There are definite signs that winter is on the way.  Lots of people are wearing winter boots, scarves and toques but that’s hardly a good indication since these items are often worn with shorts and many have been dressing this way since the end of August!  Winter attire seems to be much more about fashion than function.

Though daytime temperatures are still very comfortable, it does cool off quite a bit at night now.  We put the fans away and brought out the heaters and some of our winter bedding recently.  This week the kerosene truck began making its rounds of the neighbourhood.  On the other hand, oranges are ripening on trees all around us, flowers are still blooming and new crops of vegetables are coming up in gardens and on vegetable farms so is it really winter?

One clear sign that the season is upon us is the fact that, even here in Japan, the stores have started decorating and gearing up for Christmas.  I found myself singing along to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer while I grocery shopped today!

Winter will be very different for us this year.  We definitely won’t be experiencing the -20C to -30C temperatures that are the norm back home in Alberta.  The climate is much more humid than we’re accustomed to, however, so we may feel colder than we would at similar temperatures back home.  We may or may not see snow but if we do, it won’t be the dry powdery variety that we’re used to and it won’t stay around for very long.

While the outdoor conditions will be much milder than we’re used to, the same won’t be true indoors.  Like the majority of Japanese homes, ours has no insulation and no central heating.   We can’t just turn up the thermostat and stay warm.  We do have several sources of heat though.  Here in the dining/computer room a built in unit acts as air conditioner in the summer and heater in the winter.   We also have a portable kerosene heater which usually sits in the kitchen and an oscillating electric heater which warms up the tatami room where we sleep.  Right now, we only need to use these to take the chill off first thing in the morning and to provide a little extra warmth in the evening but I’m sure that the time will soon come when they’ll be running much more steadily.