JTB has compiled a forecast of travel trends for "people planning to take a trip of one night or more during Golden Week (April 25–May 7, 2026)."

Driven by strong travel enthusiasm and favorable calendar timing, the number of travelers is expected to increase, while average planned travel expenses are projected to remain on par with the previous year. For domestic travel, there will be an increase in short-term, nearby trips using private vehicles, with travelers finding ways to enjoy their trips while keeping costs down despite rising prices. For overseas travel, trips of 3 to 5 nights will be the mainstay, with South Korea, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia being popular destinations.

Total number of travelers during Golden Week: 24.47 million (101.9% of the previous year); total travel spending: 1.2876 trillion yen (101.1% of the previous year)
For domestic travel, the number of travelers was 23.9 million (101.7% of the previous year), the average planned travel expenditure was 46,000 yen (97.9% of the previous year), and travel spending totaled 1.0994 trillion yen (99.5% of the previous year)
For overseas travel, the number of travelers was 572,000 (108.5% of the previous year), the average planned travel expense was 329,000 yen (102.2% of the previous year), and travel spending totaled 188.2 billion yen (110.9% of the previous year)

[Domestic Travel]

The number of travelers saw a slight increase due to favorable calendar dates and steady travel demand
Average planned travel expenses remained high due to factors such as rising prices, but saw a slight decrease due to shorter trips
Destinations were primarily local areas within travelers’ residential regions, with an increase in short-term, short-distance trips by private car
Travel purposes included “spending time with family,” “enjoying meals and local cuisine,” and “relaxing and taking it easy”

【International Travel】

The number of travelers increased, driven by the recovery of international flights to levels exceeding pre-pandemic levels and favorable calendar dates
Average planned travel expenses have risen slightly due to longer trip durations, a weaker yen, and rising prices
Destinations include relatively nearby locations such as South Korea, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia, while Europe and North America also remain consistently popular

This report is based on estimates derived from a survey conducted by the JTB Group, as well as various economic trends, industry trends, transportation and tourism-related data, accommodation booking status, and various opinion surveys. The survey has been conducted continuously since 1969. (Our company is responsible for the research and analysis in this report.)

JTB Tourism Research & Consulting Member