Things I'm grateful for during winter in Japan: citrus fruits

In efforts to have more of an attitude of gratitude, I've been trying to seek out (and list!) the things I love about different seasons in Japan. The winter months out here in snow country can feel long and sometimes gloomy, but there's still a lot to enjoy about this time of year.

One thing I'm grateful for during the winters here are the plethora of citrus fruits that are available at supermarkets and farmer's markets. I feel like it's a great way to get your vitamin C to try and ward off any seasonal bugs going around, and they taste delicious as well. The fact that they're in season during winter also means that they're quite cost effective!

Mikan in particular are a family favorite for us, and I love their portability and ease of peeling. It makes it so easy to include them in my children's lunches, or even in my own bag if I'm on the go for work.

When we lived on the outskirts of Tokyo, we even went mikan picking in Musashimurayama one year. It's a fun activity to do as a family if you have an orchard nearby, and often it's a lot cheaper to go picking straight from the source than it is going to a supermarket -- you're essentially cutting out the middleman at that point.

Do you have a favorite citrus fruit during the winter months here?