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The Japanese seasons

I was in Japan through three Aprils (in 2007, 2008 and 2009) and hence experienced three seasons of the beautiful cherry blossom. It gradually became warmer after the ever-pleasant April. The wet season would follow after that and constantly entailed high humidity, and then the Tsuyu would come showering in June. From around September or October onwards, the weather would turn bearable again. I liked it that there was not much need for a coat even in October (at least not near Nagoya where I lived). The coldest days greeted us around late January and the beginning of February. During this time at night, weak ground frosts would form, but in the daytime, the outdoors would often be warmer than the indoors which was not uncommon to be 10 - 12 degrees. But hey, spring would just be around the corner and the cherry blossom would bloom again!

(Click on the photos for bigger images!)


1. - Spring - cherry blossom trees in the Okazaki Minami Kōen ("okazaki south-park"). I was happy to go to this cosy park which was barely ten minutes away from my school by bicycle.


2. - Besides this park, other parks were frequented by people too, who have come out to picnic amidst the very special atmosphere during the period of the cherry blossom.


3. - For the Japanese, however, the falling flower petals is the real beauty which reminds them of the transience of life.


4. - If it is autumn, there is the Momiji. This is like a phenomenon where the leaves of the maple trees would turn red. In some of the most famous places such as the Kyoto region, the whole sides of mountains would be glowing in red. This picture was taken on the shore of a pond in Okazaki.


5. - These log "statues" clearly show that Christmas (or Kurisumasu as they called it) is celebrated in Japan too even though it may have a different significance as in Europe.




6. - Japan’s north-south distance is about 2000 kilometers. While snow and extreme low temperatures are uncommon in the southern region, it could get as cold as Central-Europe in the northern island of Hokkaido, but with a heavier snow. This picture was taken in Okazaki where there was only one day of snow every year. A few centimeters of snow fell on that day, paralyzing the traffic thoroughly, but by the following day, not a single trace of snow was left.


7. - Winter picture in one of the gardens in Okazaki.


8. - Winter picture in the Okazaki Minami Kōen.


9. - The thermometer in the house showing the temperature. My location was not far from Osaka where the latitude is about the same as North Africa. In Japan, there is no central heating in the houses except for those in the northern region. The air conditioner is the only device that emits all the heat. Mobile electrical and oil convectors are sometimes used. However, it takes time for the house to be warmed up after these devices are switched on, so in the meantime, wearing thick clothing helps a lot.


10. - The approaching of spring symbolises that the plum blossom trees will start blooming again. This picture was taken in Okazaki during February, when the one and only snowing day in the entire year happens usually.


11. - A plum blossom defying the snow


12.


13. - And then the snow melts and only flowers remain, indicating that spring is coming…


14. - … but it was still rather cold and a coat was needed :)  This picture was taken in mid-February in Kyoto in the Umekōji park, where I visited a dear friend of mine.


15. - then the cherry blossom comes in April again and together with it, the period of mass picnics.



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