Golden Week was practically a non event in 2021. As we were approaching the Olympics, the Japanese Government were being particularly cautious. Thus, very few events were on. In 2022, things still aren’t back to normal, but there are more events on than last year. But, unfortunately, in order to deter crowds, it is unlikely that there will be the usual free entry to locations in 2022. This post introduces some things to do, and some of the events that are on, during Golden Week 2022 in Saitama Prefecture.
Updated on April 28th 2022 with even more events, including firework information!
Golden Week 2022 Dates
Golden Week every year is split into two. One day is at the end of April and three days together from May 3rd to 5th. If one of the days falls on a Sunday another day will be given off in lieu. The 2022 Golden Week dates are:
- Showa Day (honoring Emperor Showa), Showa No Hi 昭和の日, on Friday April 29th 2022
- Constitution Memorial Day, Kenpo Kinenbi no Hi 憲法記念日, on Tuesday May 3rd
- Greenery Day, Midori no Hi みどりの日, on Wednesday May 4th
- Children’s Day, Kodomo no Hi 子供の日, on Thursday May 5th
Saitama Prefecture Golden Week Events in 2022
In order to get this list out in a timely manner, any event with an existing blog post is linked to that post where you can pick up all the pertinent information.
- Ongoing events
- Flower displays / festivals
- Golden Week specific events
- Places that are normally free in during Golden Week (unlikely in 2022 due to the pandemic)
1. Ongoing events in Saitama Prefecture
Umbrella Sky
There are two umbrella sky annually in Metsa. The first is in spring and is held in Moominvalley Park, which is the area you have to pay into:
Pinwheels
The pinwheels at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine normally don’t go up until June. But as this is the 100 year anniversary of Kawagoe City, the pinwheels were put up early. They will be up throughout Golden Week:
Sayama Ski Resort Water Fes 2022
Starts during Golden Week and runs until early September:
Spirit of Japan
Which was initially supposed to finish in April, but was extended due to the end of Golden Week due to popular demand.
Rilakkuma and Sumikkogurashi Festival
Like the Spirit of Japan, Ukiyo-e Theater from Paris, the Rilakkuma and Sumikkogurashi Festival is also in the Kadokawa Culture Museum:
Laketown Boat Park
Take a boat out on the lake at Laketown!
Tove Jansson Light up
The Tove Jansson Akebono Children’s Forest has night light up every weekend. But during the Golden Week period they have it on for six nights:
Nagatoro Cherry Blossom Festival
One of the longest “sakura matsuri” in Saitama, Nagatoro Cherry Blossom festival started on March 23rd and ends on May 8th:
Water Play
Normally, the water play areas at places such as Saitama Children’s Zoo and Shinrin Park open on the first day of Golden Week, Showa no Hi. And then run until early September. However, since the pandemic began most of these types of water play areas have been closed. Currently, there is no opening date set for 2022 either. Saitama Museum of River’s water play is currently open though. (Subject to change depending on the pandemic situation).
2. Flower Displays / Festivals
*Please note that the wet weather and fluctuating temperatures may effect the bloom of these flowers.*
- Shibazakura at Hitsujiyama Park 2022, CHICHIBU
- Tokigawa’s Moss Phlox Open Garden
- Peony festival at Yakyū Inari Shrine, the Baseball Shrine until May 7th
- In addition, there are also Peony at Botanen Park until May 5th
- Tokaen: The legendary Wisteria of Ushijima until May
5th: finished on the 2nd because the wisteria has stopped blooming - Wisteria, Tamashiki Shrine and Park | KAZO
- 700 year old Wisteria + Hydrangea backdropped by Japan’s tallest pagoda
- Off the beaten path wisteria spot in Saitama
- At Shinrin Park:
- Nemophila in Saitama and Kanto, includes free virtual tours and a new spot maybe past its prime in May
- Lupine Flowers and Bike rental at Shinrin Park in Saitama Prefecture 2022
- Icelandic Poppies at Shinrin Park in 2022 should still be in bloom the first half of Golden Week, but may not be for the second half.
3. Golden Week specific events
Koinobori
Koinobori, or carp streamers / flying carp as they are often called in English, are flown for Children’s Day which falls on May 5th annually. Children’s Day marks the last day of Golden Week. Here are some places you can see koinobori:
- Citizen’s Peace Festival and Jumbo Koinobori in Kazo City in 2022
- The Koedo Kawagoe Spring Festival
- Washi no Sato Roadside Station and Washi Paper making
- Fukaya Green Kingdom
- Kitamotoshi Kodomo Park | KITAMOTO
- Nanbata Castle Park | FUJIMI
(There are no carp streamers and renge in Kuki City this year, 2022, according to the official website). Also, the Kasukabe Big Kite Festival is on May 3rd only this year. Moreover, it is a spectator-less event in 2022.
The Grand Bonsai Festival
The Grand Bonsai Festival takes place annually during Golden Week:
Fireworks!
Hotel Heritage has been the only place that continues to carry out their annual firework displays, despite the pandemic. This year is no different:
Children’s events
You will find that most of the municipal facilities, and some private ones too, that are aimed at children, have some events during golden week. However, due to the pandemic, many are temporarily suspended. A couple of them are list in the next section, “places that are free during Golden Week”. In 2022, Saitama Museum of Rivers and the Saitama Prefecture Disaster Prevention Center have some Golden Week events for children planned. Shinrin Park will have their (bi)annual Outdoor Park.
4. Locations that are free in during a “normal” Golden week
Please note that it is highly unlikely that these places will be free in, in 2022, due to the pandemic. That was the case in both 2021 and 2020. This list is for future reference.
- Ogawa Genki Plaza’s planetarium in Ogawa is free in on May 4th and 5th. They also have a children’s day festival on May 4th and 5th.
- Saitama Aquarium in Hanyu is free in for children on May 5th
- Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore in Omiya ward, Saitama is free in for children. They normally have a Children’s Museum Festival on May 5th.
- Museum of the Sakitama Ancient Burial Mounds in Gyoda is free in for children. They also have a number of events over Golden Week including a “dress up as the ancients” event on April 29th and May 3rd.
- Ranzan Historical Museum in Ranzan is free in for kids.
- Saitama Museum of Natural History in Nagatoro is free in for kids.
- Saitama Museum of Rivers in Yorii is free in for children. They normally have several events during Golden Week for children.
- Momas: The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama in Urawa, Saitama City, is free in for kids.
- Chikozan Park Zoo is free in for children on May 5th.
and it’s here again! Amazing how quickly the first four months of this year have gone!