The four seasons are intrinsically a part of the Japanese psyche. The ancient religion of Japan, or Shintoism dedicates itself to the worship of nature and even today while many Japanese might be practicing Buddhists or Christians, Shinto customs and rituals are practiced by all. Many of these are seasonal events which take place in the form of festivals called matsuri which are centered around indigenous song and dance. Since Japan has four distinct seasons - spring, summer, winter and fall, each has its own unique celebrations and customs which are enjoyed by all.

HARU (Spring)

The spring is best celebrated by cherry blossom festivals throughout Japan. Because Japan has such great climactic diversity between north and south, the coming of Spring, symbolized by the emerging cherry blossoms, begins in the southernmost Japanese islands and moves all the way through the northern reaches of Hokkaido. Daily weather reports refer to this as the "cherry blossom front" and predict when the peak time for cherry blossoming viewing (ohana-mi) in any given region will be. The "cherry blossom front" can begin as early as February in Okinawa reaching Hokkaido as late as mid May.

There are many wonderful parks and gardens throughout Japan where cherry blossom viewing is enjoyed. In Tokyo, two of the most famous places are the gardens surrounding the Imperial Palace, home to the Emperor, and Ueno Park. Mt. Yoshino near Kyoto and Nara and Hirosaki in the Aomori Prefecture are heralded as being some of the most beautiful. Cherry blossom festivals usually consist of families and friends getting together for a picnic lunch under the cherry trees' colorful branches in which a Japanese boxed lunch or obento is enjoyed. Since this is an old tradition dating back to feudal Japan, many women still wear kimonos at these festivals.

Spring is a time of new beginnings and in Japan, April 1st marks the beginning of the school year and the start of the fiscal year for government and business. A few short weeks later, the Japanese celebrate Golden Week which is a week long celebration comprised of several national holidays.

NATSU (Summer)

The summer in Japan is associated with warm weather, humidity, the rainy season (tsuyu), colorful flowers and insects. The blossoming of ajisai or hydrangea is looked forward to by all. Warm tropical weather from the south mixes with cold air from the north creating two very wet months - June and July. Most Japanese carry umbrellas during this season because many depend on public transportation and spend some time each day walking. With the rain comes high humidity and although a lot of Japanese homes do not have air conditioning, they are usually well ventilated and have portable fans. Tsuyu can be a rather gloomy time of the year, however it is essential to the cultivation of rice. There are many festivals associated with rice cultivation dating back to ancient times which usually involve street parades and traditional song and dance. Obon (Festival of Lanterns) is perhaps the most celebrated summer holiday and takes place in either in July or August, depending on the lunar calendar. Firework displays are common throughout Japan and are usually attended by families who wear the traditional summer cotton kimono, yukata, to these events.

Although Japanese children do not have long summer vacations like we do in the West, they still enjoy a lot of the same summer pastimes such as catching fireflies and chasing dragonflies. Shaved, flavored ice covered in fruit and sweets called kaki-gohri as well as watermelon are favorite summer treats. Mugi-cha which is roasted wheat tea is served cold and is popular among children and adults alike. Adults also enjoy chilled green tea and rei-shu which is chilled sake. Small wind chimes in the form of bells (furin) are hung on porches and verandas of many homes to catch a cool summer's breeze.

AKI (Autumn)

Like in many other parts of the world, Autumn in Japan is the harvest season as well as a time for viewing the changing colors of the leaves (kohyoh). Throughout Japan there are many local festivals celebrating the harvest dating back to ancient times when Japan was primarily an agrarian society. Autumn is a particularly beautiful time of year because Japan's many hillsides and mountains are covered with deciduous trees which turn color in a blaze of autumnal glory. Many Japanese make special pilgrimages to picturesque spots to view the colorful foliage and have picnics. Moon-viewing festivals are also popular as the harvest moon turns into an amber globe and lights up the night sky.

Autumn is the time for gathering chestnuts and harvesting the fruits of the season including persimmons (kaki), grapes (budoh) and peaches (momo). The air is usually cooler and drier so many schools throughout Japan hold their annual field days which are popular community events.

FUYU (Winter)

While winter is characteristically cold throughout Japan, with the exception of the southernmost island of Okinawa, the amount of snowfall varies greatly between Kyushu in the south and Hokkaido in the north. Even though modern homes are now equipped with indoor heating, many families still enjoy sitting around a kotatsu which is a low table fitted with a heat source in the middle and a quilt which extends out on all sides, to keep warm. Another traditional way of taking off winter's chill has been by taking long leisurely hot baths called ofuro. A type of one pot stew called yosenabe is often served and is filled with seasonal vegetables and fresh fish. Since the very south of Japan is sub-tropical, citrus is grown, harvested in the winter and the Japanese tangerine called mikan is shipped throughout the country and enjoyed by all. Tea is drunk hot as is sake. There are many winter festivals throughout Japan but perhaps the most famous is Sapporo's Yuki-Matsuri (snow-festival) where elaborate ice sculptures are displayed in the city's downtown.

The highlight of the winter season throughout Japan is Oshogatsu (New Years) which takes place over a the period of about a week and involves many ancient and modern-day traditions.