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Think about spring break, however for a whole nation! That’s what Golden Week in Japan looks like yearly. With 4 holidays spanning the total week, celebrations and festivals are held throughout the nation. This makes it the right time to journey for these dwelling in Japan and coming from overseas.

There’s a ton to soak up all through the week, however there are a pair further steps you’ll have to take to make sure you aren’t overwhelmed by the crowds. We’ve included a full record of journey suggestions under, together with extra element on the historical past and traditions of every vacation! 

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What’s Golden Week in Japan?

Golden Week is the week in the midst of spring the place 4 nationwide holidays fall inside seven days. Because of this many individuals have an entire week off work or faculty. 

The 4 holidays that make up Golden Week are:

• Shōwa Day (Shōwa no Hello 昭和の日)
• Structure Memorial Day (Kenpō Kinenbi 憲法記念日)
• Greenery Day (Midori no Hello みどりの日)
• Kids’s Day (Kodomo no Hello 子供の日)

Every vacation has its personal historical past and festivities. Shōwa Day and Structure Memorial Day are each holidays recognizing Japanese historical past, Greenery Day celebrates the setting, and Kids’s Day has a wealthy cultural historical past with origins relationship again to the Kamakura interval (1185–1333) and even additional.

Some occasions is probably not immediately tied to anybody vacation, however are nonetheless a pleasure to see. The Miyako Odori efficiency by geisha and maiko in Kyoto is held in April and is a stellar instance of conventional Japanese dance and tradition. For those who’re within the Tokyo space, Meiji Jingu, the Shinto shrine the place Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken are commemorated, additionally holds ceremonies and reveals. For those who select to go to the shrine, do do not forget that it’s a non secular place and ought to be approached with respect.

>> Listed here are some recommendations on easy methods to converse to Japanese locals with respect!

When is Golden Week in Japan?

Golden Week begins in late April and continues by way of the start of Might. 

• Shōwa Day (Shōwa no Hello 昭和の日): April 29
• Structure Memorial Day (Kenpō Kinenbi 憲法記念日): Might 3
• Greenery Day (Midori no Hello みどりの日): Might 4
• Kids’s Day (Kodomo no Hello 子供の日): Might 5

Japanese regulation stipulates that any day that falls between two nationwide holidays shall even be a vacation, referred to as a “residents’ vacation.” Earlier than Greenery Day was established, Might 4 was one such vacation.

Relying on the place April 29 falls on the calendar in any given 12 months, weekends could lengthen Golden Week, or there could also be a stretch of as much as three days within the center the place there aren’t any nationwide holidays or weekends that will require workplaces to offer the time off. Golden Week 2023 started on Saturday, April 29, which meant that Kids’s Day was on a Friday, main into a little bit further time tacked on to the tip within the type of a weekend.

Golden Week 2024 will start on Monday, April 29 and finish on Sunday, Might 5. Whereas April 30 by way of Might 2 should not nationwide holidays, Golden Week will nonetheless be loved all through the nation.

Journey suggestions for visiting Japan throughout Golden Week

Enthusiastic about touring to Japan over this busy week? There are lots of good causes to! There are conventional festivals, flowers are in bloom all around the nation, and the climate is gorgeous in early Might. Nonetheless, additionally it is value maintaining a number of issues in thoughts. 

Make reservations

Vacationers each in Japan and from overseas have their eyes on Golden Week. To be sure you get to the locations in your record, make reservations early: 3 to six months prematurely, if you happen to can. Tickets promote out for trains, airways, inns, excursions, and extra, so get your bookings in to keep away from lacking out.

Know what’s open

Not all the things is open on nationwide holidays. Nonessential authorities workplaces will shut, as will banks. It’s extremely vital that you simply guarantee you’ve entry to the funds you want earlier than visiting Japan throughout Golden Week to keep away from any monetary disasters.

Shops and eating places will nonetheless be open — and should even have gross sales! — however their working hours could also be barely completely different than regular, so test forward for any specific locations you plan to go to.

Have entry to the web

Maps, messaging providers, e mail…all are vital for a easy journey. Particularly throughout such a busy week, schedules can change and it’s simple to get misplaced within the crowds. Plan to get a short lived SIM card on your telephone or a conveyable Wi-Fi router to maintain your self related.

Be versatile!

Be ready for issues to occur final minute. Whether or not rain cancels the parade or it takes longer to get to your lodge than you anticipated, your journey could have some bumps and hurdles. Don’t let it discourage you and maintain some back-up plans in your pocket!

Now that you’ve got these factors in thoughts, let’s take a look at what holidays are noticed throughout Golden Week.

>> Follow some Japanese earlier than you go together with these dialog classes!

Shōwa Day

On April 29, Japan kicks off Golden Week with a day celebrating Emperor Shōwa’s birthday. He’s additionally recognized by one other identify: Hirohito. 

The Japanese calendar system was aligned with the Gregorian calendar within the late nineteenth century, however some components are nonetheless used right this moment. One instance is the period identify (gengō 元号) system. When a brand new emperor ascends to the throne, a brand new period begins and a reputation is chosen to seek advice from each him and the period. The period of the present emperor, Naruhito, is the Reiwa Period. Upon an emperor’s demise, he’s henceforth referred to by that period identify.

Emperor Shōwa, or Hirohito, was the reigning emperor from 1926 to 1989. Because the emperor throughout Japan’s interval of imperial growth and World Battle II, he’s typically a tough matter because of the ambiguous extent of his position throughout that point. 

The present emperor’s birthday is a nationwide vacation in Japan (at the moment February 23 for Emperor Naruhito), however Emperor Shōwa’s birthday is the one one which continues to be noticed after his demise. Whereas it was as soon as a day to rejoice his birthday, right this moment it’s inspired to mirror on the occasions throughout his reign and the way Japan has moved ahead. 

Structure Memorial Day

In 1947, Japan’s present structure was enacted. With the cooperation of U.S. Basic Douglas MacArthur, Japan created their new structure following World Battle II, which adopted a extra fashionable mannequin. It’s the world’s oldest unamended structure, having not been amended since its enactment!

Very similar to Shōwa Day, Structure Memorial Day is a day to ponder Japanese historical past and the present state of Japan. The Nationwide Weight-reduction plan, Japan’s legislature, opens the doorways of its constructing to the general public for excursions. It’s also possible to discover public lectures on World Battle II and Japanese historical past, in addition to topical items in newspapers.

Greenery Day

Greenery Day, celebrated on Might 4, is one in all many holidays around the globe that celebrates the setting and nature. Its origins are immediately tied to Shōwa Day. 

When it was established in 1989, Greenery Day was held on April 29, which is now Shōwa Day. Emperor Shōwa was keen on nature, so the affiliation was apt. On the time, Greenery Day was used as a alternative vacation for Emperor Shōwa’s birthday as a result of the vacation held for the emperor’s birthday can be that of the brand new emperor, Emperor Akihito. In 2007, Shōwa Day was established and Greenery Day was moved to Might 4, which had already been a residents’ vacation.

Folks rejoice Greenery Day by spending time in nature. Zoos across the nation provide free admission, bushes are planted in honor of the vacation, and the climate throughout Golden Week is usually nice for mountaineering. Japan’s well-known cherry blossoms might also nonetheless be in bloom within the northernmost elements of the nation, and Greenery Day is an ideal day to get pleasure from hanami (花見, flower viewing).

Kids’s Day

Ending Golden Week with a bang, Kids’s Day celebrates the youngsters of Japan. It was initially often known as Tango no Sekku (端午の節句) and solely celebrated boys, whereas Ladies’ Day (Hinamatsuri 雛祭り) was celebrated on March 3. Ladies’ Day continues to be held, however now each girls and boys are included in Kids’s Day. Nonetheless, solely Kids’s Day is a nationwide vacation. 

Traditions

On Kids’s Day, households want for the well being and happiness of their youngsters. As youngsters are at all times rising, measuring them is a enjoyable custom to see how a lot taller they’ve grow to be over the course of a 12 months.

Iris flowers and leaves are thought to carry good well being, and are included in Kids’s Day decorations. Some households even take baths with iris vegetation on this present day.

Shows

Koinobori (鯉のぼり, or carp-shaped windsocks) are flown all through Japan with every fish representing a member of the household. Black signifies the daddy, purple represents the mom, and varied colours can be utilized for the youngsters (usually blue). Regardless that the vacation solely lasts for a day, you might even see these decorations flying within the wind for weeks. 

Samurai armor can be placed on show contained in the properties, which is traditionally related to needs for sturdy and wholesome boys. Creating samurai armor or carps out of paper utilizing origami or kirigami (like origami, however the paper is minimize in addition to folded) can be completed as a enjoyable, accessible exercise.

Meals

In fact, there are additionally conventional meals to be loved on Kids’s Day! Kashiwamochi (柏餅) and chimaki (粽) are each related to the vacation.

Kashiwamochi is a mochi rice cake wrapped in oak leaves, full of adzuki bean paste. The sakuramochi (桜餅) eaten on Ladies’ Day is wrapped with pickled cherry blossom leaves and might be eaten, however the oak leaves overlaying kashiwamochi shouldn’t be. 

Chimaki are triangular rice desserts crammed with all kinds of elements, not like the extra plain onigiri (おにぎり) discovered year-round. The glutinous rice (mochigome 餅米) is the first ingredient, however shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and carrots are widespread greens added to the filling. Soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, and sesame oil can all be used to taste a savory chimaki.

Have fun Golden Week with Rosetta Stone

Golden Week is without doubt one of the highlights of the 12 months in Japan. Whether or not you’re observing the vacations from afar or making the most of the times off to journey round Japan, diving deeper into Japanese tradition by studying the language can solely improve your expertise!

Overlook about flashcards and rote memorization: Japanese is definitely inside your attain by way of Rosetta Stone’s bite-sized classes and totally immersive setting. We introduce you naturally to new languages with our Dynamic Immersion methodology, serving to you to course of the language like a local speaker. Our TruAccent speech-recognition engine will take heed to you converse and put you on observe to have the right accent. Bounce into your first lesson and start your Japanese journey right this moment.

Written by Alexa Bevan