December, also known as "Shiwasu," begins today.
As we all know, this season marks the end of the year. As the cold weather grows harsher, enjoy the strong tastes unique to winter at SUIGIAN, surrounded by Japanese culture in the company of those you spent time with during the year.
Within the 24 seasons and 72 micro-seasons, "Shiwasu" means "Shōsetsu (Lesser snow)," "Taisetsu (Greater snow)," and "Tōji (Winter solstice)." The winter arrives in earnest and the snow piles up during this season when the days are the shortest and the nights the longest of the year.
As autumn transitions to winter, we look forward with heartfelt eagerness to your visit, ready to welcome and entertain our guests with Japanese culture and arts, together with cuisine prepared with ingredients at their seasonal peak, and served with the perfect accompaniment beverages.
24 seasons
Shōsetsu (Lesser snow)／
November 22nd to December 6th
Taisetsu (Greater snow)／
December 7th to 21st
Tōji (Winter solstice)／
December 22nd to January 4th
Shiwasu: In Japan, December is called "Shiwasu."
"Shiwasu" literally means that teachers and monks run around.
For us, December is a very busy time. Respected people like teachers and monks do not normally run even when they are busy, but during December even they are so busy that they must run around town.
[ The 24 seasons and 72 micro-seasons ]
Now four seasons are standard, but in ancient Japan the spring, summer, fall and winter were divided into 24 seasons, and each of those 24 seasons was further divided into 3 smaller seasons of 5 days each, called the 72 micro-seasons.
This helped people sense the changing seasons.