Lot of snow can easily be seen on the side of Sea of Japan in winters, with dryness on Pacific Ocean side whereas summers are hot and humid. Though rainy season in Japan last for about 40 days, during the month of June and July. People traveling to Japan in summer should visit Hokkaido in the North, as it is too hot on Honshu and other islands. These places welcomes rainy season, as it bring relief to them. The mountain of Tohoku or Chubu is generally seen filled by the people of Tokyo on weekends, as it bring relief from relentless heat. During typhoon season in the month of august and early September, high pressure system is formed in the tropical areas of the western Pacific Ocean, thus, striking southern region of Japan and bringing strong winds and torrential rains.

A sort of storm in Japan’s climate is relieved by the arrival of autumn that brings a drop in temperature and drier conditions. Thus, this time of October and November in addition to spring is considered a good time to travel Japan to celebrate clearer and warmer days.
A cold temperature of winters is considered a pleasant time, as days are clear with occasional rains or snow. One can find numerous of tourists during this season enjoying famous hot bath of the country. Hot bath amid the snow covered hills and gently falling snow is an exciting experience.

Winter sports such as snow boarding and skiing can be best enjoyed in the northern areas of Honshu Island such as Hakuba and Nagano. So, plan and have a trip to Japan as per your interest. Enjoy wonderful cherry blossoms and colorful autumn foliage on your visit to Japan.

Tsukubai fountain is a Japanese fountain usually found outside the Buddhist temples and Japanese tea gardens. Visitors are needed to “squat or crouch” i.e. to bend down, and go through the cleansing ritual before entering the temple. This cleansing ritual is conceptually similar to the ablutions ritual performed in Christian churches. This Tsukubai cleansing ritual involves hand washing and mouth rinsing. This cleansing ritual is performed prior to entering the Buddhist temples for tea ceremonies.

A Tsukubai fountain is usually made out of stone basin, known as chozubachi. The most prominent element of Tsukubai is a bamboo pipe also known as kakei. A small bamboo scoop is placed on top of the basin, ready to use for performing the cleansing ritual. Tsukubai fountains are usually found outside the Japanese tea gardens or in Japanese themed homes.

A stone lantern, also known as ishidoro, is placed near the tsukubai to provide light during the evening tea ceremonies. Arrangement of stones around the Tsukubai is critically important when it is designed. Green floras and bamboo plants make a great compliment to the area surrounding Tsukubai.

Simplistic in design, a tsukubai is beautiful addition to your garden or tea-house to increase it’s Zen-appeal and add cultural history to intrigue your guests and visitors.

Shishi Odoshi is another Japanese fountain that is very well known for its peculiar style and antique beauty. Shishi Odoshi literally translates into Deer-Scarer. Japanese farmers used the shishi-odoshi fountain to scare away the deer’s and pests that were destroying their agriculture.

As the Japanese culture progressed, Shishi-Odoshi was used more as a meditative element. It’s ability to create calm serenity in its surrounding is really appealing to the Zen Monks. Shishi-Odoshi is famous for the rocking motion of bamboo and its “clacking” sound. The bamboo rocks back and forth with water being filled and emptied from the spout. When the bamboo spout gently hits the surface of basin, it makes a “clacking” sound that is soft and refreshing. People performing meditation are especially fond of this soft clacking sound to focus and concentrate.