Culture Migration Travel

Spring Events in Japan!

There are four seasons in Japan, and a variety of events are held.

The seasons in Japan are divided into four, spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

Each of them has its own seasonal traditions.

Try to attend any events you can, depending on when you're in Japan!

In this article, I'll show you some of the spring events in Japan!

Spring Events

The spring season in Japan is from March to May.

Monthly events are as follows.

■March

・March 3 - Girls' Festival (ひな祭り) [hina matsuri]

"Hinamatsuri" is a festival to pray for the growth and health of girls.

Celebrate by decorating dolls called "Hina Ningyo(雛人形)".

・March 14 - White Day (ホワイトデー) [howaitode-]

"White Day" is a custom for men to give candies to the women they love.

In Japan, women give chocolates to the man of their dreams on Valentine's Day, February 14.

White Day is to thank people for the chocolates they received on Valentine's Day.

・Mid-March - Higan (彼岸) [higan]

The "Higan" is a period to remember the deceased. The family visits the grave.

■April

・Early April - School Entrance Ceremony (入学式) [nyuugakushiki]

There is a school entrance ceremony.

Cherry blossoms(桜), the symbolic flower of Japan, also bloom at this time of year, making it a very festive time.

・Mid-April - Cherry Blossom Viewing (花見) [hanami]

We take a walk and have dinner while looking at the beautiful cherry blossoms.

Adults drink alcohol while enjoying the colors and scents of the cherry blossoms.

■May

・May 5 - Boys' Festival (端午の節句) [tango no sekku]

"Tango no Sekku" is a festival to pray for boys to grow up strong and healthy.

Let's celebrate by decorating "Gogatsu Ningyo(五月人形)".

・Early May - Golden Week (ゴールデンウィーク) [go-ruden wi-ku]

"Golden Week" is a series of holidays lasting up to about 10 days.

This is because the holidays set by the Japanese government are concentrated in early May.

During this period, schools and public institutions are closed.

Twenty to thirty percent of the population, including civil servants and those who work for large corporations, enjoy the day off.

In Japan, most workers are still working during Golden Week, so can use the stores as usual.

However, please note that banks are not open for business.

・Sunday, 2nd week of May - Mother's Day (母の日) [haha no hi]

This event originated from a custom that began in the United States in 1908.

In Japan, this has been done since 1915.

On "Mother's Day", people send carnations and gifts to their mothers to express their gratitude and wish them good health.

When "Mother's Day" rolls around, see many carnations all over the city, and they are so gorgeous.

Useful Japanese phrases

You can learn useful and basic Japanese.

●春 [haru]

　Meaning : Spring

●祭り [matsuri]

　Meaning : Festival

●季節 [kisetsu]

　Meaning : Season

●女の子 [onnanoko]

　Meaning : Girl

●男の子 [otokonoko]

　Meaning : Boy

If there's any other Japanese you'd like to know, just ask in the comments or on Twitter（@The_ROJ）!