu
May 5
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Fri
May 6
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Sat
May 7
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Sun
May 8
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