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Japan by Season
Japan’s nature changes its face every month. Pick a month and find the stays made for it.
JanuarySnow, stars and stillnessThe clearest air of the year. On nights when snow swallows every sound, only the steam of an open-air bath and the starlight move. A private stay puts that stillness entirely in your hands.FebruaryMidwinter’s deepest night skiesThe colder the night, the sharper the stars. February is prime stargazing season — warm up in a sauna or onsen, then step back out under the sky, as many times as you like.MarchEarly spring, first blossomsThe cherry-blossom front begins its journey north. Early spring suits quiet onsen towns and coastlines, catching the season before the crowds do.AprilUnder cherry blossoms and new leavesBlossoms peak, fall, and give way to young leaves — the fastest-moving landscape of the year. With a private garden or terrace, no one hurries you through it.MayFresh green highlandsMountain greens at their softest. Highland air is still cool — a month made for terrace meals and forest walks, with weekday quiet after the holidays.JuneRain forests and firefliesA rain-washed forest smells deeper than a sunny one, and fireflies begin to rise over the water at night. With a covered terrace or a sauna, even the rain becomes part of the stay.JulySea, rivers and early summerBeaches open, rivers cool, pools fill. Summer begins with water — and a private pool or seaside villa keeps the crowds out of yours.AugustShooting stars and highland coolMid-August brings the Perseid meteor shower. Away from the cities, highland and seaside skies are busier than you think — with distant fireworks for company.SeptemberThis monthHarvest moon, late-summer bathsThe sky lifts and insect song takes over. The moon from an open-air bath looks its brightest all year, and the highlands still hold a little summer warmth.OctoberFirst autumn colors, seas of cloudsColor starts at the mountaintops, and chilly mornings summon seas of clouds. At higher stays, the view can be waiting the moment you wake.NovemberPeak autumn, by the fireAutumn color reaches the valleys. Early sunsets mean longer hours for the fire and the bath — leaves, open-air onsen and campfire, all in one stay.DecemberSnow-viewing baths, campfire nightsFirst snow, rising steam. As the year closes, take a whole place with your favorite people — a fire, a hot meal, and the longest nights of the year.