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Narita, Haneda airports packed with Golden Week travelers

20 Comments

Around 45,000 travelers are expected to depart on overseas trips from Narita and Haneda airports by Tuesday night, airport officials said.

Tuesday marks the first day of the Golden Week holiday period, which ends on May 6.

Narita officials said around 34,000 passengers will depart Tuesday, while Haneda predicted about 11,000 overseas departures.

Travel agents said the most popular destinations this year are Bali, Taiwan and other nearby countries.

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20 Comments
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I guess I prefer the French system where you get one month's holiday whenever you choose to take it.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

i totally refuse to travel anywhere during golden week, crazy prices, 10 times the amount of people all packed into the same spots. id rather sit under a cheery blossom tree in the rain. No ill take the my holidays when those beaches and hotels are empty, much better service and the prices are normal. yes I know many people cant chose when they go on holidays... but whos fault is that!?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

This is the problem when everyone does the exact same thing. They don't want to be a bother to their co-workers so they take their vacation when everyone else does. It would be better if Japan forced everyone to take a 3 week vacation in August to save energy. But no, Japan would rather work people to death than give them a break. But since I take a vacation whenever I want, usually I can go anywhere in Japan since the hotels are empty.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Yawn. Here we go again. Am really looking forward to NOT driving, taking the train or being anywhere near an airport/rain station/shopping mall during this ridiculous week....

3 ( +8 / -5 )

This system exists in most countries, you take your holidays when you like. I guess the Japanese travel agencies must like the status quo though, they can name their price.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Why do people do this to themselves year after year after year? Do they perhaps enjoy traveling in packs? If so, why? Inflated prices, horribly packed with people and the Japanese just accept the fact and follow the commands.

'Golden Week' should be distributed over 4-5 weeks for the country so people could get some time off but so they would have to suffer th crowds.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

Why does Japan insist on everyone having a holiday at the same time? It means prices are extortionate and everywhere is packed.

2 ( +6 / -3 )

GW no bloody thx!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

"Same as the holiday season anywhere."

No, it is not. I've been in communication with friends and family in my home country. They're all taking spring or summer holidays, but at various periods for the next several months.

"Why do people do this to themselves year after year after year?"

Because the government tells them to. The national holiday period system is designated under law. The DPJ wanted to amend the system, but I guess the current LDP administration doesn't like that idea.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Golden Week is a set of public holidays, I.e. most companies are shut anyway, like Dec 25th/26th, july 4th or new year overseas.

There is no law stating you have to take your leave than but if the days fall nicely you can take 9 days off using 1 or 2 leave days.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

My flights to Inodonesaia were no more/no less than anytime this side of June. This price thing is pure myth - I want to save my holiday, book early and go Golden Week.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Why do people do this to themselves year after year after year?

Because this is when people get holidays. Same as the holiday season anywhere.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

No, it is not. I've been in communication with friends and family in my home country.

Are you trying to tell me that Christmas or New Years aren't the same in most of the western world, or Thanksgiving in the US? It's EXACTLY the same. Everyone trying to travel at the same time.

People do take vacations at other times of the year, you know, it's just that everyone gets Golden Week off so everybody travels then.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Golden week? For me...4 days. Can't remember ever having a week off around this time.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Jeff, You called it. I still stand by the comment that some of these hotels/ shops really hike it up for the tourists, since they have a captive audience.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I see plenty of shops around sightseeing spot that must make a killing for the 3 busy vacation times of the year (GW, Obon, New Years). The shops don't seem to have anything for sale that is so special or high quality....Easy money if you have one I guess.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Can people take their annual holidays whenever they can if they have enough annual leave, or is it Japanese things that companies shut down for a duration of times and let all employees take leave at the same? They are not doing themselves a favour because everything will be so pricey due to an unexpected higher demand in services such as airfares, accommodations etc. Business will exploit this opportunity anyways they can.

-1 ( +3 / -3 )

i love golden week cos i can get on may6 cheap airfares. just booked direct flight from narita to honolulu 6-15may for 62000yen. love when they all travel at same times. wanted to go kagoshima after golden week but cost almost the same than going hawai. overthere also low seasonget huge apartments for the price of a futon bed. i wonder when japanese people wake up. a friend of my gf booked 3 days hawai for october for 550 000 yen with JTB, i checked and could booked online same flight and same hotel for less than 150 000 yen. wierd isnt it...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I would normally arrive in Japan in time for Golden Week, but with ticket prices this year I had to book a flight for the following week. Bummer.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

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