Golden Week In Japan

April 29th leads Japan into Golden Week, a succession of holidays. When Saturdays and Sundays are included, this week becomes one of the longest holidays of the year. The weather is warm and suitable for excursions at this time, therefore many Japanese make trips during Golden Week and it is one of the busiest travel times.

Midori no hi (Greenery Day) April 29: It used to be the celebration of the birthday of the late Emperor Showa. After his death in 1989, it was designated as a day for the appreciation of nature. It was decided to change the name of this day to "Showa no hi" as of 2007.

May 1 (May Day): Some companies give employees this day off.

Kenpo kinenbi (Constitution Day) May 3: The present Constitution of Japan was put into effect on this day in 1947.

Kokumin no kyujitsu (National Holiday) May 4: It was decided that this day should be a national holiday because it falls between two holidays.

Kodomo no hi (Children's Day) May 5: A day to wish for the health and happiness of children. Families with boys fly koinobori (carp kites) to pray for their children's strong growth.

--Namiko Abe - About.com Japanese Guide [japanese.guide@about.com]