Japan is a nation that famously takes their working week very seriously. Hours are often long and hard and, as paid vacation is relatively limited when compared to many western countries, the decision to take time off is not taken lightly. This goes a long way to explain why Golden Week is so fervently celebrated in Japan.

Golden Week straddles the spring months, from April 29 to May 5, and is marked by four national holidays. As such, Toyota & other businesses shut down operations entirely, giving their employees, with weekends taken into consideration, up to ten days of rest.

A great chance to escape the office, Golden Week is also good excuse to go on a trip.

Showa Day, April 29

Showa Day on April 29: Hirohito, the Showa Emperor, a controversial figure in Japan as his reign –spanned a particularly turbulent time in Japan’s history, and rather than being seen as a celebration of Hirohito’s life, it is meant as a day of reflection on those difficult times.

Constitutional Memorial Day, May 3

The 3rd of May is Constitutional Memorial Day, a day which is set aside to recognise the coming into effect of the current Japanese constitution on this day in 1947.

Greenery Day, May 4

Golden Week, April 29 acknowledging Hirohito’s love for flora, whilst avoiding accrediting him directly. Then, in 2005, following the revision of Japanese holiday law, Showa day was instated and Greenery day moved to May 4* to become a time, as the name references, for Japanese to ponder upon and commune with nature.

Children’s Day on May, 5

The final bookend of Golden Week is Children’s Day on May 5. Traditionally known as Boy’s Day. Up to this day families will display brightly coloured carp shaped koinobori flags (resembling and functioning in a way similar to wind socks) outside their homes, one for each boy in the household (though since the holiday was renamed Children’s Day many families fly one koinobori per child). The carp is a reference to the Chinese legend of the great fish swimming upstream to become a dragon, representative of a boy’s struggle and ultimate success in attaining manhood, and thus greatness.

So our bags are packed and we too are heading out to explore Hiroshima, Miyajima, Osaka and Kobe