Golden Week’s finally here, and everyone’s looking forward to having some serious fun! One of the longest and most highly anticipated holiday seasons in Japan, Golden Week offers a well-deserved break for Japanese workers and their families. Everyone gets the chance to relax, travel, see new sights, and try new flavors from all over the country!
Golden Week is one of the most exciting seasons in Japan. With families and friends reuniting, the streets come to life with colorful parades, cultural events, and, more importantly, local festivals littered with all sorts of scrumptious Japanese treats.
Are you itching to experience Japan’s Golden Week celebrations? Well then, pack your bags and put on your most comfortable travel outfit, we’re going on a train ride around Japan to learn more about Golden Week!
WHAT EXACTLY IS GOLDEN WEEK?
Golden Week or Ōgon Shūkan (黄金週間) is a collection of four national Japanese holidays that come one after another during spring. These holidays were created by the Japanese government during the post-war era so workers could have a break and get some well-needed family time after all the chaos of war. After all, what better way was there to celebrate peacetime than by having week-long holidays?
Showa Day (昭和の日, Showa no Hi)
Celebrated on April 29
A public holiday held on April 29, Showa Day, was made to reflect on the reign of Emperor Showa. It’s the perfect start to Golden Week! That’s because Shō (昭) means "shining" or "bright", and wa (和) means "peace.” Emperor Showa was also well-known for his great love for the outdoors and for nature; that's why people spend the day going on picnics, visiting shrines, museums, or heading out to visit family and friends.
Constitution Memorial Day (憲法記念日, Kenpō Kinenbi)
Celebrated on May 3
Constitution Memorial Day is a time to reminisce about the events of Japan's history and the postwar constitution enacted in 1947. It's supposed to be a quiet and reflective day focused on democracy with public lectures, exhibitions, and open-house tours of the Japanese Parliament.
Greenery Day (みどりの日, Midori no Hi)
Celebrated on May 4
As the name implies, Greenery Day is a holiday dedicated to nature! During this holiday, you’ll find people enjoying the outdoors, visiting parks, and participating in events centered all around the environment.
Children’s Day (子供の日, Kodomo no Hi)
Celebrated on May 5
This holiday is all about celebrating children's growth, strength, and happiness! Families usually gather together to fly colorful carp streamers called koinobori outside their homes, display samurai dolls, and do other fun traditions to promote the health of their children!
These days, Golden Week has become a season of celebration and travel, with people going around, checking out festivals, and heading to places in Japan that they’ve never been before. Japan buzzes with life during Golden Week!
FESTIVALS TO LOOK OUT FOR DURING GOLDEN WEEK
Even though it's buzzing and packed with travelers, Golden Week is a great time to explore Japan because there are so many festivals for you to discover! In Fukuoka, there's the Hakata Dontaku (博多どんたく)(博多どんたく) with its colorful costume parades. Looking for a unique outdoor experience? Then head to Shizuoka for the Hamamatsu Kite Festival (浜松まつり)! It has intense giant kite battles held from May 3 to May 5.
If you find that you can't get out of Tokyo, there are still a lot of fun and exciting festivals that you can experience. During Children's Day, Tokyo hosts the Koinobori Festival (鯉のぼり祭り) at Tokyo Skytree and hangs large carp-shaped streamers. There's also the Ashikaga Flower Park Wisteria Festival, which showcases the famous purple wisteria blooms of Tokyo. But the best festival might be the Niku Fes or Gyoza Fes, where everyone can chow down on the yummiest skewers and dumplings in Odaiba!
WHAT’S THE BEST FOOD DURING GOLDEN WEEK?
There’s no such thing as a Golden Week without good eats. With festivals and celebrations lined up one after the other, Ogun Shukan is one of the best times to explore the culinary landscape of Japan. From traditional dishes that represent the flavors of spring to street food that you can find in the different Golden Week festivals, you're bound to find yourself burping with a happy, stuffed stomach!
Chirashi Sushi (ちらし寿司)
Otherwise known as scattered sushi in English, this dish is made up of vinegared sushi rice topped with an assortment of raw sashimi, cooked seafood like octopus and shrimp, and, of course, different kinds of vegetables. Served in a big shallow bowl, chirashi sushi is perfect for parties and get-togethers since it's colorful and it's designed to make people come together to get servings of sushi.
Kashiwa Mochi (かしわ餅)
This mochi treat is a wagashi or traditional Japanese snack that's made up of white mochi with an anko (sweet red bean) filling. It's wrapped with a kashiwa or oak leaf. It's specifically eaten during Golden Week on Children's Day or Kodomo no Hi since the oak leaf that wraps around a kashiwa mochi symbolizes strength and prosperity.
Chimaki (ちまき)
Chimaki is another traditional Japanese dessert that's eaten during Children's Day. It's a steamed sticky rice wrapped carefully in bamboo leaves. Commonly found in the Kansai region, this traditional treat is eaten to ward off evil and to make sure that children grow up strong.
Yakitori (焼き鳥)
This dish literally translates to grilled chicken in English. Grilled bite-sized chicken skewers, yakitori, can commonly be found in festivals all around Japan. They're also a popular izakaya or pub dish.
Takoyaki (たこ焼き)
Don't miss out on this other Japanese festival favorite! These ball-shaped Japanese snacks are made of a flour batter mixed with diced octopus, tempura bits, pickled ginger, and green onion. After they're cooked, the takoyaki balls are drizzled in takoyaki sauce and mayo, then sprinkled with green seaweed bits and katsuobushi (dried bonito shavings).
Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き)
These are savory Japanese pancakes! Made with a flour-based batter, they're mixed with vegetables like cabbage, green onion, and meat like pork or seafood. Toppoed off with cheese or an egg, okonomiyaki makes for a great festival snack.
Taiyaki (鯛焼き)
This is a popular Japanese snack that you won't want to miss out on. Shaped like a fish, this cake is filled with azuki red bean paste. It has a crispy waffle-like exterior and a soft, fluffy inside that leaves you wanting to eat more! You can find taiyaki being sold as street food or as a festival treat!
These are some of the common dishes that you can find in Japan during Golden Week. But since the holiday season is all about travel, you can also enjoy a ton of tasty regional specialties. These treats depend on the places you go to in Japan. Like Hiroshima, which is known for its special Hiroshima okonomiyaki, and Miyagi, which is known for its Jewel Strawberries! There’s so much in Japan to discover.
Alrightee, we’ve come to the end of our Golden Week trip. Are you thinking of visiting Japan during the Ōgon Shūkan holiday season? What festival food are you looking forward to the most? Is it the savory takoyaki? Or maybe you want to try some authentic festival taiyaki?
Have you ever tried strange regional Japanese cuisine before? Don’t be shy and share us some of your most memorable Japanese snack stories with us in the comment section below. After all, good food is meant to be shared! Until next time, mata ne!
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