What to do in Japan in winter. Winter in Japan is an attractive time to travel
Inspired by today's Moscow snow....
And although according to the calendar it is still autumn, and in Japan it is still quite warm and the season admiring red maples - momiji in full swing, today's morning snow and the last cold, already winter days in Moscow, inspired me with this topic.
Many students entering long-term courses, which involve at least a year of study, which means the opportunity to experience all 4 seasons, as well as those students who are planning short-term studies in the fall and especially in winter, often ask me questions - how cold is it in Japan, in particular in Tokyo, in winter? What is better to take with you? Well what can I say. On the one hand, the Tokyo winter is certainly much warmer than the Russian one, in particular Moscow, at least if we consider the temperature regime. However, strange as it may sound, it is often much colder to endure, even for us Russians, although it would seem that we are used to it than the Russian one. What is it connected with? With no central heating. Someone can say what nonsense. No, it's not nonsense, it wasn't there. Those who lived in winter in ordinary Japanese houses without bells and whistles, such as underfloor heating, will understand me well.
The walls in Japanese houses are much thinner than Russian houses. In principle, it is understandable, there is not such a long sub-zero temperature as in Russia. In addition, there is a problem with land and space. Therefore, if you live in a corner apartment, then the wall will be really cold in winter. Moreover, there is no central heating. How? That's it, absolutely. In the kanto region and more southerly, they have no idea about it. They say that there is something similar to Hokkaido, because the winters there are already closer to Russian ones, but still not central, but a type of individual heating that can heat one particular house.
You won't find that in Tokyo. In Tokyo, you will be cold in the apartment, almost as cold as outside. And if you are still unlucky, and you live on the first floor, then the floor will be very cold. The problem is that French windows are usually installed in Japanese houses and apartments, that is, cold air comes from the window, and there is a cold draft on the floor. I recommend that you immediately insulate such a window before the cold weather.
How are the Japanese saved? They're people too, and that means they're cold. Most often, only an air conditioner, which is adjusted to the heating mode with warm air. But this does not always save, because if you have not forgotten the laws of physics, then you understand that warm air is lighter than cold air, which means it will rise higher, or rather circle under the ceiling, and you will most likely also freeze below.
You can buy a heater. There are kerosene (I'm not a fan and did not use it, living with the smell of kerosene in an apartment .... somehow not for me), there are electric ones. I was the last to escape in the cold Japanese winters. Helps. But mostly only near the place where the heater itself stands.
The Japanese are also very good at saving themselves from the cold with the help of kotatsu- heated mat and table with heater. There was one in my apartment, I didn’t want to climb out from under it. And the Japanese often fall asleep right under it.
If you have a lot of money (although students rarely come with that kind of money), then you can find an apartment with heated floors. This really helps, it is so good there that there is no need to use either air conditioning or an additional heater. But such apartments are usually in new modern houses, and often quite expensive. Not everyone can afford it, especially students.
Why am I writing all this? In addition, my sincere advice to you, if you go to Japan for the autumn-winter period, it is better to stock up on warm socks and warm pajamas. Really helps out. I'm not kidding. If it is not possible to bring with you, be sure to go and buy before the onset of cold weather. You can buy fleece pajamas and socks at my favorite uniclo. I had 3 of these pajamas, perfectly warm in the winter.
As for the street. Of course, in Tokyo, the winter is much warmer than in Russia, and the temperature almost never drops below zero. Well, maybe only 2-3 times during the winter, but more often without snow. But it's quite windy, which makes it seem colder. But in winter it is enough to wear an ordinary down jacket, a mink coat is definitely not needed. Moreover, Japanese women do not wear such fur coats, so if Russian girls decide to demonstrate their winter fur outfit, they will surprise the Japanese with them. Be prepared that your outfit will be felt and exclaimed by various translatable and untranslatable adverbs and interjections.
But if you are still cold, a very interesting thing is sold in stores and pharmacies - such as a disposable heating pad - hokkairo.
Before use, it must be rubbed or shaken and applied to the body (through clothing is enough). Valid for several hours. It will really keep you warm for a long time. There are different shapes and sizes, bigger and smaller. Available for shoes. Cool stuff! Highly recommend during the cold season.
JAPANESE WINTER
When I was going to Japan in the fall of 2002, I naively thought that it was warm all year round in the Land of the Rising Sun, so I only packed light things in my suitcase. My very first trip to Japan was in July, which resulted in a misconception about its climate and natural conditions. It never occurred to me that in a country where it is so unbearably hot and stuffy in summer, it could ever be cold.
October is usually still hot. If the heat drags on, warm days continue into November. And this is completely confusing. It happens that it is already the end of November - and the “maple hunt”, the custom of admiring red maple trees, which determines the arrival of autumn, has not even begun yet. With the onset of December, it can become cold overnight. The cities of Nagoya and Kyoto are especially famous for their climate - they say they have the hottest summer in central Japan and the coldest windy winter. In one of them, Nagoya, I happened to spend two years, two hot summers and two cold winters.
The Japanese can go all winter in jackets or jackets. There are very few people dressed in coats or jackets in winter. This, perhaps, is completely misleading. You look out into the street - everything is light, so you boldly go out of the door ... but it was not there! Outside, it's a real bone-chilling cold, although the temperature rarely drops below zero. Walking around in such weather in one jacket, after three days, you can safely go down with a temperature. Only later was the secret of the Japanese way of wearing winter clothes fooling foreigners explained to me. It turns out that a huge number of T-shirts, T-shirts, blouses, jumpers are worn under jackets and jackets. In Russia, fur coats and down jackets are considered warm clothes, under which you can dress very easily. In Japan, the clothing culture is different. There is a connection with the old multi-layered kimono - ju: nihitoe. It turns out that even today the Japanese remain faithful to the traditions of their ancestors and put on clothes in layers. This applies not only to wearing winter clothes, but also to the usual women's fashion of recent years. Sweaters and blouses are worn in such a way that one peeks out from under the other. One way or another, just by copying the Japanese and putting on light jackets in winter, many foreigners caught a cold for a long time. In Japanese shops, with the exception of those located in the north of Japan, it is difficult to find a warm coat or jacket that would really protect from the cold. Those who were not deceived by the fact of the hot Japanese summer were more fortunate and brought warm clothes with them.
If by the second winter I had learned to distinguish warm days from cold ones, ignoring Japanese winter clothes, then coping with the lack of central heating turned out to be more difficult. The concept of a battery does not exist among the Japanese, which is also a consequence of a too hot summer, which they are much more concerned about than in winter. I noticed that the Japanese are very resistant to cold, much easier than summer stuffiness. There is even a disease natsubate- fatigue from the summer heat, when you feel bad, no appetite, and darkens in the eyes. So, in the absence of central heating, the temperature in a Japanese dwelling in winter is almost the same as on the street. You can’t sit at work for a long time - your arms and legs become stiff. To this we must also add a special design of Japanese dwellings, designed to protect against the summer heat, with well-ventilated light walls, especially in houses made of wood. Therefore, for those who quickly freeze, it is better not to rent an apartment in a wooden house. A stone house in Japan retains heat a little better.
Since clothes are often dried on the balconies and, like the windows, they are mostly sliding, the glass cannot be sealed, as is done in Russia. Sometimes the Japanese put a warm blanket at the base of the entrance to the balcony, which prevents the penetration of cold air into the house. Central heating in Japan is only in Hokkaido, in Sapporo, where there is a snowy winter with sub-zero temperatures. We, foreigners, constantly complained about the Japanese cold, but they laughed at us, since we came from countries with much colder average annual temperatures. To this we have always had the answer that in Russia or Canada there is central heating. "But you don't have such a hot summer!" - the Japanese argued with us. What is true is true, but it turned out to be much more difficult to endure the Japanese winter than the Russian one.
Since at night it gets even colder in houses, the Japanese sleep under numerous blankets - futon. If the bed is on the floor, then one or two very thick mattresses are usually placed under the bottom. Before going to bed, the Japanese often take a hot bath and, warmed up, immediately go to bed. This helps them fall asleep quickly and keep the body warm. Without taking a bath, undressing and going to bed is almost impossible - it's so cold. Do not get out of bed in the morning. Icy air and burns the body. Perhaps it is winter in Nagoya that is characterized by such harsh conditions, but all my foreign acquaintances who lived in different cities of Japan told similar stories.
They heat houses with the help of various devices - these are oil heaters, kerosene stoves, which can be purchased at gas stations, or gas stoves. The most economical ways are those that are not related to electricity, namely, kerosene and gas stoves. Kerosene heaters are not good only because, in the absence of a car, it is very difficult to bring raw materials from a gas station every time. Gas stoves are quite dangerous to use and sometimes give an unpleasant carbon monoxide smell. You can also heat the room with electric batteries, but this pleasure is expensive and less efficient. The most expensive, but reliable way is an air conditioner that switches to winter mode and becomes a heater. Electricity charges in Japan are high, so this facility is the most costly. Many dwellings have electric heated carpets, and since the Japanese sit on the floor a lot, this helps a lot. Heated blankets are also used at night.
The invariable and most ancient way is kotatsu. In modern Japan, this is an electric heater hidden inside a special low table with two table tops, between which a blanket is placed. Sometimes a recess in the floor is made under the table so that the legs are comfortable. If you sit on the floor at such a table and stretch your legs under it, it will immediately become warm. The Japanese often spend long winter evenings in this position, reminiscent of a snail half-hidden in its house. You become especially like a snail if you lie on your stomach and hide your legs under kotatsu. Japanese snail - katatsumuri, and a person comfortably nestled at kotatsu, began to call by analogy kotatsumuri. They only say kotatsu acts sedatively, because when the legs are warm, the person is immediately smeared. The way it is. I fell asleep many times while sitting kotatsu, forgetting to remove the dishes from it and not turning off the TV. It’s good if you wake up quickly and don’t have time to catch a cold, because the upper body still remains in the cold, and even worse, forget yourself and put your feet on the stove itself under the table! Then you can get very burned, and such cases are not uncommon. Because of the risk of catching a cold, the Japanese warn not to stay too long kotatsu- this can be good only for a short time, or you also need to wrap your upper body in a blanket. Nevertheless. kotatsu is a very beautiful piece of furniture in a Japanese home. It smells of antiquity and those times when electricity in kotatsu they also replaced hot coals laid out in a special recess under a low table.
The Japanese insulate themselves with cairo- self-heating disposable heating pads. These are white flat bags of medium size of various shapes, stuffed with a special powder that heats up from contact with air and retains heat for eight to ten hours. You open the package - and, it is worth shaking it a little in your hands, as cairo hot, reaching a temperature of 63 degrees. Sometimes cairo there is an adhesive side, like a band-aid, and then they are called haru kairo. They are molded on the lower back, back, they can be put into shoes, for which there are cairo in the form of insoles, and be warm for a long time. Due to precautionary measures, they should not be used while sleeping or sitting at kotatsu, on an electric carpet or near a heater. It is likely that exposure to hot air can cause an undesirable effect. It is recommended to glue them only on clothes, say, on an undershirt, otherwise you can cause skin irritation. for sale cairo in all 24-hour stores, and they are always at hand.
Despite the presence of all these tricks, children are hardened from an early age. So, children in kindergarten wear a uniform that does not imply tights. Although it is very cold indoors in winter, and everyone sits with bare legs, no one chatters their teeth. I was told a story about a Russian woman living in Japan, who, precisely because children in Japanese kindergartens do not wear tights, took her child from there and transferred her to home education.
The last example of the amazing resistance of the Japanese to the cold are schoolgirls. The Japanese school uniform for girls consists of a short blue skirt, blouse and jacket, long pleated socks, the length of which can be adjusted by gluing them along the edge to the calves with a special pencil glue, and black low shoes. (However, the absurd fashion for pleated socks has now begun to recede into the past.) In winter, schoolgirls walk down the street. The only detail indicating the winter season is a large warm scarf that is tied around the neck. Schoolgirls don’t wear pantyhose on their legs either, so just looking at them makes it cold. The schoolgirls themselves say that they are not very cold, but putting on tights is completely unattractive, especially since you can’t stick socks on them.
This concludes my story about the harsh Japanese winter and the cold-resistant inhabitants of Japan.
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From the book Encyclopedia of Slavic Culture, Writing and Mythology author Kononenko Alexey Anatolievich From the book History of World Culture in Artistic Monuments author Borzova Elena PetrovnaMany people know that Japan is a fairly warm country. Still would! Compared to our Russian winters, when the temperature can drop to -30 (and sometimes even lower in cold regions), the central and southern regions of the country with their temperatures of +5 and +10 degrees (well, at least 0) can seem like a real paradise to the inhabitants of Russia. Imagine winter, when there is green grass outside, some trees did not even think of shedding their leaves, and flowers bloom in some Japanese gardens and fruits and berries ripen in greenhouses! Of course, there are also northern regions located on the island of Hokkaido, where the temperature in winter is close to the usual “Russian” one: in the cold season there is snow, ice, sub-zero temperatures, and even central heating. "Central heating?" - you ask again. But what about the rest of Japan?
As you probably already guessed, in other regions of the Land of the Rising Sun there is no central heating in houses. And if you consider that the walls of Japanese dwellings are thin, then you can imagine how cold it can be inside. Often in winter, the temperature in the room almost matches the temperature outside. And how, one wonders, to live in such conditions?
The Japanese are resourceful people. And, you guessed it, they have a thousand and one inventions for heating about the cold. Today we will introduce you to the most popular devices that allow the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun not to die from the cold.
How to keep warm in Japan in winter? Invention 1. Air conditioner
In the first place, we put the most banal and familiar to everyone air conditioner - a universal invention that will not let you die from the heat and protect you from colds and frostbite in the Japanese winter. A good air conditioner can do a great job of heating a room and even an apartment. Another thing is that this pleasure is quite expensive, because, as you know, the air conditioner loves to eat electricity, which is not cheap in Japan. It is for this reason that most Japanese families refuse to use this miracle of technology or turn it on only in cases of emergency, preferring cheaper heating methods.
Invention 2. Oil, kerosene and other heaters and stoves
Another popular means of heating a room in winter is heaters. There are many types of them in Japan. Some are powered by electricity, others by oil and kerosene, others by gas, and others by special cartridges with small wood pellets. The principle they have is the same: fill it up, plug it in and heat up. It is believed that kerosene heaters are the most economical way to keep warm. However, many of the "stoves" have a number of disadvantages.
The first disadvantage is the increased fire hazard. Heaters must not be left unattended. Kerosene and oil heaters are one of the most common causes of fires during the cold season in Japan. The second disadvantage is that not all types of heaters allow you to fill the room with the right amount of heat. Many are good only to sit next to each other almost in an embrace and warm stiff limbs.
Invention 3. Kotatsu
One of the most beloved and revered ways for the Japanese to keep warm in winter is the traditional heated table - kotatsu. This simple invention looks like this:
- In the summer, this is an ordinary wooden table. Its only feature is a removable tabletop. In this feature, in general, lies the main secret.
- In winter, the table is equipped with a heating element. A huge warm blanket is placed under the tabletop in such a way that people sitting at the table can cover the lower part of the body (knees, legs). If the blanket is large enough, then you can hide almost completely.
The essence of kotatsu lies in the fact that the blanket does not allow warm air to pass from the heating elements to the outside and allows you to keep warm within the table. The blanket itself heats up and also becomes a source of heat. In ancient times, when there was no electricity, the table was put in place of the hearth with coals that had not yet cooled down, which created the heating effect.
A person sitting down at a kotatsu instantly warms up, feels cozy and comfortable. That is why in many Japanese houses in the winter season the table becomes a kind of center where all family members gather, from young to old. Here they eat, learn lessons, play games, read books, just chat and even sleep. It is not surprising that kotatsu is associated in Japan not only with warmth, but also with the comfort of home and the love of loved ones.
Invention #4. Yutanpo
Yutanpo is a simple water heater. Often made of metal (so that it can be heated on a gas stove). A simple and fairly familiar invention. By the way, in some old models of kotatsu, it was yutanpo that were used as a heating element.
Invention #5. Electric carpets and blankets
Electric carpets and blankets, referred to respectively as "denki-kapet" and "denki-mofu", are plugged into an outlet and heat the one who comes into direct contact with them. It is pleasant to sit on such a carpet, and, of course, it is pleasant to cover yourself with such a blanket. If you are completely cold, you can hide between them and experience unimaginable bliss. Some electric carpets have the function of heating only the part that someone is sitting or standing on, which saves electricity.
Invention #6. Hokkairo patches (or just kairo)
One of the most popular and budget Japanese curiosities, which can be warmed up not only at home, but also anywhere - on the street, on a hike, at work, at school, etc. - a small hokkairo patch that can be attached to anything. The principle of Hokkairo is very simple. Inside a small plate there are iron filings with salt, which, when opened under the action of oxygen coming from the external environment, begin to actively rust and generate heat. One such patch can generate heat (at 50-70 degrees) for 8 hours. The Japanese attach these plates to clothes, put them in shoes, warm their hands with them, etc. However, you need to be careful with hokkairo - due to the fact that heat is released slowly, you can get a severe burn and not even notice it, therefore it is highly recommended not to glue such patches on a naked body - only on clothes.
Invention No. 7. Warm home clothes and body heater clothes
And, of course, the most budgetary way to keep warm in the winter in Japan is to dress properly. Fortunately, the Land of the Rising Sun supplies Japanese stores with a wide variety of special clothing: from surprisingly warm pajamas and bathrobes to “body heater” thermal clothing - turtlenecks, jumpers, leggings and underwear. It is much warmer and more comfortable in such clothes in winter in a room without heating, so if you are in the cold season, buy yourself similar sets - and you will be happy!
Summing up all of the above, we can conclude that the Japanese are saved from the cold in the winter in all sorts of ways. Most often, in poor families, they try not to lean on air conditioners, stoves, kerosene stoves, electric blankets, etc., but endure, dress warmer and move around the house in dashes from one “heat island” to another. You lie down to sleep on a futon under a warm blanket that does not let the cold in and from which seven sweats come off you at night. You wake up and quickly run through the house that has cooled down during the night to have breakfast at the kotatsu. And in the evening, you can soak in the hot tub or in the onsen, a public hot spring bath. And again kotatsu. Delicious hot dinner. And then again a warm futon with a warm blanket. That's the whole secret of warmth, good mood and excellent health!
Which of the ways to keep warm in winter in Japan did you like the most?
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A snowflake fell on my palm
By clicking on the triangle, turn on the song
Snowflake
Light fluffy,
snowflake white,
What a pure
How brave!
Dear stormy
Easy to carry
Not in the sky azure,
Asking for the ground.
Azure miraculous
She left
Myself into the unknown
The country has fallen.
In the rays of shining
Slides, skillful,
Among the melting flakes
Preserved white.
Under the blowing wind
Trembling, uplifting,
On him, cherishing,
Light swings.
his swing
She is comforted
With his blizzards
Spinning wildly.
But here it ends
The road is long
touches the earth,
Crystal star.
lies fluffy,
Snowflake is bold.
What a pure
What a white!
Konstantin Balmont, 1903
A snowflake fell on my palm
"Snow is also snow in Africa" - if someone thinks so, they will be wrong. Different ethnic groups have different perceptions of snow, I read at school that, for example, the Eskimos have a dozen and a half names for snow. The Japanese are not Eskimos, snow does not play such a big role in their life, of course. And not every winter it falls as much as it fell in the Tokyo area this year.
The Japanese have an ambivalent attitude towards snow, for them it is associated with cold, while the sensations are more negative than joyful. It is we who can wear a sheepskin coat and felt boots in winter, but the Japanese do not wear warm coats, the maximum that they can afford in winter is all kinds of sweaters, warm T-shirts, blouses, etc. under a jacket, that is, the clothes are multi-layered.
Now in Japan in many regions there is no snow at all, but when it sometimes falls, it is very cold, high humidity affects, the snow is wet and sticky, so it is very chilly. Only on the island of Hokkaido, winter is similar to ours, here there are many meters of snowdrifts. But on the other hand, the Japanese feel the change of seasons very subtly and winter has its charms, and the snowflakes themselves are amazingly beautiful and delicate, graceful and fragile, the Japanese, simply by virtue of their nature, could not pass them by.
To admire the falling snow, the Japanese came up with a whole ritual, I had a post somewhere on this topic called "Yukimi-sake or winter orgasm", who are interested, you can search in the diary. So here it is yukimi sake(Yukimi-zake) is a tradition of drinking a cup of sake while watching the snowfall, it is the main pleasure of the winter season, just like admiring cherry blossoms in spring or red momiji leaves in autumn.
In the evenings, when it snows and large fluffy flakes gently fall outside the window, you can open a bottle of sake, fill a cup and lap rice wine alone, admiring the falling snowflakes and thinking about the frailty of life. All in the tradition of Zen Buddhism.
The Japanese most often depict a snowflake as a six-ray structure. It is we or Europeans who can draw a snowflake with 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and so on rays, in Japan they have always been depicted in accordance with natural laws, that is, with 3, 6 and 12 rays.
I drew snowflakes first Doi Toshitsura, who acquired a microscope from the Dutch and began to study them, and in 1833 published the first natural science study in Japan on snow Sekka zusetsu(Atlas of snowflakes). Since then, Doi Toshitsura has been nicknamed the Prince of Snow in history. In 1840 they released Shoku Sekka zusetsu- continuation of the Atlas of snowflakes. In the first part, 98 snowflakes are drawn, and in the second - 97 snowflakes. The atlas did not go on sale; it was printed at home in small quantities. But soon Suzuki Bokushi redrawn snowflakes by Doi Toshitsura and placed them in his book Hokuetsu's Tales of Snow.
It was thanks to this book that Doi's sketches spread widely among all Japanese. Since then, the snowflake motif has been widely used in Japanese life, for example, tea ceremony utensils or kimono patterns often had snowflake patterns. Snowflake motifs immediately spread among the Japanese, engravings often depicted beauties in kimonos completely covered with images of snowflakes, or they adorned obi belts.
Based on the Doi atlas, numerous Kamon family coats of arms were created.
Therefore, each snowflake got its own name, for example, there is Yukiwa - a snow outline, Yamabuki-yuki - a snowflake in the shape of a flower, Harukaze-yuki - spring snow, Komori-yuki - a snowflake in the form of bats, Kokumochi-yuki - a black snowflake on a white background, Sanya-yuki - snow of a mountain valley, Hanagata-yuki - a snowflake in the shape of a flower, Yama-yuki - a snowflake with teeth , Ya-yuki - snowflake from arrows, Tsurara-yuki - ice crystal and so on.
The Japanese have even an order of magnitude more names for snowflakes than the Eskimos!
It is we who can admire the endless fields and endless forests, while the Japanese can admire a single blade of grass or several snowflakes for hours. Or study the subject in depth. So in the middle of the 20th century, a professor of low temperature physics at the University of Hokkaido, Mr. Kobayashi Teisaku studied the text of the Doi Atlas and conducted a comparative analysis of the drawings of snowflakes from the Edo period and photographs of natural snowflakes obtained by scientists with modern means, and then published all these materials as a separate monograph in 1960.
Kobayashi explored not only natural science aspects, but also how the Japanese perceive snow and snowflakes, how snow is described in literature, and how it is used as an ornamental motif. If we draw an analogy, it is like in a joke about philosophy. The Russians have a thin pamphlet called "All About World Philosophy", the Americans have a comic book "World Philosophy", and the Germans have a thick three-volume book called "Introduction to the Foundations of Philosophy". The Japanese approach is closer to the German one, and during the Second World War they were allies and gave the Americans a light ... however, I digress.
The most common snow ornament motif was yukimochi(under the snow). Usually trees were depicted like this - willow, bamboo and so on. In this case, the main motive was the image of a tree, and the snow became additional and its coldness softened. There is a Japanese proverb - "Willow does not break under the snow", it glorifies the strength, stamina and adaptability of a person to external conditions. Therefore, the motif of willow under the snow was often found in men's clothing.
Snow flakes in Japan get a poetic name nerd yuki(peony snow). Season of patterns with snowflakes - winter and summer. When the sweltering heat sets in, any reminder of coolness is life-saving. During this period, pleasant sensations are given by images of snow, a cool water stream, and a fresh wind. In addition, the snowflake is perfect for the summer season with its grace, sophistication and lightness. Yes, and colors of cold shades and transparency in everything are preferable.
An amazing feature of the Japanese is a heightened sense of seasonality - kisetsukan. There is hardly a nation that pays so much attention to the change of seasons. This cult is associated with the original Japanese religion, based on the deification of nature. For the Japanese, the change of seasons is evidence of eternity, the inviolability of the universe.
Spring in Japan
Spring in Japan it is not only a riot of colors, but also a special state of mind. At this time of the year, the image of sakura will accompany you everywhere. In the streets and in the gardens, it rises like a pink cloud, leaving a living carpet of petals falling from the trees on the ground. is a tradition of admiring flowers. With the onset of spring, the “pink wave” gradually moves from south to north, captivating with fleeting beauty and captivating with unity with nature.
Summer in Japan
Summer is the time of traditional festivals and festive fireworks. One of the largest and most colorful fireworks festivals takes place at the end of July in Tokyo on the banks of the Sumida River.
Summer is the time for climbing the mountain.
Summer is the time of flowering, when irises, hydrangeas and lavender bloom all over the country.
Summer is the season of sun and sea. Beach lovers should definitely - in a tropical corner of Japan. The Japanese themselves love Okinawa and often choose this area for summer vacations, wedding ceremonies and honeymoons.
Autumn in Japan
Every day the air is getting cooler, saving the inhabitants of the country and tourists from the sweltering heat. Harvest time is coming. The leaves of the trees turn yellow and red, wrapping the plains and slopes of the mountains with a picturesque golden-purple carpet. The tradition of viewing red maple leaves is almost as popular as the spring tradition of viewing cherry blossoms.
Autumn in Kyoto one of the largest festivals in the city Jidai Matsuri or Festival of the Ages. In mid-November, another one will roll across the country traditional festival "Siti-go-san", whose heroes will be children aged 3, 5 and 7 years.
In autumn, it is especially pleasant to escape from the hustle and bustle of noisy cities and relax in unity with nature. Many Japanese and foreign visitors flock to natural hot springs, adjacent traditional ryokan inns, and outdoor roten-buro baths.
Winter in Japan
Japan is immersed in a snow fairy tale. There comes a time when guests of the country are waiting for unforgettable impressions from visiting exotic Japan in winter. Blue winter skies and mild are the main features of the Japanese winter, which are sure to please all travelers.
Winter in Japan, as well as throughout the world, is marked by the celebration of Christmas and New Year. Christmas markets and festive events take place all over the country. But winter is a time not only for holidays, but also for health. This is the time to get active in outdoor sports. In the mountainous areas of the island and other parts of the country, snow-wrapped winter landscapes and world-class ski resorts await. And it is not necessary to be a professional skier or snowboarder. Japan has slopes for winter sports enthusiasts of all levels. And children will be able to ride on a sled or on inflatable rubber circles.
Winter is a time of unity with nature. What could be more pleasant and healthier than bathing in a bathtub filled with natural hot spring water? And if this bath is also located outdoors, and it is snowing around and beautiful views of the surroundings open up? These impressions will remain in the memory of any tourist for a long time.
Winter in Japan- an amazing time. In winter, the snow-covered is especially beautiful, and on the tropical islands of Okinawa, cherry blossoms bloom in winter, foreshadowing the imminent onset of spring. In winter, you can try special seasonal dishes, each region has its own. And, of course, the whole country is illuminated by the lights of colorful Christmas illuminations, which show famous sights in a new light and turn Japanese cities into a real winter fairy tale.
Shoppers will also not be left without pleasant surprises. On the second of December across the country - in large supermarkets and small shops - a grandiose holiday sale begins " Hatsu-uri". On sales you can buy absolutely everything. Souvenirs, jewelry, accessories, fashionable coats and hats from designers, clothes from well-known world and local brands, shoes, appliances, something for the home, various gifts and other things for every family member to enjoy in the new year. © visitjapan.ru
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