I googled, and these are are the dates that popped up for Year 2006. Are these the dates?(friends wants to visit Japan during that week). Thank you.

I googled, and these are are the dates that popped up for Year 2006. Are these the dates?(friends wants to visit Japan during that week). Thank you.

Sounds about right. I think you'd be nuts to try to be a tourist in Japan for one week only during Golden Week. Particularly if you don't already have reservations for hotels, trains, etc.

My advice, shove your dates at least a week forward or back.

JR

My advice, shove your dates at least a week forward or back.

JR

This is good advice.

The Golden holidays are April 29 (which is a Saturday this year - so it's already a "day off" for many regardless of the national holiday) - and then May 3, 4, 5 (Wed, Thu, Fri) are national holidays.

What it means =

The first truly mad rush of people will be on the evening of April 28 (Friday). This rush will continue through Saturday. (If you hope to get anywhere, you absolutely MUST have reservations for anything you hope to do on this day).

April 30 (Sun) and May 1 (Mon) might see fairly "bearable" travel patterns.

Tuesday evening (May 2) will see the next mad rush of travel. (The people who were at work on Monday and Tuesday will be rushing to get a few days off). This will continue through May 3.

Things might be relatively calm again on May 4...

The mad "return" rush will start from the evening of May 5 (Fri) and continuing through May 6 and 7.

Thank you for the info. They're both single, carefree, in love with each other, and she's part-Japanese.....I think she has family there per her boyfriend. He's looking for the "mad rush" type of scene. This might be what he's looking for... bit of a loose cannon in him. Again, thank you much.

Thank you for the info. They're both single, carefree, in love with each other, and she's part-Japanese.....I think she has family there per her boyfriend. He's looking for the "mad rush" type of scene. This might be what he's looking for... bit of a loose cannon in him. Again, thank you much.
You can experience a "mad rush" any weekday by boarding the Marunouchi Line from Shinjuku towards the city center at 8 AM. However, unlike Golden Week, this will only cost you Y160 and it's over in less than an hour.

Thank you for the info. They're both single, carefree, in love with each other, and she's part-Japanese.....I think she has family there per her boyfriend. He's looking for the "mad rush" type of scene. This might be what he's looking for... bit of a loose cannon in him. Again, thank you much.

Well, I hope the "part-Japanese" girlfriend speaks Japanese and has family they can stay with and who can pick them up at the airport and drop them back off again. If, by now, they do not have air, train and hotel reservations already in hand, they are most likely screwed and will wind up sleeping on a park bench - if they can find one. Best of luck to them.

Mad rush scene ... :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

If the couple have their hearts (and/or minds) set on Golden Week, then I say, "Come on over!" They don't have to go traipsing all over Japan. If they want to just stay in Tokyo and chill (which is what I'll be doing), then why not. A good time to be in Tokyo is when everyone else has gone off to the country to visit the relatives or is off on a trip somewhere.

They'll be moving against the flow--flying into Japan when most people are flying out and vice-versa. Business hotels in Tokyo will be begging for customers.

On the downside, if they do stay in Tokyo during this time, the BF might not get his "mad rush scene", even on the Marunouchi. ;)

On the downside, if they do stay in Tokyo during this time, the BF might not get his "mad rush scene", even on the Marunouchi. ;)

Unless they go to Omotesando Hills....

Why would anyone want to experience the "mad rush scene"? :confused:
It's like saying you'd like to experience having your fingernails pulled out by a pair of pliers. Takes all sorts I guess. Good luck to him.

Why would anyone want to experience the "mad rush scene"? :confused:
It's like saying you'd like to experience having your fingernails pulled out by a pair of pliers. Takes all sorts I guess. Good luck to him.

We always used to joke that a fun thing to do with visitors is take them to the main intersection in Shibuya, wait for the walk light to turn on, and then run away and hide and watch their reaction..... Perhaps that's his sort of scene?

We always used to joke that a fun thing to do with visitors is take them to the main intersection in Shibuya, wait for the walk light to turn on, and then run away and hide and watch their reaction..... Perhaps that's his sort of scene?

Max Danger?

Max Danger?

Ah, is there a scene like that in there? Must admit I've never read it....

Max Danger?

It can be!

I mentioned once somewhere on this forum about the time I frantically cleared away hundreds of pachinko balls some 'jo-p'ta dumped on this very crossing. It ended up being horrible trying to avert the deadly gaze of all the oba-sans who assumed I'd dropped them there. :(

If the couple have their hearts (and/or minds) set on Golden Week, then I say, "Come on over!" They don't have to go traipsing all over Japan. If they want to just stay in Tokyo and chill (which is what I'll be doing), then why not. A good time to be in Tokyo is when everyone else has gone off to the country to visit the relatives or is off on a trip somewhere.

Three of us are going to be in Tokyo during the end of Golden Week (arrive from HKG the afternoon of the 3rd, leave for the US on the 7th). It's not ideal, but it was either that or not see any of Japan on this trip as logistically those were the only dates which worked.

With only three full days and an extra evening, we're not trying to leave Tokyo, all we're trying to do is visit some friends and see if we'd like to come back for 9-10 days at some point in 2007 or 2008.

Three of us are going to be in Tokyo during the end of Golden Week (arrive from HKG the afternoon of the 3rd, leave for the US on the 7th). It's not ideal, but it was either that or not see any of Japan on this trip as logistically those were the only dates which worked.

With only three full days and an extra evening, we're not trying to leave Tokyo, all we're trying to do is visit some friends and see if we'd like to come back for 9-10 days at some point in 2007 or 2008.

You have friends?

I started a month-long stay in Tokyo during Golden Week a few years ago, and aside from a little crowding at NRT on the first day, it was just fine. I just stayed in town and did city things, almost all of which were operating normally. I saved my day trips out of town for later weeks.

I started a month-long stay in Tokyo during Golden Week a few years ago, and aside from a little crowding at NRT on the first day, it was just fine. I just stayed in town and did city things, almost all of which were operating normally. I saved my day trips out of town for later weeks.
We're actually going to do the exact opposite.

Since we were going to be in Kansai on Golden Week, we decided to try and go out of the way a bit, in order to escape the crowds (or so we thought), and catch some late cherry blossom on the mountains along the way.

So we're ending up doing KIX - Koya-san - Totsukawa - Yoshino - Nara, leaving Kyoto and other major attractions for the second week.

Do you think we will end up moving with the crowds instead of escaping them ?

Yeah.

So we're ending up doing KIX - Koya-san - Doukawa - Yoshino - Nara, leaving Kyoto and other major attractions for the second week.

Koya san, Yoshino, Nara etc. are all major attractions - and all within a couple of hours of the Osaka-Kyoto megalopolis. Go figure what that means.

Do you think we will end up moving with the crowds instead of escaping them ?

Most definitely.

Mrs. jib71 and I will be exploring the same area during Golden Week. We found that one of our first-choice onsen hotels was already fully booked when we tried to reserve a room about a month ago. The rental cars are also getting scarce. I strongly recommend that you make your reservations now.


catch some late cherry blossom on the mountains along the way.

OK - Sorry to keep pissing on your fireworks, but unless you go much further North (we're talking Hokkaido), you won't see cherry blossom in Golden week.

Koya san, Yoshino, Nara etc. are all major attractions - and all within a couple of hours of the Osaka-Kyoto megalopolis. Go figure what that means.Thanks for your input. I guess we'll have to make the most of the situation, these dates were our only option anyway.

Mrs. jib71 and I will be exploring the same area during Golden Week. We found that one of our first-choice onsen hotels was already fully booked when we tried to reserve a room about a month ago. The rental cars are also getting scarce. I strongly recommend that you make your reservations now.Reservations have been made. The prices should have hinted us on the situation.

OK - Sorry to keep pissing on your fireworks, but unless you go much further North (we're talking Hokkaido), you won't see cherry blossom in Golden week.I didn't make this up :
http://www.shukubo.jp/eng/02_sansaku_midokoro.html

The season inches its way up the mountain slowly, so Kôyasan's cherry blossoms appear about a month later than at the foot of the mountain. Prime cherry blossom viewing is from the end of April to early May. But that may be all the more reason for bigger crowds.

I didn't make this up :
http://www.shukubo.jp/eng/02_sansaku_midokoro.html


I stand corrected - with apologies. And since you have already made your reservations, then you are in good shape.

You have friends?
Well, I hope to make some while I'm there. :p

I just realized that my friend and I will be in Tokyo/Kyoto during Golden Week next year. We got our tix reserved and miraculously got our hotels reserved for all 8 nights.

The only thing we haven't booked is the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto R/T.

How are Tokyo and Kyoto during this holiday season? Will shops/museums be open? Aside from the crowds travelling, anything else we should be weary of? Tokyo won't be deserted like what Paris is like in August, will it?

I just realized that my friend and I will be in Tokyo/Kyoto during Golden Week next year. We got our tix reserved and miraculously got our hotels reserved for all 8 nights.

The only thing we haven't booked is the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto R/T.

How are Tokyo and Kyoto during this holiday season? Will shops/museums be open? Aside from the crowds travelling, anything else we should be weary of? Tokyo won't be deserted like what Paris is like in August, will it?

Some choice reading here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=552642

Some choice reading here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=552642

I actually read that thread prior to my posting, but IMHO, most of them seem to be private or chain emails with no real insight.

I actually read that thread prior to my posting, but IMHO, most of them seem to be private or chain emails with no real insight.

Mikimoto before kurobuta....

A jibe, jib?

Fry it and call it Tonkatsu. I'll buy that for a dollar. ;)

Maiku

Mikimoto before kurobuta....

A jibe, jib?

Yes, Tonkatsu would have been a better choice of word. I'll mark that down in my book of jibes for later use...

Jibe Ho! Mind yer head. :D

Ah the 単語遊び of it all. :)

Save some for our meeting in October too.

I am hitting that place Saturday for a test run at the 手羽先。

Later.......


Jibe Ho! Mind yer head. :D

I just realized that my friend and I will be in Tokyo/Kyoto during Golden Week next year. We got our tix reserved and miraculously got our hotels reserved for all 8 nights.

The only thing we haven't booked is the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto R/T.
Ah, the bullet trains during Golden Week. Film clips of these sardine cans during this season always make the evening news without fail.

The downside of using the bullet trains during this time is that they can be packed to the gills, with passengers jostling for even a space to stand in the aisles or the between the cars. I've done this. I don't do it any more. When the time comes I hope you are able to book reserved seating, (or get to the station really early to snag some of those non-reserved seats--this should work going from Tokyo to Kyoto as Tokyo is the departing station), then you will only have to deal with the elbows in the side of your head from the guy (or granny) standing next to your seat. If you can afford paying for the "Green" car, the ride is much more pleasant.

I guess the upside of things is that, even if you can't get a seat, you will still be able to get to your destination (assuming you are able to squeeze on). I don't believe there is any numerical limit on the number of passengers per car. If you can fit on, you can ride!

I just found out that my employer is giving us off the three holidays during Golden Week next year. It seems too good an opportunity to pass up. First thought was Hokkaido. Weather seems a little cool but is it a viable option for Golden Week? If we got a hotel in Otaru as a base could we "reasonably" drive around the island during the week or would we need to be on the move each day? Will the "100km" traffic jams also strike Hokkaido?

Would it be better to just leave Japan altogether? We are contemplating Hong Kong or maybe Xian for the week; are these better choices? We will be in Beijing and Shanghai later in the year so would prefer not to go to either of them.

All help is appreciated.

Marc

First thought was Hokkaido. Weather seems a little cool but is it a viable option for Golden Week?
It's viable if you like colder climates. Some parts of the island will be full of blossom and looking absolutely stunning. The Northern extremities of the island (Shiretoko etc.) will be barely thawing out. Wrap up warm.

If we got a hotel in Otaru as a base could we "reasonably" drive around the island during the week or would we need to be on the move each day?
There are Hokkaido lurkers on this board - so I leave this to them. My "gut" tells me that a couple of days in one location, then moving to the next onsen is a good bet.

Will the "100km" traffic jams also strike Hokkaido?
No. IME the roads of Hokkaido are relatively sane even at peak holiday times. (Sapporo and Hakodate might be a different story - I don't know them - but I hear that they have nice grid layouts). But you will bump into huge crowds of Japanese people at Haneda airport. (Or rather they will bump into you ... and never apologize).

Would it be better to just leave Japan altogether?
It's certainly cheaper to travel just about anywhere other than Japan. Better? Depends what you're in the mood for, I guess.

FWIW - There's another thread on the Japan forum dedicated to the "holiday that never is" - If you look it up, you can see what we all got up to last year. I posted an account of my short trip to the Kii peninsula, which was lovely...

Deleted - dup.

There are real Hokkaido experts on this board so just a few observations from my exchange student time in Sapporo and a few other fleeting visits.

It can snow in the beginning of May and for cherry blossoms you could have to wait until mid of the month.

As for driving, Hokkaido is about the only part of Japan where I would recommend that, many surprisingly good family type restaurants are also of the drive-in type so you don´t have to worry about parking. If you avoid lake Toya you should also do ok regarding holiday crowds.

Also, don´t fly north, but take the night train from Tokyo to Hakodate or Sapporo for the experience. Otaru is convenient only for a part of Hokkaido, otherwise you´d be better off to stay a night in Hakodate, another in Sapporo and, if possible, arrange a hiking/climbing tour and have a real outdoor experience sleeping in a mountain hut. For the latter I would recommend joining a Japanese group or hiring a local guide so that the cooking part would also be taken care of.

I just found out that my employer is giving us off the three holidays during Golden Week next year. It seems too good an opportunity to pass up. First thought was Hokkaido. Weather seems a little cool but is it a viable option for Golden Week? If we got a hotel in Otaru as a base could we "reasonably" drive around the island during the week or would we need to be on the move each day? Will the "100km" traffic jams also strike Hokkaido?

Would it be better to just leave Japan altogether? We are contemplating Hong Kong or maybe Xian for the week; are these better choices? We will be in Beijing and Shanghai later in the year so would prefer not to go to either of them.

All help is appreciated.

Marc

Hey Buddy,
With the dosh you make, shouldn't you be able to get out of the country with relative ease?

It's certainly cheaper to travel just about anywhere other than Japan.
Not if you're already in Japan to start with -- all international flights from Japan around GW are overpriced and packed. (I remember once being quoted over 10 man for a round-trip to Bangkok on Biman Bangladesh!)

Not if you're already in Japan to start with -- all international flights from Japan around GW are overpriced and packed. (I remember once being quoted over 10 man for a round-trip to Bangkok on Biman Bangladesh!)

My assumption was that the OP's trip will be for a full week. In that case, one week of ryokan rip-off will cancel out what you save by avoiding the international flight rip-off.

One way or another, you're going to get ripped off.

Not if you're already in Japan to start with -- all international flights from Japan around GW are overpriced and packed. (I remember once being quoted over 10 man for a round-trip to Bangkok on Biman Bangladesh!)

When you budget 75 MAN a month rent , I don't think the 10 MAN for a flight ticket will make a big difference :D !

When you budget 75 MAN a month rent , I don't think the 10 MAN for a flight ticket will make a big difference :D !

I'm sure the 75 man is someone else's money.

I've found the quiet week in Tokyo to be quite enjoyable. Go do things without the crowds (unless you're going to D'land).

I'm sure the 75 man is someone else's money.

Correct!

Additionally, I was hoping to use the "Diamond force" to get the Hilton in Otaru for six nights. If that didn't work, it would make more sense to leave the country.

Thanks for all the help,

Marc

when is the golden week 07?

i want to book flights before that, as i am alway travelling 2 weeks before golden week, that time the prices are much cheaper.

dp