While the harshness of winter varies by location, a warm winter jacket is a necessity regardless of where you're traveling, During the New Year's holidays, most restaurants and attractions shut down. As a result of what I’ve just written, another top choice for what to do in Japan in winter is snow photography, which is more difficult than you might expect. 雪遊び（ yuki asobi ） – playing in the snow. We have compiled a guide of useful information for people planning to visit Japan during winter. Likewise, there are certain winter animals you should probably avoid, most notably the bears that are endemic in many parts of Japan. What is Japan like in the winter? Meanwhile, in Osaka , over two million people visit Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine to welcome the New Year. Winter starts from December to February. That’s the bad news. 初雪 ( hatsu yuki) – the first snow of the season. From my first moments of winter in Tokyo at the end of last month, the magic of this understated, underrated season began to reveal itself. To be sure, while seeing Okinawa’s unique species of cherry blossoms is a pretty singular experience, you shouldn’t be expecting beach time on Tokashiki Island or at Kabira Bay on Ishigaki. The idea is that you sit cross-legged with the quilt over your knees to warm up your … I’ll not only ensure you avoid the mistakes I made during my first Japan winter itinerary—I’ll guide you toward the transcendental experiences that have now define winter in Japan for me. They will just be cold and maybe wet. What Are The Winter Months In Japan? Travelers in Kyushu should consider a visit to Kurokawa Onsen , a short drive from the famous volcano Mt. Okinawa is like Hawaii, all blue seas and palm trees and stuff, while Hokkaido has mountains of snow higher than your head. Although spring and autumn are more popular seasons among locals and tourists, travelling to Japan in winter also holds promising sights to see and activities to do. As December comes to an end, the Japanese take a long-deserved holiday, returning to their hometowns and reuniting with their extended families to see in the New Year. Most Tokyo-based travelers head to nearby Nagano for the great skiing and convenient accessibility. 9 years ago. The official New Year's ceremony is held at 6 a.m. on January 1. For example, while Japan in January is usually below freezing (especially in Hokkaido, where it can dip below -20ºC, and the Tohoku region), I’ve found that places like Kansai and Shikoku can be comparatively balmy during this period, with highs around 10ºC or even higher. With the The climate of Japan is cold in the north (where snow and ice dominate in winter), temperate in the central regions, and almost tropical on the small southern islands. There are some delicious winter foods Japan traditionally serves up during the cold season only. Fuji reflected in the waters of Lake Kawaguchi), even if it’s prohibitively expensive for the majority of travelers. Aso. As you search for things to do in Hokkaido in winter (or even Tohoku, as the case may be), the majority of places you find are going to relate to skiing. The drift ice is one of them (Ryuhyo in Japanese). The cold weather from Japan’s winter climate is creeping in and many foreigners start wondering why Japanese homes are so cold. Certainly, it’s an interesting choice, is not a completely enjoyable one! Certain parts of Japan can be cold and snowy well into the spring—the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route just north of the Japanese Alps, for example, doesn’t even open for traffic until mid-April! For many travelers, the country ’ s winter season—and, not surprisingly, depending upon in. 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