Did you know that Japan's autumn and winter are full of unique traditions and seasonal experiences?
From brilliant autumn leaves to New Year celebrations, these seasons shape daily life in fascinating ways.
Autumn and winter are two seasons that bring completely different traditions, events, and everyday experiences.
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Japan's Four Seasons at a Glance#
Japan stretches long from north to south, from Hokkaido to Okinawa. The climate is different in each region, but one thing is the same—you can clearly feel the change of the four seasons.
Spring is cherry blossoms, summer is fireworks and festivals, autumn is colorful leaves, and winter is snow and New Year traditions. Let's look at autumn and winter.
Autumn (September – November): Climate and Features#
Autumn runs from September to November. The summer heat finally starts to let up, and the weather gets easier to enjoy. September can still feel hot, but by October and November, it's really comfortable. It's the best time for sightseeing. Temperatures usually range between about 15 and 25 degrees Celsius, but mornings and evenings can get chilly.
Autumn: Koyo (Autumn Leaves)#
The most famous thing about autumn is the changing leaves, or koyo. If cherry blossoms represent spring, then autumn leaves are the symbol of fall.
Famous places like Kyoto and Nikko draw huge numbers of tourists every year. When I went to Arashiyama in Kyoto, it was already super crowded, and from what I hear, it's even more packed now. Honestly, if you go at the peak season, it might be too busy to really enjoy.
Still, during autumn, temples and shrines hold special viewings and nighttime light-ups of the leaves. Even if you avoid the busiest spots, you can always find beautiful autumn scenery.
Autumn (September – November): Festivals and School Events#
Autumn is also the season of festivals and school events. The cooler weather makes it much easier to enjoy compared to summer.
Autumn: Festivals#
Festivals can range from big events with portable shrines and parades to smaller harvest festivals. In my hometown, local festivals always meant food stalls lining the streets. I used to grab some food and stroll around, checking out the floats or shrines being carried through town.
Back in school, I sometimes joined in because my friends were involved. But honestly, it wasn't always fun—it could be exhausting. Carrying or walking long distances during the festival really wore me out.
Autumn: School Events#
Many schools hold bunkasai (cultural festivals) or undokai (sports festivals) in autumn. Cultural festivals include plays, exhibitions, and food stalls run by students, and people from the local community can join in too. Sports festivals usually mean relays, team performances, and families cheering from the sidelines.
At my school, we also had a cultural festival. Everyone got excited from the preparations all the way to the actual event. If you've watched Japanese anime or manga set in schools, you've probably seen cultural festivals—they're a classic scene.
Autumn: Halloween#
Another event that's become popular more recently is Halloween. In Japan, it's less about kids trick-or-treating and more like giant costume parties in the city. People gather in costumes and party all night. The crowds are insane, and every year there are issues with trash or other problems—it's always on the news.
Personally, I've never joined, and honestly, I don't think I ever will.
The Noise Behind Sports Festival Season#
Speaking of sports festivals, when I was a student actually taking part in them, I never really thought much about it. But now, I realize there's probably a noise issue.
During the sports festival, it's not just the events themselves—you also get loud music blasting to match each performance. On the day of the festival it might be tolerable, but the real problem is practice. As the season approaches, schools play music at full volume almost every day for rehearsals.
In my neighborhood, there were two daycare centers, one elementary school, and one junior high nearby. During that period, you'd hear loud music blasting from some of them on weekdays. It honestly felt like being surrounded by multiple noisy advertising trucks in the city, all at once.
For people living nearby, I think it must be pretty tough. As for me, I work from home, so I often have to sit through it during the day. But strangely enough, I don't always mind—I even use it as a way to catch up on whatever new songs are popular at the time.
Winter (December – February): Climate and Features#
Winter runs from December to February. In many parts of Japan, temperatures drop close to zero. Up north, like in Hokkaido or Tohoku, heavy snow falls, and people enjoy skiing and snowboarding. Personally, compared to the brutal summer heat, I find the cold much easier to handle. So I think winter is actually a good season for sightseeing.
That said, there's a big difference between the cold outside and the heated indoors, so it helps to wear layers you can take on and off easily.
Winter (December – February): Events and Traditions#
Winter also comes with its own unique events and traditions.
Winter: Christmas#
The biggest event in winter is Christmas. But in Japan, it's a little different from many other countries. Instead of being mainly a family holiday, it's often treated as a romantic event for couples. It's such a strong image that being single on Christmas is even a common joke online.
Winter: New Year#
After Christmas comes New Year's, which is more family-focused in Japan. For kids, New Year's is the best time of the year—because of otoshidama, the money gifts from relatives and parents. I used to really look forward to it.
Many people also go to shrines or temples for the first prayer of the year, called hatsumode. There, you can draw fortunes and buy good luck charms. Popular shrines get super crowded, but the food stalls around them make it feel festive.
Winter: Valentine's Day#
Another event in winter is Valentine's Day. Traditionally, it's a day when women give chocolate to the men they like. But these days, the meaning has shifted. Girls might exchange sweets with friends, or women give chocolates to coworkers just to be polite. Still, chocolate is at the center of it all. Around this time, department stores set up big chocolate sections, and it's quite a sight.
For me, Valentine's Day has always felt like just another weekday—unless my family gave me chocolate.
I introduced autumn and winter in Japan. Each season comes with its own culture and traditions. Together with spring and summer, the four seasons really shape how people live, celebrate, and enjoy life here.
Closing Remarks#
Thank you for reading my article today. I hope you found the information helpful.
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