Japan will have 10 consecutive holidays During Golden Week in 2019
Golden Week in 2019 will last for 10 consecutive days.
In Japan, several holidays are celebrated from the end of April to the beginning of May. This holiday-studded week is often called “Golden Week.” At this time of the year, many people in Japan are on the go because the weather is good. There are normally four or five holidays during Golden Week. It is often called “Stepping Stone Holidays” because, typically, national holidays are separated by working days. However, Golden Week in 2019 will likely last for 10 consecutive days.
Crown Prince Naruhito, also known as Prince Hironomiya, will succeed to the imperial throne on May 1, 2019. The Japanese Government is considering making the day a national holiday instead of a one-off holiday. Whether this will remain simply a one-off holiday as the government announced earlier or will become a national holiday will make a considerable difference. If the government decides to make May 1 a national holiday, April 30 and May 2 will also become national holidays because of Japan’s “holiday law.” The law stipulates that any day falling between two national holidays will also become a national holiday. As you can see below, April 29 is a national holiday, as is May 3. If the government makes May 1 a national holiday, April 30 and May 2 will become national holidays because these two days fall between existing holidays: Showa Day and Constitution Memorial Day. This means that people in Japan will have 10 consecutive holidays in Golden Week in 2019.
| Shōwa Day (Birthday of Emperor Showa) | April 29 |
| National Holiday | April 30 |
| Accession of new emperor | May 1 |
| National Holiday | May 2 |
| Constitution Memorial Day | May 3 |
| Greenery Day | May 4 |
| Children’s Day | May 5 |
| Children’s Day (observed) | May 6 |
・ The word “Golden Week” was coined by an executive of a Japanese movie maker. He used the word “Golden Week” in the hope that many people come to the movie theaters during consecutive holidays. NHK, the Japan’s largest broadcast organization, does not use the word, “Golden Week” because they consider that the word is a coinage by a particular business.
・Emperor Akihito will be 84 this year and he announced his will to renounce his throne two years ago. It is the first time in 200 years that a living Emperor will abdicate.