Seasons of japan6/21/2023 ![]() You can pick up these delicate packed lunches, which usually contain sushi, prawn tempura and grilled fish, in local convenience stores.Ĭlams are at their best at this time of year, usually served with rice that’s been cooked in their juices and topped with fresh mitsuba (Japanese parsley). Spring’s fresh bamboo shoots and lotus roots supplement bento boxes, which you see being eaten picnic-style in parks everywhere. The range of cherry-blossom-themed food is almost ridiculous, from blossom-scented mochi (sweet rice balls), to taiyaki (filled fish-shaped cakes) to beer brewed from the petals. ![]() Tulip fields, Hokkaido Seasonal spring food in Japan Spring also strips many of Japan’s gardens of their protective winter covering, and they begin to sprout brilliant-green foliage and break into blossom. In Hokkaido, you can see fields of tulips and phlox in a rainbow of shades.īy the end of April and early May, tendrils of mauve wisteria have begun to flourish and you can wander under tunnels of them at Kameido Tenjin Shrine in east Tokyo. Arrive between mid-February and mid-March and you’ll catch the plum blossom, whose small, bright-pink flowers are mistakable for cherry. Other spring experiences in JapanĬherry blossom isn’t spring’s only asset. Planted around Hirosaki Castle (imagine three buildings stacked up), the cherry trees (all 2,600 of them) typically blossom in April.Īnother less-crowded option is the Samurai town of Kakunodate in the Semboku region - the frothing pink petals offer a delightful contrast to the severe black fences that surround the traditional houses. To avoid (some of) the crowds, consider Hirosaki, a small castle-town two hours north of Tokyo by air. Many visitors to Japan choose to travel in cherry blossom season, so it can get very busy with hotels booking up 12–18 months in advance. In Tokyo, Ueno Park sees almost 1,200 trees burst with clouds of pink, acting as frothy parasols for the droves of people picnicking under them. In Kyoto's Higashiyama district, you can stroll the Philosopher’s Path, a 2 km (1.2 mile) stone track lined with hundreds of cherry trees. It can be difficult to predict, but peak viewing tends to be from late March to mid-April, when Tokyo, Kyoto and the rest of the main island are in flower. The blossom flowers first in the southern island of Okinawa in early February and moves northward, usually erupting in northern Hokkaido by the end of May. ![]() Much of the excitement around the blooms is in their transience, lasting anything from two weeks to two days (a brief shower can ruin the delicate petals). This practice of hanami (‘hana’ meaning flower and ‘mi’ to view) has become a national institution, with people taking every opportunity to picnic under the blossom. Nobility, poets, artists and courtesans would gather to welcome spring under the blossoming trees. The arrival of cherry blossom has been important to Japanese society for thousands of years, inspiring Japanese poetry from ancient time. Spring in Japan Philosopher’s Path, Kyoto It can also make it tricky to pick when to visit, but I’ve included both highlights and lesser-known options for each season to help you decide. With balmy, sunny summers and snow-clad winters, each season can give you a very different experience. They make the most of each seasonal event, from picnicking under spring’s cherry blossom to soaking in snow-surrounded onsen in winter. The Japanese are rightly proud of their seasons (as I discovered when I lived in Japan off and on over the years). Japan’s location between mainland Asia and the Pacific brings it dramatic contrasts in weather and distinct seasons.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |