Golden Week 2014 in Japan

Golden Week in Japan is fast approaching. The end of April through around May 6th is called “Golden Week” in Japan and is a collection of four national holidays in the space of seven days. Golden Week in 2014 is based on two separate holiday periods from April 26 to April 27 with April 29 and from May 3 to May 6.

This time in Japan is a celebration of spring and the end of winter with a lot of festivals and historical events taking place.

There are four national holidays during this period: 

1. Showa Day (April 29) 

This is the first national holiday during Golden Week and is the birthday of the former Emperor Showa, and is called Showa no Hi (昭和の日) or Showa Day.

2. Constitution Memorial Day (May 3) 

The second holiday on May 3 is Kenpou Kinenbi (憲法記念日) or Constitution Memerial Day. The new Japanese constitution was put into effect on May 3, 1947.

3. Greenery Day (May 4) 

May 4 is called Midori no Hi (みどりの日) or Greenery Day, during which we show appreciation for the environment and nature.

4. Children’s Day (May 5) 

The last holiday is Kodomo no Hi (こどもの日) or Children’s Day on May 5. It’s a Japanese Boy’s festival and is a day to pray for healthy growth of boys. It’s a Japanese tradition for families with boys to hang up carp streamers (koinobori) outside their houses around this holiday. Carps are believed to symbolize successes in children’s lives. Also, samurai dolls called gogatsu ningyo (May Dolls) are displayed in their houses.

This is a very busy travel season in Japan and most tourist destinations are extremely crowded. Many Japanese offices close for about a week to 10 days, depending on the calendar with many people taking a vacation, traveling abroad or to a tourist attraction in Japan. Airports and train stations are usually overflowing with people during this time and it can be very hard to get reservations for accommodation and transportation during Golden Week.

May is a great time to travel in Japan and I would advise planning a trip to Japan after the Golden Week travel rush has ended. The travel peak is anticipated for around May 3 this year with the return rush around May 5 and 6.

For those not travelling, there are numerous local festivals and events for the whole family happening around Japan.

What are you plans for Golden Week in Japan?

Colonel Sanders all dressed up for Kodomo no Hi (Children's Day)

Cherry Blossoms at Inaba Shrine Gifu

Inaba Jinja Shrine (伊奈波神社) is a Shinto shrine located at the foot of Mount Kinka in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture. The shrine is one of the three major Shinto shrines of Gifu City, and is the biggest and most famous. It is a popular spot for hatsumode (first shrine visit of the New Year) and Shichi-Go-San. The shrine has a history of over 1,900 years and was first built in the year 85 AD when Emperor Keiko dedicated the land for a shrine. The god Inishiki-Irihiko-no-Mikoto is enshrined and worshipped here. The shrine was moved to its present location by the samurai warlord, Saito Dosan in 1539. Saito Dosan is widely credited with creating Gifu City as we know it today, and has his own festival on the first Saturday of April, that honours his brave feats. I hope to blog about the festival in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

Inaba Jinja Shrine in Gifu

Inaba Shrine is also a popular spot in spring for the cherry blossoms. The road leading up to the shrine (Inaba-dori) is lined on both sides by weeping cherry blossoms (shidare-zakura), which are spectacular and reach their full bloom just after the regular blossoms here in Gifu. There are also a lot of food vendors near the entrance of the shrine, selling all kinds of festival food including favourites like yakisoba and taiyaki around the time of the Dosan Festival..

Cherry Blossoms line Inaba-dori in Gifu

The main shrine torii gate is great spot for a photo or two and is very picturesque.

Inaba Jinja Shrine Main Torii Gate

Another shot of the torii gate with lanterns and cherry blossoms

Inaba Shrine is only a short bus ride from Gifu Station. Get off at Inaba-dori bus stop and the shrine is only a 5 minute walk.

Address: 1 Chome – 1 Inaba-dori, Gifu-shi, Gifu-ken 500-8043

Here are a few more pictures for you to enjoy

Another shot of the beautiful Inaba-dori Street

The approach to Inaba Jinja Shrine

Shidare-zakura Cherry Blossoms

More beautiful cherry blossoms

Inaba Jinja Shrine with Cherry Blossoms

A look back down Inaba-dori from Inaba Jinja Shrine

Japan and China Friendship Garden Gifu

The Japan and China Friendship Garden (日中友好庭園) is located right across the road from Gifu Park (岐阜公園) in Gifu City. The garden was created to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the friendship and affiliation between Gifu City in Japan and Hangzhou in China. It was also created to further improve the sometimes fragile relationship between these two nations.

Inside the garden is a small version of the West Lake of Hangzhou and some interesting Chinese style architecture including a Hangzhou gate and a pair of guardian lions. The pond and garden has been created to reflect the scenery of the four seasons.

The Hangzhou gate and guardian lion

The garden is known as one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Gifu City and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. There are around 480 cherry trees around the garden, Gifu Park and surrounding area. At this time of the year in early April the garden is beautifully coloured with white, pink and red blossoms. It can be enjoyed during both the day and the evening/night. During the hanami season it is a popular spot for hanami parties and can be very crowded. It is a great spot for photos with the Chinese architecture blending in spectacular with the cherry blossoms.

Cherry Blossoms at the Japan and China Friendship Garden

The Hangzhou Pond with Cherry Blossoms

Cherry Blossoms close up and personal 

Cherry Blossoms and Lantern

Right next to the Japan and China Friendship Garden is Gokoku Shrine (護國神社). The Shinto shrine is located at the base of Mount Kinka and is dedicated to the residence of Gifu Prefecture, who have died in wars since the Meiji Restoration. The grounds of the shrine contain a very famous cherry tree called Ukai-zakura (鵜飼桜). The tree was planted over 100 years ago and is one of the first to bloom in the city. It was given the name “ukai-zakura” because its blossoms are said to predict the amount of ayu (sweet fish) caught during the upcoming cormorant fishing season (ukai) on the Nagara River in Gifu.

Cherry Blossoms at Gokoku Shrine in Gifu

The famous Ukai-zakura

A short walk from the Japan and China Friendship Garden is the banks of the famous Nagara River. This is yet another great spot for the cherry blossoms and a popular spot for hanami in spring. Crowds flock to this area to view the cherry blossoms both day and night.

Cherry Blossoms along the Nagara River

The Cherry Blossoms at full bloom with Nagara River in background

Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Gifu

Kodomo no Hi Japan Festival 2014

JAFA’s Kodomo no Hi Japan Festival is the biggest Japan festival in Adelaide, South Australia with a 19-year history. The day is filled with Japan-related performances, exhibitions, activities, stalls and plenty of Japanese food.

The event has won a number of prestigious community awards including:



• 2013 WINNER - The City of West Torrens Community Event of the Year Award
• 2013 WINNER - The Australia Day Council of South Australia Community Event of the Year Award

Come along for a fun day for the whole family at this unique community event.

Event Information 

When:      Sunday, 4th May 2014 11 am to 4 pm
Where:    Cowandilla Primary School
Address:  21 Jenkins St, Cowandilla, SA, Australia
Cost:        $2 per person, $5 per family
Access:    Free parking is available
Other:      Come in a Japanese costume to add to the fun

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Volunteers, stallholders, performers and display holders are needed. To apply or to find out more about the festival, visit the website below.

Kodomo no Hi Japan Festival Website

Here are some pictures from last year's event