Last weekend I went to Tokyo to accompany and tour my cousin from the Philippines. Yes, I got the taste of the super crowded and busy streets of Tokyo. Many people and tourists were roaming around the city, I can say it`s back to normal! The pandemic is over.
GW (Golden Week) is coming, what are your plans? If you’ve spent time in Japan pre-COVID-19, you know that Golden Week is a busy time when cities clear out and airports, train stations, and tourist traps are all crowded. It’s the time of year that presents “golden” opportunities to travel Japan – or stick close to home and trade the crowds and madness for the privacy of an emptied city.
The week gets its name “golden time,” which is the equivalent of primetime. This period is usually blessed with good weather and moderate temperature, and many large festivals take place all around the nation, helping to make Golden Week an extremely popular time for travel and sightseeing.
In 2020 and 2021, the holiday week was completely different. Trips were canceled and the Japanese government asked people to stay home to avoid the spread of COVID-19. In 2022, Golden Week returned without restrictions and 2023 will be the second year that residents will enjoy the long holiday without restrictions again.
While Golden Week is usually the busiest time of year for tourist spots, shopping centers, transportation, and accommodations are expected to be fully booked throughout this time, despite traditionally high Golden Week rates.
If you are a tourist and a foreigner living in Japan. You can avail the lowest and cheapest deal of unlimited rides in Shinkansen and local JR lines for 5 days. That’s what I did last time when I went to Tokyo. I bought the unlimited Shinkansen ride or they call it `JR Pass`. You can really save money with that pass and you can tour the up-to-the-north part of Japan with that pass.
Enjoy GW and have a safe travel. 
JOHN
