Japan Golden Week Holiday Budget Falls to 27,660 Yen

Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press)–The average budget for this year’s Golden Week holiday period in Japan stands at 27,660 yen, down 5.4 pct from a year earlier, according to a survey by research company Intage Inc. The fall in the budget for the holiday period running from Saturday to May 6 is believed to reflect the impact of rising prices, with 40 pct of respondents reporting no holiday plans, the survey showed. The 2026 budget fell to the lowest level since 2023, when travel demand rebounded following the COVID-19 pandemic, after hitting a record high of 29,237 yen in 2025. The survey was conducted online in late March, covering people aged 15 to 79 across Japan. Valid responses were received from 5,000 people. With multiple answers allowed, 49.2 pct of respondents cited inflation and the weaker yen as reasons for the budget decline. Other reasons included concerns about wages and future prospects. The survey showed that 41.2 pct of respondents had no plans for the holiday period, up 4.7 percentage points from last year, as many people have apparently delayed deciding how to spend the holidays amid rising prices. Among those with plans, common activities were staying at home, cited by 35.1 pct, followed by dining out at 17.0 pct and shopping at 15.9 pct. Domestic travel accounted for 12.3 pct, while only 1.0 pct planned to travel overseas. The survey examined the impact of international developments, including the situation in Iran. While 74.6 pct said such issues would not affect their plans, 19.6 pct said they would scale back their budgets and schedules. In addition, 2.4 pct said they would switch their travel plans from overseas to domestic trips. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]