Japanese Micro Seasons Part 18 Soko ( Frost Falls )

October 23rd-27th first frost (Shimo hajimete furu ) As the weather starts to get colder we might wake up to frost covered mornings.

At this time I always think a warming breakfast to keep you going through the cold mornings are very comforting. Why not try to make a hot bowl of oats with pumpkin it’s great if you have some steamed pumpkin left over from a meal. Just use one cup of oats mixed with half water and half soy milk, add a few tablespoons of steamed pumpkin and mix in to your oats then add some sweetener like maple syrup and some spice like cinnamon or pumpkin spice. Cook your pumpkin on a low heat. Spoon into a bowl and add some toppings like sliced persimmon, flakes of almonds, pumpkin seeds etc. Maybe a dusting of nutmeg to finish. Sit and enjoy before you start your day.

October 28th-November 1st Light rains sometimes fall (Kosama tokidoki furu )

I Remember fondly walking through Kyoto in the rain in Autumn, the sound of rain on the temple gardens gave the ground a beautiful fresh smell and the stone shines like glass. There is something quite magical about temples and shrines in the rain.

November 2nd-6th Maple leaves and ivy turn yellow (Momiji tsuta kibamu)

The maples turn the most vibrant colours in autumn in Japan . The way the light shines through the leaves no wonder it’s celebrated just a much as the cherry blossoms in the Spring.

I have been to Japan a few times in Autumn . I love all the autumn foods and the way all the shops decorate their shop windows with seasonal displays. The changing seasons in Japan are so important and is so much more beautiful than the tacky plastic Halloween displays in the UK.