{"id":5157,"date":"2025-04-24T14:45:41","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T05:45:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mobalpay.com\/blog\/?p=5157"},"modified":"2025-05-27T15:10:59","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T06:10:59","slug":"golden-week-isnt-always-a-week-what-you-should-know-before-the-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mobalpay.com\/blog\/golden-week-isnt-always-a-week-what-you-should-know-before-the-holidays\/","title":{"rendered":"Golden Week Isn\u2019t Always a Week: What You Should Know Before the Holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"

Golden Week is just around the corner here in Japan\u2014a time when many people get a few days off, travel around the country, and enjoy some spring fun. \ud83c\udf38<\/p>\n

But let me be honest with you.
\nEver since I was a student, I\u2019ve wondered why it\u2019s called Golden Week when sometimes it\u2019s really just a few scattered days off. Shouldn\u2019t it be \u201cGolden Days\u201d? \ud83d\ude05<\/p>\n

Content:<\/h3>\n

1. What Is Golden Week?<\/a>
\n2. What About Golden Week This Year? (2025 Edition)<\/a>
\n3. Planning a Trip? Here\u2019s What You Need to Know<\/a>
\n4. Payment Tips: Stay Smooth with Cashless Options<\/a>
\n5. Enjoy Your Golden Week\u2014Your Way<\/a><\/p>\n

What Is Golden Week?<\/h3>\n

Golden Week is a string of national holidays in Japan that happens every year from late April to early May. It’s one of the busiest and most anticipated holiday seasons in the country\u2014often compared to Thanksgiving or Christmas travel seasons in other parts of the world.<\/p>\n

Here’s what it usually includes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

April 29 \u2013 Showa Day<\/strong>
\nMay 3 \u2013 Constitution Memorial Day<\/strong>
\nMay 4 \u2013 Greenery Day<\/strong>
\nMay 5 \u2013 Children’s Day<\/strong><\/p>\n

Depending on how the dates fall in the calendar, people sometimes combine these holidays with weekends or paid leave to create a longer vacation-what we like to call a “mega-holiday.”<\/p>\n

What About Golden Week This Year? (2025 Edition)<\/h3>\n

In 2025, the dates fall like this:<\/p>\n

April 26 (Sat) \u2013 Weekend<\/strong>
\nApril 27 (Sun) \u2013 Weekend<\/strong>
\nApril 28 (Mon) \u2013 Working day<\/strong>
\nApril 29 (Tue) \u2013 Showa Day (holiday)<\/strong>
\nApril 30 (Wed) \u2013 Working day<\/strong>
\nMay 1 (Thu) \u2013 Working day<\/strong>
\nMay 2 (Fri) \u2013 Working day<\/strong>
\nMay 3 (Sat) \u2013 Constitution Memorial Day<\/strong>
\nMay 4 (Sun) \u2013 Greenery Day<\/strong>
\nMay 5 (Mon) \u2013 Children’s Day<\/strong>
\nMay 6 (Tue) \u2013 Holiday (observed, because May 4 is a Sunday)<\/strong><\/p>\n

So technically, there are four official holidays\u2014but here\u2019s the trick:
\nIf you take paid leave from April 28 to May 2, you can get a 12-day break from April 26 to May 6! \ud83e\udd2f<\/p>\n

Even just taking April 30 \u2013 May 2 off gives you a solid 8-day holiday.<\/p>\n

Planning a Trip? Here\u2019s What You Need to Know<\/h3>\n

Golden Week is great for travel, but it comes with a few headaches too.<\/p>\n

From experience, I can say: traffic is wild.
\nI once spent 3 hours in a car trying to leave Tokyo\u2014it was not golden at all.<\/p>\n

So here are some tips:<\/p>\n