Best things to do in Japan in winter

A cold-season holiday to Japan might be synonymous with skiing and snowboarding, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Here are 10 top things to do in Japan in winter.

Words by Rob Goss for Escape.com.au

1. Visit Shirakawa-go

With its steeply thatched gassho-zukuri farmhouses and bucolic setting, the village of Shirakawa-go, in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, looks like something from a fairytale. It’s especially pretty when covered in metres of snow in winter.

You could visit on a day trip from nearby Takayama city, but for a far more immersive experience in this carefully preserved time capsule of a village, book a night in one of the farmhouses.

2. Walk on drift ice

Shiretoko, a Unesco World Heritage Natural Site in the far northeast of Hokkaido, is known for its wild, natural beauty, which in winter includes drift ice flowing offshore. From February to late March, you could sign up for one of Gojiwaira Kanko’s drift ice tours, where you’ll put on a buoyant dry suit and follow a guide across the ice, stopping every so often to plunge into the freezing water.

These start in the hot-spring town of Utoro, the ideal place to warm up with a night at a traditional ryokan inn and long soaks in natural onsen baths.

3. Try snowshoeing in Nagano

With major skiing and snowboarding resorts like Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen, Nagano Prefecture is a big winter destination. Away from the slopes, it also offers multiple opportunities for snowshoeing.

In Norikura Kogen, for example, North Star offers a half-day or full-day trek through a snowy highland plateau to frozen waterfalls, while in Shiga Kogen, guides at the Nature Conservation Centre run a variety of forest and mountain snowshoe tours in English.

4. Do Hokkaido differently

Arguably the most famous winter destination in Japan, Niseko in Hokkaido has become super-popular with Australians. There are, however, great alternatives in Hokkaido. One option is Rusutsu Ski Resort, 20km away, which has nearly 40 runs spread over its three mountains, but also offers back-country and heli-skiing experiences.

Or you could ski while staying in Sapporo, Hokkaido’s biggest city. West of the city centre, the Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort has seven runs operating from late November through to March, the longest of which stretches for 3.6km.

5. Sapporo Snow Festival

Speaking of Sapporo, that’s where you’ll find one of Japan’s standout winter events, the Sapporo Snow Festival, held over eight days in February (February 4-11 in 2026). Taking place across several venues, it’s centred on giant snow sculptures created by teams from around the world and local groups, but the event also has food stalls and attractions like snow slides.

If you want to go, just book a room well in advance – close to two million people visit the event every year and hotels fill up quickly.

6. Get some Fuji views

If you’re spending time in Tokyo, consider a side trip for up-close views of Japan’s tallest peak, 3776m Mount Fuji. You can’t climb Fuji in winter (the climbing season is July to September), but in Kawaguchiko you can stay at ryokan inns with open-air baths that deliver great views of the snow-covered peak.

Nearby, a less calming alternative is to see Fuji whizzing by as you ride the roller-coasters of Fuji-Q Highland amusement park – although it has attractions for small kids, too.

7. Ski with Zao’s snow monsters

Mount Zao in Yamagata Prefecture, just over three hours north of Tokyo by train then bus, is one of the Tohoku region’s top winter destinations, thanks in part to its high-quality powder, varied runs, range of accommodation, and natural hot-spring baths.

What also make these slopes stand out are the juhyo (snow monsters) lining many of the runs. Like an army of gnarly white giants, these evergreen conifers accumulate a coating of rime ice from December to February, creating one of the most distinctive winter sights in Japan.

8. See the bathing snow monkeys

The sight of red-faced macaques soaking in the hot-spring baths of Jigokudani Yaen-koen, snow falling all around, has become a famous winter image of Japan. If you want to see them, make the most of the trip to Nagano by spending a night at nearby Shibu Onsen.

This quaint hot-spring town is home to a collection of lovely old ryokan inns, plus nine public baths that are open to overnight guests. Your ryokan will lend you a traditional yukata gown and geta sandals that you can wear around town, and give you a special towel that you can have stamped at each bathhouse. It makes for a unique souvenir.

9. Explore off-season Kyoto

When discussions about overtourism come up in Japan, Kyoto is invariably in the mix. But visit in February and March and you’ll avoid the worst of the crowds.

With cool weather and mostly clear skies, it’s a great time of year to hop between World Heritage sites, such as the gilt Kinkaku-ji temple and the torii-lined pathways of Fushimi Inari shrine, or slowly take in non-touristy parts of the city. You’ll find better deals on hotels, too.

10. Eat winter food

As one of the world’s best culinary destinations, you can’t come to Japan and not indulge in the local food. For something warming in winter, Hokkaido’s soup curry and miso ramen are two dishes not to miss.

You’ll also find nabe (hotpots) around Japan, including plenty of places in Tokyo’s Ryogoku neighbourhood serving chanko nabe, the hearty hotpot eaten by sumo wrestlers. Japan also has certain produce that comes to the fore in winter – from strawberries and mikan (satsuma mandarins) to highly prized crabs and potentially deadly puffer fish.

This article originally appeared on Escape.com.au as Best things to do in Japan in winter.