COVID removes the luster from Japan's 'Golden Week' holidays Traditionally a time to travel, shop and go out, this year's festive season has been disrupted by a third state of emergency as cases of COVID-19 rise. This shopping area in Tokyo would normally be packed during Japan's annual spring festival Every spring for the 20 years that Fumie Takenaka has lived in Tokyo, she has taken advantage of the Golden Week holiday period to travel to her hometown in Aichi Prefecture. She even risked a brief trip this time last year, as the coronavirus pandemic in Japan appeared to be waning. It is clear today, however, that the pandemic returns in waves.