Haru Harbor is not out yet. These steps describe the first hour as it is planned.

Your first hour, step by step

Start a new village
Tell the game your age group, then choose “New village”. You do not sign up: the game creates an account without your name or email address. If you played before, choose to bring your village back instead.
Plant and harvest rice
Your grandmother’s letter leads you to the rice terraces. Plant rice, harvest it with one swipe of the sickle and plant again. A finger shows the way, without walls of text.
Welcome your first guest
A villager comes by, would like some of your rice and pays well for it. Neighbours with wishes are one of the ways you sell what you make.
Mill, hens and the first order
Build the feed mill, feed the hens in the coop the game gives you for it and mill rice into flour. Then fill your first order on the courier board.
Mochi, the river and the market
Make your first mochi, clear a piece of land, cast a line at the river and open the morning market, where you trade with other players.
Find your village community
At level 7 the game suggests a village community that fits you. Join with one tap, or later: nobody is added without asking.

Good to know

Every step can be skipped. The first orders and guests are the same for everyone, so nobody has a harder start.
Steps that need a tool bring it along: three sickles for the first clearing and five baits for the first fishing trip.
The game asks about notifications only after your first field is done, and says what they are for.
Link your account under Settings → Account with Apple, Google, Game Center or Google Play Games, so your village comes along to a new device.
Nothing spoils while you are away. Ripe fields wait for you.

Then the village opens up: the tea house, the ferry, koi breeding, the festivals of the year and the weekly Boat Festival with your community.