What Makes the Week “Golden”?

ゴールデンウィーク (often shortened to GW) is Japan’s longest holiday period after New Year’s. It packs four national holidays into a single week from late April to early May:

• April 29 — 昭和の日 (Shōwa Day) — honoring Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito)
• May 3 — 憲法記念日 (Constitution Day) — celebrating Japan’s 1947 constitution
• May 4 — みどりの日 (Greenery Day) — appreciating nature
• May 5 — こどもの日 (Children’s Day) — celebrating children, featuring iconic 鯉のぼり (koinobori, carp streamers)

With weekends and strategic use of paid leave, many workers can string together 7–10 consecutive days off.

The Name Came From the Movies

The term “Golden Week” was coined by the Japanese film industry in the early 1950s. Movie theaters noticed that this holiday cluster brought in their highest attendance of the year — even better than New Year’s or Obon. A film executive reportedly borrowed the radio industry term “ゴールデンタイム” (golden time = prime time) and applied it to this golden period for box office revenue.

Fun Fact

Golden Week traffic jams are legendary. Highway congestion of 30–50 km is common, and the Shinkansen operates at over 100% capacity. Savvy locals have a saying: GWは「我慢ウィーク」 — “Gaman Week” (Endurance Week). Many people simply stay home to avoid the chaos, turning GW into the world’s most crowded staycation.