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Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival ......

17/3/2020

I was reading about the Japanese cherry blossom festival as I know it is usually about this time of year and found this article on a website which I have referenced below. It was really well written so I have just included their information:

Anyone travelling to Japan in the springtime is sure to experience one of the more exceptional natural events in the seasonal calendar. Hanami, or flower viewing, is the annual Japanese custom of enjoying the blooming foliage after the winter weather subsides. While Hanami specifically refers to the blooming of cherry blossoms, many plan events around the one to two week period where nature flourishes with colour and fragrances.

Said to have begun in the late 8th century, the flower viewing tradition is widely believed to have started in the Nara Period. The seasonal event was used to welcome in the new year's harvest while marking the beginning of the rice planting season. In the Heian Period , Emperor Saga would welcome this time with celebratory feasts and parties under the Sakura trees in Kyoto's Imperial Court. While originally limited to Japanese royalty and the elite upper class, Hanami spread to all citizens by the Edo Period in the early 1600's. The custom still lives to this day as visitors from around the globe partake in this traditional event. Since then, the annual custom has drawn visitors to witness the beautiful seasonal changes while pinpointing and celebrating the beginning of the fiscal and scholastic year with friends and family. A typical Hanami usually consists of holding an outdoor party under cherry blossom trees during the day or night. Food, beer and sake are brought to a picnic as visitors bask in the cherry blossoms that fall from the tree. These parties last well into the night as the moon illuminates the pink blossoms.

While cherry blossoms bloom throughout the country, there are a few cities and regions famous for their Hanami festivals. The castle town of Hirosaki, which holds the Sakura-matsuri festival, is one notable Japanese city famous for its bountiful cherry blossoms that draw people from both near and far. Also, travel to the centre of the Nara Prefecture to find Yoshino-yama a mountain with over 30,000 cherry trees that is considered to be the best viewing spot in all of Japan. Or make a trip to the cherry blossom viewing tunnel at the Japan Mint in Osaka, where every April the grounds are open to the public for one week so that visitors may enjoy a prime view of their cherry blossom trees. Over 100 varieties of trees bloom at the Japan Mint tunnel, giving visitors the opportunity to distinguish between the various sizes and shapes of the flowers. Finally, if your trip leads you to Tokyo in the spring time, explore Ueno Park where 1,200 blossoming cherry trees burst to life. Don't forget to make a stop at one of Ueno Park's many museums, including the Tokyo National Museum, National Science Museum, and Japan's first zoological garden.No matter where your travel arrangements lead you, a visit to any number of cherry blossom festivals in Japan is guaranteed to be a joyful occasion that pinpoints the cleansing of the mind and new beginnings.

Reference: http://us.jnto.go.jp/heritage/bf_cherry.php
To find a list of Japanese cities famous for their cherry blossoms, please visit: http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/interests/cherry.html

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Shunbun no hi - Japanese Equinox

11/3/2020

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Shunbun no hi is the Japanese holiday which celebrates the spring equinox in Japan. This holiday falls on Friday the 20th March this year and is part of a seven day period known as Haru no Higan (Spring Higan). On Shunbun no hi (March 20th 2020), the hours of light equal those of the of darkness and it is a time to mark the changing of the seasons. Each September, another higan is celebrated, this time marking the autumn equinox.

While the origin of Haru no Higan is unknown, it has been celebrated since the 8th century when the Emperor of Japan mandated it’s observation. So how do the Japanese spend Shunbun no hi? Many people head back to their hometowns and spend a portion of the day tending to the graves of their ancestors according to ancient Buddhist tradition. In Buddhism, the term higan means “other shore” and refers to the belief that there is a river between this life and the next.

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Japanese: Speak the language and see the real Japan

3/3/2020

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Japanese is one of those languages that just seems impossible to learn. Many people are put off right away just by the different alphabet and then they are further misled by myths around culture and tradition. Just a quick Google will give countless ways to visit Japan without a smattering of the language. A further look will find a number of pages explaining why not to learn to speak Japanese. BUT, it is all total madness, the language is not impossible to learn, the traditions and culture are not difficult to understand and there are countless reasons why speaking Japanese makes a vacation to Japan so special.

Think of Japan and most people what comes to mind are atomic bombs, Honda and Mount Fuji all surrounded by cherry blossoms. Sure, these are all aspects that are a part of Japan, and for the narrow minded non-Japanese-speaking tourist, this very much all they will see. However, Japan is a country, a group of islands well worth exploring, and language opens up a rich tapestry full of colourful culture and people who are proud of their country.

Geographically, Japan may not be a large country, but true to everything Japanese, the country sure packs in a lot. From natural wonders to high tech entertainment, Japan has it all, and by speaking the language, as a tourist you can head off the beaten track with confidence.

One of the first things language opens up in Japan is travel, and more importantly, conversation while traveling. The Japanese Bullet Train is known worldwide for its speed and the amazing natural beauty is races through. With an understanding of Japanese, conversation with fellow passengers becomes easier, and locals will soon start to tell you more about the places you are shooting through. Gentle and friendly conversation will soon demonstrate just how proud the Japanese are of their country.

Eating out can often be a challenge, especially when exploring the less frequented areas of cities such as Tokyo or Kawasaki. Very often fast food cooked up in front of you seems very tempting but knowing how to order it, and not just order, but how you want it cooked sends people back to KFC. Language opens up the real Japan, and new tastes, smells and experiences become part of your visit where others may miss out. Eating and conversation go hand in hand and mealtimes becomes very enjoyable.

However, there are some quirky places to visit, and these will of course come up in conversation. Places that do not feature on the conventional 7-day bus tour of Japan or the 3-night stopover in Tokyo make Japan a place you must visit. Crazy places like the Bunny Café, not far from Tokyo, where you are invited to befriend a rabbit is a must. Stroking rabbits is considered therapeutic and for a small extra cost, you can even dress up your chosen bunny to help you relax more. Where else in the world would this be normal? Only by speaking Japanese is there any real chance you will ever discover it.

Japan is full of strange, quirky or just extremely beautiful attractions. One of the weirdest and a disconcerting and growing trend is what are called Maid Cafes. These are peculiar eateries where speaking Japanese can be very useful with girls dressed in maid outfits serve smiley faces, hello kitty and teddy bear shaped ice creams and treats. Almost unexplainable to an outsider it soon becomes clear why speaking Japanese is useful.

Only by speaking Japanese can anyone truly appreciate Japan and its people. The strange and often outrageous attractions are the ying to the yang of the peaceful lakes, caves, mountains and natural beauty Japan has to offer. To get the balance of everything in Japan, learning to speak Japanese is a must and heartily recommended. Contact VLLC for information on how they can help you start on your Japanese language journey.

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Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival ......

Shunbun no hi - Japanese Equinox

Japanese: Speak the language and see the real Japan

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