Golden Week in Tokyo

[Gunzel]

Has anyone been in Japan during golden week? Due to other timing issues, and the availability of lower priced flights (I won’t say cheap, over double of what I paid before the pandemic) looking at being there over that time. 
 

Rather than travel to the countryside I’m thinking of completing some of the Tokyo area railways I’ve been putting off, it sounds like in the big cities it may be marginally quieter, but at least not much busier than normal? And are retail stores open? Particularly places like HARD OFF? 
 

I’ve used the Tokunai Pass before, and I see there is a Tokyo 1 Day ticket, and from the private railways the Greater Tokyo Pass, are there any other good pass deals in the Tokyo area? 

[railsquid]

Thanks to mass tourism, Tokyo is busy all the time, and everything is open all the time, except maybe New Year's day, and for smaller shops over the O-Bon period in August.

[kuro68000]

Everywhere will be rammed during Golden Week. Hotels often charge extra too.

[Andrew Nummelin]

When we moved to Japan a few decades ago most things were open; but of course the banks were not. As we’d just moved into our new home we were glad that colleagues had let us know that the bowing images on cash machines also had a few days off!

[railsquid]

Fortunately convenience store ATMs are now a thing (added bonus: they also accept overseas cards).

[Kamome]

When I first lived in Japan, during Golden Week, all the ATMs got a holiday. This is no longer the case but to cut a long story short, Golden Week would be exceptionally busy, especially on rail travel. Most Japanese travellers would tend to take Nozomi (or similar) services for any sizeable journeys but I'm sure Hikari services would also be rammed. 

 

The challenge would really be the large number of Japanese tourists on top of overseas visitors so you could join in on the news stories of grid-locked expressways and standing room only shinkansen services.

 

I'd avoid going in Golden Week if you can so that movement, hotel availability and pricing would be more accommodating. If, of course, you want the authentic crammed Tokyo experience, fill your boots in early May.

[railsquid]

Mind you, assuming the OP is actually in Tokyo with accomodation, just travelling around the Tokyo area on normal trains will be perfectly doable, though of course Shinkansens and special expresses will be busy.

[Gunzel]

Yes that would be the idea, just stick to Tokyo and normal trains. Travel on a whole lot of suburban lines not yet done and visit a bunch of new HARD OFF stores.