00:00:01 John Daub: So here we are inside Tokyo Station. You can see it's getting crowded. We're on the fringe of what's called Golden Week, the time to avoid travel here in Japan. How you doing everybody? In this episode I wanted to talk about the worst time to travel in Japan, and that would be right now, between April 27th and May 5th. We call this Golden Week. I'll talk a little bit about the history and background, but over the years I've learned my lessons. You need to have a reservation. In fact, right now there are signs all over the station saying you need seat reservations in advance at this time, which is starting today, April 25th to May 6th. This is plus or minus a couple days on the fringes. You need a reserved ticket for the Nozomi, in particular between Tokyo and Hiroshima.

00:00:58 John Daub: What we have here is the perfect storm. It's not as bad as it used to be in past years because we have so many international tourists now—about 3.5 million per month, something like 45 million per year expected, breaking records. It's about half of what France gets, but in a much smaller country where tourists are confined to just a certain percentage. Between Tokyo and Hiroshima, I'd say 80% of the tourists are in that one spot. So it's hard to determine whether you should avoid travel on the fringes. Let me show you what Golden Week actually is. This goes back to post-World War II Japan.

00:01:42 John Daub: Showa Day is April 29th, to show respect for the Showa era (1926–1989) or the Showa Emperor. It's a day off from work no matter if it's a weekend. Then Constitutional Memorial Day on May 3rd, Greenery Day on May 4th, and Children's Day on May 5th. They put these together so April 29th through May 5th are off, typically with a weekend thrown in to extend it more. Japanese businesses and head offices are closed, so it's the perfect time for Japanese to get out without using vacation days—except service industry folks at hotels and tourism spots. In the past it was mostly domestic tourists; now it's a mix. That's the background on this week, starting today since it's Saturday. If you finished work Friday, you probably got out of Tokyo—the grass is always greener.

00:03:04 John Daub: Tokyoites head to the countryside to take advantage of the nice warm weather without humidity or rain. I'm wearing a jacket today; there's a chill, gray skies, sun not out. But when the sun's out, it's extremely warm for a nice Golden Week. And "golden" also means the prices at hotels—25% to 2 or 3 times higher than low season. Transportation is very booked. I'm looking at the Midori no Madoguchi (green ticket window) where you get reservations, and there's a long line to get tickets and activate JR passes.

00:03:48 John Daub: We'll take some questions. Amanda Main says she finished the painting—it's her profile picture. Oh yeah, I'd love to see it; I'll check it out. Thank you, Amanda. Starting tomorrow, I'm getting into the thick of things for the first time in a long time. We're taking the Shinkansen to Osaka, so I'll take you on this adventure. Subscribe to the channel—we'll go to the Osaka Expo. My wife Kanae Daub's dance school is performing there with 15 kids—quite an honor, but a logistical nightmare. I'm going more to support her than to film, though I'll do that anyway. Tomorrow's Shinkansen during Golden Week—we got reservations, but it wasn't easy. Prices are up, especially in Osaka with the Expo.

00:05:12 John Daub: It'll be extraordinary to see Golden Week from Shin-Osaka Station and Osaka City, not just Tokyo Station. There's a lot of energy here; I feel the power of thousands going different directions. Maybe meet my friend Kevin Riley who's doing tours down there—he's busy. What will the Expo be like at its busiest? It's had mixed reviews and booking nightmares via their app, but it's a long marathon until October—not all pavilions are done yet. They can turn it around.

00:06:20 John Daub: Things to worry about during Golden Week: heavy crowds—doing anything is a struggle, lines at popular sites 3–4 hours long. I went to Tokyo Disneyland once before DisneySea; who waits seven hours for a ride? School kids. Journey to the Center of the Earth was seven and a half hours for 30 seconds—mind-blowing. I just did the merry-go-round and walked around; couldn't even get food, had to leave for onigiri at the station. It's crazy, but you'll have a story: you survived Golden Week. Due to demand, accommodations and transport costs rise, availability limited—especially buses due to driver shortages, so prices are auctioned higher. I thought of doing an Only in Japan bus tour but couldn't; prices didn't make sense. Taxis might be short in tourist areas like Kyoto, where public transport isn't great—walking might be best.

00:08:25 John Daub: Golden Week has festivals like Sumo Nakizumō (crying sumo festival) on May 5th—hundreds of kids at a shrine, sumo wrestlers make babies cry to grow up strong. Fun event. Station's busy; signs everywhere say starting today, make seat reservations—Tohoku Shinkansen too, but especially Nozomi between Tokyo and Hakata (Fukuoka). In the past, and Obon in August, I've stood for hours on Shinkansen—sucks for 2–3 hours from Osaka or Aomori. Crowded between cars with bags; hard to get to restrooms or off at stops, especially with tourists' suitcases—you exit five minutes early. Train companies are more mindful now, stops a bit longer.

00:11:11 John Daub: Send bags ahead with takkyūbin (luggage delivery service) from your hotel the night before to the next one within 300–400 km—amazing, saves pain at peak times. Hotels know it; Amex cards might do it free from airports. Check your card.

00:12:14 John Daub: Mic had problems—choppy, disconnecting? It was connected but crackly. Wi-Fi's bad too from too many international tourists at JR Rail Cafe—never happened before; delayed the livestream. News says Japanese aren't traveling domestically anymore due to stagnant wages and strong dollar—now making like Canadians, half of Americans. Places like Guam feel it; Japanese/Chinese down. Guam's a tropical paradise—pitch it as an add-on for Americans after Japan: unique U.S. possession with WWII history, whalers, Spanish ties. Tourism down there; going soon using miles.

00:16:17 John Daub: Japanese not traveling domestically means shifts—foreign tourists stick to golden route (Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka-Nikko-Hakone-Kamakura-Nara-Himeji-Hiroshima, Kanazawa)—90% there. Scary if they don't explore off-path; thousands of hidden gems. Kyoto super crowded—love it or hate it, might be trip low.

00:17:45 John Daub: Station not too crowded yet but will be; come early next week. Leaving for Guam mid-May—meetup at Wednesday night market 5–6:30pm if you can. Great to meet Guam viewers; super friendly vibe like Philippines, Hawaii, Thailand. American tourists don't know Guam—big opportunity to siphon from Japan trips.

00:20:52 John Daub: Haneda Airport Golden Week: crowded but they manage—increased flights, quick if weather good. Domestic flights amazing: take drinks (they scan), check-in 45 min before. Haneda Terminal 2 self-check: futuristic machine weighs, shields, conveyor—fast. Fly for Shinkansen >3hrs (Kagoshima, Hokkaido, Tottori, Shimane, Shikoku).

00:23:26 John Daub: Programming note: Mondays live trip planner for Patreon supporters (Sunday night US)—DM me your plans, Google Maps, optimize itineraries/day trips. Lived here 27 years. Postcard club needs 5 more for Osaka hand-delivery/postmark. Discord needs boosts—active community.

00:25:52 John Daub: Golden Week impact diminishing? Domestic down but international raging—45M tourists/year, always busy major sites regardless of time. Encourage off-beaten path. Kyoto too crowded—Hawaiians skipped a stop from bus crowds. Luggage havoc: more wheeled suitcases than backpacks—downsize or takkyūbin; overhead/oversized booked.

00:29:49 John Daub: 45M vs 30M few years ago—50% more people, more suitcases. Backpacking toughened me—traveled pre-9/11 golden age (cheap flights, low tourism: empty Angkor Wat 1999). World changed: more money/travelers everywhere. Expo store in Tokyo Station Daimaru basement—will Instagram.

00:31:27 John Daub: Regret no YouTube during 1996–2004 backpacking (75 countries)—waste? Or blessing: pure travel, no content stress. Tourism boomed post-2012. Traveled Yugoslavia 1998 amid NATO bombings—rare tourist. Pre-internet: U.S. embassies printed news. Romania 1997 wild: AK-47 border checks, dirt roads, horse buggies—modern now.

00:34:33 John Daub: Long-term luggage: takkyūbin hack—schedule 10 days later, no extra cost. Apps/books for timetables. Pre-9/11/1992–2001 amazing open travel—Romania visa-free for Americans, crazy experiences gone.

00:37:57 John Daub: Berlin stations historic post-Wall. Reconsider Japan travel now—book trains, smile. Check Shimbashi Night Tour video. Mata ne.