Japan dubbs 5-Day holiday ‘Silver Week’

September 24, 2009 | By Kim Walker

At a time when consumer spending remains lackluster, the string of national holidays this month could be a boon for the travel industry and retailers, or so they hope.

The Respect-for-the-Aged national holiday fell on Monday 21st September. So this year, the holiday on Monday, and with a separate national holiday marking the first day of autumn on the 23rd, the day in between is also a national day off. The added bonus of the Sept. 19-20 weekend thereby creates a five-day holiday that some have dubbed “Silver Week,” comparing it to the so-called Golden Week national holidays between late April and early May.