Though cherry blossoms are synonymous with Japan and the country boasts many viewing sites and festivals dedicated to the blooming season of the famed buds, there are other flowers worth a second...
In most parts of mainland Japan, the rainy season begins in early June and continues through to the end of July. This time of year is always humid, hot and stuffy even when it is not raining.
Finally, spring has come! It's warm, and beautiful flowers and blossoms in pink, white, red and yellow hues are fully blooming, which marks the arrival of spring.
While cherry blossoms get all the glory when it comes to heralding the arrival of Spring, modest blooming buds of ume (plum blossoms) have been held in high regard here in Japan and are celebrated by the ume matsuri, the plum blossom festivals, all around the country.
Flowers and chocolates are always fun to give and receive on Valentine’s Day, but if you are looking to shake things up with your gift-giving, there are plenty of ways to tell someone you love them.
When you visit Shuzenji, don’t miss a leisure park called Niji-no-Sato (home of rainbow), as its 123-acre park (same size of Tokyo Disneyland) accommodates various natural and traditional attractions.
We’ve finally reached the middle of rainy season, aka “tsuyu” in Japanese, where not only is it raining a lot, but the heat and humidity might also be making you sweat buckets.