The Japanese Seasons: A Year in Nature, Food and Custom

Japan doesn't so much have four seasons as dozens. Our guides to the Japanese year — the traditional micro-seasons, the flowers that mark it from plum to cherry to maple, and the foods, poems and customs that follow the turning of the calendar.

The 24 Sekki: How Japan Divides the Year Into Twenty-Four Seasons
Japanese Seasons

The 24 Sekki: How Japan Divides the Year Into Twenty-Four Seasons

3 min read
 The 72 Micro-Seasons: Japan's Calendar of Five-Day Seasons
Japanese Seasons

The 72 Micro-Seasons: Japan's Calendar of Five-Day Seasons

3 min read
 Why Plum Blossoms Herald the End of Winter in Japan
Japanese Seasons

Why Plum Blossoms Herald the End of Winter in Japan

3 min read
 Hanami: The Real Story Behind Japan's Cherry Blossom Season
Japanese Seasons

Hanami: The Real Story Behind Japan's Cherry Blossom Season

3 min read
 Why Cherry Blossoms Symbolize Impermanence in Japan
Japanese Seasons

Why Cherry Blossoms Symbolize Impermanence in Japan

3 min read
 Momijigari: Why Japan Goes 'Hunting' for Autumn Leaves
Japanese Seasons

Momijigari: Why Japan Goes 'Hunting' for Autumn Leaves

3 min read
 Why Japanese Hang Wind Chimes (Fūrin) in Summer: Sound, Culture, and Cool Comfort
Japanese Seasons

Why Japanese Hang Wind Chimes (Fūrin) in Summer: Sound, Culture, and Cool Comfort

3 min read
 Tsuyu Rainy Season: What Japan's Wettest Weeks Mean for Culture and Daily Life
Japanese Seasons

Tsuyu Rainy Season: What Japan's Wettest Weeks Mean for Culture and Daily Life

3 min read
 Tōji Winter Solstice: Celebrating Japan's Longest Night With Yuzu and Squash
Japanese Seasons

Tōji Winter Solstice: Celebrating Japan's Longest Night With Yuzu and Squash

3 min read
 Japanese Seasonal Food: How Shun Ingredients Shape Daily Life and Culture
Japanese Seasons

Japanese Seasonal Food: How Shun Ingredients Shape Daily Life and Culture

3 min read
 Japanese Seasonal Flowers: A Year of Blooms That Mark Time and Tradition
Japanese Seasons

Japanese Seasonal Flowers: A Year of Blooms That Mark Time and Tradition

3 min read
 Kigo: The Art of Seasonal Words in Japanese Poetry
Japanese Seasons

Kigo: The Art of Seasonal Words in Japanese Poetry

3 min read