Alright…so Japan during Golden week, is it really that terrible to visit during this time?
I was planning to do S. Korea and Japan in May, staring in Japan and ending in Korea.
All looked good as Tokyo hotels in early May were easy to find and normal price, but when I was looking at prices for everything out side of Tokyo was crazy expensive (only hostels were under $200-$300/night in Hiroshima!), after doing some research that’s when I learned about Golden week. SO I’m basically wondering if I stay in Tokyo until at least the 6th or 7th of May before moving into to Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, will I really be bothered too much by the event? I get the vibe it would be more of an issue outside of Tokyo but by the second week of May will things be back to normal (prices, transport, closings, etc?) in most places?
Also what are the odds that day trips outside Tokyo are a nightmare that first week (Fuji, Takayuki-Kurobe Alpine route, etc)?
The flying will be a bit cheaper for me doing Japan first half of May before Korea I. The second half but I could switch if Golden week will be a big inconvenience.
Much appreciate any input fellow travelers!
2 comments
>I could switch if Golden week will be a big inconvenience.
I would definitely recommend not trying to travel around Japan during that time.
I’m in Japan from early April to mid-May, and I specifically timed my hotel/airbnb stays so that I’ll be arriving in Tokyo from Kyoto on the 29th, so just as Golden Week starts. Supposedly Tokyo settles down a bit due to tons of people leaving the city for the countryside.
If you wait until a couple days after Golden Week ends, giving time for people to return to the larger cities, I’m guessing that you would avoid the worst of the crowds. I can’t confirm 100% though.