Seasoning the Seasons

Japanese people have, since time immemorial, loved Mt. Fuji, Japan's highest peak. Around the mountain's base, there are five lakes of various sizes. These are the Fuji Five Lakes, which are found in Yamanashi Prefecture, on the north side of Mt. Fuji. The five lakes were formed by Mt. Fuji's repeated volcanic eruptions, when lava flows blocked rivers or split existing lakes. In times past, and still today, the lakes are an essential part of life for residents along their shores.

Yamagata Prefecture is located in the Tohoku region of Japan, where cherry blossoms have finally begun to bloom in late April. Our story starts in a basin located in the eastern part of Yamagata, surrounded by the Dewa Mountains to the west and the Ou Mountains to the east. As the snow melts, bright colors of nature begin to stand out. In this episode, we experience the vivid colors of Yamagata from spring to early summer which brings together its people and nature.

At the foot of Mt. Asama, lies Karuizawa, one of Japan's most well-known resort areas. In the late 1880s, foreign missionaries began building holiday cottages in the town to escape Japan's fierce summer heat. Eventually, wealthy Japanese people began to join them, turning Karuizawa into the place to spend the summer. We take a deeper look at the lifestyles of those who enjoy summer in Karuizawa. The true appeal of the resort only reveals itself when you experience an extended stay.