A particularly "Golden" Golden Week in 2026

The first day of Golden Week is just ten days away. Golden Week is one of Japan's biggest holiday periods. It comprises four separate national holidays, three of which are back-to-back. The first day of Golden Week is on April 29th annually (unless it's a Sunday in which case the public holiday is on the 30th). 

Golden Week in 2026

• Wednesday April 29th - Showa Day
• Sunday May 3rd is Constitutional Day so Wednesday May 6th will be given as the holiday (because May 4th and 5th are also holidays)
• Monday May 4th Greenery Day
• Tuesday May 5th Children's Day
• (As above Wednesday May 6th is the day off for Constitutional Day in 2026)

Last year was promoted as being a particularly "Golden" Golden Week, because the way it fell many people had a longer period off than normal. By taking four days annual leave, people could have 11 days off. But by that reckoning this year is even more GOLDEN...

In 2026, for those that do always have Saturdays and Sundays off, this year if you take four days of annual leave you can get a total of 12 days off. By taking two days of annual leave on Thursday April 30th and Friday May 1st and another two days on Thursday the 7th and Friday the 8th of April, you can have 12 days in a row off. 

Are you taking any additional days off this Golden Week?