Culture

Golden Week (Gōruden Wīku) is Japan’s biggest holiday period of the year — a cluster of four national holidays in late April and early May. For foreigners living in Japan, it’s important to know what to expect. When Is Golden Week 2025? Date Holiday April 29 Showa Day (昭和の日) May 3 Constitution Day (憲法記念日) May 4 Greenery Day (みどりの日) May 5 Children’s Day (こどもの日) With weekends included, most people get 7–10 consecutive days off. Many companies give additional discretionary holidays to bridge the gaps. ...

Japan has clear social rules. You won’t always be expected to follow them perfectly as a foreigner, but knowing them helps you avoid awkward situations and shows respect. Here’s what actually matters day-to-day. Public Spaces On Trains and Subways Silence your phone — calls on trains are considered rude Don’t eat on local trains — shinkansen and long-distance trains are fine Give up priority seats — marked seats near doors for elderly, pregnant, and disabled passengers Don’t stand in doorways blocking exit Keep voices low — trains are generally quiet No strong perfume or food smells — considerate of others in enclosed spaces On Escalators In Tokyo: stand on the left, walk on the right In Osaka: the opposite — stand on the right, walk on the left Never block the walking side Shoes Off Remove shoes when entering: ...