Traveling to Japan in Golden Week (& Other Holidays)

It’s Golden Week here in Japan (as I write this).

“What's Golden Week?” you might be asking.
“And how does this affect me if I'm traveling in Japan?”

If you're in Japan right now and reading this, it might be a little late — but don’t worry, I’ll share a few last-minute tips if you’re looking to tweak your Japan itinerary on the fly.

For most of you, though, you're probably in the planning stage for your upcoming trip to Japan, maybe during Golden Week, Obon or New Year's — the three biggest holiday periods in Japan.

Should traveling during a Japanese holiday be a deal-breaker? Stick around to find out!

Golden Week in Japan - What’s It All About?

Golden Week is a series of public holidays that usually falls between late April and early May. On the 2025 calendar, the official holidays are:

• April 29

• May 3, 4 & 5

Unofficially, a lot of people take extra vacation days to stretch the holiday out, especially if the dates line up well with weekends. This means you'll see a big spike in domestic travel — and yes, it can impact everything from train availability to hotel rates.

What Is Traveling During Japan’s Golden Week Really Like?

The other day, we took a little day trip to Nara, one of Japan’s ancient capitals and a favorite destination for both Japanese travelers and international visitors. It’s always been popular among Japanese, but in the past few years, the number of overseas visitors has exploded.

Walking through Nara Park (yes, the one with the famous deer), I noticed something interesting: almost everyone around us was speaking a language other than Japanese. And no, these weren't Japanese students on a language school field trip — they were international tourists. Honestly, it was hard to even find Japanese travelers in that area!

Still, once we ventured into the more local parts of Nara, we could tell that Golden Week was underway — the road traffic and local activity were noticeably heavier than usual. It’s a good reminder that Japanese domestic travel ramps up big time during these holiday periods.

What Happens in Big Cities Like Tokyo or Osaka During Golden Week?

Tokyo Empties Out (Sort Of)

If you're traveling to Tokyo during Golden Week (or Obon or New Year's), you might notice the city feels... a little different.

Tokyo is still very much a city of "transplants" — people who moved there for work, school or other opportunities. During the holidays, a lot of them head back to their hometowns, which means certain parts of Tokyo actually feel a bit emptier.

But don’t get too comfortable — inbound tourism (aka, international visitors to Japan) is still going strong, and they don't leave. If anything, tourist areas stay lively thanks to travelers like you.

Train Travel During Golden Week in Japan

The biggest issue isn’t necessarily crowds at tourist attractions — it’s transportation.

Outbound trains from Tokyo at the start of the holiday period get packed. If you plan to travel from Tokyo to places like Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima or Hokkaido, you’ll want to reserve your Shinkansen (bullet train) seats exactly one month in advance — when reservations open.

Then, a few days before the holiday ends, you’ll see the reverse — everyone rushing back into Tokyo.
Again: reserve your return train early, and bring a healthy dose of patience for crowded stations and full trains.

Sound like more reason to head out to some lesser-visited (but equally great) destinations in Japan? I’d have to agree.

Should You Avoid Japan During Golden Week?

So, stay away from Japan during holidays then, yeah? Not necessarily!

It really depends on:

• Where you're traveling

• When you're traveling

• How flexible you are with your plans

If you’re sticking to popular tourist spots like Tokyo, Osaka or even major areas of Kyoto and Nara, Golden Week might not dramatically impact your experience — apart from slightly larger crowds and potentially higher hotel rates.

If you're heading to places that are beloved by Japanese travelers — like Hakone, Okinawa, Kyushu or Hokkaido — you might notice it more.

Onsen (hot spring) resorts in particular tend to book out fast and prices go up.

Tips for Traveling in Japan During Golden Week (Or Any Major Holiday)

1. Know When Japan’s Holidays Are

Here’s a quick guide:

• Golden Week: Late April to early May

• Obon: Mid-August

• New Year’s: Late December to early January

Plan around these dates when booking transportation and hotels.

2. Book Transportation as Early as Possible

• Train reservations open one month in advance, at 10:00 a.m. Japan time

• Domestic flights during these periods also sell out quickly, so grab those early if you're flying

3. Book Hotels in the Sweet Spot

While it’s tempting to book hotels super early, sometimes third-party booking sites (OTAs) inflate prices for early birds.
We often find the sweet spot for booking hotels in Japan is about 2–4 months in advance — even for holiday periods. But it’s not a hard rule. Some properties might not even release all their rooms until closer to the date.

4. Pack Your Patience

Trains, buses, stations and popular sightseeing spots will be busy. Expect lines. Expect crowds.
If you go in with the right mindset, you’ll have a much better time.

Final Thoughts on Traveling During Golden Week in Japan

Traveling to Japan during Golden Week, Obon or New Year's isn’t automatically a bad idea — you just need to plan ahead, book smart and stay flexible.

If you're the type who likes to roll with the punches (and maybe enjoys a little extra people-watching), you’ll be just fine. Experiencing Japan during a major holiday gives you a peek into Japanese culture that you mightn’t get during quieter times of year.

Safe travels, and enjoy your Japan adventure — holiday crowds and all!

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