Winter travel to Japan is a unique experience for all types of tourists. How to enjoy winter in Japan to the fullest, what to do in japan in winter, where to go in japan in winter? Let’s check out our japan winter travel blog with the list of 13+ best places to visit in japan in winter and best things to do in japan in winter. Please refer to this article.
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Japanese ski slopes have become famous tourist destinations for tourists around the world. Not just simply skiing, winter in Japan also has countless interesting activities and diverse new experiences that you should try once when coming to this country. Let’s explore with us about the activities that make your winter more memorable!
When does winter start in Japan?
Winter in Japan starts from December to February. During these months, the air is cold but fresh, with daytime temperatures ranging from 10-12 degrees Celsius and nighttime temperatures from 2-5 degrees Celsius. Winter nights bring the scene of fields and mountains covered in white snow, creating a beautiful and romantic scene. Winter in Japan will definitely bring you unforgettable experiences.
Besides Tokyo, Osaka or other famous Japanese tourist destinations, Nagano is also a great winter destination in the Land of the Rising Sun. If the above information has made you eager to travel to Japan in winter, then read more interesting suggestions for this trip below.
Best things to do in Japan in winter: Visit Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
Snow Monkey Tour from Tokyo with Beef Sukiyaki Lunch
Visit Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in Nagano and watch the adorable monkeys playing here. You will be amazed to see these cute monkeys bathing and playing in the cold winter weather. In addition, spring is their breeding season, if you visit Nagano at the end of the ski season, you can even see baby monkeys being born!
These snow monkeys are also very tame and are used to visitors admiring their playful ways. Visitors also find it very interesting to see these monkeys active and living their daily lives in the hot spring area.
1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano
To make your winter trip more interesting, you can combine the Nagano Snow Monkey Park and Zenko-ji Temple day tour when booking tickets on Klook. Not only will you explore and play with the lovely snow monkeys, you will also visit Zenko-ji Temple—one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in Japan. This is also the place where the first Buddha statue was brought to Japan in the 6th century.
On this trip, you will also have a chance to enjoy a cup of sake – Japan’s signature and iconic alcoholic beverage – right next to the temple.
Enjoy Special Soba Noodles
If you are a noodle lover, don’t forget to enjoy the delicious soba noodles on your winter trip to Japan. Soba noodles were born in Nagano Prefecture thanks to the abundant fresh water and good soil of Nagano, and the barley used to make soba noodles from this area is considered to be of superior quality. Soba noodles can be eaten cold with soba sauce (tsuyu) or hot with broth.
JR East Nagano / Niigata Area Pass
Togakushi Day Tour:Hands-on Soba Noodles,Ninja Village,Hidden Shrine
If you want to enjoy the best Shinshu soba in Nagano, go to Kaya restaurant. This restaurant is one of the oldest restaurants in town (250 years old) and has a very unique flavor. Order Shinshu soba with dashi stock, grated daikon and green onions – guaranteed delicious and a must-try hot dish this winter!
Would You Dare to Try Horse Sashimi?
5G Japan SIM (Japan Airport Pick Up) Unlimited Data
Believe it or not, horse sashimi is a Nagano prefecture specialty and is said by many to help prolong life. It is often called Sakura Niku (cherry blossom meat) because of its pink color and rich, savory flavor. It is also low in fat but high in protein and best served on ice (for preservation) with soy sauce, wasabi or garlic!
One place to try this local specialty is at Shin Miyoshi in Matsumoto, which has been serving horse sashimi for over 100 years.
Visit a Sake Brewery in Nagano
There is nothing like the smell of white rice and fermented mash to start the day. For all sake lovers, a tour of the Masumi Brewery in Nagano is a must-do! The tour is held on weekday mornings so you can see the artisans at work.
Takayama Special Food and Sake Factory Tour
Guides will take you around the brewery’s facilities and learn about the different stages of making high-quality sake by getting up close and personal with the brewers as they work. And the best part is that you’ll end the tour by enjoying some of the famous sake!
Daio Wasabi Farm in Azumino
Wasabi is the essence of Japanese cuisine and culture. Visiting a wasabi farm to see how it grows from the ground and goes into tiny packets at a sushi shop is a fun experience, isn’t it?
Just 30 minutes by train from Matsumoto, Daio Wasabi Farm in Azumino is the best place to experience the entire process of making wasabi—from root to paste—and even get a chance to learn how to pickle it yourself. The farm will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a painting, with its lush greenery filling the space, cooling your soul on a winter day.
JR Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Pass
It also offers wasabi-flavored ice cream, beer, and sausages, which are sure to please the palates of wasabi fans and lovers!
Best things to do in winter in Japan: Visit a Miso Fermentation Factory in Matsumoto
Return to Matsumoto and visit the miso factory, where rows upon rows of cedar barrels will welcome you inside. Witness the intricate fermentation process of Japanese miso and learn the secrets behind its delicious taste that has been around for over 150 years.
Kamikochi & Matsumoto Castle One Day Tour from Nagano/Matsumoto
Witness how soybeans, koji, and salt are mixed and fermented in cedar barrels, and compare freshly made miso and brewed miso. And just when you start to crave it, enjoy a hearty meal of the factory’s creamy miso. But remember to leave room for the soft miso dessert here!
Snowmobile Experience with Bibai Snow Land
If you travel to Japan in the winter, you must experience Bibai Snow Land in Hokkaido. This place has countless exciting snow activities for you and your family to experience together. You can join a snowmobile tour around the park’s seven ponds, snowshoe, snow raft, and many more.
Bibai Snow Land Experience in Hokkaido | Depart from Bibai Station
And there are countless interesting things waiting for you at Bibai Snow Land, save this activity to experience this winter in Japan!
Spend the Weekend at Noboribetsu Sanlaiva Ski Resort
Noboribetsu Sanlaiva Ski Resort Combo Ticket in Hokkaido
For those who love skiing, you will definitely love the Noboribetsu Sanlaiva ski experience in Hokkaido. This is the perfect destination for beginners and experienced skiers.
Hokkaido Noboribetsu Must-See Day Trip
With this package, you will enjoy 7 hours of snowshoes, skis, ski poles, sleds, etc. Get ready to glide down the snow-covered slopes in your snowsuit and feel the cool breeze caressing your skin. The ski resort is also located near many hotels and hot springs for you to soak in after a long day of fun!
Experience Winter Paragliding SKY BLUE in Nagano
SKY BLUE Paragliding Experience in Nagano from Hakuba
If you are traveling to Japan in the winter and want to find a new experience and challenge yourself, you must try the winter paragliding experience in Nagano from Hakuba.
On this trip, you will see the beauty of the Hakuba Alps. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to fly, because there will be a professional guide flying with you and giving you detailed instructions. Whether you choose the morning or afternoon flight, be prepared to be amazed by the wonderful scenery of the snow-capped mountains in Nagano.
This is definitely an activity that thrill seekers must try in winter Japan.
Make Your Own Music Box in Nagano
An extremely healing and extremely healing experience for those who are looking for a winter trip to Japan. You will be able to make your own music box.
In the experience at the Nidek Suwanone Music Box Museum, you will learn how to make and design your own music box with the guidance of professional staff. There are over 670 songs to choose from, and the process only takes 40 to 50 minutes, but once you’re done, you’ll have a unique, one-of-a-kind music box to keep or give as a gift to a loved one this winter.
Let the soothing music bring a healing experience to your winter trip to Japan.
Recharge Your Energy with an Onsen Bath
After a winter skiing and traveling trip to Japan, there’s nothing better than relaxing in a hot spring town and soaking in the warm, soothing waters. You’ll instantly feel your tired muscles soothed, and your spirit lifted. With many volcanoes in Japan, there are many hot springs available for you to choose from and soak in.
Yokohama Minatomirai Manyo Club Onsen Experience in Yokohama
Bathing in a hot spring is good for your health and can promote blood circulation. Nagano Prefecture is home to many hot springs, some of which are the freshest in Japan, flowing from the highest peaks. We recommend visiting Shirahone Onsen – a small town famous for its milky white hot springs with calcium and magnesium deposits.
Winter Illuminations at Biei Blue Pond and Shirasuga Falls
The Winter Illuminations at Biei Blue Pond and Shirasuga Falls will be a memorable experience for nature lovers and those who want to explore the unique beauty of Hokkaido, Japan.
Blue Pond is located in Biei town, a 40-minute drive from Furano and an hour from Asahikawa. Blue Pond is not a natural creation, but instead was formed by a dam after the volcanic eruption of Mount Tokachi. The color of the pond changes with the seasons and weather.
Furano & Biei Blue Pond & Shikisai-no-oka Day Tour｜Departure from Sapporo
Also not far away is Shirahige Falls, less than a 5-minute drive away in the hot spring town of Shirogane Onsen. You will have the opportunity to participate in a special light-up event at Biei Blue Pond and Shirasuga Falls. This event takes place in winter, when the lights sparkle on the surface of the pond and the waterfall, creating a magical and unique scene. Don’t miss the chance to participate and immerse yourself in the special beauty of Japanese winter.
Shirakawa Winter Light Festival 2026
“Shirakawa Winter Light Festival” becomes enchantingly beautiful when night falls, at this time thousands of ancient houses are illuminated by lights and turn the whole space into a magical fairyland. You will have a moment of “mouth in A, eyes in O” when witnessing the breathtaking beauty of this ancient town.
Takayama and Shirakawa-go Day Tour from Nagoya
For those who are fascinated by this fairy tale village, in 2025 there will be 4 lighting events, and you need to book tickets in advance to participate. The landscape with traditional villages covered in white snow creates a romantic and mysterious picture that cannot be missed.
- Festival dates: January 12, January 18, January 25, and February 1, 2026
- Time: 17:30 – 19:30
- Location: Ogimachi Village, Shirakawa-go, Gifu Prefecture
- Reservations: Required for entry, and walk-ins are not permitted.
Enjoying winter travel to Japan not only helps you relax and heal your soul after a hard-working year. This trip also opens up many opportunities for you to better understand the culture, cuisine and lifestyle of the Japanese people. Of course, photography lovers will have a great trip because winter in Japan brings a beautiful white snow scene.
Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Tokyo you can refer to
- Mt Fuji & Hakone Day Tour: Lake Ashi & Ropeway Day Trip from Tokyo
- Nikko Cultural Day Tour from Tokyo
- Tokyo Subway Ticket (24, 48, or 72 Hours)
- Shuttle Bus Transfers (One Way/Round Trip) from Shinjuku/Ikebukuro to Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea
- Tokyo Disney Resort Park Ticket
- Klook Pass Greater Tokyo
- SHIBUYA SKY Ticket
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter Ticket
- Skyliner Narita Airport Express Ticket
- TeamLab Planets Ticket
- TOKYO SKYTREE® Ticket
- Limousine Bus Narita or Haneda Airport to Tokyo
- Skyliner Narita Airport Express With Tokyo Subway Ticket
- JR Tokyo Wide Pass
- Sky Hop-on and Hop-off Bus Pass
- 4G Prepaid Sim Card (JP Airports Pick Up) for Japan
- JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)
Are you looking for more Tokyo travel guide and top things to do in Tokyo: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Tokyo itinerary 3 days — What to do in Tokyo in 3 days?
