{"id":16448,"date":"2023-04-28T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-28T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/?p=16448"},"modified":"2025-06-30T15:00:58","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T06:00:58","slug":"best-ways-to-spend-your-golden-week-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/japanese-apartment-life\/best-ways-to-spend-your-golden-week-holidays\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Ways to Spend Your Golden Week Holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Golden Week or Ogon Shukan<\/em> in Japanese, is a collective group of four national holidays in one consecutive week. Also known as Ogata Renkyu<\/em>, this holiday usually begins on April 29th<\/sup> and concludes around the end of the first week of May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

April 29th<\/sup> was chosen to be the start of this holiday week as the date was previously made a holiday to celebrate the birth of the Showa Emperor. Upon his passing in 1989, the day was renamed Greenery Day or Midori no Hi<\/em> before being renamed again to Showa Day in honor of the late emperor. Greenery Day was subsequently shifted to May 4th<\/sup>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan\u2019s National Holiday Laws first publicized Golden Week in the summer of 1948, and the name is said to have originated from the radio term \u201cgolden time\u201d, which stands for the time when radio audience ratings are the highest. This is not a confirmed fact, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Golden Week is known to be the longest holiday period for many Japanese employees, and many take their paid time off (PTO) to travel both domestically and abroad. Some companies will also completely shut down during this week to give their employees time off. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Recharge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are numerous activities to indulge in during this time, depending on what you\u2019re in the mood for. A downside to Golden Week is that it results in many people taking their holidays at the same time, causing crowds at airports and train stations, and hotel prices to skyrocket. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To avoid the mad rush, some choose instead to stay in their hometowns, cities, and prefectures for a kind of \u201cstaycation.\u201d Others may focus on recharging their batteries by going to their local public baths and onsens, heading off to the park with their families, indulging in a much-needed massage or spa treatment, or even just unwinding at home<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Hiking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If the idea of being a coach potato doesn\u2019t appeal to you and being constantly amongst the hustle and bustle of the city is getting too much, why not check out some nearby hiking spots? Numerous studies have shown that hiking has numerous physiological and psychological benefits \u2013 it lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, staves off stress, anxiety, and depression, promotes weight loss and body strength, and provides your lungs with much-needed fresh air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Japan, going out into nature is called shinrin-yoku<\/em>, which literally translates to \u201cforest bathing.\u201d It\u2019s a beloved tradition that allows individuals to get out of the city and into nature to detox and recharge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re residing in Tokyo, there are some premium hiking spots near and even in the city, so you don\u2019t have to travel far for your fill of green:<\/p>\n\n\n\n