Golden Week

Golden Week is the cluster of late-April and early-May holidays in Japan. Showa Day falls on 29 April; Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day and Children’s Day fall on 3, 4 and 5 May. Friday 30 April is an ordinary weekday.
Date source: Cabinet Office, “国民の祝日”.

• Tourism businesses may be busy: Hotels and restaurants serving popular destinations should review bookings and customer enquiries early.
• Friday has regular weekday status: Shops serving office workers may see a different pattern on 30 April than during the holidays.
• Match local demand: Attraction-area shops and neighbourhood services may need very different opening schedules.
• Visitor enquiries: Share your hours; suggest checking transport and attraction notices directly.
• Check employment guidance: For private-sector days off, substitute holidays, staffing and pay arrangements, follow announcements from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

• 30 days before: Plan Showa Day, the ordinary Friday and each day from 1 to 5 May separately; confirm staffing and supplier availability.
• 14 days before: Set each date’s special hours in Google Business Profile, including closed days. Publish a Post on the same day with the complete opening schedule.
• 7 days before: Republish the split schedule, confirm reservations and point out that Friday 30 April is not a national holiday.
• On the holiday or final day: Verify that the posted hours still match actual operations. Check that the special hours will expire after their assigned dates rather than overwrite regular hours.