5 Popular Umbrella Sky Spots in Japan – A New Way to Enjoy Rainy Season
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A magical experience, and a great place to take a new profile pic, here are five cool rainy season destinations in Japan that put umbrellas to use!
Rainy season in Japan might bring quite a few downpours, but with the rain comes some beautiful scenery, like fresh green vistas, pale purple hydrangeas, and some great umbrella accessorization. So, as a country that loves its seasonal traditions, it's no surprise that Japan welcomes the addition of new rainy season fun! Originally an installation created as part of an art festival in Agueda, Portugal, the colorful and extremely photogenic roof of umbrellas has spread throughout the world, and similar events are growing in popularity around Japan. Here are five of the most popular renditions held in recent years:
① Shiga ・ The Kusatsu A Square Umbrella Patio
For the past few years, Kusatsu Station shopping facility A Square has been protecting shoppers and diners from the rainy season rain in an especially charming way, hanging rows of brightly colored umbrellas high above the pavement of their SARA courtyard. While COVID-19 has meant the cancelation of numerous events and celebrations across Japan this summer, but A Square is going in the other direction, upping the number of floating umbrellas to 230 in this open-air area. The sun shines through the semi-transparent umbrellas leaving colorful shadows on the ground through the afternoon, and romantic lighting creates atmosphere after sunset.
Dates: June ~ early July, 2020
Official Website (jp)
② Nagasaki ・ Huis Ten Bosch Umbrella Street
Theme park and entertainment destination Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki, built like a little Dutch town, is full of European architecture and tulips (and even more impressive than the Tokyo German Village). During rainy season, umbrellas also make an appearance, hanging over the streets to protect park-goers from inclement weather. Approximately 1,000 umbrellas are hung in the air, forming a makeshift roof that covers 130 meters (427ft) of pathway. The dreamy view of rain rolling off the sides of the umbrellas and LED lights making them glow from below makes it a popular photo spot, but the daytime view of endless colorful umbrellas is lovely too. Get a better look in their official video for the event.
Dates: June ~ July (undetermined)
Official Website (jp)
③ Saitama ・ Moominvalley Park Metsa Umbrella Sky Design Project 2020
Moominvalley Park, in Saitama and an hour or so outside of Tokyo, has only been open for a little over a year now, but they're already putting on some great events. Last year, attached shopping and dining area Metsa hosted an umbrella sky exhibition among the Northern-European style facilities. This year, the exhibition area will be expanded to include spaces inside the Moomin-focused theme park itself. A special rainy season menu will also be available at park eateries, and umbrella-making workshops will be available throughout the event period. Unlike many umbrella festivities, the umbrellas at Moominvalley Parked will be tucked away in forested corners and tree-lined paths, making for a unique experience.
Dates: Moominvalley Park – June 4 ~ August 30, 2020 / Metsa Village – May 22 ~ July 26, 2020
Official Website (jp)
Image Source: PR Times
④ Aomori ・ Hachinohe Machiniwa Umbrella Sky
Northern Japan's city of Hachinohe is home to Machiniwa, a building dubbed a "public city square," meant to be a gathering place for the city's residents and visitors. For just the month of June, the wide-open spaces of Machiniwa and the tall roof will be decorated with pale pastel umbrellas that perfectly accompany the space's permanent sculptural installation. The addition lends the "city square" a somewhat futuristic, but surprisingly dreamy quality.
Dates: May 29 ~ June 30
Official Website (jp)
⑤ Nagano ・ Karuizawa Hoshino Resort Umbrella Sky
While the previous four umbrella sky events are great options for 2020 outdoor activities, the 2020 Umbrella Sky at Karuizawa's Hoshino Resort has been canceled. But the quality of their umbrella decorations are too lovely not to share, so we're including them on this list anyway. (Hopefully we can all visit in coming years!) Thanks to the picturesque greenery of Karuizawa, and Nagano Prefecture at large, Hoshino Resort is able to combine the urban and natural qualities seen in other displays, bringing the colorful umbrellas to leisure spaces around the resort. In past years, they've even put together umbrellas and hydrangeas together for decorations that just scream "early summer in Japan"!
Starting with one small festival in Portugal, this unique way of celebrating the rainy summer has become a big hit in Japan. What better way to spend some time outside when there are no sunny days in sight? Each of these "umbrella skies" lets visitors enjoy the rain instead of dreading it, something we can all appreciate!
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NAME:Rainy Season
Japankuru's head Chinese editor: mid-30s, likes to write, draw, and take photos. Aiming to become an old aunty with a girlish look. Articles written in Chinese by Lucy Wu, and translated by Sophia Appelbaum.
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Kansai (関西) is a region that includes Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga Prefectures. Kansai contained Japan's ancient capital for hundreds of years, and it's making a comeback as one of the most popular parts of Japan. Kyoto's temples and shrines, Osaka Castle, and the deer of Nara are all considered must-sees. Plus, the people of Kansai are especially friendly, making it a fun place to hang out.
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Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan between the years 794 and 1100, becoming a center for poilitics and culture, and to this day it's a great place for close encounters with Japanese history. The cobbled streets of Gion, the atmospheric road to Kiyomizudera Temple, Kinkakuji's golden walls and countless historic attractions, even Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge―Kyoto is a place of many attractions. With new charms to experience throughout the seasons, travelers can't stop themselves from returning again and again.
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Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.
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Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.
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The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.
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Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.
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SHIKOKU
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On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).
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KAGAWA
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Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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