ゴールデンウィーク

A Japanese-English hybrid term (和製英語(わせいえいご)) referring to the cluster of national holidays from late April to early May. The name was coined by the film industry in the 1950s to promote cinema attendance during this period. Often abbreviated as GW in writing.

The holidays included in Golden Week are:

• April 29: 昭和(しょうわ)の日(ひ) (Showa Day)
• May 3: 憲法記念日(けんぽうきねんび) (Constitution Memorial Day)
• May 4: みどりの日(ひ) (Greenery Day)
• May 5: 子(こ)どもの日(ひ) (Children's Day)

Common collocations

• ゴールデンウィーク中(ちゅう): during Golden Week
• ゴールデンウィーク明(あ)け: after Golden Week ends
• ゴールデンウィーク前(まえ): before Golden Week
• 大型(おおがた)ゴールデンウィーク: an extra-long Golden Week

Cultural note

Golden Week is one of Japan's busiest travel periods. Trains, flights, and hotels are heavily booked, and tourist spots are extremely crowded. Many companies close for the entire period, making it a rare opportunity for extended rest in Japanese work culture. NHK and some formal media use the term 大型連休(おおがたれんきゅう) ('extended consecutive holiday') instead, as ゴールデンウィーク originated as a commercial term.