Searching for destinations and activities during Golden Week? Explore our carefully selected list of events and experiences! With so much to see and do, Golden Week 2024 spans from Saturday, April 27 to Monday, May 6, providing up to 10 consecutive holidays, including three weekdays in between. Our list includes leisure spots and flower tours for children to enjoy, events for individuals, friends, or families, and more, all presented in both English and Japanese!
Golden Week Calendar 2024
• 4/27 (Sat.)
• 4/28 (Sun.)
• 4/29 (Mon, hol.) Showa Day
• 4/30 (Tue.)
• 5/1 (Wed.)
• 5/2 (Thu.)
• 5/3 (Fri., hol.) Constitution Memorial Day
• 5/4 (Sat., hol.) Greenery Day
• 5/5 (Sun, hol.) Children’s Day
• 5/6 (Mon. hol.) Substitute holiday
Hakata Dontaku 2024
Dontaku, originating from the Dutch word Zondag (holiday), is one of Japan’s largest festivals, attracting two million spectators. On May 3 & 4, the festivities commence with the Hakata Matsubayashi procession, which has marked the new year for the past 840 years. Daytime performances across 39 stages follow, and in the evening, illuminated “Flower Cars” (decorated vehicles) parade through the streets. For more information, keep an eye out for our Hakata Dontaku 2024 Guide!
Photo provided by the City of Fukuoka
• 5/3 (Fri., hol.), 5/4 (Sat., hol.)
• https://www.dontaku.fukunet.or.jp/
• Fukuoka Now Hakata Dontaku Guide 2024
GW Event List
Here’s a long list of events taking place between April 27 to May 6, 2024. Click on any of these to see photos and get details. Happy Golden Week!
• 4/24~6/23 (Chuo-ku, Fukuoka): Makoto Kagoshima: Day After Day
• 4/26~4/29 (Itoshima City): Itoshima Handmade Carnival
• 4/26~5/6 (Hakata-ku, Fukuoka): Beers of Japan Festival 2024 LaLaport Fukuoka
• 4/26~5/6 (Chuo-ku, Fukuoka): Craft Gyoza Fes.
• 4/27~6/9 (Chuo-ku, Fukuoka): Kagaya Starry Sky World Exhibition
• 4/27~6/16 (Hakata-ku, Fukuoka): Shuntaro Tanikawa Picturebook Exhibition
• 4/27 (Higashi-ku, Fukuoka): Fukuoka Higashi-ku Fireworks
• 4/27~4/29 (Chuo-ku, Fukuoka): Torikai Hachimangu Shrine Curry Festival 2024
• 4/27~29, 5/3~5/6 (Higashi-ku, Fukuoka): Marine World Night Aquarium
• 4/27~5/6 (Hakata-ku, Fukuoka): Canal Cross Culture Fes.
• 4/27~5/6 (Itoshima City): Shiraito Falls Friendship Village: Yamame Fishing Festival
• 4/27~5/26 (Kurume City): Ishibashi Cultural Center Spring Rose Fair
• 4/28 (Itoshima City): Takasu Kagura Shinto Dance
• 4/28 (Itoshima City): 4th Itoshima Negi Festival: Celebration of Itoshima Green Onions
• 4/28 (Higashi-ku, Fukuoka): Hakopan Fes
• 4/28~5/5 (Munakata City): Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2024
• 4/29~5/5（Chuo-ku, Fukuoka）：Kyushu Craft Beer Week 2024
• 4/29~5/5 (Arita City, Saga): Arita Ceramic Fair
• 4/29~5/5 (Karatsu City, Saga): Karatsu Yakimon Ceramic Festival
• 4/29~5/5 (Hasami City, Nagasaki): Hasami Ceramic Festival
• 5/2~5/15 (Fukuoka City): Tachinomist 6
• 5/3, 5/6, 5/18 (Hakata-ku, Fukuoka): Avispa Fukuoka May Home Games
• 5/3, 5/4 (Fukuoka City): Hakata Dontaku
• 5/3, 5/4 (Fukuoka City): Hakata Matsubayashi
• 5/3~5/6 (Itoshima City): Itoshima Golden Week Yatai Festival
• 5/4 (Chuo-ku, Fukuoka): Kyushu Pixel Marche
• 5/4, 5/5 (Sawara-ku, Fukuoka): Seaside Momochi Golden Week Festa
• 5/3~5/5 (Toho-mura): Koishiwara Spring Pottery Festival
• 5/6 (Itoshima City): Sakurai Futamigaura, Shimenawa Festival
• ~5/6 (Dazaifu City): Scrolls: Depictions of Tenjin
• 5/6~5/12 (Hakata-ku, Fukuoka): Fukuoka International Women’s Tennis Cup 2024
• ~5/19 (Higashi-ku, Fukuoka): Uminonakamichi Flower Picnic 2024
• ~5/31 (Chuo-ku, Fukuoka): Light Up in Fukuoka Castle
• ~6/2 (Sawara-ku, Fukuoka): Kuroda Family Treasures Exhibition Revisited — Calligraphy, Paintings, and Literary Arts Edition
• ~6/16 (Chuo-ku, Fukuoka): Moving Vincent Van Gogh Digital Fine Art Exhibition
• ~6/30 (Chuo-ku, Fukuoka): Adaptation – Kyne
• ~6/30 (Hakata-ku, Fukuoka): Egg-licious Afternoon Tea
• ~9/3 (Hakata-ku, Fukuoka): Fukuoka Asian Art Museum 25th Anniversary Collection Exhibition Asian Pop
Fukuoka Now Seasonal Guide
Fukuoka Wisteria Guide 2024
Looking to catch the wisteria in all their glory in Fukuoka? Your best bet is around mid-April. And for something truly special, keep an eye out for places hosting the Wisteria Festival, where you can see these blooms light up the night. Trust me, it’s a sight you won’t want to miss.
https://www.fukuoka-now.com/en/wisteria-guide/
Fukuoka Now Azalea Guide 2024
In Fukuoka, the azalea season is in full swing, with peak blooms from mid-April through the Golden Week, offering a perfect palette of color that transforms the local landscape into a spectacular floral spectacle. This season, immerse yourself in the beauty of these cherished blooms—a cornerstone of local heritage and natural beauty.
https://www.fukuoka-now.com/en/azalea-guide/
Clam Digging Guide 2024
Fukuoka Now, we’ve crafted a guide that strikes a balance between informative and engaging, perfect for everyone from curious first-timers to adept clam hunters. We offer all you need to know, from what to do before heading out to tips for a successful dig, not to mention highlighting Fukuoka’s prime clam-digging spots. A word to the wise: with clam populations on the decline, some areas have become off-limits, so it’s vital to clam dig with care and respect for local guidelines.
https://www.fukuoka-now.com/en/clam-digging-guide/
The absolute best time to go clam digging is at spring tide (the tide just after a new or full moon). This year, spring tides will occur on mid-April up to May as follows:
• May: 5/5~5/8, 5/20~5/23
FREE! 37 things to do in Fukuoka 2024
Exploring an exciting town like Fukuoka, packed with historical landmarks, great shopping and plenty of places to dine, you can easily slaughter your wallet in a single day. But the best things in life are free! So Fukuoka Now listed up approximately 37 things to enjoy for FREE in Fukuoka, from culture to sightseeing, to museums, language lessons and more! Check back again soon, we’ll add some more as we find them!
https://www.fukuoka-now.com/en/free-in-fukuoka/
Originally written in April 2016, updated April 2024.
Copyright Fukuoka Now – including all text, photos and illustrations. Permission required to re-use in any form. Meanwhile, feel free to link to this page.
NOTE: The information presented here was gathered and summarized by the Fukuoka Now staff. While we have done our best to check for accuracy, there might be errors and details may have changed. If you notice any errors or changes, please contact us. This report was originally written in Apr. 2016.
Photo provided by the City of Fukuoka
