Spring (March-May) is the season for the hopeless RAMEN-TIC - love a pun! Surrounded by Cherry Blossom and spectacular scenery, everywhere you look presents a perfect photo opportunity. Spring is also the season for tourism with visitors flocking from all over the world to celebrate the three most famous shrine festivals in Japan - Sanja Matsuri, Takayama Matsuri, and Kanda Matsuri. Sanja Matsuri is a three-day event held in Asakusa attracting over 2 million visitors making it one of Tokyo’s most famous festival. This festival celebrates the three founders of Sensoji Temple who are enshrined in a sacred building next to the temple. A parade of more than 100 portable shrines - Mikoshi - makes its way along the streets of Asakusa. This symbolises the bringing of good fortune to the local residents. Takayama Matsuri is held in the southern part of Takayama’s old town annually featuring a dozen Yatai (festival float). Lastly, Kanda Matsuri is a week-long festival in the heart of Tokyo. Watch as the streets of Tokyo fill with a procession of replica shrines, festival floats, priests on horses, traditional costumes, musicians, and more.
If you are not a fan of busy and buzzing places, a visit Okinawa during this season might be the ideal place for you. Okinawa was the site of World War 2 and is known for its tropical weather. Tourist would usually visit this spot during the summer. However, visiting Okinawa during the spring can save you dollars with plenty of off-peak discounts available for the thrifty visitors. At this time of the year, you can indulge in learning more about traditions such as the art of drinking tea. Visit a tea plantation. Take part in plucking fresh green teas - I’m sure you will love it very MATCHA.
When you hear the sounds of cicadas, summer is coming. Summer in Japan starts in June through to August and it is one of the best times to visit Japan if you are on a budget.
Travelling during off-peak season is always more affordable and travelling to Japan in Summer, is no exception. At this time of year, you can still enjoy the festival fever with three big summer festivals - Akita Kanto, Aomori Nebuta and Yamagata Hanagasa. Head over to the northern region of Tohoku and experience Akita Kanto. It is a festival held to pray for a good harvest season. Watch as 46 candle paper lantern lit up the night sky. With over one kilometre of performing space, you can expect to be entertained throughout the festival. Aomori Nebuta is celebrated in Aomori. It is also known as the festival of colours. If you are keener on famous Japanese mythological and historical characters, this is the festival for you. With 15 to 30 feet tall Nebuta floats parading along the streets. These floats were initially used to scare of General Sakanoue-no-Tamuramaro’s enemies in the 80s. Aomori Nebuta is surely a festival that you would not want to miss as it is one of the most memorable and visually remarkable festivals in Japan. Put your dancing shoes on and join the Yamagata Hanagasa festival in Yamagata city. Watch as the dancers put on their colourful costumes and dance the night away in the street with floats at the front of the parade. The two of the largest music festivals in Japan – Fuji Rock and Summer Sonic – are held during summer. Love yourself a bottle of beer? Visit the beer gardens at night and you will not be disappointed. Beer gardens overlooking Tokyo city usually only open during summer time and offer the perfect place to chill out.
Japan invites all foodies to visit during September to November as this is the season to feast. A few must-have autumn foods include the Matsutake Mushroom, Sanma Fish (Pacific Saury), Kyoho Grapes, Japanese persimmons (Kaki) and more. For 10-days, from late November to early December, Autumn’s Appetite; sets the scene for three major foodie events; Hokkaido food festival, Tokyo Wagyu show and Tokyo Ramen show. While you are in Tokyo, be sure to join the Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo festival. The walkway approaching the festival is lined up with 150 Ginkgo trees. Once you reach the festival, indulge in delicious Japanese regional dishes. This is also known to be the best spot for autumn splendour with the most beautiful displays of autumn leaves. Make your way to Kyoto parks whether it's Arashiyama or Kodaiji and start red leaf hunting with your peers. The parks will be filled with maple trees of different shades of reds. Red leaf hunting is also known as Momigari. The aim is to find the reddest leaf. If you are seeking something different from the ordinary maple leaf, try Kochia leaves instead. Kochia are also known as pom-pom plants or burning bush. Head over to Hitachi Seaside Park for their annual Kochia carnival. Lastly, before leaving Japan in the autumn, get yourself tickets to the Sumo grand tournament that’s held in Tokyo during September and another one in Fukuoka in November.
Visit Sapporo City, Hokkaido and be a part of the world-famous Sapporo Snow festival. For one week up to 2 million visitors from all over the world gather for this extreme snow art event. The exhibitions and activities are staged in three different sites - Odori site, Tsu Dome site, Susukino site. The main site of Odori features lit-up 25m x 15m snow statues, a dozen larger snow statues and 100 smaller sculptures. Tsu Dome is all about being family friendly with snow slides, snow rafting and snow sculptures that offer the young and young at heart with hours of fun. There are also food stands and occasional performances. Last but certainly not least, the Susukino site is a spectacular treat with over a hundred ice sculptures illuminated in a display of pure colour and splendour.
A more low-key festival is the Kamakura festival. Celebrated in a traditional snow hut, the festival is especially famous in the northern region of Japan. Watch as the Kamakura huts, statues and lanterns light up the streets. Visitors are welcomed into the large Kamakura huts to enjoy the traditional winter food, Mochi and Akazake (soft rice cake and warm sweet sake). During the winter, Japan is also famous for its illumination light show and their snow sports. These light shows are held all over Japan, but Nagoya City is one of the largest winter illumination spots. One of the most outstanding installations is in Nabana no Sato botanic gardens in Kuwana City, Tokai region. With over 8 million LED lights scattered through the parkland, the entire area is a sight to behold.
Winter is also a great time to enjoy the Onsen - an open-air hot spring. Make your way to Niigata and get high up in cloud 9 with Matsudai Shibatoge Onsen as it is known for its Unkai (sea of clouds) view - and a great way to have a heavenly bath. For a double dose of nature, share your hot spring experience with the snow monkeys at Nagano Onsen. Be entertained by their mischievous antics as you soak up the hot spring.
At any time of the year, Japan is a place that you’ll very MOCHI want to be with exciting foods, festivals and traditions.
