Japan celebrates Golden Week

Published May 4, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Zade C. Vadnais
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Around the end of April each year on Okinawa, there suddenly seems to be more traffic, tourist destinations and popular restaurants appear to be more crowded, and it feels like hotel rates soar.

It's not your imagination; it's Golden Week, the longest vacation period of the year for most Japanese nationals and one of the most popular times for families to travel.

Although hotel, airfare and train ticket rates skyrocket during Golden Week, it remains one of the busiest travel times for Japan. This is largely due to the fact that many companies and businesses shut down for about a week to 10 days and offer their employees paid time off.

"My wife is off work and my kids are off school so we will try to do something special with our kids," said Naoto Anazawa, 18th Wing Public Affairs photojournalist. "We will go to the beach or maybe the new mall -- something fun like that."

Often likened to American Spring Break, Golden Week is an important vacation for Japanese people. Golden Week gives Japanese citizens a chance to travel, celebrate their families and be thankful for their blessings as temperatures begin rising and most of the Japanese landscape shakes off the snow.

"Golden Week is a time for people to get their families together and do something special," Anazawa said. "It's an important time to celebrate being together."

Four national holidays are observed during this week; Showa Day, Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day and Children's Day.

Showa Day is observed annually on April 29 and honors the birthday of Emperor Showa, Japan's most recently deceased emperor who reigned from 1926-1989. Showa Day encourages citizens to reflect on this turbulent period in Japan's history.

Constitution Memorial Day falls on May 3 and celebrates the current Japanese constitution which was signed following World War II in 1947. This day is intended to give citizens an opportunity to think about democracy and the current state of the Japanese government.

Greenery Day is traditionally celebrated on May 4 and provides citizens an opportunity to commune with nature and be thankful for their blessings. Although originally named "The Emperor's Birthday," the holiday's name was changed following the current emperor's ascension to the throne in 1989. The name was changed to Greenery Day to reflect the wartime emperor's love for plants and nature.

Children's Day, held May 5, is a day set aside to celebrate the individual personalities of Japanese children and their happiness. Originally a day to celebrate sons and recognize fathers, the celebration has expanded to include daughters and mothers as well. Japanese families celebrate Children's Day by raising carp-shaped koinobori windsock flags--one for the mother, one for the father and one for each child.

"Each holiday has a different meaning, but usually people look at the week as a whole," said Naoko Shimoji, 18th Wing PA graphic artist. "Especially for families with children, it's a good time for a big vacation."

Travelers are reminded to plan for busier traffic conditions and be mindful of safe driving practices.