You may think that the best time to visit Japan is during cherry blossom season from March to April but then you’d be missing out on the amazing winter activities that the country has to offer. There are fewer crowds for one, but it is the magical snow-covered landscapes, heartwarming comfort foods, soothing hot springs, and the chance to have a quieter and more authentic experience that truly seals the deal to travel during the colder months—just make sure to pack plenty of warm clothes!
Here’s your guide to planning a winter vacation in Japan.
Hokkaidō is a popular destination for skiing and snowboarding in winter, thanks to its abundant powder and top resorts like Niseko, Rusutsu and Furano. Sapporo, Hokkaidō’s main city, is famous for its beer, ramen and the annual Sapporo Snow Festival. The latter is a wintertime extravaganza that draws millions of visitors every year. The 400-odd snow and ice statues are built at Ōdōri Park and an amazing light show is projected onto the building-sized sculptures at night. The shows start as soon as it gets dark and run for roughly five to ten minutes each. Large trees are also decorated, and there are sculptures lit up throughout the park. The festival is held for a week in early February, but sculpting begins up to a month beforehand. Remember to bring some nonslip winter shoes or boots, or buy some strap-on spikes from a convenience store.
Founded on the site of a former silver mine in rural Yamagata prefecture, the Ginzan Onsen area caters to discerning guests with a taste for an old-world atmosphere. Traditional inns line the Ginzan River to create picturesque scenes more evocative of a Taishō period (1912-26) novel than a modern resort. The area is a car-free town centre with no modern buildings in sight. The sight of the buildings blanketed in snow and illuminated by the soft glow of gaslights leaves a lasting impression. Stroll along the river, visit Shirogane Park, take an outdoor rotenburo bath or enjoy a private kashikiri soak while you're here.
Every year between late January and late February, a makeshift village of 15 to 20 kamakura (snow domes) is created just north of Iiyama city. The huts are made by hardening ice and then hollowing out the inside. The Kamakura Village Restaurant is open to travellers who want to dine in their own kamakura so reservations are a must. Keep warm with a serving of noroshi nabe, a speciality of the Nagano prefecture. This hearty hot pot is made with shinshu miso, Miyuki pork, and locally grown mushrooms and vegetables. Enjoy live music and don’t leave before nightfall as lanterns light up the kamakura—a truly magical sight. The grounds here are also great for snow riding and sledding.
Just over two hours from Tokyo are the icicles of Chichibu, one of Japan’s unmissable winter experiences. As the weather gets cold, huge, beautiful icicles form in three different locations around this city in Saitama prefecture, turning plants, rocks and cliff surfaces into a shimmering icy spectacle. The magnificent icicles of Misotsuchi form along the Arakawa River, a 40-minute drive southwest of central Chichibu, and are created by spring water flowing out of the rock surface. The colder it gets, the larger the icicles grow, reaching a height of 8 metres and a width of 30 metres. The best time to visit is from mid-January to mid-February. On some evenings, you can also enjoy an illumination display.
The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route rises through rugged terrain to the heart of Japan's Northern Alps. Opening in mid-April and closing at the end of November, this alpine route offers seasonal highlights such as the “snow corridor” with its snow walls up to 20 metres tall, and beautiful fall foliage when the Tateyama range is ablaze with reds and yellows. This unique and spectacular journey through Japan's Northern Alps is so high it's often called the “roof of Japan.” At the mid-point of the 37.2-kilometre Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is Murodō, a volcanic plateau which is home to both Japan's highest altitude hotel and transit station. Wander through the towering snow walls, jump onto a cable car and view the magic of Toyama from up top. Don’t miss the 186-metre-high Kurobe Dam, Japan's tallest reservoir. Climb the 220 steps from the Kurobe Dam Station to the observation deck for panoramic views of the surroundings.
Japan boasts numerous peaks ideal for winter snow sports due to the ample powder. Most Tokyo-based travellers head to Nagano prefecture for convenient skiing accessibility. Hakuba is the most popular ski resort there as it has more than 200 runs. Unsurprisingly though, no place can outcompete Hokkaidō when it comes to snow sports. You can go on snowmobile tours of the island, try your hand at dog-sledding, and snowboard and ski at places like Niseko and Rusutsu. You can also consider the Biwako Valley in Shiga prefecture for half pipe, slalom course, mogul runs and sledding experiences for skiers and snowboarders of all levels.
Many traditional festivals and events take place in the winter, transforming the harsh winter days and dark winter nights into a fun and warm celebration. Besides the aforementioned Sapporo Snow Festival, you can attend the 1,250-year-old Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri (naked man festival) where thousands of men wearing loincloths gather at Owari Ōkunitama-jinja Shrine in Aichi city to pray for good luck. The festival takes place annually on the thirteenth day of the lunar calendar, so it always changes dates in February or March. There's also the Iwate Snow Festival, one of Tōhoku’s prominent winter festivals. There are displays of snow sculptures, entertaining stage performances, fun maze experiences and snow slides that visitors can enjoy. Stalls serving hot local food and beverages keep the body warm during the cold winter. The Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival takes place in Aomori prefecture where a few hundred snow lanterns, kamakura and snow sculptures are built by artistic locals and even members of Japan's Self-Defense Forces.
On the first day of the new year, many locals head to a temple or shrine to pray for good fortune and success in the coming year. Known as hatsumōde, this ritual practice is a great way to celebrate the holiday, as most other attractions will be closed during this time. Choose from the Heian-jingū Shrine and the Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine of Kyōto City, Tokyo’s Meiji-jingū Shrine, and Ōsaka’s Sumiyoshi-taisha Shrine for their serene ambience and refreshing beauty.
In addition to the Ginzan Onsen, consider visiting the Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma prefecture for its 19 public baths and the Kurokawa Onsen in Kumamoto prefecture, a short drive from Mount Aso. The latter is a charming town full of well-preserved traditional architecture and phenomenal outdoor baths. We also recommend a visit to the Shibu Onsen in Nagano prefecture because of its historic buildings, traditional atmosphere, and proximity to the Shiga-kōgen ski area and Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, where you can see Japanese macaques soaking in the hot springs.
Although Lake Shikotsu is known as Japan's northernmost ice-free lake, there are some spots along the lakeside that freeze during the coldest months of winter. Experience the full depth of Hokkaidō’s winter here while staying warm and dry in a dry suit. The wintertime stillness and quiet of the frozen lake can only be experienced first-hand. Dare to jump through the lake's icy surface, float on an ice floe or get buried up to your neck in snow.
There are direct flights from New Delhi to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT) and Haneda Airport (HND). Indian nationals can apply for a Japanese tourist visa (valid for up to 90 days) from the VFS Global website.