While we are all familiar with cherry blossoms, did you know that there are more than 600 varieties (The Gate). There are 10 types of cherry blossom trees that grow naturally in Japan, among them are the Kawazu cherry blossoms. The discovery of these cherry blossoms less than 70 years ago led to the creation of the famous Kawazu cherry blossom festival.

The Harbin Ice Festival and the Quebec Winter Carnival are among the most famous winter festivals in the world. But did you know that Japan also hosts one of the largest snow festivals on the planet? Held on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, the Sapporo Snow Festival (さっぽろ雪まつり) welcomes over two million visitors from Japan and abroad every year and rivals its famous counterparts in China and Canada in both scale and spectacle.

A certified Japanese night view heritage and a major event in Tochigi, the Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura festival is worth adding to your winter itinerary. According to the official tourism website for Nikko city, Yunishigawa Onsen, the location of the Kamakura festival, has a history that spans more than 800 years. With deep ties to the Taira clan, the Today, we will dive into that history as well as the origins of the famous Kamakura festival.

Winter is cold and often filled with snow and short days, but it is also filled with the warmth of loved ones and illuminations that light up the night. While you can view some illuminations throughout the year, autumn and winter are the main seasons you will see them. We all love illuminations, but does anyone know the history of illuminations in Japan? If you’re like me and the answer to that question is ‘No’, let’s dive into the history together.

“The Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri is the annual festival of Wakamiya, a sub-shrine located within the grounds of Kasuga Taisha Shrine” (Nara City Tourism Association). This festival began with a prayer by the regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi in 1136. His prayer was for peace and prosperity to spread throughout the country, for bountiful harvests, and happiness for all people, and that prayer remains at the heart of the festival today.

冬の季節が近づき、寒くなってきたため、心躍り、あたたかくしてくれる冬のお祭りをご紹介します：奈良市の春日若宮おん祭。過去900年にわたり、春日若宮御祭りは12月15日から18日までの4日間にわたり、演舞や行列などが行われてきました。

Today marks the third annual celebration of Giving Tuesday in Japan! As our second full year with the Giving Tuesday Global team comes to a close, we have learned (and done) a lot and have a lot to look forward to in 2026!

Today marks the third annual celebration of Giving 今日は、日本のギビングチューズデーが今年で、3回目となる記念日です！ギビングチューズデー グローバル チームの一員として迎えた2年目が終わりを迎えようとしていますが、この2年間で多くのことを学び、成果を上げてきました。2026年も楽しみなことがたくさんあります！Tuesday in Japan! As our second full year with the Giving Tuesday Global team comes to a close, we have learned (and done) a lot and have a lot to look forward to in 2026!