Japan is said to be a land beautiful in all four seasons, but winter holds a special place in our hearts. Winter in Japan is a short season that lasts from December to February, although in the more northern prefectures it can be quite a bit longer.
We love Japan’s winter months when the air is crisp and there’s snow on the ground. It’s the perfect time to soak in the thermal waters of an onsen or get our snowboards out of storage and head for the nearest slopes for some winter fun. Many cities have amazing festivals during winter in Japan too. Yes, you need to wrap up warm when you go, but they’re so magical you’ll soon forget the cold.
There are so many wonderful places to go to in Japan in winter that we could write a book about them. That’s not to mention all of the things to do in Japan in the winter season. Winter is one of the best seasons to enjoy local Japanese cuisine, especially in the seaside cities. Fresh seafood, including fugu (blowfish) and crab are a must-try during winter. Winter is also synonymous with warm onsen hot springs, which are perfect to warm up after a day of sightseeing. It’s also the best way to end a day after enjoying winter sports at one of Japan’s many ski resorts. Japan has some amazing mountains, with beautiful snow fall for ski and snowboard lovers.
Besides all of the amazing things to do in Japan during winter, it’s also a great chance to visit the country without the same crowds you might experience in the spring and fall seasons. As long as you avoid the Christmas and New Years holidays, you can expect less crowds while exploring Japan. You may also find accommodations in major cities can be less taxing on your wallets during the winter season.
One of the best things to do in Japan in winter is to visit Sapporo, a city located in the northernmost prefecture, Hokkaido . The Sapporo Snow Festival takes place every year at the beginning of February and is one of the biggest celebrations held during Japan’s winter months, drawing both international and local Japanese tourists each year.
Many people liken Sapporo to a winter wonderland when the snow festival is on. Believe us, that’s an understatement. For the seven days of the festival, Sapporo becomes a fantasy world of enormous snow and ice sculptures that defy description. The festival is spread over three main sites, the Odori Site, the Susukino Site and the Tsudome Site. The first two are dedicated to the amazing works created by the snow and ice sculptors and the third is where everyone goes to let off steam on the snow slides and have fun. There are also an unbelievable number of outdoor festival stalls with delicious food, so be sure to bundle up and brave the icy temperatures to get your fill of the Sapporo Snow Festival!
People are not the only ones who enjoy onsen during winter in Japan. The macaque monkeys of the Joshinetsu Kogen National Park do too! And they have a very special place where they go to soak in steaming waters – the Jigokudani Monkey Park, or Snow Monkey Park, which is part of the national park and a natural habitat for the macaques. Photos of the monkeys enjoying a dip in the warm waters has become an iconic image of winter in Japan, recognizable around the world.
While the monkeys are there all year round, the best time to see them is January or February when there’s snow and the monkeys take a dip to keep warm. This iconic scene of winter is a must see if you are traveling to Japan during the winter season. If you get cold, don’t be jealous of the monkeys taking a dip! You too can enjoy onsen, although not in the park. Head over to Shibu or Yudanaka, popular onsen towns nearby, for your own relaxing dip in the hot springs.
There’s one place in Japan we always recommend as it really does have everything and that’s Kanazawa. Well, it has everything apart from snow monkeys, they’re unique to Jigokudani, but the rest of its attributes more than make up for that. Kanazawa is a popular place for locals to visit during Japan’s winter months as you can combine sightseeing with winter sports, enjoy onsen hot springs, and sample some of the best seafood in Japan.
There is so much to see and do in Kanazawa that you won’t think about the cold for a moment even when you’re outside. The reconstruction of the Kanazawa Castle is truly impressive and is a must-visit during your Japan travels for all of the history buffs out there. Combine a visit to Kanazawa Castle with nearby Kenrokuen Garden, one of the 3 most beautiful gardens in all of Japan. This landscaped garden has a very special ambience when the trees and plants are dusted with a covering of snow. Kenrokuen Garden is beautiful in any season, but truly comes alive in the winter. During the winter in Japan, Kenrokuen is decorated with yukitsuri, bamboo poles and ropes that form structures around the pine trees all around the extensive grounds. Yukitsuri is not just for show, and is an important support system that keeps the heavy snow from harming the pine trees. The sight of yukitsuri in Kenrokuen Garden is so iconic, it has become one of the symbols of Kanazawa City.
See our recommended accommodations in Kanazawa: MACHIYA RESIDENCE INN KANAZAWA
Ginzan Onsen in the Yamagata prefecture is the place to go to experience old-world Japan charm at its best during the winter season. No vehicles are allowed in the center of this sleepy mountain town so it has a special atmosphere that transports you back in time. In Ginzan Onsen, the streets and river that runs through its heart are lined with ryokan, traditional onsen inns built from wood. When the roofs of the ryokan are laden with snow they really do make a perfect picture postcard scene, contributing to it’s status as one of the best places to visit during winter in Japan.
In Ginzan Onsen you can enjoy the onsen outdoors under the stars or stop off to take a free foot bath while exploring the charming town. It’s definitely worth exploring, because if you do you’ll find a stunning waterfall. Keep walking , and if the path isn’t blocked by snow, you’ll come across a cavern left over from the silver mining days that you can enter. You’ll experience and touch history while enjoying old-Japan charm at this sleepy yet picturesque onsen town while visiting Japan in winter.
Shirakawa-go Village has gained popularity as a tourist destination in recent years, and the winter season is one of the best times to visit – especially if you’re staying in Hida Takayama. If you’re going skiing or snowboarding at one of the resorts in Gifu prefecture, then we also recommend you take a day off from the slopes just to go and see this unique rural village.
Shirakawa-go Village is a hamlet where many of the farmhouses are built in the gassho-zukuri style with steeply angled roofs covered in thatch. The roofs were built that way so they don’t collapse under the weight of the snow that falls in this region in winter. Some of the houses, which are still inhabited, are over two centuries old and are so special they have been made a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can find accommodation nearby, but we recommend staying at Takayama City and taking a day trip out to Shirakawa-go.
See our recommended accommodation in Takayama: THE MACHIYA HOTEL TAKAYAMA
Skiers and snowboarders who take to the slopes of Mount Zao are able to get a super close up look at the mysterious juhyo that appear on the mountainside in winter. The juhyo, or snow monsters, are trees that have accumulated a thick covering of ice and snow which, when it’s blown into strange shapes by the Siberian winds, look like petrified ice monsters. The view of the mountains covered in these snow monsters make Mt Zao one of the most unique and beautiful destinations for your Japan travels in winter.
Even if you’re not a skier you can still get to see the juhyo as there’s a ropeway running from the Zao Ski Resort to where they are. If you feel as frozen as the trees once you’ve seen them you’ll enjoy thawing out in one of the many onsen in the Zao area. It’s famous for them, and some of the hot springs are said to have been discovered and used as early as 110AD! The Zao Ski Resorts are said to have some of the best snow fall in all of Japan, so if you’re an avid winter sports lover, be sure to make the time to hit the slopes here!
While it isn’t Venice, Otaru City in Hokkaido prefecture has a very attractive canal. The century-old canal was historically used by ships carrying cargo into the city, but now the warehouses that line it have been converted into restaurants and even a museum. The canal side pathway is a popular spot for evening strolls, even in the Japan winter months, as the romantic gas lantern that light up the area make the atmosphere beautiful and mysterious.
Its canal is not the only thing about this Hokkaido port city that attracts visitors either. The Otaru Snow Light Path Festival is an enchanting event that takes place in the city every February. Thousands of candles are lit all around the city and hundreds of lanterns are floated on the canal. It’s an absolutely mesmerizing sight that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.
