SUB) Japanese Podcast | Winter in Japan | 日本の冬

Hello everyone. In this channel, I'm sharing Japanese culture, trends, and what I feel every day in easy-to-understand Japanese with everyone who is learning Japanese. Well, how have you been doing recently? This time, the theme is the winter in Japan. It's December, and in many places in Japan, it's starting to feel like winter. It's cold in winter in Japan, but there's a lot of snow, delicious food, fun events, and a lot of excitement. How is winter in your country? Is it snowing? Or is it warm? Let me know if you like. In Japan, on cold days, we eat hot food such as kotatsu or hot pot to warm our bodies. It's also great to relax in a warm hot spring. This is just part of it, but in this way, there are many ways to enjoy winter in Japan. I would like to introduce what Japanese people enjoy in winter. I hope you will like Japan more by learning about winter in Japan. First, let's talk about the climate and landscape of winter in Japan. Japan is a country with a long history, so the climate is quite different from north to south. For example, in Hokkaido, it snows a lot in winter. You can enjoy winter activities by skiing, snowboarding, and making snowmen. The temperature is very low, sometimes below minus 10 degrees. On the other hand, in southern Okinawa, it is warm even in winter. It doesn't snow, and it's about 15 degrees on cold days. So depending on the day, you can go to the sea even in winter. In the middle of Japan, for example, in the Pacific region of Tokyo and Osaka, it's cold in winter, but it doesn't snow much. But the air is cold, so you need a coat or muffler. But even in the middle of Japan, in the Japanese sea area, there are many cold places like Hokkaido, where it snows a lot. In Japan, there are four seasons, and you can clearly feel the seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Winter is cold, but that coldness also creates special scenery and experiences. Speaking of winter in Japan, it is a beautiful snow scenery. When the snow piles up, the town and mountains turn white and it is very beautiful. For example, in Shirakawa-go, Gifu Prefecture, you can see the atmosphere of an old Japanese house wrapped in snow called Gassho-zukuri. At night, it is very fantastic because it is lit up. Also, in Kenrokuen, Kanazawa Prefecture, the pine trees and ponds decorated with snow are very beautiful, and there are many people who take pictures of the scenery. And I also recommend Mt. Fuji in winter. The snow piles up on the mountain top, and the contrast between white and blue is very beautiful. If you are lucky, you can see the morning sun hit Mt. Fuji and the moment it shines pink. In addition, there is a special nature that can only be seen in winter. For example, the scenery of the forest covered with snow and the snow-covered trees. When you touch the beauty of nature, you will like winter in Japan even more. Next, I will talk about Japanese winter food. In Japan, there are many foods that are perfect for cold winter and warm your heart and body. Speaking of winter, first of all, it is hot pot. Hot pot is a dish that is cooked by putting a lot of vegetables, meat and fish in a large pot. It is a staple to eat hot pot with family and friends. There are various types of hot pot dishes. For example, sukiyaki is a sweet soy-based soup. Boil the beef and vegetables and eat them in a raw pot. It has a very rich taste and is often eaten on special days. Shabu-shabu is also popular. Soak the thinly sliced ​​meat in hot water and eat it with ponzu or sesame sauce. It is perfect for people who like a healthy and refreshing taste. In addition, hot pot with vegetables, fish and meat is often made at home in Japan. It is made with miso, soy sauce and salt-flavored soup, so you can enjoy various flavors. In addition, oden is also essential in winter. It is a dish that is similar to chikuwa and hanpen made with radish, konnyaku, eggs and fish fillets. You can buy it at a convenience store, so you can enjoy it easily. Warm noodles are also particularly popular in winter. Hot ramen and udon are the best on cold days. When you drink the steaming soup, your body warms up immediately. In winter, you can enjoy various special drinks and sweets. For example, amazake is a traditional Japanese drink. It is made from rice and is slightly sweet and warms your body. By the way, this drink has the kanji sake in its name. In fact, there are many things that do not contain alcohol, so people who are not good at drinking can enjoy it. Recently, matcha latte and winter-only flavor coffee are also popular. It is also fun to enjoy a special menu only in winter at cafes and convenience stores. For sweets, zenzai and oshiruko are recommended. Both are warm desserts made with red bean paste and mochi, perfect for cold winters. It is a dish that Japanese sweets lovers can't get enough of. In winter in Japan, there are many seasonal ingredients. For example, crabs are a representative seafood in winter. In particular, you can enjoy fresh crabs in the Hokuriku region and Hokkaido. You can eat boiled crabs as they are, or make a seafood bowl, put it in a pot, and boil it. Yellowtail is also a seasonal fish in winter. In particular, yellowtail in Toyama Prefecture is very famous, and it is perfect for sashimi or teriyaki. It is fatty and you can enjoy a taste unique to winter. In addition, oysters are also delicious in winter. It is common to put oysters in a pot or fry them, but they are creamy and delicious even when eaten raw. Oysters are especially famous in Seto Inland Sea and Hiroshima. Finally, when it comes to winter fruits, it is mandarin oranges. It is a traditional Japanese winter style to eat mandarin oranges in kotatsu. It is sweet and full of vitamin C, so it is also suitable for preventing colds. Next, I will talk about events and activities that you can enjoy in winter. First of all, it is about traditional Japanese events unique to winter. In Japan, New Year's Day is considered one of the most important events. When the new year comes, Japanese people have a habit of going to shrine or temple for the first time. This is to pray that a new year will be a good year. In Hatsumode, people draw fortune or buy amulets. Also, on New Year's Day, the family eats osechi food. Osechi is a set of beautifully arranged dishes, including shrimp, black beans, and datemaki. Each ingredient contains the meaning of health, longevity, and happiness. Setsubun is also famous as a winter event. In Setsubun, which is held in February, people call it Oniwasa and Fukuwauchi. They roll the beans and call the fortune in the house. This is a habit to drive away bad luck. It is also one of the most interesting events at that time. This day is the longest night of the year. In Japan, people have a habit of bathing in yuzu. By floating yuzu in the bath, it warms the body and prevents colds. Next, I will talk about Japanese tourist spots and how to enjoy winter. In winter Japan, there are many wonderful tourist spots and fun activities. The Sapporo Snow Festival held in Sapporo, Hokkaido, is a world-famous event. You can enjoy huge sculptures made of snow and ice and beautiful lights. This festival is held every February and many tourists visit. In Nagano Prefecture, there is also a wonderful event called Nagano Tomyo Matsuri. Small lights illuminate the city and you can enjoy a very romantic atmosphere. Also, hot springs are recommended for winter. In Japan, there are many hot springs, and the outdoor baths where you can enter while looking at the snow scenery are special. For example, in the Jigokudani hot spring in Nagano Prefecture, you can see monkeys entering the hot spring. It is very unique and popular with foreign tourists. In winter Japan, you can enjoy skiing and snowboarding. In Nagano Prefecture and Hokkaido, there are large-scale ski resorts and courses for beginners to advanced skiers. The characteristic of Japanese ski resorts is that the snow is soft and easy to slide. One of the things I look forward to in winter is illumination. In winter, you can enjoy beautiful illumination all over Japan. For example, in Roppongi, Tokyo, outdoor baths are lit up and beautiful scenery with blue and white lights is spread out. The two-way illumination in Osaka and the Kobe Luminaria in Kobe are also very popular. In particular, the Kobe Luminaria began as an event to pray for the reconstruction of the disaster. Many arches of light color the city and it is very impressive. The scenery of Christmas is also one of the joys of winter in Japan. In Japan, Christmas is more fun with lovers and friends than with family. Christmas market and illumination are popular winter date spots. In Yokohama's Red Brick Warehouse and Umeda Skyville in Osaka, Christmas market is held and you can enjoy hot wine and winter-only sweets. Are there any spots you are interested in or events you would like to participate in? If you come to Japan in winter, please visit various events. Next, I will introduce you to unique customs and items to enjoy the cold in winter in Japan. If you know this, you will be able to enjoy winter in Japan more comfortably. The first custom is to eat mandarin oranges with kotatsu. In winter in Japan, a heating device called kotatsu is often used. Kotatsu has a heater under the table and a futon is hung on the table. If you put your feet in this, it is very warm. In Japan, it is a classic winter scenery to eat mandarin oranges while entering the kotatsu. The time to gather in kotatsu with your family and watch TV or chat can be very relaxing. The second custom is mochi. Mochi is one of the winter events. It is a winter-only sight to see families and people from the area gathering together to make mochi. There is an old-fashioned tool called kine and usu to make mochi, and we all use it to enjoy mochi while having fun. Recently, even Japanese people have stopped making mochi, but there are some tourist events where you can experience making mochi, so if you are interested, please check it out. Next, I will introduce some useful tools to enjoy winter comfortably. In Japanese winter life, there are many useful items to get through the cold. The kotatsu I introduced earlier is also an essential item to spend a cold day comfortably, but other than that, electric carpets are also popular. As the name suggests, this is a carpet that gets warm with electricity, but if you put it on the floor, the whole room will feel warm. It is especially useful in a flooring room. It is also popular for hot water baths. Hot water baths are items that are used with warm water, and when you put it in a futon when you sleep, your body gets warm. There is also a circuit similar to a hot water bath. Circuits are small disposable heat-repellent items of palm size, so you can carry it in your pocket or put it on your back or stomach. It's disposable, but when you open it once, it keeps you warm all day, so it's especially useful when you're out a lot. In terms of clothing items, Uniqlo's inner called Heat Tech is very popular in Japan. I also wear it every day in winter, and I can't leave it alone enough to think that I can't get through the winter without it. This inner is thin but very warm and easy to move. Thanks to these customs and convenient items, Japanese people are having a comfortable and fun winter. This time I talked about winter in Japan, how was it? There is a lot of special beauty and fun in winter in Japan. The snow-wrapped town, the mountains, the delicious food that warms your body, and the fun time with family and friends. Even in the cold winter, there are many charms that warm your heart. In particular, winter in Japan is a season when you can feel the connection with nature, culture and people. For example, it is a time to eat mandarin oranges while entering Kotatsu, or it is a time to soak in the hot spring while watching the snow scenery. I think this kind of experience will be a wonderful memory unique to winter in Japan. What did you think about winter in Japan? Through today's episode, If you have any activities or food you want to try, please let me know in the comments. If you enjoyed this episode, please click the like button and subscribe to my channel. If you have any comments or requests, please let me know in the comments. I would like to continue to bring you a lot of Japanese culture and fun topics, so please look forward to the next episode. See you in the next video. See you.