Those not living in Japan may not be familiar with the term ‘Golden Week‘. This refers to one of the main holiday periods in Japan. From late April into early May there are a series of public holidays:
- 29 April: Showa Day – the birthday of the former emperor.
- 3 May: Constitution Memorial Day – to commemorate the the enactment of the post war constitution in 1947.
- 4 May: Green Day – to celebrate nature.
- 5 May: Children’s Day – families wish for the future success of their sons (girls festival is celebrated on the 3rd of March).
As Children’s day falls on Sunday the 5th this holiday will be moving to the 6th to allow for a public holiday.
Many people take a paid holidays between the public holidays to take at least one week off – this results packed airports and crowded highways as people commute internationally and domestically over the holiday period.
Here in Niseko there is a late spike in visitors looking to put in there final turns of the 2012-13 season. This year the last day of golden week coincides with the end of lift operations on the 6th of May in Niseko Grand Hirafu Ski Ground, Niseko Village Ski Ground, and Niseko Annupuri Ski Ground.
What an amazing 2012-13 season it has been. See you up there for the last week of “Spring Glory”!
