Seasoning the Seasons

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.