This week we’ll experience the equinox; an astronomical event when the sun crosses the Earth’s equator, creating nearly equal hours of daylight and darkness. Observed worldwide, but in Japan it can carry a deeper cultural meaning. For many, twice a year it marks a time for reflection, reconnecting with family, and appreciating the natural balance of the seasons.

At Ueshima, Japanese culture runs through everything we do and this sense of balance at the time of the Spring equinox resonates with the Japanese philosophy that inspires our approach to coffee.

Both equinoxes are celebrated as national holidays in Japan known as Shunbun no Hi (Spring Equinox Day) and Shūbun no Hi (Autumnal Equinox Day). They sit at the centre of a week-long Buddhist observance called Higan.

The word Higan means “the other shore.” In Buddhist tradition, it represents a symbolic crossing from the everyday world to a state of peace and enlightenment. The balance of light and darkness during the equinox is seen as the perfect moment to reflect on that journey.

The importance of the equinox in Japan - balance, nature, family and reflection. 

One of the most important Japanese equinox traditions is remembering ancestors.

During Higan, many families visit ancestral graves to clean them, leave flowers, and offer food. It’s a quiet but meaningful way to show gratitude to previous generations.

Seasonal sweets are also part of the celebration. Rice cakes coated in sweet red bean paste called botamochi in spring and ohagi in autumn are commonly enjoyed during this time.

These traditions highlight something central to Japanese culture: taking time to pause, reflect, and appreciate the connections that shape our lives.

The Cherry Blossom Season in Japan and the best places to see it...

Japan’s cultural calendar is also closely tied to nature. Moments of seasonal transition, like cherry blossom season in spring or colourful autumn leaves, are celebrated as reminders to appreciate the present.

[The Ueshima Airstream decorated with Japanese cherry blossom at a recent event.]

 

Cherry blossom has always played a big part in our branding at Ueshima and it’s because of its inherent link to our homeland. 

The cherry blossom season in Japan is revered around the world with many people visiting the country purely to experience it and follow the trail of blooming “Sakura” (cherry blossom) across the country.

The season begins on the island of Kyushu, southwestern Japan, in March and virtually day by day makes it way across the country where you’ll see Japan’s most common tree, the Somei-Yoshino bursting with pink blossoms. In parks and along river banks you’ll also find the shidare-zakura known as the “weeping cherry tree”. 

If you’re lucky enough to be in Japan for the cherry blossom season or you’re planning a trip over Spring in the future, there are several must see spots to experience the beautiful “Sakura” season. 

Mt. Yoshino and its "1,000 cherry trees"

Mt. Yoshino is a UNESCO world heritage site and sits within a huge national park in Nara Prefecture. The area is known as "Ichimoku ni senbon", meaning "the luxury of seeing 1,000 cherry trees and in fact there are more in the region of 30,000 here. The spectacle features heavily in Japanese classical literature, poetry, and song, and continues to inspire visitors to this day.

Around 4 hours from Tokyo by train or just over an hour from Osaka, Mt Yoshino is one of the perfect destinations for viewing the spellbinding spectacle of cherry blossom, with numerous temples and ruins dotted around the mountain. 

Image courtesy of Klook.com

 

Of particular note is the Kinpusenji Temple which is the center of Shugendo, an esoteric religion that originated in the 8th century, and arguably the most important of all the sacred sites on Mt. Yoshino. 

Nearby is the Yoshimizu-jinja Shrine, another World Heritage site and has gorgeous views of the surrounding mountainside. You will soon discover why the 16th-century warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi held a hanami “blossom-viewing” party here!

The ancient city of Nara itself is considered to be one of the Top 100 cities in the country for viewing cherry blossom and is home to the impressive Todaiji Temple.

The City of Kyoto

One of the few cities left intact after the Second World War, Kyoto is an old imperial city and the perfect place to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the season. A recommended route to take a walk is the Tetsugaku-no-Michi or Philosopher’s Path meanders alongside a cherry-tree-lined canal, with views of the Higashiyama hills in the distance.

Ashino Park, Aomori

Further North, like Sapporo and Aomori the cherry blossom blooms later in the Spring and perhaps one of the best places to enjoy it, is Ashino Park during the Sakura Festival, which takes place during the Japanese holiday of Golden Week. 

By Golden Week, cherry blossoms have already bloomed and scattered in nearly all of Japan. But in the cooler north of Aomori Prefecture, peak sakura season begins in late April, so there is still time to see the trees in bloom if you missed them earlier.

The equinox represents harmony in nature: a balance between light and dark, past and future, and the changing seasons.

There’s even a saying in Japan that “heat and cold end at the equinox,” marking the turning point from one season to the next.

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To find out more about visiting Japan and experiencing the cherry blossom season in all its beauty and tranquility visit Japan.Travel

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Balance in Every Cup of Coffee

This idea of balance is something that naturally connects to coffee.

Great coffee is about harmony; between sweetness and bitterness, aroma and flavour, craft and experience.

For us at Ueshima, coffee is also about ritual. Taking a moment in the day to slow down, enjoy the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, and reconnect with the present.

Much like the Japanese equinox itself, these everyday moments create space for reflection and balance.

The equinox in Japan isn’t marked by loud celebrations. Instead, it’s observed quietly through gratitude, reflection, and time spent with loved ones.

It’s a gentle reminder to slow down and appreciate the changing seasons.

And sometimes, the simplest way to do that is with a cup of coffee in hand.