Golden Week 2026 Japan
Golden Week is Japan’s busiest spring holiday cluster, when four national holidays fall within one week. In 2026 the core break runs Saturday May 2 to Wednesday May 6 — a 5-day stretch — with Showa Day on Wednesday April 29 just before it.
Japan long weekends in 2026
Golden Week
5 daysMay 2 – 6
Sat–Wed: Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, Children’s Day and the May 6 substitute holiday. Shōwa Day (Apr 29) sits just before.
Interactive Leave & Bridge Days Planner
Select your country, year, and annual leave budget to calculate the highest-ROI vacation strategies. Bridge mid-week holidays into continuous mega-breaks.
41 Bridge Strategies Found
Constitution Memorial Day
May 2 – 10•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 2 days of annual leave on May 7 – 8 to connect Constitution Memorial Day into a 9-day continuous break.
Respect for the Aged Day
Sep 19 – 27•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 2 days of annual leave on Sep 24 – 25 to connect Respect for the Aged Day into a 9-day continuous break.
Shōwa Day
Apr 29 – May 6•Total Vacation: 8 days
Take 2 days of annual leave on Apr 30 – May 1 to connect Shōwa Day into a 8-day continuous break.
New Year's Day
Jan 1 – 4•Total Vacation: 4 days
Take 1 day of annual leave on Jan 2 to bridge New Year's Day with the weekend for a 4-day vacation.
Mountain Day
Aug 8 – 11•Total Vacation: 4 days
Take 1 day of annual leave on Aug 10 to bridge Mountain Day with the weekend for a 4-day vacation.
Culture Day
Oct 31 – Nov 3•Total Vacation: 4 days
Take 1 day of annual leave on Nov 2 to bridge Culture Day with the weekend for a 4-day vacation.
Shōwa Day
Apr 25 – May 6•Total Vacation: 12 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Apr 27 – 28, Apr 30 – May 1 to connect Shōwa Day into a 12-day continuous break.
Shōwa Day
Apr 29 – May 10•Total Vacation: 12 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Apr 30 – May 1, May 7 – 8 to connect Shōwa Day into a 12-day continuous break.
Shōwa Day
Apr 25 – May 10•Total Vacation: 16 days
Take 6 days of annual leave on Apr 27 – 28, Apr 30 – May 1, May 7 – 8 to connect Shōwa Day into a 16-day continuous break.
National Foundation Day
Feb 7 – 11•Total Vacation: 5 days
Take 2 days of annual leave on Feb 9 – 10 to connect National Foundation Day into a 5-day continuous break.
National Foundation Day
Feb 11 – 15•Total Vacation: 5 days
Take 2 days of annual leave on Feb 12 – 13 to connect National Foundation Day into a 5-day continuous break.
Shōwa Day
Apr 25 – 29•Total Vacation: 5 days
Take 2 days of annual leave on Apr 27 – 28 to connect Shōwa Day into a 5-day continuous break.
Respect for the Aged Day
Sep 12 – 23•Total Vacation: 12 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Sep 14 – 18 to connect Respect for the Aged Day into a 12-day continuous break.
Constitution Memorial Day
May 2 – 17•Total Vacation: 16 days
Take 7 days of annual leave on May 7 – 8, May 11 – 15 to connect Constitution Memorial Day into a 16-day continuous break.
Respect for the Aged Day
Sep 12 – 27•Total Vacation: 16 days
Take 7 days of annual leave on Sep 14 – 18, Sep 24 – 25 to connect Respect for the Aged Day into a 16-day continuous break.
Respect for the Aged Day
Sep 19 – Oct 4•Total Vacation: 16 days
Take 7 days of annual leave on Sep 24 – 25, Sep 28 – Oct 2 to connect Respect for the Aged Day into a 16-day continuous break.
New Year's Day
Dec 27, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Dec 29 – 31, Jan 2 to connect New Year's Day into a 9-day continuous break.
Coming of Age Day
Jan 10 – 18•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Jan 13 – 16 to connect Coming of Age Day into a 9-day continuous break.
National Foundation Day
Feb 7 – 15•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Feb 9 – 10, Feb 12 – 13 to connect National Foundation Day into a 9-day continuous break.
The Emperor's Birthday
Feb 21 – Mar 1•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Feb 24 – 27 to connect The Emperor's Birthday into a 9-day continuous break.
Vernal Equinox Day
Mar 14 – 22•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Mar 16 – 19 to connect Vernal Equinox Day into a 9-day continuous break.
Marine Day
Jul 18 – 26•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Jul 21 – 24 to connect Marine Day into a 9-day continuous break.
Mountain Day
Aug 8 – 16•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Aug 10, Aug 12 – 14 to connect Mountain Day into a 9-day continuous break.
Sports Day
Oct 10 – 18•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Oct 13 – 16 to connect Sports Day into a 9-day continuous break.
Culture Day
Oct 31 – Nov 8•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Nov 2, Nov 4 – 6 to connect Culture Day into a 9-day continuous break.
Labor Thanksgiving Day
Nov 21 – 29•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Nov 24 – 27 to connect Labor Thanksgiving Day into a 9-day continuous break.
New Year's Day
Jan 1 – 12•Total Vacation: 12 days
Take 6 days of annual leave on Jan 2, Jan 5 – 9 to connect New Year's Day into a 12-day continuous break.
Coming of Age Day
Jan 3 – 12•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Jan 5 – 9 to connect Coming of Age Day into a 10-day continuous break.
The Emperor's Birthday
Feb 14 – 23•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Feb 16 – 20 to connect The Emperor's Birthday into a 10-day continuous break.
Vernal Equinox Day
Mar 20 – 29•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Mar 23 – 27 to connect Vernal Equinox Day into a 10-day continuous break.
Marine Day
Jul 11 – 20•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Jul 13 – 17 to connect Marine Day into a 10-day continuous break.
Sports Day
Oct 3 – 12•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Oct 5 – 9 to connect Sports Day into a 10-day continuous break.
Labor Thanksgiving Day
Nov 14 – 23•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Nov 16 – 20 to connect Labor Thanksgiving Day into a 10-day continuous break.
New Year's Day
Dec 27, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026•Total Vacation: 6 days
Take 3 days of annual leave on Dec 29 – 31 to connect New Year's Day into a 6-day continuous break.
Mountain Day
Aug 11 – 16•Total Vacation: 6 days
Take 3 days of annual leave on Aug 12 – 14 to connect Mountain Day into a 6-day continuous break.
Culture Day
Nov 3 – 8•Total Vacation: 6 days
Take 3 days of annual leave on Nov 4 – 6 to connect Culture Day into a 6-day continuous break.
National Foundation Day
Feb 11 – 23•Total Vacation: 13 days
Take 7 days of annual leave on Feb 12 – 13, Feb 16 – 20 to connect National Foundation Day into a 13-day continuous break.
Mountain Day
Aug 1 – 11•Total Vacation: 11 days
Take 6 days of annual leave on Aug 3 – 7, Aug 10 to connect Mountain Day into a 11-day continuous break.
Culture Day
Oct 24 – Nov 3•Total Vacation: 11 days
Take 6 days of annual leave on Oct 26 – 30, Nov 2 to connect Culture Day into a 11-day continuous break.
National Foundation Day
Jan 31 – Feb 11•Total Vacation: 12 days
Take 7 days of annual leave on Feb 2 – 6, Feb 9 – 10 to connect National Foundation Day into a 12-day continuous break.
Shōwa Day
Apr 18 – 29•Total Vacation: 12 days
Take 7 days of annual leave on Apr 20 – 24, Apr 27 – 28 to connect Shōwa Day into a 12-day continuous break.
Compliance Notice: Leave planning recommendations are calculated for vacation optimization. Taking annual leave is subject to your employment contract, employer approval, and local labor legislation.
Which holidays make up Golden Week 2026
Golden Week is built from Showa Day (Apr 29), Constitution Memorial Day (May 3), Greenery Day (May 4) and Children’s Day (May 5). Because Constitution Memorial Day falls on a Sunday in 2026, May 6 becomes a substitute holiday — extending the run to Wednesday and giving a 5-day break from May 2.
Expect heavy congestion on Shinkansen routes, airports and tourist spots. Compare it with Japan’s rarer autumn Silver Week 2026, and see the Japan public holidays 2026 page for every date and the full-year calendar.
Official sources & data
- 国民の祝日について (2026 National Holidays)Visit sourceCabinet Office, Government of Japan
- Japan's National Holidays in 2026Visit sourceNippon.com
Frequently asked questions
When is Golden Week 2026 in Japan?
The core Golden Week break is May 2–6, 2026 (5 days), with Showa Day on Wednesday April 29 just beforehand.
How long is Golden Week in 2026?
The continuous break is five days, May 2–6. By taking Apr 30 and May 1 off, you can link it with Showa Day (Apr 29) into a longer stretch.
Why is May 6, 2026 a holiday?
Constitution Memorial Day (May 3) falls on a Sunday in 2026, so May 6 becomes a substitute holiday (振替休日) under Japan’s in-lieu rule, extending Golden Week to Wednesday.
How is Golden Week different from Silver Week?
Golden Week happens every spring (late April–early May) and is the busiest travel season. Silver Week is a rarer autumn break that only appears every few years — 2026 is one such year (Sep 19–23).
Where can I download the Japan 2026 holiday calendar?
Our Japan 2026 public holidays page and the holiday calendar downloads hub offer ICS and CSV files based on the Cabinet Office’s national holiday list.