Spring is the season to travel to Japan. Japan is beautiful in all seasons, but spring is the best time for tourists to travel to Japan. Apart from the mild spring weather, enjoying Hanami with the locals is a great way of experiencing the local culture and interacting with people. It reveals a side of the Japanese, which is very different from the one of black-tied, diligent sobriety shown by the media. Moreover it’s a festive time and a great way to party in Japan.
The spring season in Japan starts from, March and lasts till may. During this time many flower related events are held around the country, like the; Ume Plum Blossom Festivals (Plum blossoms can be viewed from late January to March in Honshu region), Cherry Blossom Viewing (cherry blossoms flower in March and April on the mainland of Japan. Viewing pretty Sakura flowers are a main reason for many travelers to visit Japan).
Spring is the favorite season of the Japanese and tourists visiting the country. The mild weather, the myriad shades of budding greenery, the riot of flowers and the accompanying Hanami culture makes Japan a much loved destination during spring. Hanami or ‘flower viewing’ is a very old tradition in Japan. Though Hanami can be the viewing of any flower, over the centuries it has become synonymous with viewing the famous Sakura or cherry blossoms and experiencing the charm of the unfolding of the Japanese spring.
March 3rd is Japanese Girl’s Festival known as Hina Matsuri (Hina doll festival). It’s a day to pray for happiness and good health for girls.
Spring break for Japanese schools generally begins mid March and continues until the school year starts in the first week of April. Transportations and tourist attractions get crowded during this time, especially around the vernal equinox holiday. There is a popular Japanese vacation season called Golden Week from the end of April to around May 5. Since airports and train stations in Japan are overflowing with people, it’s best to avoid traveling to Japan during Golden Week if possible. May 5th is Children’s Day in Japan and is also Japanese Boy’s Festival called tango-no-sekku. Many different designs and sizes of Koinobori are displayed at Japanese Koinobori festivals.
Apart from festivals there are many sports based events held particularly during the spring time like hiking, mountaineering, rafting, etc. many of them are held at an international level.
Better known as the land of the rising sun, Japan is one of the fastest growing economies both in terms technology and financial terms is a group of 4 islands. The main 4 islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku. There are also group of more than 1000 islands in Japan. Japan consists of a population of about 150 million people. Tokyo, the capital city of Japan is the largest city in Japan and the most populated city in the world. Taking a trip to Japan is undoubtedly one of the most memorable experiences you’ll have in your lifetime. Apart from Tokyo and few other cities, travelling through Japan is inexpensive and most of the time free.
Eating in Japan is quite budgetary. You’ll probably find all the dishes of Japan at cheap rates. In Japan, you can either opt to have lunch or try obento. Lunch includes appetizers, soups, one main dish, side dishes, dessert etc. Dinner usually cost little more than lunch.
Nightlife in Japan is mainly concentrated around the city of Tokyo. Various dramas, musical shows, strip clubs, parlors, discos, bars and restaurants are also available throughout the city. The city is considerably safe during night time as well. Don’t forget to take a map before you go out in Tokyo. It is very confusing out there and one can easily get lost without a directory or a local guide. Not a lot of people in Japan speak English so sometimes it gets difficult to get help or communicate with someone else. It’s always recommended that you carry a local guide or some sort of translator along with you.
Sightseeing is another great thing to do when you visit Japan. No one can miss the great Mt Fuji when they visit Japan. Similarly, there are numerous other places across Japan worth visiting. The tour and guide packages are really cost effective and organized. Taking a day off to visit Japan will be most beneficial if you go taking the packages. The cover most of the places in Japan and besides, they are safer and cheaper.
No one can come to Japan and go empty handed. Japan’s capital Tokyo is the fashion capital of the country. The shops are clustered with latest fashion designs. Fashion in Tokyo changes as soon as the clothes get down from the hangers in stores. Even if you’re not in the mood to buy something, you will find yourself attracted towards so many surprising things that you won’t be able to resist from buying something. Taxi service and private conveyance can be a little dear in Japan. In most of the cases you can travel using public transport but if you require getting somewhere fast you will need to acquire taxi service. It costs you ten times than public transport systems.
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