There is no doubt that Japan, for all of its industrialisation and high-density infrastructure, still contains a remarkable amount of natural scenery. Waterfalls, forests, gardens, and of course the spectacular Mt Fuji, are some examples of natural scenery in Japan that are well worth taking the time to go and see. In this article I shall endeavour to explain two seasonal events that are thought to be the height of cool scenic natural phenomena in Japan. I personally also find these phenomena to be pretty spectacular.
Hanami
Hanami literally means “flower viewing”, and it takes place every spring (a fact that I am sure will not surprise many of you). Hanami can refer to the viewing of any sort of flower. When the custom of flower viewing first started, probably during the Nara period (710-794), the plum (Ume) tree blossoms were the flowers that people went to see. Nowadays the flowers that most people get particularly excited about viewing are the sakura (cherry tree) blossoms. This is presumably because the Japanese, wishing to make their lives as difficult as possible, relish in the idea of viewing flowers that are only in full bloom for two weeks every year.
Since the blossoms last for so short a time, Hanami enthusiasts pay great attention to what is known as the “Blossom Forecast”, or sakura zensen (lit: cherry blossom front), to find out when the flowers will blooming in their area. The first blossoms crop up in the south (so, in areas of Okinawa), and move slowly northward until they reach Hokkaido. In Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, the blossoms can generally be expected to appear at the end of March/beginning of April.
Above is a map of the sakura zensen. As you can see, the northern-most parts of Japan are predicted to have sakura blossoms later than the southern parts. Below is another close-up of sakura blossoms.
When the flowers bloom, people will participate in Hanami by gathering in parks to hold picnic feasts under the flowering trees. Often these feasts will carry on until well into the night. Many people will go parks to reserve the best places for their family and friends hours or days beforehand.
Some fairly spectacular shots of Hanami in full swing
Some of the really big, famous parks in Japan, such as Ueno Koen, organise more grandiose celebrations. During the day you can find people playing and listening to music, selling and eating special Hanami dishes, like dango (dumplings) and bentoo (obentoo), and drinking plenty of sake (rice wine). When these celebrations occur at night, it is known as yozakura (lit: night sakura), and often temporary paper lanterns are hung around the place for purposes of yozakura.
On top is a plate of dango. Below that, an incredible shot of yozakura. You can see the lamps dotted around the lake.
These celebrations are naturally extremely fun, and there are many who go to Hanami for the eating and drinking rather than for the flower-viewing. To make fun of these people, the well-known proverb “Hana yori dango” (dumplings before flowers) is used.
Momijigari
Momijigari, which literally means “red leaf (momiji)-hunting (-gari)”, is where people go to places with many deciduous trees to look at and appreciate the red autumn leaves. This is essentially autumn’s answer to Hanami.
Momijigari seemed to start at around the same time as Hanami, and like Hanami was enjoyed mainly by royals before everyone else received the privilege. Nowadays many people engage in Momijigari, but it seems to be more low-key than Hanami, perhaps because the red leaves will stick around for a little longer than the sakura blossoms will.
The upper picture is a pretty amazing photo of a momiji walkway, as it were. The lower picture is a close-up of momiji.
The autumn leaves get their own weather watch as well – the Kouyou zensen (autumn tint front). The changing of leaf colour starts in Hokkaido at around September, and by around November leaves all over the country will have turned red. Since deciduous trees are spread all over Japan, it is possible to enjoy the leaves pretty much anywhere.
Hanami
Hanami literally means “flower viewing”, and it takes place every spring (a fact that I am sure will not surprise many of you). Hanami can refer to the viewing of any sort of flower. When the custom of flower viewing first started, probably during the Nara period (710-794), the plum (Ume) tree blossoms were the flowers that people went to see. Nowadays the flowers that most people get particularly excited about viewing are the sakura (cherry tree) blossoms. This is presumably because the Japanese, wishing to make their lives as difficult as possible, relish in the idea of viewing flowers that are only in full bloom for two weeks every year.
Above is a close up of ume blossoms, and below is a close-up of sakura blossoms. There are many different varieties of both types of flower.
Since the blossoms last for so short a time, Hanami enthusiasts pay great attention to what is known as the “Blossom Forecast”, or sakura zensen (lit: cherry blossom front), to find out when the flowers will blooming in their area. The first blossoms crop up in the south (so, in areas of Okinawa), and move slowly northward until they reach Hokkaido. In Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, the blossoms can generally be expected to appear at the end of March/beginning of April.
Above is a map of the sakura zensen. As you can see, the northern-most parts of Japan are predicted to have sakura blossoms later than the southern parts. Below is another close-up of sakura blossoms.
When the flowers bloom, people will participate in Hanami by gathering in parks to hold picnic feasts under the flowering trees. Often these feasts will carry on until well into the night. Many people will go parks to reserve the best places for their family and friends hours or days beforehand.
Some fairly spectacular shots of Hanami in full swing
Some of the really big, famous parks in Japan, such as Ueno Koen, organise more grandiose celebrations. During the day you can find people playing and listening to music, selling and eating special Hanami dishes, like dango (dumplings) and bentoo (obentoo), and drinking plenty of sake (rice wine). When these celebrations occur at night, it is known as yozakura (lit: night sakura), and often temporary paper lanterns are hung around the place for purposes of yozakura.
On top is a plate of dango. Below that, an incredible shot of yozakura. You can see the lamps dotted around the lake.
These celebrations are naturally extremely fun, and there are many who go to Hanami for the eating and drinking rather than for the flower-viewing. To make fun of these people, the well-known proverb “Hana yori dango” (dumplings before flowers) is used.
Momijigari
Momijigari, which literally means “red leaf (momiji)-hunting (-gari)”, is where people go to places with many deciduous trees to look at and appreciate the red autumn leaves. This is essentially autumn’s answer to Hanami.
Momijigari seemed to start at around the same time as Hanami, and like Hanami was enjoyed mainly by royals before everyone else received the privilege. Nowadays many people engage in Momijigari, but it seems to be more low-key than Hanami, perhaps because the red leaves will stick around for a little longer than the sakura blossoms will.
The upper picture is a pretty amazing photo of a momiji walkway, as it were. The lower picture is a close-up of momiji.
The autumn leaves get their own weather watch as well – the Kouyou zensen (autumn tint front). The changing of leaf colour starts in Hokkaido at around September, and by around November leaves all over the country will have turned red. Since deciduous trees are spread all over Japan, it is possible to enjoy the leaves pretty much anywhere.
Above is a diagram of the kouyou zensen for 2010. As you can see, the southern-most parts of Japan have their leaves turning red last (apart from Ebi no Kougen, for some reason). Below is another amazing photo of momiji.
Generally, Momijigari is done by taking walks in parks or by going hiking in the hills and fields. Large numbers of people often gather in places particularly famous for their momiji, such as Arashiyama in Kyoto, and Irohazaka in Nikko.
Two photos of Momijigari.
These are two natural phenomena in Japan that I find quite pleasing and unique, not just in their occurring in the first place, but also in how they are viewed in Japan as cause for celebration. Coming from a country that does not have deciduous trees, autumn leaves are a very interesting phenomenon to me. As for sakura blossoms, I find them spectacularly beautiful, and I do not think I would be in any danger of being accused of engaging in “hana yori dango”. As far as I am concerned, Hanami and Momijigari are two of the coolest ways in which to enjoy the spectacular natural scenery of Japan.
Special thanks to wikipedia.org and jpn-miyabi.com for the extra insight.
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