The Spring of Japan

Like in other places, spring is an exciting time to be in Japan.  The wide variety of gardens and plants that are planted and kept everywhere break out of their winter doldrums and splash color all over the landscape.  For many years, spring was the start of the New Year, as Japan followed the Chinese Lunar Calendar until 1872.  The weather starts to get warmer around March and this season is waited and watched for its blossoming seasons.  Spring also has some of the nicest weather of the year, before the rainy season in June and the oppressive heat and humidity of summer after that.

Spring was the traditional New Years in Japan, and while the date has changed to that of January 1st, much of Japanese society and culture is still rooted in this season being the one of change.  The school and fiscal year start in April.  March is the month when people say goodbye to the old.  This not only includes graduation ceremonies from schools, but the time when many people will change jobs.  In fact, many companies in Japan do most of their hiring in April for the start of the fiscal year, and it's an important time for college graduates to have their first job lined up already after graduating.

Spring is also the beginning of the blossoming seasons.  The blossoming seasons are one of the most exciting parts of spring, if not the most.  The most famous one is hanami, or the cherry blossom viewing of course, but before that are the ume blossoms.  These are the 2 most famous seasons these days and something I have already discussed with ume blossoms at Koishikawa Kōrakuen and at the Emperor's Palace; as well as cherry blossoms at Shinjuku Gyoen and at the Emperor's Palace.  These are the main seasons that people will watch, however other trees also have their own blossoming season.  Some of these trees had more significance in the past than now.  With the variety of blossoming trees being kept in various places throughout Japan, starting with the ume blossoms in February, for a few months one blossom season will transition right into the other.  The trees' blossoms even slightly overlap their blooming with the previous flower fading out right before the peak of the next season.  It creates a perfect balance of flowers on display throughout the whole of spring, which makes for an exciting and pretty time to be in Japan.  Here is the order of some of the common blossoms in the spring:


Ume (Plum, but really Japanese Apricot) (February - Early / Mid-March):

Ume Blossoms at Tochō, or Tokyo's City Government in Shinjuku. 

Mokuren (Lily Magnolia) (Mid-March - Early April):

Mokuren Blossoms in Shinjuku Gyoen.

Sakura (Cherry) (Late March - Early April):

Sakura Blossoms in Saitama Prefecture.

Momo (Peach) (Early April):

Momo Blossoms in Akita Prefecture. [1]

Hanamizuki (Dogwood) (Late April - Early May):

Hanamizuki Blossoms in Shibuya.

Some of the blossoms like the Sakura have viewing parties for them here in Japan.  The other ones people go to famous parks and spots where they are kept and people enjoy spring and the flowers during the short time they are here each year.  Some even get incorporated into seasonal foods.  One of my favorites is sakura ice cream, which is ice cream with cherry blossoms which creates a mild cherry flavor.  


Spring also has the longest set of National Holidays in Japan.  In the beginning of May there are 3 national holidays in a row, May 3rd, 4th and 5th.  These days will often combine with a weekend giving 5 days off in a row.  In Japan, this week is called Golden Week and many people travel during this time.  After Golden Week, all of the excitement from the spring settles down and people settle in to the new year.  Even spring at this point doesn't last too much longer as June brings the rainy season, the next season of the year here in Japan.


References:


1. Hidenori Hiruta, "Basho's Peach Blossoms," Akita International Haiku Network.
http://akitahaiku.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/bashos-peach-blossoms/.