Golden Week Drives are a "Small Family Project" - Japan Project Solutions Proposes a Mindset for Comfortable Driving That Doesn't End with Just Reaching the Destination
Japan Project Solutions Inc. proposes a "Dandori Technique for Comfortable Driving" applying project management methods for the 2026 Golden Week. This approach views long-distance drives as "small family projects," aiming for comfort and safety beyond just reaching the destination, including managing traffic, breaks, and post-trip fatigue.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 16:37
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 08:01
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Japan Project Solutions Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Daisuke Ito), a specialist company in project management and PMO, is proposing a "Dandori Technique for Comfortable Driving" for the 2026 Golden Week. This technique applies project management methods to make long-distance drives more comfortable and safer. The 2026 Golden Week features a five-day holiday in the latter half, and highway companies are predicting widespread congestion and traffic jams during the period.
Generally, when thinking about driving, the focus tends to be on the destination, such as "where to go" or "when to leave." However, in reality, the satisfaction of travel during consecutive holidays is not solely determined by the destination itself. The overall satisfaction of family members and companions is greatly influenced by whether the trip is designed to include managing traffic jams, timing of restroom breaks, fatigue and hunger of passengers, planning for souvenir purchases, and even post-return tidying up and preventing fatigue for the next day.
Japan Project Solutions Inc. proposes viewing such drives during consecutive holidays not merely as transportation, but as a "small family project." In project management, success is not just "reaching the goal no matter what," but achieving results under objectives, conditions, and constraints, including the satisfaction of stakeholders. This applies directly to Golden Week drives.
Even if you reach your destination, it's not a success if everyone is exhausted.
Japan Project Solutions Inc. proposes a way of thinking that defines the success conditions for Golden Week drives not merely as arrival time, but as follows:
- "The car interior doesn't become tense during traffic jams."
- "No rushing for restrooms or breaks."
- "The driver doesn't accumulate too much fatigue."
- "No unreasonable demands, even after returning home."
- "Less likely to carry fatigue into the next day."
By broadening the definition of success in this way, comfort can be enhanced through planning (Dandori) and role-sharing, rather than solely relying on driving skill.
Five Dandori (Project Management Perspectives) to Make Golden Week Drives Comfortable:
1. First, plan the "Definition of Success."
What should be decided first is not the destination, but "in what state do you want to end this drive?" For example, verbalizing the form of success, such as:
- Children not getting cranky.
- Elderly family members being able to travel without strain.
- Not amplifying irritation even if there's traffic.
- Reducing the burden of housework after returning home.
will change departure times, frequency of breaks, and priority of belongings.
2. Plan for traffic jams as "Anticipated Risks," not "Unexpected Events."
This year's Golden Week has a five-day holiday in the latter half, with NEXCO East's Kanto region predicting peak outbound traffic on May 2nd and peak inbound traffic on May 5th. Nationwide, a total of 375 traffic jams of 10km or more are expected. It's less mentally burdensome to change traffic jams from "something to worry about if it happens" to "something to prepare for assuming it will happen." Having drinks, snacks, charging environment, trash bags, and children's entertainment items ready beforehand is a risk management measure itself.
3. Plan restroom breaks as "Important Milestones," not "Mood Changes."
For long-distance driving, it's important to rest before getting tired, not after. JAF recommends planning for breaks at least once every two hours for long drives, and taking a nap of about 20 minutes in a safe place if feeling drowsy. By treating restrooms and breaks as "scheduled processes" rather than "stopping when you feel like it," anxiety and impatience in the car can be greatly reduced.
4. Plan souvenirs as a "Procurement Plan" beforehand, not "Something to Buy at the End."
Choosing souvenirs while tired at a service area or tourist shop on the way home can lead to hasty decisions and unpredictable timing. Deciding beforehand who to buy for, what to buy, where to buy it, and whether to avoid refrigerated items will reduce the psychological burden on the way home. Incorporating a "procurement plan," as it's called in project management, makes the journey itself much easier.
5. Plan up to the return home as a "Closing Process."
What is often overlooked is the period after returning home. If unloading luggage, laundry, bathing, preparing meals for the next day, refueling, car washing, and photo organizing all concentrate after returning home, what should have been an enjoyable outing can suddenly become overwhelming at the end. Therefore, deciding "what to do for dinner," "who will unload the luggage," and "what tasks can be postponed until tomorrow morning" before returning home will increase satisfaction with the consecutive holidays. This idea of not just ending at the destination, but preparing through planning to minimize fatigue for the next day, is the value of project management that can be applied to daily life, according to Japan Project Solutions.
Generally, when thinking about driving, the focus tends to be on the destination, such as "where to go" or "when to leave." However, in reality, the satisfaction of travel during consecutive holidays is not solely determined by the destination itself. The overall satisfaction of family members and companions is greatly influenced by whether the trip is designed to include managing traffic jams, timing of restroom breaks, fatigue and hunger of passengers, planning for souvenir purchases, and even post-return tidying up and preventing fatigue for the next day.
Japan Project Solutions Inc. proposes viewing such drives during consecutive holidays not merely as transportation, but as a "small family project." In project management, success is not just "reaching the goal no matter what," but achieving results under objectives, conditions, and constraints, including the satisfaction of stakeholders. This applies directly to Golden Week drives.
Even if you reach your destination, it's not a success if everyone is exhausted.
Japan Project Solutions Inc. proposes a way of thinking that defines the success conditions for Golden Week drives not merely as arrival time, but as follows:
- "The car interior doesn't become tense during traffic jams."
- "No rushing for restrooms or breaks."
- "The driver doesn't accumulate too much fatigue."
- "No unreasonable demands, even after returning home."
- "Less likely to carry fatigue into the next day."
By broadening the definition of success in this way, comfort can be enhanced through planning (Dandori) and role-sharing, rather than solely relying on driving skill.
Five Dandori (Project Management Perspectives) to Make Golden Week Drives Comfortable:
1. First, plan the "Definition of Success."
What should be decided first is not the destination, but "in what state do you want to end this drive?" For example, verbalizing the form of success, such as:
- Children not getting cranky.
- Elderly family members being able to travel without strain.
- Not amplifying irritation even if there's traffic.
- Reducing the burden of housework after returning home.
will change departure times, frequency of breaks, and priority of belongings.
2. Plan for traffic jams as "Anticipated Risks," not "Unexpected Events."
This year's Golden Week has a five-day holiday in the latter half, with NEXCO East's Kanto region predicting peak outbound traffic on May 2nd and peak inbound traffic on May 5th. Nationwide, a total of 375 traffic jams of 10km or more are expected. It's less mentally burdensome to change traffic jams from "something to worry about if it happens" to "something to prepare for assuming it will happen." Having drinks, snacks, charging environment, trash bags, and children's entertainment items ready beforehand is a risk management measure itself.
3. Plan restroom breaks as "Important Milestones," not "Mood Changes."
For long-distance driving, it's important to rest before getting tired, not after. JAF recommends planning for breaks at least once every two hours for long drives, and taking a nap of about 20 minutes in a safe place if feeling drowsy. By treating restrooms and breaks as "scheduled processes" rather than "stopping when you feel like it," anxiety and impatience in the car can be greatly reduced.
4. Plan souvenirs as a "Procurement Plan" beforehand, not "Something to Buy at the End."
Choosing souvenirs while tired at a service area or tourist shop on the way home can lead to hasty decisions and unpredictable timing. Deciding beforehand who to buy for, what to buy, where to buy it, and whether to avoid refrigerated items will reduce the psychological burden on the way home. Incorporating a "procurement plan," as it's called in project management, makes the journey itself much easier.
5. Plan up to the return home as a "Closing Process."
What is often overlooked is the period after returning home. If unloading luggage, laundry, bathing, preparing meals for the next day, refueling, car washing, and photo organizing all concentrate after returning home, what should have been an enjoyable outing can suddenly become overwhelming at the end. Therefore, deciding "what to do for dinner," "who will unload the luggage," and "what tasks can be postponed until tomorrow morning" before returning home will increase satisfaction with the consecutive holidays. This idea of not just ending at the destination, but preparing through planning to minimize fatigue for the next day, is the value of project management that can be applied to daily life, according to Japan Project Solutions.