Kigo Examples
A complete, categorized reference of seasonal words (kigo) — the exact list this site's detection engine checks against, organized by season with a confidence note for each.
Reviewed for accuracy · Last updated August 25, 2026
Spring
| Word or phrase | Confidence | Note |
|---|---|---|
| blossom | medium | — |
| blossoms | medium | — |
| buds | medium | — |
| cherry blossom | high | — |
| cherry blossoms | high | — |
| daffodil | medium | — |
| daffodils | medium | — |
| easter | medium | — |
| frog | medium | Frogs are a traditional spring kigo, most famous from Basho's old pond haiku. |
| frogs | medium | — |
| plum blossom | high | — |
| pollen | medium | — |
| robin | medium | — |
| sakura | high | — |
| skylark | high | — |
| spring rain | high | — |
| spring wind | high | — |
| sprout | medium | — |
| sprouts | medium | — |
| tadpole | high | — |
| tadpoles | high | — |
| thaw | medium | — |
| tulip | medium | — |
| tulips | medium | — |
| warbler | medium | — |
Summer
| Word or phrase | Confidence | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cicada | high | — |
| cicadas | high | — |
| dragonflies | medium | — |
| dragonfly | medium | Often summer, sometimes classed as autumn depending on region. |
| fan | low | — |
| fireflies | high | — |
| firefly | high | — |
| heatwave | high | — |
| humidity | medium | — |
| lotus | medium | — |
| monsoon | medium | — |
| mosquito | medium | — |
| mosquitoes | medium | — |
| summer moon | high | — |
| sunflower | high | — |
| sunflowers | high | — |
| thunder | low | — |
| watermelon | high | — |
Autumn
| Word or phrase | Confidence | Note |
|---|---|---|
| acorn | medium | — |
| acorns | medium | — |
| autumn leaves | high | — |
| chrysanthemum | high | — |
| chrysanthemums | high | — |
| cricket | medium | — |
| crickets | medium | — |
| equinox | low | — |
| fallen leaves | high | — |
| falling leaves | high | — |
| first frost | high | — |
| geese | medium | — |
| harvest | high | — |
| harvest moon | high | — |
| maple | medium | — |
| migrating geese | high | — |
| persimmon | high | — |
| scarecrow | medium | — |
Winter
| Word or phrase | Confidence | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bare branches | high | — |
| bare tree | medium | — |
| cold wind | medium | — |
| first snow | high | — |
| frost | medium | — |
| hibernate | medium | — |
| ice | medium | — |
| icicle | high | — |
| icicles | high | — |
| sleet | high | — |
| snow | high | — |
| snowflake | high | — |
| snowflakes | high | — |
| snowman | high | — |
| winter moon | high | — |
New Year
| Word or phrase | Confidence | Note |
|---|---|---|
| new year | high | — |
| new year's day | high | — |
What confidence means
High confidence words are almost universally read as belonging to that season (cherry blossom, firefly, first snow). Medium confidence words are commonly associated with a season but can appear outside it. Low confidence words have a real but weaker seasonal association — useful context, not a firm marker. A missing or unrecognized seasonal word is never treated as a flaw by the Haiku Checker — see What Is Kigo? for why a kigo is traditional rather than mandatory.
Frequently asked questions
Is this list exhaustive?
No — traditional Japanese saijiki catalog thousands of kigo. This is a working reference list used by the Haiku Checker's detection engine, not a complete catalog of every seasonal word in existence.
Why do some words have low confidence?
Some words (like "thunder" or "fan") are only loosely tied to a season, or vary by region and climate. Low confidence means the association is real but weaker or more context-dependent than a word like "cherry blossom," which is almost always read as spring.
Are these kigo specific to Japan, or do they work anywhere?
Many are rooted in Japan's specific climate and culture. English-language haiku poets often adapt the underlying idea — a seasonal marker specific to their own region — rather than importing every Japanese kigo directly. See What Is Kigo? for more on this.