spring
Beyond Sakura: Japan's Other Spring Blooms
The cherry blossoms last a week — Japanese spring lasts months. Wisteria at Ashikaga, blue nemophila at Hitachi Seaside Park, moss phlox under Mount Fuji, and exactly when and where to catch each one.
winter
Hatsumode: Welcoming the New Year in Japan
Forget the countdown party. Japan's New Year is its quietest, most important holiday — three million people at Meiji Jingu, 108 temple bells at midnight, year-crossing noodles and the first sunrise. Here's how it works.
spring
Cherry Blossom Viewing Beyond the Crowds
Skip the selfie-stick scrum. From the moat boats of Chidorigafuchi to Hirosaki Castle's petal-filled moat and Kyoto's quiet Kamo River, where to find hanami magic without the queues.