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Spring arrives in full bloom!
We've finally made it through the winter! With the warming weather, blooming flowers, clear skies, and the changing of the seasons, it's time to enjoy all that spring has in store for us. Now that the days are longer, we can take in the sunset as we come back from work, in addition to the many trees and flowers that line the streets.
The cherry blossoms have been blooming all around Japan, and now many might be starting to lose their leaves. However, you must not be disappointed that the cherry blossom season is short - that is part of the beauty! You may even be able to experience the 'hanafubuki', or cherry blossom snow storm, petals that fly in the air like snow. Remember that there are plenty of other flowers blooming as well, such as wisteria!
Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Prefecture is a gem all year round, but during the springtime you can visit its famous wisteria tree, in addition to seeing tulips, azaleas, and more. Don't forget that the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival in Aomori Prefecture will also be held from 18 April to 5 May, where the cherry blossoms in north Japan will come to a spectacular bloom around a famous moat that guards Hirosaki Castle. Northern Japan sees the peak of the cherry blossoms later on in the year, from later in April to even May, so you might even see the amazing blossoms if you plan for a trip later. Furano and Biei in Hokkaido will also have awe inspiring lavender fields during the spring as well.
This month we have Kagoshima Prefecture, family travel, spring, and more - let's go!
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Kagoshima Prefecture on the island of Kyushu has a famous volcano, pottery, and stunning islands, making it a top destination in Japan!
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Japan is a great place to take the whole family on a trip to, let's look at a few activities you can do with the whole family!
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The Osaka Expo is officially here! For the next 6 months Yumeshima will be hosting pavilions and events from around the world.
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Spring in Japan means that flowers are blooming all over, read here about the many varieties that bloom in Japan!
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Saying hello to the fresh flowers and greenery!
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Spring is here, all the flowers and trees are looking stunning, let's find a kigo for this month!
Our word this time is 麗らか ! Read as 'uraraka', this word translates to 'bright' or 'clear' for things such as weather. During the springtime, there are plenty of bright days, a friendly reminder of the splendor of spring and summer on the horizon. 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 - 麗らかや (uraraka ya)
Then a 7 mora line - 咲き出す雲が (sakidasu kumo ga)
And lastly 5 mora - わしの影 (washi no kage)
Completed, our haiku reads as -
麗らかや (uraraka ya)
咲き出す雲が (sakidasu kumo ga)
わしの影 (washi no kage)
Bright it is,
The blossoming clouds,
Shape my shadow.
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) Kagoshima has its fair share of mountains in Japan, have you been before?
2) Japan is a great family travel destination, make sure to put it on your list!
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There's lots of Japan related events, shows, and exhibitions happening - Let's see what's going on! |
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Mt. Koya, or Koyasan, in Wakayama Prefecture is a haven of nature and a home to Japanese Buddhism. A wide variety of activities are available around the mountain, from meditation to staying at temple lodging.
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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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