KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Golden Week Is Not Just For The Traditional Family Anymore

• Young Girls like to have fun thrilling adventures

• Go to the places in Japan that have that cool vibe away from the norm

• Did you see this? Trumps America

Golden Week in Japan: A Time of Fun, Adventure, and Surprise

Daniel TJ International Correspondent Tokyo, Japan

Golden Week in Japan: A Time to Breathe, Dream, and Be a Little Bold

Golden Week in Japan always sneaks up on me—and every year, it feels like the whole country exhales at once.

It’s this string of public holidays at the end of April and the start of May, and suddenly, everyone—from busy Tokyo office workers to sleepy countryside farmers—is doing something just a little out of the ordinary. It’s not just a break. It’s a permission slip to live a little louder, a little freer.

Some folks travel far, some stay close to home. But almost everyone has a story by the end of it.

Naoki’s First Dive (Literally)

Naoki from Osaka? He’s going all-in. He’s heading to Okinawa to try scuba diving for the first time. And here’s the thing—he’s never even swum in the ocean before.

“I just wanna see sea turtles,” he told me, half laughing, half terrified. He bought new goggles, practiced breathing through a straw in his apartment, and already bookmarked the best Okinawan soba spots. It's cute, honestly. He’s nervous, but his excitement totally takes over. This is his leap into the unknown.

Miyuki’s World Tour (From Her Oven)

Meanwhile, up in Sapporo, Miyuki is staying put—but don’t think she’s just lounging around. This girl’s baking her way across the globe. She found cake and pastry recipes from seven different countries, ordered weirdly specific ingredients online (like rosewater and Mexican cinnamon), and is turning her apartment into an international dessert café for her friends.

“It’s like traveling the world without the airport hassle,” she said while balancing three different timers. I already asked for the recipe for that Turkish pistachio thing she posted. Unreal.

Takashi and the Open Road

Then there’s Takashi. This guy’s living my dream. He’s riding his motorcycle up the Sea of Japan coast—just him, his bike, a few spare shirts, and a rough map.

“I just wanna feel free,” he told me, like he was quoting a movie. He plans to stop in tiny towns, eat whatever seafood the locals are grilling, and sleep in cozy ryokans that smell like tatami and old stories. Honestly, his vibe? Total Studio Ghibli dad with a GoPro.

Rina & Kento’s Treehouse Escape

Over in Nagoya, Rina and Kento are doing something kinda magical. They booked a treehouse hotel—yep, a treehouse—in the forests of Nagano.

At night, they’re gonna light lanterns, make cocoa, and just… listen. No Netflix. No emails. Just frogs, wind, and the occasional hoot of an owl. Rina said, “It feels like we stepped into a storybook.” I’m not crying, you’re crying.

Aiko, the Traveling Poet

Aiko from Kyoto is channeling her inner 1800s poet. She’s taking an old-school train ride to Fukuoka, dressed in a kimono, carrying a little fan, and planning to write poems as she goes.

“Maybe I’ll meet a wandering samurai,” she joked. But honestly? With her vibe? I wouldn’t be surprised if she did.

Daichi, the Aspiring Ninja

And get this—Daichi from Kobe signed up for a ninja training camp. Yeah. Like, the real deal. Shuriken throwing, wall climbing, silent forest running.

“It’s harder than it looks,” he groaned after his first day. But I saw his photo in full black gear and thought, “Yup, this man is fully living out his 8-year-old self’s fantasy.”

Maiko’s Masquerade Moment

And then there’s Maiko. She’s going to a midnight masquerade party in Kamakura that sounds like something from a dream… or a really artsy movie.

She’s wearing a black yukata, silver mask, and heels (which she admits she’s probably gonna regret). The party’s in an ancient tea house hidden in a bamboo forest. Candlelight, sliding doors, mystery music, secret whispers—it’s like Spirited Away but for grownups. She said, “I don’t even care if the party’s good. Just getting there feels like an adventure.”

Golden Week: A Time to Reset (or Reinvent)

So yeah, Golden Week isn’t just a vacation—it’s a vibe. A feeling. It’s that rare moment in Japan when people let go of the “shoulds” and lean into the “what ifs.”

Some travel. Some stay home. Some dress up, dive in, or slow down. But whatever people do, they step into a version of themselves they don’t always get to be.

And maybe that’s the best part.

If you’re in Japan during Golden Week, don’t worry about making it perfect. Just try something different. Even a small shift—a new place, a strange recipe, a poem you didn’t know was inside you—can make it magical.

So, what’s your Golden Week gonna look like?

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