Inspired by Minori (実り), the Japanese spirit of harvest and fulfillment November is one of the most beautiful months to experience Japan. The air is crisp, autumn colors are reaching their peak in many parts of the country, and the landscapes are filled with brilliant reds, […]
Kyoto and its surrounding areas offer some beautiful hiking opportunities during the autumn season when the leaves change color (known as “koyo” in Japanese). Although Fushimi Inari Taira and the Bamboo Forest come to mind when exploring the outdoors in Kyoto, here are a few other […]
October arrives in Japan with a wonderful shift in energy. The heavy heat of summer finally begins to loosen its grip. Mornings feel cooler. The light changes. Autumn flavors return to restaurant menus and convenience store shelves. In some parts of the country, the first leaves […]
Japan is a country that truly celebrates the changing of seasons, and nothing reflects this more beautifully than its flowers. From cherry blossoms in spring to bright chrysanthemums in autumn, each season has its own floral charm. Whether you’re visiting gardens, temples, or just strolling through […]
When you think of “autumn” and “food,” what kinds of meals or ingredients would come to mind for you? You might think of parsnips, butternut squash or pumpkins, maybe even cooking a pumpkin pie using your Halloween leftovers. Or in terms of fruit, maybe apples & […]
Summer, adorned in robes of the ocean’s blue and the glittering gold of festive fireworks, stands ready as it awaits the changing of the seasonal guard. From the glint of his right eye appears Autumn, eloquently cloaked in the brilliant scarlets and ambers of fiery fall […]
Across the world, each season paints the landscape with its own mood and meaning. In Europe, we often connect the seasons not only with changing colors and shifting atmospheres, but even with music. Who hasn’t tried to guess which melody in Antonio Vivaldi’s magnificent The Four […]
Here in Japan, autumn invites us to slow down and notice change—the hush of a temple garden after rain, the warmth of tea between our palms, the quiet joy of a red maple leaf against a slate sky. At Arigato Travel, we see travel as a […]
As the crisp air and vibrant foliage of autumn sweep across the Northern Hemisphere, a culinary treasure emerges from the forest floor: the matsutake mushroom. Revered for centuries in East Asia, particularly in Japan, this wild mushroom is more than just a seasonal ingredient. It is […]
In Japan, as a harbinger of autumn, kaki seem to conjure up thoughts of all the delicious foods to come with the season. There are two main types of persimmon available almost everywhere in Japan.
