About Japan

Below is a short list of some of the most popular plants found in Japan:

Sakura (Cherry)
The cherry blossom is Japan's unofficial national flower and symbol. Please check out the cherry blossom page for more details.

Ume (Japanese Plum)
Blooming several weeks ahead of the cherry blossoms, plum blossoms are an early sign of spring. Please check out our plum tree page for more details.

Momiji (Japanese Maple)
The Japanese maple is king in the category of most spectacular autumn colors. It is widely used as decorative tree in gardens.

Matsu (Pine Tree)
Green throughout the year, the pine tree symbolizes youth and longevity and is used as decorative plant in most Japanese gardens. Pine trees are also very popular for bonsai.

Take (Bamboo)
Few plants are used in as many ways as bamboo. The quickly growing evergreen has been used in construction and various arts and crafts for many centuries. Not at last, bamboo shoots (takenoko) are a very popular spring delicacy.



The Japanese fauna varies from brown bears in Hokkaido to tropical snakes in Okinawa. Japanese monkeys live throughout the country except in Hokkaido. Other famous Japanese animals include the crane, the Japanese deer, the fox (kitsune), and the raccoon dog (tanuki).


Climate:
Due to the large North South extension of the country, the climate varies strongly in different regions. The climate in most of the major cities, including Tokyo, is temperate to subtropic and consists of four seasons. The winter is mild and the summer is hot and humid. There is a rainy season in early summer, and typhoons hit parts of the country every year during late summer. The climate of the northern island of Hokkaido is colder, and snow storms occur frequently during winter. In Okinawa, on the other hand, the mean temperature of January is a warm 16 degrees Celsius.