September

Autumn is a great time of year to be in Japan: temperatures are mild, the scenery is beautiful with fall foliage, and there are festivals happening all over the country. Plus, this time of year is associated with all sorts of fun activities. Find out how the locals spend this season to participate in some of the activities yourself. Attend a Sports Day Event Created to commemorate the opening of the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics, Sports Day takes place on the second Monday of October. Schools and businesses around the country use the public holiday to hold a field day with traditional track-and-field events as well as with more informal games like kibasen (or cavalry fight) and tug of war. Read a Book Outdoors Many Japanese people like to make the most of the dry, mild weather by spending more time outdoors in the fall — especially with cooler temperatures of winter being just around the corner. Why not take a book with you next time you visit a local park? Pick, Roast, and Eat Kuri Kuri are Japanese chestnuts. By visiting a farm that grows kuri, you can pick your own to roast at home. One option is to…