MUST TO KNOW #3: Four Seasons in Japan

Japan has distinct FOUR SEASONS; pink cherry blossoms in Spring(March-May), blue sky and green leaves in Summer (June-August), red-yellow leaves of autumn (September-November), white snow scenery of winter (December-February). 

　　　

In spring, one of the best-loved symbols of Japan makes a dramatic sweep across the country. Sakura (cherry blossoms) bloom usually from the end of March through April in a kind of wave starting in southern Kyushu and working its way northeast. Cherry blossoms last only 1-2 weeks. 






When cherry blossoms are in full bloom, Japanese often hold a party "Hanami" to enjoy beautiful scenery of cherry blossoms and celebrate the beginning of business/academic year. 
(The business year in Japan begins in April )
People bring lunch boxes and many dozens of alcohols to share, and maybe a karaoke kit.

Before coming of summer season, Japan experiences a rainy season "Tsuyu".  Japan's rainy season is caused by the seasonal rain front which stays above Japan between tropical high pressure and Siberian cold high pressure. 


Japan is also hit by Typhoons during the Tsuyu season.
Although tsuyu is a gloomy time, the rain is very important for rice cultivation . Also, there are many pretty flowers blooming at this time. One of them is ajisai (hydrangea) which is a symbol of the rainy season in Japan.

Asisai

When the rainy season is over, Japan is experiencing a summer. Japanese summer is often characterized "hot", and "humid". But high pressures stay most of the season and the temperatures may rise up to 35 decrees/celsius. During summer, there are a lot of festivals(Matsuri) all across Japan.

　　　　　

Changing color of leaves indicates the beginning of Autumn. 
Many of trees turn color in autumn in Japan, especially maple trees, and people love to enjoy viewing brilliantly-colored autumn trees. (Momijigari)


Kyoto is a famous Momijigari destination for Japanese. During Autumn, Kyoto is very crowded with visitors and hotels or ryokan experiences their busiest season. Viewing red, yellow colored leaves behind nostalgic scenery of temples in Kyoto is absolutely breath-taking.

After trees shed off their leaves, winter comes in Japan. In northern parts of Japan, it already starts snowing in the beginning of December and many people go skiing or snowboarding on holiday. By this time, temperatures have dropped to around 0-10 degrees in Tokyo and people cover themselves in thick winter coats.




The coldest month in Japan is January (or February), and temperature starts rising towards Spring season.




If you stay in Japan for a long term, you would experience some of four seasons.
I would say the best time to visit Japan is Spring - Summer. 
Temperature is comfortable, and there are a lot of events and festivals to be hold around these seasons.

MUST TO EXPERIENCE #7: roten(street stalls) at festival

Roten(露店) are open-air stands or street stalls that are set up during the days of a festival.

A scattering of small food stalls are erected on the temple grounds, and each one serves up its own specialty: okonomiyaki (savory griddle cakes), tako-yaki (octopus dumplings cooked in iron molds), yakisoba (fried noodles) and yaki-tomorokoshi (roasted corn) are regular mainstays. The smokes from food stalls make lively atmosphere of festivals.

Other popular stall foods include ika-yaki (grilled squid); ringo ame (candied apples); baby kasutera (small baked sponge cakes); crepes; jaga bataa (steamed potatoes with butter); and choco-banana (chocolate-covered bananas). Longtime favorites also include watagashi (cotton candy) and anzu ame (candied apricots).

Other traditional ennichi fair entertainment involves toys and games such as omen (character masks), shateki (shooting at targets), kingyo sukui (scooping up goldfish) and the ever-popular yo-yo sukui, where colorful water-filled balloons are fished from a pool. These games invariably attract clutches of enthusiastic children who happily spend their money to fish for small prizes.  (Reference: Kikkoman Corporation food forum)

Food usually costs around $3-5. 

There are hundreds of festivals during summer seasons. 

Festivals are often associated with temples or shrines, but there are also fireworks festivals etc.

Also during new year season, dozens of stalls are set up on the  temple grounds waiting for people's first shrine visit (Hatsumoude).

You should really experience lively atmosphere of Japanese street stalls at festivals.

MUST TO EXPERIENCE #6: Onsen (hot springs)

Onsen
Japan is a mountainous country with numerous number of volcanoes. Hot springs are found anywhere near volcanoes and Japanese call these natural hot springs "Onsen". Onsen are highly popular across Japan. 

It is said there are more than 3000 onsen across Japan. Every region of the country has its share of hot springs and resort towns(Onsengai), which come with them.


There are many types of hot springs, distinguished by the minerals dissolved in the water. Different minerals provide different health benefits, and all hot springs are supposed to have a relaxing effect on your body and mind.

Hot spring baths come in many varieties, indoors and outdoors, gender separated and mixed, developed and undeveloped. Many hot spring baths belong to a ryokan, while others are public bath houses. An overnight stay at a hot spring ryokan is a highly recommended experience to any visitor of Japan.

Here's a guide to some of best Onsen in Japan.

There are lost to choose from, but Ginzan Onsen, Yamagata, is one of the most nostalgic onsen area in Japan, that opened back in Taisho Era. (about 100 years ago)  Graceful three- and four-story wooden inns stand in rows on both sides of the Ginzan-gawa River, with its steaming crystal clear waters, giving the area an air of a hermitage village. This hot spring town makes you feel as though you have strayed off into a movie scene from a Japanese period adventure film.

There are many english Onsen guide on the internet. 
If you ever travel to Japan, I strongly recommend you to take a further step from cities to have this relaxing experience. 

MUST TO EXPERIENCE #5: Capsule hotels

A capsule hotel (カプセルホテル) is a type of hotel in Japan with a large number of extremely small "rooms" (capsules) intended to provide cheap and basic overnight accommodation for guests not requiring the services offered by more conventional hotels. 

The guest space is reduced in size to a modular plastic or fiberglass block roughly 2 m by 1 m by 1.25 m, providing room to sleep.


These capsules are stacked side by side and two units top to bottom, with steps providing access to the second level rooms. Luggage is stored in a locker. Privacy is ensured by a curtain or a fibreglass door at the open end of the capsule. Each facility is provided with bed linens, a TV, an alarm clock, and often with slippers and a yukata gown (on entry).

The hotel also has a public lavatory, shower room, smoking room and shared guest room. 

Capsule hotels are concentrated in major cities in Japan, and they are usually found in business district.

The hotels are often used by Japanese male workers, but some hotels have separated floors for males and females.


The benefits of capsule hotels are not only the cost, but also its central location.
Here's a list of some capsule hotels in Tokyo.


Over the past few years, capsules hotels are increasingly becoming stylish.


“9h” (9 hours) is a stylish capsule hotel in Kyoto, opened in December 2009.
This hotel offers various high-quality services including reception,shower rooms, lounge, lockers, wash rooms and bed linens. They have separate elevators and floors for males and females. 

Capsule hotels are convenient. A capsule secures your privacy.


If you want to save money on accommodation, I recommend you to stay at a capsule hotel. 

MUST TO VISIT #10: Asakusa

 Asakusa (浅草) is one of major tourism spots in Tokyo for the icon temple Senso- ji (浅草寺) and Kaminari-mon (雷門).

The Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) is the symbol of Asakusa. It leads to the Sensoji Temple. 


This "Kaminarimon" means "the gate of thunder", which is drawn on the Chinese lantern. You'd find how big this lantern is. In Edo era, lots of Japanese people pass through this gate to come to Senso-ji Shrine to pray for their health, happiness or something else.

Once you pass the gate, you'll find the road full of typical souvenirs like yukata and kimono (japanese traditional robe), folding fans, colorful traditional umbrellas,japanese swords (katana) and various snack.

Here let me introduce some of Asakusa's popular local snacks.


Kaminariokoshi (雷おこし) ー　a Japanese Caramel Rice Candy

Agemanjyu（揚げまんじゅう）ー　fried cakes with a filling of red bean paste.

Ningyo yaki（人形焼き）ー　a small snack cake and is made by cooking batter of flour, eggs and sugar in an iron mold.

Senbei（せんべい）ー　Japanese rice crackers

and these colorful rantans are one of most popular souvenirs in Asakusa.

Passing hundreds of shops, you'll finally see the Senso-ji（浅草寺）. 

The smoke in front of Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa is believed to have a healing power, so visitors to Senso-ji temple wave incense smoke over themselves from an urn to ward off poor health, and to fix and cure ailments.

Asakusa is very interesting, you should definitely make a visit!

CULTURAL INSIDER JAPAN 〜blend of Traditional and Modern identities

I created a video based on this blog to show real culture of Japan!

Hope this video will help you understand what Japan really is, and glad if you are interested in this Japanese way of life.

You are more than welcome to share this video.

MUST TO SEE #10: Tokyo Tower Special Illuminations

Tokyo tower is known as a symbol of Japan as well as a tourist spot of Tokyo.
The  tower acts as a support structure for an antenna, originally intended for television broadcasting, and radio broadcast, both signals for Japanese media outlets.


At night the Tower lights up and the illumination is spectacular. It is usually in reddish orange.


But Tokyo tower also often changes its color according to seasons or special events/promotions.


For example, it has been illuminated in a pink light for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. (October 1st)

During X'mas Season, it has been illuminated in a blue light. ("Tokyo Tower Diamond Veil")

Here's a link to further color variations of Tokyo Tower that has ever illuminated.


People enjoy these visual changes of Tokyo Tower throughout a year.

MUST TO KNOW #2: Emoji culture in Japan

Emoji is Japanese pop culture.

In Japan, cell phone market is so huge that almost all generations have their own cell phone. And as in the U.S., teenagers are especially addicted to their cell phones, rarely even putting them down, let alone leaving them at home or going hours without them. But, the Japanese teenagers, especially girls, have taken cell phone usage to another level by actually creating a separate language out of emoticons, commonly known as “emoji.”  Below are only few examples of emoji available on Softbank Mobile. Japanese often use them to express their emotions, such as happiness, sadness and anger. But on the other hand, they also use emoji to represent objects such as flower, trains, clock, airplane etc. Emoji has evolved as Japanese pop icons.

Today, Japanese teens even decorate text messages by changing the color of backgrond, font, and inserting  sophisticated special emoji which they download from special emoji sites. We often call these decorated text messages "deco-mail"(deco means "decoration").
Deco-mail can be seasonal, if seasonal deco-mail templates are used. You can also write your friends birthday messages by using "Bithday templates". Templates are created by some experts and can be downloaded via special sites.

Some emoji samples

Deco-mail can be seen a form of pop art by Japanese teenagers.
If you ever have chance to use Japanese cell phones, try writing a deco-mail!!!!!!!