spring
Beyond Sakura: Japan's Other Spring Blooms
Japan's spring outlasts the sakura: wisteria at Ashikaga, nemophila at Hitachi Seaside Park, moss phlox under Fuji — when and where to catch each one.
winter
Hatsumode: Welcoming the New Year in Japan
How Japan's New Year really works — hatsumode shrine visits, 108 temple bells at midnight, year-crossing noodles and the year's first sunrise.
spring
Cherry Blossom Viewing Beyond the Crowds
Where to see cherry blossoms in Japan without the crowds — Chidorigafuchi's moat boats, Hirosaki Castle's petal rafts, and how to time the bloom.