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.