Spring’s bright colors feature prominently in Japanese sweets, with cherry blossom pink particularly popular during sakura season.

Otherwise known as Girls’ Day, or ‘Hina Matsuri’ in Japanese, the colorful festival Dolls’ Festival has been celebrated on March 3rd every year since the Heian Period (794-1192).

Coming to Japan also means coming to the world of Shinto. There are about 80,000 shrines dedicated to 8 million Shinto gods throughout the country of cherry blossoms.

Valentine’s Day in Japan consists of two main treats: giri-choco for the colleagues, and honmei choco for the loved ones.

For those who value the journey as much as the destination, the luxury sleeper train ‘Seven Stars in Kyushu’ (or the nanatsuboshi no Kyushu) is the best of both.

January is a quiet time of reflection in Japan, and once February arrives the country jumps back into gear beginning with Setsubun. Read on to see what follows.