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Some leaves beginning to change!
As we continue to enjoy this summer weather (outside of the occasional rain and cold), there may be a few hints outside that the next season is approaching. Some leaves may already be starting to change to their autumn hues, but worry not, there is still time to enjoy the outdoors. There may even be a few more days where the warmth will make you want to head straight to autumn. One of the best seasons in Japan is autumn, when all the scenery turns from green to the many hues of red and yellow. If you haven't visited Japan in autumn, maybe this year is the time!
Japan continues to have hot and humid weather, with lots of rain as of late. While the rainy season might be officially over, we may be waiting a bit more for the dryer weather. There will still some time to enjoy the outdoors when the rain stops, temperatures should continue to be mild or warmer, allowing for some hiking and more outdoor activities. For those dreaming of winter skiing and snow, you may just need to wait a little bit longer!
There are still many festivals and holidays happening in Japan. Tanabata was celebrated in July, you may see the decorations set up around town, things such as pieces of paper hung upon bamboo, and even large streamers. Marine Day was also celebrated, a special day to give thanks to the ocean. Keep your eyes open for sunflowers too, as they are thinking of blooming soon!
For some fun Japanese news, the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto will be opening on October the 2nd. If you are planning on visiting, make sure to check the website! In addition, the Sado Island Gold Mines were recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Off the coast of Niigata Prefecture, these mines are the largest gold mines in Japan, and have a deep history and connection with the island.
This month we have activities in Tokushima Prefecture and Kagawa Prefecture, feline philosophy, and more - let's get into it!
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Read about the many sights and spots to visit in the Shikoku prefecture known as the Udon Prefecture!
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Learn about Tokushima Prefecture, famous for dancing and tumultuous tides!
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We recently sat down with author Carla Francis to discuss her new book about cats, zen, and Japan. Entitled 'The Zen of Cat: An A-Z of Japanese Feline Philosophy', learn more about it in our interview!
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Here's some tips and tricks to eat in Japan like a pro!
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We've recently been nominated again in the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards. Read more about the awards and how to place your vote!
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Discover Japan through some wonderful tours!
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The changing of the seasons!
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There have been some nice days of warm weather as of late, but hints of autumn are coming in. Let's look for a nice kigo that fits this description!
Our word this time is 晩夏! Read as 'banka', this can be translated to 'late summer'. Composed of the characters for 'evening' and 'summer', they combine to signify that summer might be coming to an end soon. Let's see what sort of haiku we can make!
Haikus are made with a 17 mora combination in 5-7-5 style, with occasional 'kireji' punctuation.
Our first line has our seasonal word and is 5 mora - 晩夏沢 (banka sawa)
Then a 7 mora line - 深く流れて (fukaku nagarete)
And lastly 5 mora - 葉を運ぶ (ha wo hakobu)
Completed, our haiku reads as -
晩夏沢 (banka sawa)
深く流れて (fukaku nagarete)
葉を運ぶ (ha wo hakobu)
A late summer stream,
Deeply it flows,
With leaves in tow.
Haiku writing can be challenging yet fun, have you written one before?
Send a haiku you've made to our Instagram account @visitjapan_uk and we may feature them in future newsletters!
Here's some highlights of what we've learned over the past few months:
1) Shikoku is the place to go! From Kagawa udon to the whirlpools of Tokushima, prepare to be amazed when you venture to this island.
2) Summer festivals are big and grand in Japan, from fireworks shows to parades, make sure to see one if you are in the area!
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There's lots of Japan related events and shows happening in the UK - Let's see what's going on! |
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- Author Yuzuki Asano, who wrote the recent hit 'Butter', will be visiting the UK for a series of talks, read more about them here.
- One of Yayoi Kusama's famous pumpkins is on display in Hyde Park, make sure to stop by and see it.
- Kensuke's Kingdom, a film based on a novel and starring Ken Watanabe, was recently released, have you seen it yet?
- The Dulwich Picture Gallery is still hosting an exhibition on the Yoshida family and their ukiyoe woodblock prints, it's filled with stunning designs and art, make sure to visit before it ends.
- Japan Matsuri is approaching, get ready for a great day of Japanese culture!
- The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford is hosting an exhibition on the Kabuki prints of Takahashi Hiromitsu.
- If you are a monster movie fan, the Barbican Centre is hosting multiple viewings of various Japanese monster films to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the first Godzilla film!
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Read briefly about the Iwase area in Toyama Prefecture, home to 6 Michelin Guide restaurants on just one street!
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That’s it from us for this month!
Keep up with all this and much, much more by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
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