DESTINATION: JAPAN
The cherry blossoms in Japan are legend around the world and for good reason. These gorgeous blossoms appear on trees in March and April and are the perfect excuse for a picnic. In fact the entire nation stops to visit parks and areas with cherry trees and to celebrate under their branches with family and friends. For travelers its a great time to visit Japan and appreciate the beauty of nature, the friendliness of locals and general goodwill.
But why are cherry blossoms so celebrated? Well April is the beginning of the new school year for children, its also the start of the business year and when new graduates begin work. So the cherry blossoms make people think of new beginnings.
Japan also has more types of cherry trees than any other country, over 200 in all. And the cherry blossoms have many culinary uses. For example the blossoms are pickled and used to make a hot drink for special occasions. Likewise the leaves are pickled and used to wrap sweets people eat during picnics under the blooming trees.
In order to plan a visit youll have to stay attune with Japans official weather bureau who announce the sakura (cherry blooming) dates in different parts of the country in March every year. Usually they start blooming in the south at the end of March and work their way north to Hokkaido in May. In recent years the blooming of the cherry blossom has been earlier every year, which many attribute to climate change.
Unusual festivals...
The Japanese celebrate two other unusual festivals every winter involving a lot of nudity and even male body parts in a general celebration of fertility. The Saidaiji Hadaka Matsuri (near Okayama station) takes place each year in February. This Naked Festival involves grown men dressing in oversized diapers and parading through the winter streets. Wearing nothing but the loin cloth, they keep warm by jumping up and down and chanting "Washoi". They also drink copious amounts of sake to purify their bodies and please the Gods. They eventually jog around the neighbourhood while people throw cold water on them for more purification. At midnight the men congregate at a shrine and two pieces of wood are dropped inside the temple. The man who catches one with have a year of good luck.
The Kanamara Matsuri festival in Kawasaki is a little more bizarre. On March 15 hundreds gather to parade a 12 foot phallus through the streets. Women carry smaller two foot versions and you can even get a range of snacks made in the same shape from nearby stalls!
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TOP THINGS TO DO IN JAPAN
1. Attempt to speak some Japanese other than konichiwa (hello)
2. Get your fair share of bows in every day - the polite way of greeting, showing respect, thanking etc
3. Watch the gorgeous cherry blossoms bloom in March
4. Get your mouth around the more unusual of the Japanese palate including pork tongue, fish sperm, fermented soybeans, raw horse meat or eel liver soup
5. Watch commuters passing in a blur at a Tokyo station
picture above:
6. Get your obligatory tourist photo at Kokyo Gaien, the Imperial palaces impeccable outer garden in Tokyo
7. Browse the immense department stores in Ginza, Tokyo
8. Climb the amazing Mount Fuji (3,776 metres)
9. Enjoy Kyotos wonders including 1,600 Buddhist temples, 400 Shinto shrines, dozens of museums, two imperial villas, a palace, castle and thousands of arts and crafts shops
10. Pay your respects at Hiroshimas Heiwa Kinen-koen (Peace Memorial Park) and Genbaku Domu (Atomic Dome) marking ground zero of the WWII atomic explosion
picture above: © Photographer: Rick Sargeant | Agency: Dreamstime.com
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
JANUARY:
> Seijin Shiki / Coming of Age Day (second Monday)
> Koshogatsu / Small New Year (15)
MARCH:
> Hinamatsuri / Doll Festival (3)
> Hanami / Flower Viewing of Cherry Blossoms (late)
MAY:
> Childrens Day (5)
> Iris Festival
JULY:
> Tanabata / star festival (7)
> Bon festival (13-15)
> Lantern Festival (16-17)
SEPTEMBER:
> Chrysanthemum Festival (9)
NOVEMBER:
> Shichi-Go-San / festival day for children aged three, five and seven (15)
DECEMBER:
> Omisoka / New Years Eve (31) |
