Tōji (冬至), the winter solstice in Japan, is a time of quiet contemplation and introspection. The air is crisp and cold, and the sky is clear and blue. The sun is low in the sky, casting long shadows a...

Momiji-gari ( 紅葉狩 ) literally means “hunting red leaves,” which is the main draw for many visitors to Japan in autumn. It derives from momiji (red leaves, or maple tree), and -g ari (hunting). In prac...