China's 'Golden Week' consumer spending offers weakening economy rare respite
Spending on retail goods and dining during China's week-long National Day holidays returned to growth this year, offering unexpected respite to an economy that has been expanding at its weakest pace in almost three decades. The "Golden Week" break, which started with National Day on ...
Sentiment among workers on the front line of Japan's economy hits three-year low
Business sentiment among workers with jobs sensitive to economic trends hit a three-year low in June as consumers kept their purse strings tight following the unusual 10-day holiday the previous month, according to government data. The diffusion index of confidence among "economy watchers" such as ...
A third of Japanese made trips during 10-day Golden Week, survey shows
The proportion of people in Japan who made trips, either for the day or overnight, during the country's unprecedented 10-day Golden Week holiday period between late April and early May stood at 35 percent, a survey by the Japan Tourism Agency has shown. Respondents had ...
Narita airport saw record number of travelers during Golden Week
A record number of people passed through Narita airport near Tokyo during the Golden Week holiday period despite a drop in overseas visitors, the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau said Monday. The number of travelers leaving from Narita airport peaked on April 28 at around 63,000, ...
Tabloids press pause as nation celebrates dawn of the Reiwa Era
Welcome one and all to Big in Japan, the Reiwa version. During the just-ended 10-day Golden Week holiday, only one general weekly magazine — Aera (May 13) — went to press, giving it the distinction of being the first publication out of the starting ...
Attempting to switch off from social media during Golden Week
As the relaxed vibe of the recent 10-day Golden Week holiday slowly fades, many commuters in Tokyo appeared to struggle last week to return to the rat race. The longer than usual holiday offered people an opportunity to travel abroad or chill out at ...
Back to the grind: Workers in Japan return after extended Golden Week holiday
The nation went back to work following this year's unprecedented 10-day Golden Week holiday on Tuesday — the first working day of the Reiwa Era. Naoto Tokunaga, 24, showed up at his office near Tokyo Station 30 minutes earlier than usual because he was impatient ...
Long traffic jams and packed bullet trains: Travelers return to Tokyo after Golden Week
The rush of travelers returning to Tokyo from the extra-long Golden Week holiday grew Sunday, with traffic jams over 30 km long seen on some parts of expressways, and major airports and railway stations reporting massive crowds. With people returning to work on Tuesday after ...
Drop while they shop: Osaka firm offers room to weary dads in no mood for Golden Week shopping
In Osaka's busy Minami downtown district, a rental office company offered a special service targeted at fathers and children just for Golden Week — a special room for rent where they could rest while other family members shopped. The firm, Naniwa Midosuji Hall, offered space ...
Hands-free travel approaches reality in Japan as firms tap demand for luggage-storage options
Having your luggage stolen or losing it while traveling can easily ruin a trip, but dragging bulky baggage around crowded tourist spots can hijack your itinerary, too. The latter is more likely in Japan, especially in major destinations like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto where the ...
Trains, planes and automobiles to celebrate Golden Week
If you're looking for some mundane distractions to get you through the holiday period, Shukan Taishu (May 6-13) has got just the thing. Its "Reiwa Commemorative Edition" introduces unusual rides. Okinawa, for example, sports an "Ostrich Land," where you can hop a ride on ...
Japan begins 10-day Golden Week holiday ahead of Imperial succession
An unprecedented 10-day Golden Week holiday started Saturday ahead of the Imperial succession, with bullet train stations, airports and expressways crowded with travelers heading to their hometowns, major cities and overseas destinations. From the morning, there were long lines at check-in and luggage drop counters ...
