Coming to Korea for Silver Week? Know That 'Chuseok' Is Waiting Right Behind It

Start with the numbers. Korea was the No. 1 overseas destination for Japanese travelers this summer (JTB survey, 26.2%), and 2.28 million Japanese visited Korea in January-July, up 18.8% from last year (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism statistics). The next big wave is in sight: Silver Week, September 19-23. But here is what many Japanese travelers do not know - **the day after Silver Week ends, Korea enters its Chuseok holiday (September 24-26).** This overlap of holidays is this edition's threshold.

The cause is the calendar. Extend your Silver Week trip by a day or two and you unknowingly step into the opening of Korea's biggest traditional holiday, when many restaurants and shops close and KTX trains and highways are at their most crowded with homecoming traffic. Three fixes. First, book flights and lodging now - Silver Week demand is peak season in both directions. Second, if your itinerary runs past September 24, avoid intercity travel in that window and check in advance whether the restaurants on your list will be open over the holiday. Third, if you are in Seoul on the Silver Week weekend (September 19-20), know that the ATA Festival takes over Nanji Hangang Park - whether you avoid the crowds or join them is your call, but it beats being caught off guard. Readers of this article will not be tripped up by the holiday hiding behind their holiday.