Children’s Day – Golden Week

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There is no place in the world where symbolism and traditions are mingled more in everyday life than in Japan. Well before a holiday is on the agenda, preparations start with utmost care and attention to the smallest details. Children’s Day is one of these holidays that requires full attention.

It takes place on the fifth day of the fifth month and falls within Golden Week – a special week in Japan that contains a series of four national holidays in Japan. The four public holidays are Showa Day, Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day and Children’s Day. The Golden Week is the perfect opportunity for Japanese people to go on vacation as it includes four public holidays, meaning that they can enjoy vacation for the whole week. The Golden Week takes place from end of April to early May.

Children’s Day is a festival in celebration of the healthy growth and happiness of boys and girls. Officially called Children’s Day (Kodomo no Hi), this feast is also known as Tango no Sekku (Boy’s Festival). Girl’s Day is celebrated earlier in the year, on 3 March.

Tradition of children’s day (boy’s festival)

Children’s Day was intended to celebrate the happiness of the boys in the family. But above all, parents provide a range of delicacies and decorate the house in the traditional way. Dolls dressed as samurai symbolise the men who protect the house and a flying carp (koi nobori) is hoisted outside. For every boy born in the family, the parents attach a paper or cloth carp at the end of a long pole in the garden or to the roof of the house. As the wind fills it out, it swims in the air like a real fish. The carp has traditionally been attributed with high courage and fearlessness.

Admire the samurai dolls

Normally, when our hotel and restaurants are open, the samurai warrior dolls can be admired during Golden Week at the entrance of our Japanese restaurants. For now, we will keep you posted via Instagram. Please keep an eye on our Instagram account: @Hotel_Okura_Amsterdam.

Looking for an authentic Japanese experience? Yamazato Restaurant is the perfect spot. More than fifty specialties from traditional kaiseki ryori cuisine, the Japanese haute cuisine, are prepared by the skilled hands of Executive Chef & Manager Masanori Tomikawa and the team of Japanese chefs. By using typical Japanese materials in the interior, and the adjacent garden with a beautiful cherry blossom in spring, it gives a feeling of being in Japan.