Kachofugetsu: Japan's Art of Loving Nature — and the Town Where You Can Experience It All

Have you ever heard the word "kachofugetsu" (花鳥風月)? It's written with four characters — flower, bird, wind, and moon — and it names something the Japanese have cultivated for over a thousand years: the art of loving nature.

In this article, I'll introduce this beautiful idea — and Tsuruoka, a town where you can experience all four elements throughout the year 😊

What Is Kachofugetsu? The Japanese Way of Loving Nature

Kachofugetsu (花鳥風月, literally "flower, bird, wind, moon") is a traditional Japanese aesthetic: these four elements stand for all the seasonal beauty of nature, and for centuries people have celebrated them in poetry, painting, and everyday life.

The key is not simply to look at nature, but to let the changing seasons mirror your own heart. Seeing life itself in falling cherry blossoms, or hearing winter's arrival in the cry of migrating birds — that way of feeling is kachofugetsu.

From the court poetry of the Heian period (794–1185) to haiku, garden design, and even the patterns on ceramics — this sensibility is said to run through the very roots of Japanese culture.

Tsuruoka: A Town With All Four

Tsuruoka has the sea, the mountains, and a wide rice-growing plain, all within one city. That's why you can experience every element of kachofugetsu here, in every season. Let me show you, one by one 😊

Flower — Cherry Blossoms at Tsuruoka Park, Alpine Flowers on Mt. Gassan

In spring, Tsuruoka Park is one of Japan's official "Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots," with blossoms reflected in the old castle moat. In summer, the slopes of Mt. Gassan turn into natural gardens of alpine wildflowers. I find myself going back every single year.

Bird — Migratory Birds on Ramsar-Listed Wetlands

The Oyama Kamiike and Shimoike ponds are wetlands registered under the Ramsar Convention, and in winter they fill with swans and wild ducks that fly in from Siberia. Standing by the misty pond at dawn, listening to their calls, it's hard to believe the town is just minutes away.

Wind — The Breeze That Crosses the Shonai Plain

In summer, the wind rolls like waves across a sea of green rice plants. Salt breezes blow in from the Sea of Japan. Even the harsh winter wind has shaped the local food culture — like kandara (winter cod dishes) and cold-weather fermentation. In Tsuruoka, even the wind is a blessing!

Moon — Mt. Gassan, Literally "Moon Mountain"

Tsuruoka has a mountain named after the moon itself: Mt. Gassan (月山, "Moon Mountain"). At its summit stands Gassan Shrine, dedicated to Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, the Japanese deity of the moon. A town with a sacred mountain that worships the moon — when you stop and think about it, isn't that extraordinary?

→ Read more about the sacred mountains of Dewa Sanzan [our Dewa Sanzan series]

The Town Where "I'll Come Back" Becomes "I Want to Live Here"

Travelers who visit Tsuruoka say, again and again, "I'll come back." And many do even more than that — people keep moving here, from all over Japan and beyond.

What newcomers often tell me is: "I love the people of this town." Honestly, nothing makes me happier than hearing that 😊

Kachofugetsu isn't complete with scenery alone. Beauty truly stays in your heart when there are people to share it with — and Tsuruoka is that kind of town.

Final Thoughts

Flower, bird, wind, moon. The four beauties at the heart of Japanese culture — Tsuruoka offers them all, in every season of the year.

For your next trip to Japan, come to Tsuruoka, where the beauty of the seasons and the warmth of the people are both waiting for you 😊

Guesthouse Watausagi is the perfect base for your journey. It's more than a place to stay — it's a guesthouse where you can get to know this region more deeply, and enjoy real connections with local people and fellow guests. Come and experience Tsuruoka's kachofugetsu with us! 😊

We also share the charms of our home region — Yamagata, Tsuruoka, and the Shonai area.

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