The country is blessed with four distinct seasons that offer great vistas throughout the year
Published: Mon 19 Oct 2015, 2:12 PM
Updated: Mon 19 Oct 2015, 4:14 PM
Some of Japan's most beautiful sights include the appearance of cherry blossoms in spring and the vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows of the autumn leaves. One of the most unique features of Japan is that in March for example, you can go sunbathing in the south and skiing in the north!
The country has four distinct seasons - spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Of course, it's not the only country in the world with four seasons, but Japanese culture is deeply entrenched in each one of them. The calendar is dotted with the different types of cultural celebrations that are based on the changing of the season, or coincide closely with it.
Spring (March to May)
This is the best time to visit Japan, with mild weather and beautiful trees blossoming. The season sees plum blossoms blooming and is a sign that winter has ended. The sight of cherry blossoms is everywhere right from the end of March to the beginning of April. It is also marked by splendid views of mountains, fields and gardens all blanketed in gentle pink. This is also the time for Golden Week, where almost the whole country is on vacation, and is the busiest travel season.
Summer (June to August)
The summer starts with a three to four week rainy season and is considered an important time for farmers to plant rice. It tends to get quite hot as well as humid from July onwards. People usually head to cool resorts in mountainous areas, such as the northern island of Hokkaido, to relax. This is also when many interesting festivals are held all across the country.
Autumn (September to November)
Autumn makes it way with a light breeze and cool temperature and all the trees are dyed in glorious autumn colours, beginning in the northern areas and spreading everywhere by November. Chrysanthemums start popping up and make for lovely displays. With its nice breezy weather, October makes for a good time to travel to the country. It also happens to be the season for exhibitions, music concerts and sports tournaments in Japan.
Winter (December to February)
The temperature rarely drops below zero along the Pacific coast and it is usually quite clear, crisp and sunny. Central and Northern Japan is where all the action takes place in the form of winter sports. Hokkaido, the Alps, and the seacoast get to see a lot of snow.