13 Good Reasons to Visit Japan in The Winter

As a general rule of thumb, most people avoid traveling during winter. And yet, this can be a great season to visit Japan, if you know the right places to visit and the best things to do. If you’re not one of those people who only travel during the hot summer days, you will have a wonderful time visiting Japan during the winter months of December, January, and February. To help you find the winter travel of your dreams, I prepared a list of good reasons to visit Japan in the winter just for you.

Is Japan good to visit in December, January, and February?

Japan is a perfect country to visit during the winter because there will be fewer or no crowds at all. Also, you can enjoy the outdoor onsen (hot springs) surrounded by snow, as well as magnificent winter landscapes and some of the best festivals and winter illuminations in Japan.

Want to know more about these great reasons? All you need to know for the best winter travel in Japan is waiting for you in the next paragraphs!

No Crowds

If there’s something you should keep in mind, is that Japan is a very prized travel destination and, therefore, you should expect huge crowds in the most famous tourist spots. The good news is that this doesn’t happen during winter!

For some unknown reason, people don’t usually travel during wintertime, and most of the time they spend their long vacations during summer in some sort of well-known tropical island. (Speaking of which, you should probably try Japan’s southern islands like Okinawa for example)

What people don’t know is that winter can be a great choice for your vacations, especially if you know in advance all the amazing things you can see and do in Japan without having thousands of people around you.

Don’t get me wrong, visiting Japan is great all year round, but the huge crowds you have to face during spring and autumn can be a true challenge even for the best-motivated people. Some places, like those that are well-known tourist spots, are crowded when you try to visit them which can ruin a little your expectation of a great trip.

The pictures you’ll see everywhere that show you these beautiful places and no one around is usually taken first thing in the morning before the crowd arrives. Otherwise, you will find yourself taking pictures with lots of unknown people in them.

Visiting Japan during winter will avoid all this inconvenience. The weather will be cooler, but you can move freely and enjoy some sunny days too.

If you need to know more about the weather in Japan month by month to make your decision, you can read my previous article here.

Lower Prices

Another good reason to travel to Japan in December, January, or February is the lower prices. Indeed, since these months are not very researched, the prices are lower.

Japan works pretty much like any destination, if you travel during the low season, you get to avoid the higher prices. This concerns not only the flights but also the accommodations and certain activities that you might enjoy in Japan. For instance, certain parks or gardens have higher entrance fees when you visit during the cherry blossom season. So when you visit during winter, you avoid all these extra fees that can be annoying for your travel budget.

Just to give you an example, you can fly from Los Angeles to Tokyo from December 2nd to December 16th for less than $500 per person (round trip). And if you have flexible dates, you can try different ones and get the best offer, so this is worth considering when choosing the cheapest time to visit Japan.

Shirakawa-go Village

Shirakawa-go is a magnificent traditional village, located in the Gifu Prefecture, that is recognized as a World Heritage Site. This village is characterized by typical houses using a particular kind of construction. They are tall but narrow, with roofs that almost touch the ground due to heavy snowfalls during winter. These houses are masterpieces of the past, and even if some were converted into museums and guesthouses, many are still residences.

Even if this village can be visited at any time of the year, its beauty is largely amplified during winter. Snowy landscapes are naturally beautiful, but a small traditional village like this covered in snow is simply astonishing. I’ll bet you will take the best pictures to show on your Instagram. 🙂

I recommend visiting at least the Wada House, Kanda House, and Nagase House which are pretty amazing.

Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan, but also the most beautiful and the most famous. So going to Japan and not seeing Mount Fuji can be disappointing, but that happens a lot, especially in June when Mount Fuji is hidden by clouds.

The great advantage of traveling during winter is that you will have clear and sunny days (even with low temperatures) and you can see Mount Fuji. You can enjoy Mount Fuji either by climbing it or by admiring its beauty from far away. Unfortunately, for those willing to climb Mount Fuji up to the top, climbing is not possible during winter, but if you just want to admire its beauty, the best moment is during winter.

Some of the best spots to admire Mount Fuji are:

• Chureito Pagoda
• Urui River
• Lake Tanuki
• Lake Yamanaka
• Lake Kawaguchi
• Enoshima Island
• Tokyo Skytree

And for the best pictures of Mount Fuji, get to your favorite spot early in the morning or late afternoon. 😉

Jigokudani Monkey Park

The Jigokudani Monkey Park is a one-of-a-kind place to visit. Even if you can see the monkeys all year round, it’s better to visit during winter since the white landscape makes it much more beautiful. During hotter days, monkeys will still be there but is not as attractive as in winter. Also, the monkeys will be more likely to bathe in the hot waters when it is freezing outside.

There’s a trail that gets you to the park, which takes between 25 and 40 minutes depending on how fast you walk. There will be snow during winter so be careful and dress accordingly.

When you come back from the park, you might want to try the Kanbayashi Onsen near the beginning of the trail to warm you up and make you forget the freezing temperatures. 🙂

Snow Sports

Winter in Japan is also a synonym for snow and skiing. Several regions in Japan are great for snow sports like Aomori, Iwate, Niigata, but most importantly, the whole northern island of Hokkaido.

As a general rule, all the northern regions of Japan are great for skiing and have huge amounts of snow, so if you are a snow addict, you should book your trip to Japan for next winter.

Although not that frequent, you can also find some snow in the Tokyo region and if that doesn’t happen, you can always get on the shinkansen (japan’s bullet train) and visit the Nagano and the Niigata prefectures that are not that far from Tokyo. There are some excellent ski resorts like Happo One, Hakuba 47 & Goryu or Shiga Koen in Nagano and Myoko Akakura, Kagura or Gala Yuzawa in Niigata.

Winter Scenery

The winter views in Japan are pretty amazing, especially when there’s snow. Seeing all these incredible places in Japan covered with snow is a unique experience. Imagine how beautiful a temple can get when there’s snow everywhere. Even the red gates (torii) are more impressive with all the snow, as you can see in the picture above.

Japan is a country where there’s nature everywhere, even in cities. And when you combine nature with snow, the result couldn’t be any more spectacular. Going for a walk in a snowy park during a winter sunny day is an experience that will be recorded in your memory forever.

If you want to brag about your winter travel to Japan, you can take some of the best pictures while there’s snow and show them to your friends.

And you can also take the time to have some fun in the snow making some snowmen or even having a snowball fight. 🙂

Onsen

Another great thing you can do during winter is to bathe in a Japanese onsen. A Japanese onsen (温泉) is what we call a hot spring with water that is heated naturally. The water temperature in onsen is generally around 104 °F to 111 °F (40°C to 44°C).

When looking for an onsen, keep in mind that there are outdoor onsen (露天風呂) and indoor onsen (内湯), but during winter you will want to try an outdoor onsen. The reason why you want an outdoor onsen is just because they take the bathing experience to a new level, especially during winter. There is nothing more relaxing than a hot bath surrounded by snow and an amazing view. And also the cold temperatures outside make you enjoy even more the hot water.

Don’t get me wrong, you can bathe in an onsen during any other season, but during winter you’ll get a different experience and it is completely worth it.

There are more than 2,300 onsen in Japan so the choice is huge and you can find an onsen in every region. If you don’t have any idea of want onsen to try, here is a small list of some of the best onsen in Japan:

• Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma
• Hakone Onsen in Kanagawa
• Beppu Onsen in Oita
• Yufuin Onsen in Oita
• Kurokawa Onsen in Kumamoto
• Noboribetsu Onsen in Hokkaido
• Kinosaki Onsen in Hyogo
• Dogo Onsen in Ehime
• Fuji Kawaguchiko Onsen in Yamanashi
• Tsurunoyu Onsen in Akita

As you can see, the best onsen are spread throughout Japan so you will have the opportunity to try a good one almost anywhere.

Japanese Alps

The Japanese Alps, which include the Hida Mountains, the Kiso Mountains, and the Akaishi Mountains, are another excellent reason to visit Japan during the winter. If you love nature and enjoy looking at breathtaking views, these regions are the perfect place for you. And the best thing about winter is that they will be covered in snow.

If you plan on staying in central Japan, make sure you plan to visit some mountains nearby because they are beautiful. Other than seeing the Jigokudani Monkey Park or the Shirakawa-go village, in the Japanese Alps, you can also visit the famous Matsumoto Castle (one of the most beautiful castles in Japan), the Kamikochi National Park and the Kenroku-en Garden (one of the best gardens in Japan).

These are just some ideas of the best things to do in the Japanese Alps, but there are many more.

Hokkaido

In my opinion, to get the most out of winter in Japan, you have to get to the north. Hokkaido is the northernmost island of Japan and definitely, the best one to visit during the winter because most of the coolest activities are winter activities.

In Hokkaido, you will find the best winter festival in Japan, some of the greatest winter illuminations and winter fireworks. Another great activity to do in Hokkaido, if you have some time, is Drift Ice Sightseeing. You can get on a boat for a 1-hour ride and enjoy viewing all the drift ice.

If you need some ideas, here’s a small list of the best things to do in Hokkaido:

• Take a Hokkaido Day Tour from Sapporo (Asahiyama Zoo, Shirogane Blue Pond, Shirahige Falls) available at Klook.com
• Eat at one of Hokkaido’s greatest crab specialty restaurants available at Klook.com
• Take a Hokkaido Otaru Rickshaw Tour available at Klook.com

For more information about activities, please visit Hokkaido’s Official Tourism Website.

Winter Illuminations

Winter illuminations are some of the most amazing things to see in Japan during winter. Yes, you can see winter illuminations everywhere in the world, but the Japanese take things to the next level and turn what could be a normal illumination into something truly magical. And because winter illuminations in Japan became a sort of fierce competition between cities, the result it’s even more spectacular.

For me, some of the best winter illuminations in Japan that are worth the visit are:

• The Otaru Snow Light Path
• The Sapporo White Illumination
• The Ashikaga Flower Fantasy
• The Shiraito Falls Illumination
• The Nabana no Sato Winter Illumination

The Otaru Snow Light Path

This event takes place in the port city of Otaru on the Hokkaido island. It is held in February and it lasts for 10 days. The main illuminations can be seen in the canal and the old Temiya railway line, but is not uncommon to see lights all over the area. Other than the snow sculptures and lanterns, you will also be able to see the floating candles down the canal creating a beautiful, magical moment.

The Sapporo White Illumination

The winter illuminations start in late November in Sapporo and you will be able to see at least 3 iconic sites turn into magical places: Odori Park, Ekimaedori, and Minami-ichi-jo dori. The Odori Park holds the main event and it can be seen until late December. Ekimaedori Street will be illuminated until mid-February while Minami-ichi-jo dori Street will be illuminated until mid-March.

The Ashikaga Flower Fantasy

The Ashikaga Flower Fantasy is just 90 minutes away from Tokyo and it’s the perfect mix of astonishing Christmas lights (with over four million lights) and a remarkable laser show. This flower park is amazing all year round, but during the winter illumination it is even better. You will usually have 3 different kinds of light shows:

• The Light and Flower Collaboration from late October to mid-November
• The Christmas Fantasy from late November until Christmas
• The New Year Illumination from January 1st to February

The Shiraito Falls Illumination

The Shiraito Falls is a cool place to visit in the North of Karuizawa. Even if the Shiraito Falls is only 3 meters tall, its width is spectacular (70 meters), and it makes all the beauty of this place.

Don’t miss the Shiraito Midwinter Light Up event, which takes place from late December to early March, and it’s one of the most amazing things to see during the winter evenings in this area. It is just 2 hours and 30 minutes away from Tokyo if you pick the bullet train to Karuizawa station and then the bus to the Shiraito Falls stop.

The Nabana no Sato Winter Illumination

The Nabana No Sato Park is located in Nagashima in the Mie Prefecture. This park, which is already beautiful, becomes even more extraordinary between mid-October and early May during the winter illumination.

Winter illumination is not just a few lights here and there. Instead, the park will be covered with colorful lights everywhere (on the trees, on the ground, over the water pond…). They even make tunnels of light where you can pass and be completely immersed in this beauty.

Here’s a cool video of what to expect from the Nabana no Sato winter illumination. You’ll see that this is a place that is worth visiting.

https://youtu.be/MI4Rv3BX6DY

For more information on these and other winter illumination ideas in Japan visit the National Tourism Organization website.

Winter Festivals

As you probably already know, Japan has many festivals during the spring and summer, but winter is also a season for festivals. As a general rule of thumb, winter festivals feature snow and ice sculptures, illuminations and fireworks, and lots of food stalls with delicious food.

In my opinion, some of the best winter festivals in Japan are:

• The Sapporo Snow Festival
• The Asahikawa Winter Festival
• The Lake Shikotsu Hyoto Festival

The Sapporo Snow Festival

The Sapporo Snow Festival is the unmissable winter festival in Hokkaido that attracts millions of visitors every year. This festival takes place in early February and runs for a week. It has hundreds of snow and ice statues, and some of them are so huge that even Japanese soldiers have to help. The top 5 sculptures are usually the size of a building, so you can imagine the magnificence of this event. And it all gets even more magic when the night comes because the sculptures will be illuminated and you will enjoy breathtaking scenery.

The Asahikawa Winter Festival

The Asahikawa Winter Festival is the second-largest festival in the Northern island of Hokkaido. It takes place in February and it lasts for a week. There are lots of cool things to see everywhere, but make sure you don’t miss the ice sculptures along Heiwa-dori Street that are magically illuminated at night. This festival usually runs at the same time as the Sapporo Snow Festival, but it is less crowded.

The Lake Shikotsu Hyoto Festival

The Lake Shikotsu Hyoto Festival is held from late January to mid-February in Chitose (Hokkaido). While other festivals have sculptures that are carved in ice with precision, this one uses spraying water that freezes and creates massive natural sculptures.

For more information on these and other winter festival ideas in Japan visit the National Tourism Organization website.

Winter Fireworks

Fireworks by themselves are already a beautiful thing to see, but Japanese fireworks are simply astonishing.

Here are some great fireworks you can see during winter:

• Hakodate Fireworks
• Daisen Fireworks
• Lake Kawaguchi Winter Fireworks
• Lake Akan Ice Festival Fireworks

Hakodate Fireworks

The Hakodate fireworks festival runs in early February and lasts for 3 days. The fireworks take place at Hakodate’s bay but you can see them further away. Since there’s a chance of snow in February, some visitors might even get the chance to watch the fireworks while snowing.

Daisen Fireworks

Daisen is known as the fireworks capital of Japan because it has 3 big fireworks competitions that gather thousands of visitors. Even if the winter event that takes place in late March is as impressive as the one that takes place in the summer, there are fewer crowds during the winter.

Lake Kawaguchi Winter Fireworks

As you probably know, Lake Kawaguchi is one of the five Fuji lakes and if you add fireworks to the natural beauty of Mount Fuji, the result couldn’t be more amazing. This fireworks event takes place from mid-January to mid-February.

Lake Akan Ice Festival Fireworks

The Lake Akan Ice Festival takes place in Hokkaido from early February to early March. This event is held on the lake itself because the lake’s surface freezes during the winter. The fireworks are launched every night at 19:30.

For more information on these and other winter fireworks ideas in Japan visit the National Tourism Organization website.

I hope you liked all these ideas of what to see and do in Japan during winter and that you’re going to try at least some of them on your next trip to Japan. If you know some other good reasons to visit Japan in the winter, leave your thoughts in the comments below.