Is going to Hokkaido, Japan advisable during Golden Week?
I've just learned that during my planned stay in Japan the Golden Week takes place. Having read loads of warnings we are thinking of going to Hokkaido during the festivals and see the beautiful nature.
Will it be even more crowded than the urban areas (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto) or are Hokkaido's sights less frequented during golden week?
The intention behind the question is finding out where large tourist crowds go during Golden Week since Tokyo might be crowded according to StackExchange whilst Japan-Guide.com claims that people are leaving urban centres.
Best Answer
Hokkaido is fine, but I wouldn't worry about urban areas. Your biggest gripe will be actual travel TO and FROM Hokkaido.
Certain places where Japanese people go on vacation will be crowded. Places like Hakone, Beppu, DisneySea/Land, etc. will be crowded. Transportation in and out of cities will also be busy.
If you're travelling around, you may run into some challenges, but if you're in a major metropolitan city, like Tokyo or Osaka or Kyoto you won't notice much difference. It's like taking the highways on a Friday Long Weekend.
Tokyo is always crowded. It can handle Golden Week without issue. Concentrated popular places like Disneyland can be crazy busy.
Pictures about "Is going to Hokkaido, Japan advisable during Golden Week?"
Should I travel to Japan during Golden Week?
Japan is undoubtedly enjoyable in spring but consider your trip timing. Only make plans to travel to Japan during Golden Week (usually around the end of April to the beginning of May) if you're willing to pay more, cram onto trains, and wait in long queues to buy tickets and see sights.Should I avoid Golden Week Japan?
Golden Week is avoided by many international travelers because of the challenges of navigating crowded transportation and attractions. However, Golden Week also offers some unique travel opportunities. If you plan on traveling to Japan during this special week of activity, consider the following suggestions.Where do Japanese go during Golden Week?
The beginning to middle of Golden Week is the best time to be in Japan's cities, as many city residents head away from them. If you head into Tokyo, then once the initial exodus dies down, you will find that it is easy to visit many of the attractions Tokyo has to offer, and this is similar to other cities like Osaka.Where do people go during Golden Week?
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Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Miguel Á. Padriñán, Miguel Á. Padriñán, Yaroslav Shuraev, Yaroslav Shuraev