Why should you visit Japan in winter?

Japan is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world. In each season, the Land of the Rising Sun attracts with its own beauty. From the red leaves to the cherry blossoms, each time you visit you can enjoy Japan in a different way. Despite the cold, visiting Japan in winter is an exciting time to explore this island nation. Here are the reasons to visit the Land of the Rising Sun in winter.

Ice fishing

Wakasagi tsuri or “ice fishing” is extremely popular during winter in Japan. It is a fascinating and exciting cultural experience for visitors brave enough to brave the harsh cold.

Normally, to experience wakasagi tsuri, people will set up tents on the surface of the ice lake, dig a round hole about 15-20 cm in diameter and use a fishing rod with a special line. Fishermen here do not need any kind of fishing license. However, some places may require the purchase of a license. In addition, Japanese seafood is also among the freshest in the world, so when coming here in winter, this is an activity you should definitely try.

Snowy landscape

While many tourists feel like visiting Japan in the spring to see cherry blossoms, they should not miss the winter with its beautiful scenery like a fairyland. The snow-capped mountains, everything from trees to temples, bridges, houses... all are hidden under a layer of white snow, creating a spectacular landscape.

Less crowded

People often flock to Japan during cherry blossom season. Therefore, most international tourists often choose to travel during this time, which means this is the peak season with crowded tourist attractions, hotels are easily full and prices are also high... On the contrary, if avoiding crowds is one of your travel criteria, winter is the right time to visit famous tourist attractions in Japan.

Winter sports

For those who love skiing, snowboarding... Japan is a great choice for a winter holiday. Hokkaido and Nagona are home to some of the best winter sports destinations in the country. Even more special are the fully equipped ski resorts, providing exciting, new and memorable experiences.

Holidays in Japan

There are many unique traditional holidays celebrated during the winter in Japan. New Year's Eve is especially fun in Japan as you can join in the festivities and eat Toshi Koshi soba on New Year's Eve with the belief that "life will last as long as soba noodles". Another notable winter holiday in Japan is Seijin no Hi or "Coming of Age Day". This day marks the turning of young people into 20 years old and is celebrated with great fanfare all over Japan.

Hot spring bath

Soaking in a hot spring is an experience that tourists cannot miss when visiting Japan in the winter. Onsens are usually resorts built around Japanese hot springs and are like the perfect relaxing oasis for you to immerse yourself in nature. However, visitors should also note, be ready to strip because onsens require visitors to be completely naked.

Seasonal cuisine

Japanese cuisine is very diverse and in winter, visitors can enjoy a variety of hot dishes to warm their stomachs in the harsh cold. Some outstanding dishes include ramen noodles, oden, okayu porridge, nabemono hot pot or famous winter street snacks yakiimo (grilled sweet potato), nikuman (meat dumplings)...

Sapporo Snow Festival

For visitors to Japan in February, you should add a stop at the Sapporo Snow Festival to your itinerary. Here, tourists can enjoy many snow carvings with famous characters such as Hello Kitty, Rilakkuma... In addition to cool ice blocks, the Sapporo Snow Festival also has an ice bar, ice skating rink, food stalls and live entertainment.

Visit the Snow Monkey Park

Jigokudani Monkey Park, also known as Snow Monkey Park, is open to visitors all year round. These monkeys can be found in Nagano and survive the cold winter temperatures by huddling together and hanging out in hot springs. If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you can easily reach the monkey park as a day trip from Tokyo.

Phuong Thao is the Editor of Travellive Magazine. She is passionate about traveling and loves to capture moments with her camera in every land she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are her favorite writing topics.

Phuong Thao