The first week of the year, the country is abuzz with Hatsumōde, the first visit of the year to temples and shrines. On the evening of New Year’s Eve, fireworks are an activity limited to amusement parks as, in Japan, the New Year is celebrated at Buddhist temples where the great bell is rung 108 times, a custom to purify the body from that amount of human material desires. Others, on the other hand, are the protagonists of huge displays in theme parks and can last even until the end of the cold season. In December, the big cities are filled with wonderful illuminations that embellish the avenues and squares. This is the month of momiji-gari, hunting for the red leaves of maple trees, an activity loved by all Japanese who flock to parks that are open and lit up until late.įinally, already from the end of November it is possible to come across the first winter illuminations, such as in the wonderful Nabana-no-Sato floral park whose layout changes every year and is made up of around 6 million LED lights. In November, the hues of the foliage color Japanese woods and parks, especially with the red maple trees and golden ginkgos that stand out in the long avenues. Staying on food, autumn is full of seasonal ingredients such as pumpkins and mushrooms, very common in tenpura or in soups, and also chestnuts, sweet potatoes and shinmai, the “new” rice. Moreover, thanks to the crystal clear rivers, summer activities such as rafting and kayaking are increasingly popular unlike the beaches which, for cultural reasons, are not very popular among the Japanese despite some of them, mainly in Okinawa, are being stormed by foreign tourism.įinally, to escape the summer heat, cold dishes such as zaru soba and the playful nagashi sōmen will cheer you up during meals while, for an icy break, the kakigōri covered in summer fruit are a must-try.īetween the end of September and the second half of October, festivals are held to pray for an abundant harvest of rice, which is essential for the daily Japanese diet.įurthermore, an all-Japanese celebration is tsukimi, the contemplation of the autumn moon, celebrated throughout Japan with themed events and foods such as tsukimi udon and tsukimi dango. Additionally, mountains such as Fuji-san can only be climbed to the top between July and August. To escape the heat, you can take walks in the woods and traditional paths, among ancient trees and secret temples, all accompanied by the deafening call of Japanese cicadas. This succession of celebrations culminates with the magnificent celebrations of Obon, the main Buddhist festival of mid-August in which the ancestors are remembered, an opportunity for the Japanese to return to their families in the countryside.Īnd during all these holidays, the streets are filled with stalls serving delicious street food, to be eaten by partying Japanese who parade in their yukata under the festive lanterns. Although the spring period begins in March, the progress of the blooms varies greatly between northern and southern Japan, with the Hokkaidō region having the last cherry blossoms in early May.įor this reason, if you are interested in the blossoming of cherry trees, wisteria and other wonderful plants, it is ideal to organize your trip by following the forecasts of the blossoming reported in maps like this and which we will provide you in the season detail pages.įurthermore, in June, in conjunction with the flowering of the hydrangeas, the rainy season begins which brings frequent and abundant rainfall over the whole country.īetween July and August, Japan is a riot of traditional festivities taking place mostly on weekends, including traditional street dance and performance shows, daytime and evening float parades and unforgettable fireworks shows. The Japanese spring is characterized by an uneven climate with temperatures ranging between 4° and 20° C. Spring is the most famous Japanese season thanks to the splendid flowering of ornamental cherry trees, the sakura, and many other wonders of nature: between March and April, an impressive number of tourists flow into Japan greedy for photos and breathtaking views!
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