All About Winter in Japan
Japan is cold in winter and it is snowing in many places across the country. There is a unique beauty to the scenery, however, and there is a myriad of fun activities and delicious dishes that can only be enjoyed during this season. We have compiled a guide of useful information for people planning to visit Japan during winter.
Japan in Winter: Travel Tips 2023-2024
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Winter Temperatures in Japan
Winter in Japan generally lasts from December to February.
In Tokyo, December temperatures tend to be around 12ºC (54°F) in the afternoon and drop to about 5ºC (41°F) in the morning and at night.
By January, afternoon temperatures drop to 10ºC (50°F) and morning temperatures tend to hover between 2ºC - 3ºC (35°F - 37°F). In February, afternoon temperatures are about 10ºC - 11ºC (42°F - 50°F) while morning and evening temperatures fall to about 3ºC (37°F).
Tokyo winters are sunny with little rain or snow. The air is dry, with the humidity around this time generally staying at a constant 30%.
What to Wear? Recommended Winter Clothing
You will need a coat in December. On some days, gloves and scarves might come in handy.
In January and February, you will need a down jacket or a coat. You will definitely need gloves and a muffler too.
On windy days, it is a good idea to have a knit cap and earmuffs. If you plan to be outside for a long time on cloudy days or in the evenings, we recommend that you use disposable kairo (heating pads, also called pocket warmers) to protect your hands and feet from the cold.
The heating pads can be purchased at any convenience store, supermarket, and drugstore. A pack of 10 heating pads costs around 200 yen. In order to use them, you just need to open the pack. The iron sand contained in the pad will begin to heat up in contact with the oxygen in the air. The pad will stay warm from 8 to 12 hours.
Please keep warm by wearing proper clothes and drinking hot drinks. If you do catch a cold, stop by a drugstore such as Matsumoto Kiyoshi and get some medicine. Light medicine to soothe a sore throat or to treat a fever can be bought without a medical prescription. In case of high fever and severe coughing, it's recommended that you go to the hospital.
In order to describe your symptoms to the drugstore staff or a doctor, please use the Japanese phrases compiled in the following article.
It will be freezing outside but building interiors will be heated; it would be wise to layer your clothing so that you can take layers on and off when necessary.
The Highlights of Winter in Japan
1. Winter Illuminations
Winter illuminations are one of the distinctive features of this season in Japan. The cities and towns are decorated with beautiful lights from around the end of November to February.
In Tokyo, you can find beautiful illuminations around Tokyo Station, in Ginza and Yurakucho, as well as Ebisu and Roppongi. The wide parks located less than one hour away from Tokyo, such as Sagamiko Pleasure Forest and Ashikaga Flower Park, have been drawing the attention of thousands of visitors thanks to the innovative collaboration between light and nature.
In Osaka, the Nakanoshima Park Illumination has an exciting theme every year while Kobe's Illuminarie are famous worldwide for the scale and splendor of the lights. If you visit Japan in the winter, do check out some of the light-up events around the city!
2. New Year Celebrations
From around the beginning of December, you can feel everyone's anticipation of the New Year celebrations all around the cities and towns of Japan. The shops will be showcasing products for the New Year, such as auspicious osechi cuisine, New Year's decorations, New Year's greeting cards and lucky bags (fukubukuro) full of goods that can be bought at special discount prices.
If you spend the New Year in Japan, how about joining the crowds for the traditional New Year midnight shrine or temple visit?
In Tokyo, there are plenty of countdown parties and concerts held either in the open or in clubs and live music venues. The New Year's Fox Parade held in Oji, a town in the Kita ward of Tokyo, is increasingly popular, attracting participants from all around the country.
3. Beautiful Snow Scenery
When it comes to winter, natural scenery never fails to capture our hearts. The sight of entire vistas glittering white with freshly piled snow will both refresh and enthrall you.
However, such scenery cannot be enjoyed everywhere in Japan. In fact, in big cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka, snow is a rare sight.
Hokkaido is the first area to experience snowfall in Japan, with the first snowflakes drifting down in early November. The frozen Blue Pond in Biei and the drift ice in Abashiri are some of the splendid winter scenery in Hokkaido.
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In Aomori, Akita, and Iwate, snow begins to fall around mid-November, while in Yamagata, Miyagi, and Fukushima, it will start snowing in late November.
Ginzan Onsen, a famous hot spring town in Yamagata, or the snow monsters of Zao are some of the sights that shouldn't be missed in winter in northeastern Japan.
In Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Gifu (Takayama), and Nagano, it begins snowing in early December.
The Shirakawa-go Village or the hot spring resorts in Takayama is where you can enjoy idyllic winter scenery. You can visit these areas on bus tours from nearby major cities like Nagoya or Osaka.
All-Snow-Covered World of Shirakawago and Takayama Bus Tour from Nagoya
Even in regions where snow does not tend to pile up, you can find snowy landscapes if you head towards the mountains.
For example, snow is very rare in Kyoto itself but places like Kinkakuji Temple, Ginkakuji Temple, and Kifune Shrine are famous for their snowy backdrops in the winter. The combination of temples and gardens is particularly gorgeous, and many visitors come to Japan during wintertime just to enjoy these evocative scenes.
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4. Winter Sports and Snow Festivals
Japan is a mountainous country, which means it's an ideal environment for winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding, skating, and snow trekking.
You can find excellent ski resorts near Tokyo or you can enjoy a few days in Hokkaido, the most popular destination for exciting winter activities.
Gorgeous snow festivals are being held at various locations in eastern and northern Japan, like the Sapporo Snow and Ice Festival. They all contain extravagant displays of buildings and statues made completely out of snow and ice, which are illuminated at night, creating a wonderful landscape that can be enjoyed only during this season.
Each festival has various events that attract many visitors from all around the country. The tasty hot local dishes available at the yatai food stalls are themselves one of the attractions at these events.
5. Enjoy the Winter Scenery from a Hot Spring
Winter is also the best time to appreciate hot springs. There's nothing like warming up by taking a hot bath in thermal water. Moreover, many hot spring resorts in the mountains offer open-air baths with wonderful views.
Noboribetsu Onsen in Hokkaido, Manza Onsen in Gunma, or Nozawa Onsen in Nagano are just two of these places where you can enjoy the amazing experience of taking a bath while gazing at the snowy landscape outside.
Enjoy Your Winter Trip to Japan!
The Japanese winter is cold, but there are so many things that can only be enjoyed during this time: hot spring baths, hot pot dishes, snow-covered scenery, New Year events, and many more. Make sure to dress warmly and head out to experience everything that the season has to offer.
