Rites of Spring

EQUINOX. Equal night, equal day; a threshold between the seasons. For centuries, the English New Year was marked not in January, but after the spring EQUINOX, on Lady Day - the feast of the Annunciation, where Mary learns that she will give birth to the Christ child. Like many of the waypoints in the church year, the timing of this festival evolved from earlier pagan rites deeply rooted in the seasons and the slow, constant shifting of the natural world around us.

EQUINOX. Equal night, equal day; a threshold between the seasons. For centuries, the English New Year was marked not in January, but after the spring EQUINOX, on Lady Day - the feast of the Annunciation, where Mary learns that she will give birth to the Christ child. Like many of the waypoints in the church year, the timing of this festival evolved from earlier pagan rites deeply rooted in the seasons and the slow, constant shifting of the natural world around us.

We journey the Tazawako and Akita Nairiku Lines into the heart of Akita Pref. in Japan's north. Warm yourself in the milky white waters of a secluded, hot spring and admire lustrous, traditional items made from bark. Visit the Matagi bear hunters who continue to practice an indigenous faith and its rites. Deeper into the mountains, marvel at the night sky and visit UNESCO-designated ancient ruins. The villages these rail lines connect offer a glimpse into the seasonal mountain life of Akita.