A look at Golden Week vs. Summer vacation trends

If you have been living in Japan for a while, you probably know that there are two major times of year when it feels like everyone is traveling: Golden Week in spring, and the summer vacation season in August. A recent survey conducted by Hankyu Travel International shed some light on just how busy each period is and why people choose one season over the other for their trips.

The survey gathered responses from 537 adults across Japan (excluding students, who tend to have different vacation patterns), and asked participants whether they usually travel more during Golden Week or summer vacation. The results showed that 51% of respondents said they travel more during summer vacation, while 26% said they travel more during Golden Week. Another 23% said they travel equally during both periods. In other words, summer tends to be the bigger travel season overall, with about twice as many people favoring it compared to Golden Week.

As for the reasons behind the preferences, people who travel during Golden Week often cited the convenience of fixed holidays. Since Golden Week is made up of a string of public holidays, it’s easier to plan a trip without having to negotiate time off with employers. In contrast, those who prefer traveling during summer vacation said they appreciated having more time.

Climate also seems to influence travel choices. Many people described Golden Week as more comfortable for sightseeing, thanks to the mild spring weather, and I'd definitely agree with this part. In contrast, summer vacations fall in the height of Japan’s heat and humidity, which can make outdoor activities less appealing unless you are headed to the mountains or the coast. The idea of doing a city sightseeing trip in August, for instance, sounds like my idea of hell (probably similar temperatures, too!)

When asked about crowd levels, an interesting pattern emerged. About 41% of people said they feel Golden Week is more crowded than summer vacation, compared to only 24% who thought summer was busier. A further 33% said both periods were equally crowded. This makes sense when you consider that Golden Week compresses a huge amount of travel into a handful of days, while summer vacation tends to be more spread out across several weeks. Trains, airports, and major tourist spots are often packed during Golden Week, while summer congestion can vary depending on your timing and destination. I did have to chuckle, though, that 2% of people responded that neither period was crowded. I’d love to know where they are vacationing to!

If you had to pick between one of the two, would you opt for Golden Week travel or summertime travel?