The Rhythms of Japanese Nature

Throughout the year, the diverse seasons of Japan constantly give beautiful flux of nature. 

In spring, the cherry blossom front (the "Sakura-zensen") makes its month-long journey from the southern Pacific side up to Hokkaido. Following in its wake, fresh and vibrant greenery rapidly blankets the landscape.

Around early summer, the summer rain front (the "Baiu-zensen") moves northward across the country (except for Hokkaido). This gives way to a lush and green summer characterized by a hot and humid climate due to southerly monsoons from the Pacific Ocean. 

During summer and autumn, typhoons occasionally sweep through the southern Pacific coast and the Nansei Islands. 

From mid-autumn to late autumn, the autumn foliage front (the “Koyo-zensen”) moves in the opposite direction of the cherry blossom front, spreading from the northern regions and high-altitude highlands.

When winter arrives, the Pacific side has cold, dry, and sunny days. Meanwhile, the coast facing the Sea of Japan and the highlands are transformed into snow-covered landscapes. This climatic contrast is driven by powerful northwesterly monsoons from the Asian continent which interact with the mountainous backbone running through the Japanese archipelago. 

Under the influence of higher-altitude westerlies, daily weather patterns across Japan typically shift from west to east over the course of a day or two.

These continuous and revolving seasons can be experienced in Tokyo as a fixed-point observation.