🌸 The Four Seasons of Japan
Japan is a long, narrow country stretching from north to south, so the timing of each season varies by region.
🌸 Spring — March to May
From late February — Uguisu (Japanese Bush Warbler)
The uguisu begins singing in the plains in early spring, earning it the poetic nickname
Harutsugedori (“the bird that announces spring”).
From February — Nanohana (Rapeseed Flowers)
Across Japan, there are many famous spots where fields of bright yellow rapeseed flowers
create spectacular spring landscapes.
March 3 — Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival)
Also known as the Peach Festival, Hinamatsuri is a traditional annual celebration wishing
for the healthy growth and happiness of girls.
Typical foods include chirashi sushi, clam soup, hina-arare rice crackers, and hishi-mochi
diamond-shaped rice cakes.
The colors of hina-arare and hishi-mochi carry symbolic meanings: pink for protection from
evil, white for purity, and green for health.
From late March — Cherry Blossoms
The gradual progression of cherry blossoms from south to north across Japan is known as
the Sakura Front, likened to a weather front moving northward across the country.
Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) is said to have its roots in gatherings among aristocrats
during the Heian period, when people composed poetry and played kemari while admiring
the blossoms. Over time, the custom spread among ordinary people, who gathered under
the trees and held celebrations while praying for a good harvest.
・Hanami Dango: Three-colored dumplings in pink, white, and green, evoking the feeling of
spring.
・Sakura Mochi: A seasonal Japanese sweet combining sweet red bean paste with the salty
flavor of a pickled cherry leaf.
From mid-March — Azaleas
Azaleas have been loved in Japan for centuries, and were celebrated in poems in the
Man'yoshu, Japan's oldest surviving collection of poetry, compiled in the Nara period.
From mid-March — Wisteria
Wisteria appears in poems dating back to the Nara period, including those in the
Man'yoshu. Its graceful beauty has long been associated with the Japanese aesthetic sense
and the concept of mono no aware—an appreciation of the beauty and impermanence of
things.
May 5 — Tango no Sekku (Boys' Festival)
A traditional annual celebration wishing for the healthy growth and future success of boys.
People celebrate by eating kashiwa-mochi, symbolizing the continuation of the family line,
and chimaki, traditionally associated with protection from evil.
May 15 — Aoi Matsuri
Held every year on May 15 at Shimogamo Shrine (Kamomioya Shrine) and Kamigamo Shrine
(Kamowakeikazuchi Shrine) in Kyoto. It is one of Kyoto's three major traditional festivals.
Around mid-May — Kanda Matsuri
Held at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo, Kanda Matsuri is
one of Japan's most celebrated traditional festivals. It takes place every two years, in odd-
numbered years, and is considered one of Japan's three major festivals.
🌻 Summer — June to August
A Summer Tradition — Furin (Japanese Wind Chimes)
The technique for making glass was introduced to Japan through the Netherlands in the
18th century. This led to the creation of transparent glass furin, whose gentle sound has
become a familiar symbol of summer in Japan.
A Summer Tradition — Beer Gardens
Outdoor beer gardens, often found on rooftops and other open-air spaces, are a popular
summer tradition and usually operate only for a limited period during the hot months.
A Summer Tradition — Somen
Thin wheat noodles served chilled, somen are especially popular during Japan's hot summer
months.
A Summer Tradition — Fireworks Festivals
Most fireworks festivals in Japan take place during July and August, creating one of the most
iconic sights of the Japanese summer.
A Summer Tradition — Fireflies
Fireflies appear for only a short time on early summer nights. Their mysterious glow has
made them one of Japan's beloved insects since ancient times.
A Summer Tradition in Kyoto — Kawadoko (Riverside Dining)
・Kamogawa Noryo Yuka: Known simply as Yuka, dining platforms are built along the west
bank of the Kamogawa River in central Kyoto, between Nijo and Gojo.
・Kibune no Kawadoko: Dining spaces are built directly over or close beside the clear waters
of the Kibune River, in an area known as Kyoto's “inner retreat.”
From early June to early July — Hydrangeas
Across Japan, there are many temples famous for their beautiful hydrangeas, often known
as Ajisai-dera (“Hydrangea Temples”).
June 30 — Minazuki
A traditional Kyoto sweet made from a triangular piece of uikan, topped with azuki beans. It
is traditionally eaten during Nagoshi no Harae, a purification ritual held at the end of June to
cleanse oneself of the impurities accumulated during the first half of the year and pray for
good health during the months ahead.
July 7 — Tanabata (Star Festival)
Originating from a Chinese legend, Tanabata is based on the story of Orihime and
Hikoboshi, who are said to meet only once a year across the Milky Way. In Japan, people
write their wishes on colorful strips of paper and hang them on bamboo branches.
From mid-July to around October — Semishigure (The Chorus of Cicadas)
The loud chorus of cicadas is one of the unmistakable sounds of a Japanese summer.
・Midsummer: Aburazemi and kuma-zemi are commonly heard.
・Late summer: The distinctive call of tsukutsukuboshi signals that summer is beginning
to fade.
From mid-July to around October — Sunflowers
From vast fields in rural areas to small gardens in cities, sunflowers are one of the flowers
that symbolize summer in Japan.
From early July to late August — Summer Festivals
A general term for the traditional events and festivals held throughout Japan during the
summer. Many have their roots in prayers and rituals to protect communities from disease,
disasters, and poor harvests. Others are held to comfort the spirits of the deceased. Mikoshi
portable shrines, festival floats, and Bon Odori dances also play an important role in
bringing local communities together.
August 13–16 — Obon
During Obon, families traditionally welcome the spirits of their ancestors, spend time
together, and see them off at the end of the period.
August 24 — Jizo Bon
A traditional event held on or around the Buddhist memorial day of Jizo Bosatsu, honoring
and worshipping Jizo statues. It is also known as Jizoe or Jizo Matsuri and is particularly
popular in the Kinki region of Japan.
🍁 Autumn September — November
From September — Autumn Leaves
The autumn colors begin around September in Hokkaido, starting with the Daisetsuzan
mountains, and gradually move southward across Japan.
From September — Momijigari (Autumn Leaf Viewing)
The tradition is said to date back to the Heian period (794–1185). Aristocrats, who were not
accustomed to walking, would leave their ox-drawn carriages and venture into the
mountains and countryside to admire the autumn leaves. Their journey to seek out the
beautiful leaves came to be likened to a “hunt,” giving rise to the term momijigari, literally
“autumn leaf hunting.”
From September — Tsukimi (Moon Viewing)
Tsukimi is a traditional Japanese event of enjoying the bright and beautiful autumn moon.
It is also known as Jugoya (“the fifteenth night”) or Chūshū no Meigetsu (“the beautiful full
moon of mid-autumn”).
Round tsukimi dango rice cakes, symbolizing the full moon, are offered, while pampas grass
(susuki) is displayed as a vessel for the divine spirit.
From September — The Flavors of Autumn
Foods that come into season in autumn and are at their most delicious, including seafood,
fruits, vegetables, and newly harvested rice.
Examples include saury, chestnuts, pears, persimmons, apples, sweet potatoes, matsutake
mushrooms, and new rice.
From September to November — Autumn Festivals
Autumn festivals have traditionally served as harvest celebrations, offering thanks to the
gods for a successful harvest and expressing gratitude for the blessings of the season.
October 31 — Halloween
In Japan, Halloween is enjoyed mainly as an event featuring decorations at home or
at parties, costumes and cosplay, and limited-edition sweets.
From October to late November — Shichi-Go-San
A traditional Japanese annual celebration in which families give thanks to the gods for their
children's growth and pray for their continued health and longevity.
Chitose Ame (Thousand-Year Candy)
Long, thin candy enjoyed as an auspicious treat symbolizing wishes for a long and healthy
life.
Early November — Deer Antler Cutting
A traditional event believed to have begun around 1671, in the early Edo period. It has
continued as a way of promoting safe coexistence between people and deer.
Deer have also been revered throughout history as shinroku, sacred deer regarded as
messengers of the gods. The antlers that are cut off are offered before the sacred altar at
Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
❄️ Winter December — February
From December — Illuminations
Colorful illuminations beautifully light up winter nights across Japan, taking advantage of
the clear air and long hours of darkness.
December 24–25 — Christmas in Japan
Christmas in Japan is celebrated in a uniquely Japanese way. Rather than being primarily
a religious or family-centered holiday, it is often enjoyed as a festive occasion with
partners, friends, and family.
・Christmas Cake: A light sponge cake topped with whipped cream and strawberries is
a traditional Japanese Christmas treat.
・Fried Chicken: Fried chicken, especially from KFC, has become an l but widely recognized
part of Christmas in Japan. For many people, ordering fried chicken for Christmas has
become an annual tradition.
・Christmas Illuminations: Cities across Japan are decorated with spectacular lights during
the Christmas season, creating a festive atmosphere throughout December.
From December — Snowy Landscapes
Winter in Japan offers breathtaking scenery: quiet landscapes covered in snow, forests
transformed into a world of silver and white, and spectacular snowy views enjoyed from the
warmth of a hot spring bath.
From December — Kotatsu
A kotatsu is a traditional Japanese heated table that gently warms you from the inside out.
It is also beloved as a symbol of cozy winter gatherings with family and friends.
From December — Snow Festivals
Events and celebrations centered around snow. Snow and ice sculptures are among the
most famous attractions, but many festivals also feature activities such as sports, dance
performances, and concerts.
Late December — Tōji (Winter Solstice)
The winter solstice is the day of the year with the shortest period of daylight and the
longest night.
・Eating Pumpkin: Pumpkin is eaten to nourish the body, help ward off colds and illness,
and wish for good health throughout the year.
・Yuzuyu (Yuzu Bath): Yuzu are added to hot baths to ward off evil spirits with their strong
fragrance. The bath is also traditionally believed to promote circulation and warm the
body, helping prepare for the cold winter ahead.
December 31 — Ōmisoka (New Year's Eve)
A traditional observance dating back to the Heian period, when preparations were made to
welcome Toshigami, the deity of the New Year.
・Toshikoshi Soba: Buckwheat noodles are eaten to wish for a long life, represented by their
long, thin shape. Because soba noodles break easily, they are also associated with
cutting away the misfortunes of the past year.
・Ōmisōji (Year-End Cleaning): Homes are thoroughly cleaned to remove the year's
accumulated dirt and to welcome Toshigami into a clean and refreshed home.
・Joya no Kane (New Year's Eve Bell): Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times around
midnight. The 108 rings are traditionally said to dispel the 108 earthly desires and allow
people to enter the new year with a purified heart.
January 1 — Oshōgatsu (New Year)
A traditional Japanese celebration welcoming the beginning of a new year and Toshigami,
the deity believed to bring a good harvest and good health to each household.
・New Year Decorations: Kadomatsu are placed as landmarks to guide Toshigami to the
home, while shimenawa and shimekazari are displayed to keep impurities away.
・Kagami Mochi: Rice cakes offered to Toshigami and regarded as a place where the deity
resides.
・Osechi Ryōri: Sacred dishes traditionally offered to Toshigami. The ingredients are
carefully chosen and arranged with wishes for health, prosperity, and happiness for the
family.
・Hatsumōde: The first visit of the year to a shrine or temple, when people give thanks for
the past year and pray for good health and good fortune in the year ahead.
・Otoshidama: Originally, otoshidama referred to round rice cakes offered to Toshigami.
Over time, the custom evolved into the tradition of giving children money as a New Year's
gift.
January 7 — Nanakusa Gayu (Seven-Herb Rice Porridge)
Rice porridge made with the seven spring herbs is eaten at the beginning of the new year to
ward off evil and pray for good health throughout the year.
From Late January to March — Plum Blossoms
Plum blossoms are one of the flowers that herald the arrival of spring, releasing their sweet
fragrance while the winter cold still lingers.
・During the Nara period, when the Manyōshū was compiled, plum blossoms were so
beloved that the word “flower” often referred to plum blossoms rather than cherry
blossoms.
February 3 — Setsubun
A traditional Japanese event for driving away evil and praying for good health throughout
the coming year. It developed from Tsuina, a court ritual introduced from China during the
Heian period, which later blended with Japanese folk customs.
・Mamemaki: Roasted soybeans are thrown while chanting “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi”
(“Demons out, good fortune in”) to drive away demons representing misfortune and evil.
・Hiiragi Iwashi: In some regions, a sprig of holly with the head of a grilled sardine is
displayed at the entrance of the home as protection against evil.
・Ehomaki: A thick sushi roll eaten whole and in silence while facing that year's auspicious
direction, known as ehō. The custom is said to have originated among merchants and in
the pleasure districts of Osaka, where it was associated with wishes for prosperity in
business and good health.
Around February — Kamakura Snow Houses
Snow houses with small altars inside, where the water deity is enshrined and prayers are
offered for household safety, business prosperity, and abundant harvests.
In some communities, children enter the snow houses and invite visitors inside by saying
“Haitatteanse” (“Please come in”), offering them amazake and rice cakes.