Last weekend, my daughters went to 東京ディズニーランド (Tokyo Disneyland) together. They took their young six-year-old cousin with them.
While the four of them were at the amusement park, my wife and I went to IKEA (I wrote about that last week. Click here to read it.)
Here are some of the photos that my daughters took (I’m not posting any of the photographs that have my kids or niece in them):
The Tokyo Disney Resort bus
"Daisy Duck"
"Pooh-san"
A statue of Walt Disney and Mickey with Cinderella's Castle in the background.
"Buzz Lightyear"
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I’m sure you’ve heard in the news about the recent outbreak of a new epidemic in Mexico that has spread to America.
It’s a 豚インフルエンザ (Swine (Pig) Flu)!
First, there was “Mad Cow“, then the “Bird Flu“…and now it’s pigs. Will fish be next?
Japan did a pretty good job of keeping the mad cow and bird flu out of this country. Hoping this new swine flu won’t spread here either!
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Anyways, “Golden Week” has officially started today. Students still have school and most people still have to work until Thursday…but some people get to begin their holidays today.
As with most people though, my family all have our Golden Week holidays from next Saturday (May 2) until Wednesday (April 6)…plus this Wednesday (April 29) is off too (But, Thursday (April 30) and Friday (May 1) are work days).
Wednesday, April 29 is 昭和の日 (Showa Day). (It used to be 緑の日 (Greenery Day)).
Sunday, May 3 is 憲法記念日 (Constitution Day).
Monday, May 4 is now 緑の日 (Greenery Day). (It used to be 国民記念日 (Residents Day).
And Tuesday, May 5 is 子供の日 (Children’s Day).
Because 憲法記念日 (Constitution Day) is on a Sunday this year, it’s observed on Tuesday, May 6.
So most people’s Golden Week is from Saturday May 2 – Tuesday May 6.
Click here to read my FAQ about the Golden Week holidays.
Also, this year (2009) in Japan, there will be a second Golden Week in September!
This is because 敬老の日 (Respect For The Aged Day) is on the third Monday of September…and 秋分の日 (Autumn Equinox) is on September 23.
This year, the third Monday of September will be on September 21. So since September 21 and 23 will be off…the government made September 22 between them a day-off too.
So, many people will have Saturday, September 19 until Wednesday, September 23 off…a second Golden Week.
Tokyo Five 
I hope you’re having a lovely GW with your family ^_^
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Thank you. I am.
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I like the name “Pooh-san”. Cute pictures. I can’t believe they are old enough now to go by themselves. Have a fun Golden Week!
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>I like the name “Pooh-san”.
Yeah, that’s what Winnie-The-Pooh is called in Japan.
> I can’t believe they are old enough now to go by themselves.
I can’t believe it either!
> Have a fun Golden Week!
Thanks.
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I’m enjoying golden week as we speak right now. It’s the first holidays I’ve had since Christmas.
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You’re on GW now?
And didn’t you have New Years holiday?
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I count Christmas and New Years as the same holidays.
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>I count Christmas and New Years as the same holidays.
As Xmas is a regular work-day in Japan…I don’t count Xmas as a holiday. Just the New Year’s holiday.
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Are you and your family going away for Golden Week?
I have heard many people are taking 2 full weeks, since many factories and plants are having extended shutdowns due to the slowdown caused by the global economic recession.
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We’re staying in the Tokyo area…but we’ll do something (I haven’t decided what yet).
How about you?
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Same as you, we’ll do something, but still undecided yet – either go somewhere else in Japan or fly to another Asian country.
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>either go somewhere else in Japan or fly to another Asian country.
We’ve got a few ideas of places we might go this GW…but they’re all in the Tokyo area.
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