How to spend Golden Week in Tokyo this year

Golden Week 2023 is packed with exciting events taking place all across Tokyo. After several pandemic-affected Golden Week holidays, this is sure to be one of the most action-packed spring holidays in years. 

For those of you spending Golden Week in Tokyo, we’ve rounded up the best events happening in the city, including food bazaars, outdoor cinemas, art exhibitions, flower festivals and more. 

Get out of Tokyo for a day (or longer, if you have time) and head south to Kanagawa hot springs, north to Tochigi for traditional shrines, or out to Yamanashi for postcard perfect views of Mt Fuji. Tokyo might have captured your heart, but these day trips will fully cement your love of Japan.

Golden Week is a great opportunity to catch the top art exhibitions taking place in Tokyo's most popular galleries. This spring, you see everything from an exhibition inspired by the aesthetics of Wes Anderson films to a collection of paintings from the Louvre curated based on their fiery portrayals of passion and romance. 

When the weather starts to warm up, Tokyoites hit the great outdoors for some of the best things to do in the city: strolling Tokyo's lush parks, marvelling at a Japanese garden, catching free works of art, and even dining up high at these stunning rooftop restaurants and bars. Spring is a particularly lovely time to hang out outdoors before the arrival of summer's sweltering heat. So order your cocktail, take in the picturesque city skyline and raise a glass to Tokyo's spectacular views.

Sometimes the hustle and bustle of the city can be too much, but luckily, you don't have to go far before you're in the great outdoors – the Greater Tokyo region is full of nature parks to escape to.

But if you're less about admiring the view and more about adventure then these spots are for you. From family-friendly theme parks to adventure playgrounds and even an urban farm, these outdoor attractions make for a great day trip from the city centre.

If you’re up for a proper cultural excursion to see rare paintings and site-specific installations, it’s worth making a day trip to the nearby prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa or Saitama for art destinations where you can also stretch your legs in nature.

Take an art day trip from Tokyo this Golden Week to see everything from a farm with two Yayoi Kusama installations to a museum with a natural hot spring foot bath.

Shopping is definitely an exciting experience, especially when it doesn't bore a hole in your wallet. For that, all you need to do is make an easy day trip out to these outlet malls and discount stores near Tokyo – namely in Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa.