Japan’s famous Golden Week holiday period is now underway, which means some Japanese car auctions and offices will temporarily close while others continue operating on selected days. For buyers importing vehicles from Japan, understanding which auctions are running is important, especially if you are planning to bid on vehicles over the next week.
Golden Week is one of the busiest travel and holiday periods in Japan, running from late April into early May, with many businesses closing for several consecutive days.
Despite the holidays, several major auctions will still operate on selected dates, meaning there are still opportunities to secure vehicles while many buyers pause activity.
Golden Week 2026 Auction Schedule
Friday 8th May 2026 Auctions Operating
The following major auctions are operating as normal:
• ARAI Bayside
• ARAI Sendai
• NAA Tokyo
• JU Tochigi
• BDS
Saturday 9th May 2026 Auctions Operating
Selected auctions continue:
• USS Yokohama
• TAA Hyogo
• ARAI Oyama VT
• JU Nara
• ZIP Tokyo
Monday 11th May 2026 Auctions Operating
Business returns fully with:
• Aucnet
• Honda AA
• JU Tokyo
• NOAA
Why Golden Week Can Be A Great Time To Buy
Many buyers assume Japanese auctions completely stop during Golden Week, but that is not always the case.
In reality, reduced buyer activity can sometimes create excellent buying opportunities, particularly on enthusiast vehicles and performance cars where competition may temporarily soften.
This is often when rare vehicles appear:
• Porsche GT3s
• Nissan GTRs
• AMG Mercedes
• BMW M cars
• Subaru STI models
• Mitsubishi Evos
• Ferrari and Lamborghini models
The Japanese market remains active even during holiday periods.
Looking To Import A Car From Japan?
Autoselecta gives buyers direct access to Japanese vehicle auctions with complete transparency throughout the process.
Our platform allows buyers to:
• Browse live auction stock
• View auction grades and reports
• See live import pricing
• Access rare and specialist vehicles
• Buy directly from Japan with full support from purchase through to UK delivery
Why Buyers Continue Choosing Japan
Japanese vehicles continue to attract buyers worldwide due to:
• Better overall condition
• Lower mileage
• Higher specifications
• Rare colour combinations
• Strong maintenance history
• Lower corrosion levels compared to UK vehicles
Many UK and European dealers now source directly from Japan due to the quality of vehicles available.
Japan remains one of the best places globally to source enthusiast, luxury and performance cars.
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Speak with the Autoselecta team directly and discover how simple importing from Japan can really be.
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