A lady walking in the snow in Tokyo with big text "Japan: but it's cold"

Everybody goes to Japan for cherry blossoms and fall foliage. So why not shake things up by going during the winter shoulder season?

Japan is AMAZING all year round, even during the winter months. Sure it’s a little colder, but there’s still plenty to do.

Plus it’s usually way cheaper since most people wait for warmer weather (and the hot ramen tastes better). Seriously, go check out the airfare prices!

So in this post, I’m sharing some of my favorite things to do in Japan during the winter months (and why you should totally visit during this season).

Let’s do this!

Table of Contents

Why Japan In the Winter STILL Kicks Ass

I love Japan in the winter. I might be slightlyyyyy biased here though (I love snowboarding…). But still, there’s tons to do and some seriously compelling reasons to travel here during this season.

Here’s why you should consider traveling to Japan during the winter:

Less crowds
It’s cheaper
Japanese snow is beautiful
Helps with seasonal overtourism
There’s still plenty to do (more on this later)
Hot ramen and nabe tastes better when it’s cold

Explore more:
➤ Best Times to Visit Japan
➤ Tokyo In the Fall (what to do)

What to Do In Japan During the Winter

Snowboarding/Skiing

Japan skiing and snowboarding is AMAZING. There are tons of resorts and the snow is incredible. The Japanese ski town vibe is also different.

In a lot of ways, it’s similar to back in the US (I usually ride the midwest or Colorado) but cheaper and less Western-style Après-ski.

Cheaper lift tickets, hot ramen or katsu and staying at a traditional Japanese inn (fully equipped with an onsen) are a few unique points.

Plus, it’s pretty simple to get to these spots from Tokyo. You can take a cheap overnight bus (or a train) from Tokyo and either spend the day or grab a hotel for the night.

Nagano is pretty close to Tokyo, which makes it easier (especially if you’re spending time doing other things for your trip). Otherwise, you can explore places like Niigata, Yamagata or all the way up north in Hokkaido (Niseko is famous).

And don’t worry about bringing any gear, you can usually rent everything for pretty cheap (including jackets and pants).

Just make sure you grab some travel insurance before you go! I use SafetyWing, which is super affordable and works like a convenient subscription plan that you can turn on and off anytime you want (you may need to grab an adventure sports add-on though).

Snow Monkeys

I mean, who doesn’t want to watch snow monkeys take a bath in the middle of a Japanese forest?

Jigokudani Yaen-Koen is the famous snow monkey park in Nagano and sits about an hour and a half from Tokyo by train. Keep in mind though that there’s also a 30-40 minute hike after you arrive just to get to the snow monkey area. So make sure you pack the right clothes and dress for winter hiking.

And if you’re already in Japan, check out Uniqlo and grand some of their HEATTECH inner wear to stay extra warm.

But if you’re feeling adventurous and looking for some winter nature in Japan, this is unique experience for sure.

Hot Springs

You probably already know this, but Japan is famous for its hot springs (or ‘onsen’ in Japanese). And the best time of year to visit them is in the winter (or any cooler month really——but especially the winter).

You can opt for a more expensive private onsen resort or check out the public baths.

Just be sure to read up on some basic Japanese onsen etiquette before you jump in.

Here are a few popular onsen spots to start your search:

Minakami Onsen, Gunma
Nyuto Onsen, Akita
Hakone, Kanagawa
Kusatsu Onsen, Gunma
Atami/Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka

Indoor Stuff

Japan (especially Tokyo) has tons of indoor things to do.

Shopping, food, movies, shows, venues, calligraphy workshops, soba making classes…you will not run out of things to do.

Alternatively, the winter time is the perfect excuse to travel slower and be a little lazy. Because honestly, who says you need to hustle when you’re on vacation?

You might also want to double think about hotel location when it’s super cold. Especially since it’s shoulder season (i.e. it’ll be cheaper), grabbing a place that’s closer to the action is smart.

Explore more:
➤ Unique Things to Do In Tokyo

Photography

I LOVE the way Japan looks when it’s covered in snow. Especially Tokyo, which gets at least one decent snow storm every year. There's something romantic and almost eery about the busiest city in the world getting quietly blanketed in snow.

I usually go for a light jog/walk around my place during Tokyo snow storms.

Japanese snow is perfect if you have any interest in photography at all. The vibe and aesthetics of a snowy Tokyo/Japan are unmatched.

And you don’t need a fancy camera. The smartphone works.

Cafes

Tokyo has SO MANY amazing cafes. And winter is the perfect time to explore them.

I love spending my afternoons at a cafe in the middle of Tokyo with my laptop. I usually do some writing, but I also like to sketch or make some digital art too. It’s all super chill. Honestly, I don’t even care if the coffee tastes bad, the vibe is everything.

I even go to Starbucks a lot in Tokyo (yep…true story). But whatev✌️er, they have a “one more coffee” special, so you can get a second cup *of black coffee the same day at any Starbucks in the city.

My cafe choice usually comes down to one thing: I just want a place where I can comfortably set up shop and tinker on my computer while people watching for a couple hours.

Alright, that’s all I’ve got for this list. But lemme know in the comments what you like to do during your winter travels!

Later ✌️

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