{"id":6972,"date":"2014-10-24T23:42:20","date_gmt":"2014-10-24T22:42:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/insidejapanblog.com\/?p=6972"},"modified":"2025-02-19T14:47:11","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T14:47:11","slug":"11-reasons-to-visit-japan-in-the-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2014\/10\/24\/11-reasons-to-visit-japan-in-the-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"11 reasons to visit Japan in the winter"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F6972&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F6972\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F6972&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F6972&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F6972%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F6972\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F6972\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p>In the autumn there are the turning leaves, in the summer there\u2019s hot sun and lush green landscapes, and in the spring there is (of course) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-culture\/cherry-blossom\/\">the famous cherry blossom<\/a>.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>When there are these wonderful seasons to travel to Japan, why choose to come in the bitter depths of winter? Well, I\u2019ll let you in on a secret: winter is actually the best time to travel to Japan.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29750\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29750\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-29750 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-eW7Gfu-UKiA-unsplash-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"People with umbrellas and rain gear during a snow storm in Shibuya\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-eW7Gfu-UKiA-unsplash-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-eW7Gfu-UKiA-unsplash-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-eW7Gfu-UKiA-unsplash-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-eW7Gfu-UKiA-unsplash-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-eW7Gfu-UKiA-unsplash-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-eW7Gfu-UKiA-unsplash-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-eW7Gfu-UKiA-unsplash-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-eW7Gfu-UKiA-unsplash-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-eW7Gfu-UKiA-unsplash-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-eW7Gfu-UKiA-unsplash-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-eW7Gfu-UKiA-unsplash-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-eW7Gfu-UKiA-unsplash-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-eW7Gfu-UKiA-unsplash.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29750\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong> Snow in Shibuya <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>OK \u2013 so the claim isn\u2019t unqualified. Winter in Japan has its attendant inconveniences, just like any other season. If you can\u2019t put up with cold weather, the chances are that winter in Japan is not for you. But if you\u2019re anything like me, the following reasons will be more than enough to persuade you that winter in Japan is the best season of all.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>1) There are no crowds<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>It is a fact universally acknowledged that in Japan, there are crowds. Lots of them. It\u2019s part of the charm of the experience: Tokyo\u2019s Shibuya scramble crossing wouldn\u2019t be quite the same without the swarms of pedestrians, and cherry blossom wouldn&#8217;t be as enjoyable without the festive atmosphere and parties gathered beneath the trees.<\/p>\n<p>However, if you are allergic to queues and the thought of a squashed subway carriage sends you running for the hills, consider travelling in winter. Throughout the colder months you will find many of the country\u2019s most iconic sights almost completely deserted \u2013 and none the worse for being wreathed in snow or touched with a hint of frost.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29756\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29756\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-29756 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p3210100-Edit-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"Graves covered in light snow in the forest in Okunoin Cemetery\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p3210100-Edit-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p3210100-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p3210100-Edit-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p3210100-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p3210100-Edit-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p3210100-Edit-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p3210100-Edit-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p3210100-Edit-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p3210100-Edit-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p3210100-Edit-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p3210100-Edit-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p3210100-Edit-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p3210100-Edit.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29756\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>A dusting of snow on Mount Koya adds to the eerie atmosphere of Okunoin Cemetery <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>2) Snowsports<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Japan is over 70% mountainous, boasts over 500 ski resorts and receives some of the world\u2019s most reliable snowfall thanks to icy winds blowing in across the sea from Siberia. All this considered, it\u2019s pretty much the most epic snowsports location in the universe.<\/p>\n<p>Japan\u2019s ski resorts go from the absolutely minuscule to the world-class, with incredibly long, sweeping runs and superb powder snow. Having hosted the Winter Olympics in 1972 and 1998 and the Asian Winter games numerous times \u2013 and Japan being Japan \u2013 ski resort infrastructure and hospitality is generally top-notch, with apr\u00e8s-ski to rival anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<p>Lots of Japanese people go skiing at the weekend, so it\u2019s super easy to incorporate a day of skiing into a winter itinerary \u2013 but I recommend setting aside a week or more!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29753\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29753\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-29753 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/daniel-gregoire-kmovgMlv3wA-unsplash-720x470.jpg\" alt=\"Lone person walking on a snowed street in Hakuba\" width=\"720\" height=\"470\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/daniel-gregoire-kmovgMlv3wA-unsplash-720x470.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/daniel-gregoire-kmovgMlv3wA-unsplash-300x196.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/daniel-gregoire-kmovgMlv3wA-unsplash-1024x668.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/daniel-gregoire-kmovgMlv3wA-unsplash-768x501.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/daniel-gregoire-kmovgMlv3wA-unsplash-564x368.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/daniel-gregoire-kmovgMlv3wA-unsplash-1536x1002.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/daniel-gregoire-kmovgMlv3wA-unsplash-1200x783.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/daniel-gregoire-kmovgMlv3wA-unsplash-900x587.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/daniel-gregoire-kmovgMlv3wA-unsplash-1440x939.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/daniel-gregoire-kmovgMlv3wA-unsplash-390x254.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/daniel-gregoire-kmovgMlv3wA-unsplash-780x509.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/daniel-gregoire-kmovgMlv3wA-unsplash-510x333.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/daniel-gregoire-kmovgMlv3wA-unsplash.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29753\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Hakuba was one of the locations for the 1998 Winter Olympics <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2015\/10\/16\/7-reasons-to-ski-in-japan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">7 reasons to ski in Japan<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>3) Snow monkeys<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>No winter trip to Japan would be complete without a visit to the hot spring-bathing snow monkeys of Yudanaka, in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29762\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29762\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-29762 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/20180214-204619_2-720x481.jpg\" alt=\"Semi submerged snow monkey in a hot spring in the Snow Monkey Park\" width=\"720\" height=\"481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/20180214-204619_2-720x481.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/20180214-204619_2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/20180214-204619_2-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/20180214-204619_2-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/20180214-204619_2-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/20180214-204619_2-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/20180214-204619_2-1200x801.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/20180214-204619_2-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/20180214-204619_2-1440x961.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/20180214-204619_2-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/20180214-204619_2-780x521.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/20180214-204619_2-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/20180214-204619_2.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29762\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong> Monkeys love the hot spring at Jigokudani Monkey Park<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Yudanaka is a tiny, quaint hot spring town with some lovely traditional inns and plenty of <em>onsen <\/em>hot spring baths for the chilly traveller to warm up in. It is about an hour\u2019s walk along icy, wooded paths from the town to Jigokudani Monkey Park, but when you finally arrive you\u2019re rewarded with a flock (gaggle? what&#8217;s the collective noun for monkeys?) of incredibly cute Japanese macaques hanging out in their hot spring \u2013 and even throwing the odd snowball or two.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<h2><strong>4) Warm sake<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>When there\u2019s snow on the ground and you\u2019re huddled inside your traditional <em>ryokan <\/em>inn or an <em>izakaya <\/em>pub, what better excuse to order a bottle of hot sake to warm the cockles of your heart?<\/p>\n<p>Sake is Japan\u2019s native rice wine (known as <em>nihonshu <\/em>in Japanese) and comes in a huge variety of types and qualities. It can be served warm or cold, and there\u2019s nothing better than coming in after a long day in the cold for a lovely warming brew (or two, or three, or four).<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29765\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29765\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-29765 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/pixta_25262119_M-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Close up of sake being poured on a ceramic cup\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/pixta_25262119_M-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/pixta_25262119_M-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/pixta_25262119_M-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/pixta_25262119_M-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/pixta_25262119_M-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/pixta_25262119_M-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/pixta_25262119_M-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/pixta_25262119_M-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/pixta_25262119_M-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/pixta_25262119_M-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/pixta_25262119_M-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/pixta_25262119_M-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/pixta_25262119_M.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29765\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Warm sake poured from a ceramic bottle \u2013 designed to keep the liquid warm for the longest amount of time <\/strong> (motoko\/Pixta)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>5)\u00a0<em>Onsen\u00a0<\/em>hot spring baths<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>It doesn\u2019t have to be chilly to enjoy a nice soak in a hot spring, but in my opinion, there\u2019s simply nothing like sinking into a lovely, steamy <em>rotenburo <\/em>(outdoor bath) when there are snowflakes falling all around you.<\/p>\n<p>Hot springs (or <em>onsen<\/em> as they are known in Japanese) are an integral part of Japanese culture. There are resorts dedicated to <em>onsen <\/em>bathing up and down the country \u2013 ranging from traditional cedar-panelled bathhouses to huge, themed hot spring complexes where you can bathe in red wine or milk and honey.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-29768 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/japan-2103868-Edit-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"Azure waters in an open air hot spring in winter\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/japan-2103868-Edit-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/japan-2103868-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/japan-2103868-Edit-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/japan-2103868-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/japan-2103868-Edit-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/japan-2103868-Edit-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/japan-2103868-Edit-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/japan-2103868-Edit-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/japan-2103868-Edit-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/japan-2103868-Edit-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/japan-2103868-Edit-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/japan-2103868-Edit-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/japan-2103868-Edit.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2015\/02\/17\/japanese-etiquette-101-how-to-onsen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Japanese etiquette 101: How to\u00a0<em>onsen<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>6) <em>Kotatsu<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Japan gets very cold in the winter, but the Japanese have come up with a great solution: the <em>kotatsu<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Kotatsu\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2014\/01\/30\/best-japanese-technology-the-kotatsu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A <em>kotatsu <\/em><\/a>is a low table fringed with a thick quilt, with a heater underneath the top. The idea is that you sit cross-legged with the quilt over your knees to warm up your toes \u2013 but <em>kotatsu<\/em> are also great for napping underneath! In winter you\u2019ll find them in most traditional Japanese-style inns, and some bars will even have them outside so you can combine 4) and 6) while watching the world go by.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29771\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29771\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-29771 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2200750-1-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"Traditional Japanese room with low chairs, tatami mats and a kotatsu\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2200750-1-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2200750-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2200750-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2200750-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2200750-1-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2200750-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2200750-1-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2200750-1-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2200750-1-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2200750-1-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2200750-1-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2200750-1-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2200750-1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29771\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Kotatsu at Jinpyokaku ryokan inn, Yudanaka <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>7) Sapporo <em>Yuki Matsuri<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>If you are in the habit of reading the InsideJapan blog, you\u2019ll know that <a title=\"Japan\u2019s Top Five Fire Festivals\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2014\/02\/25\/japans-top-five-fire-festivals\/\">festivals abound in Japan<\/a>. One of the most impressive of all takes place in Sapporo, the capital city of the comparatively little-visited northern island of Hokkaido.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-29777 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/snow-carving-837401-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Ice sculpture of smiling children in Sapporo Snow festival\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/snow-carving-837401-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/snow-carving-837401-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/snow-carving-837401-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/snow-carving-837401-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/snow-carving-837401-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/snow-carving-837401-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/snow-carving-837401-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/snow-carving-837401-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/snow-carving-837401-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/snow-carving-837401-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/snow-carving-837401-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/snow-carving-837401-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/snow-carving-837401.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Sapporo <em>Yuki Matsuri<\/em>, or snow festival, is a winter celebration of epic proportions. For a few days every year, the streets and open spaces of the city are filled with giant snow and ice sculptures up to 20 metres tall and 30 metres wide, with toboggan runs, games, ice bars and all sorts of fun for all ages to join in. If you\u2019ve ever fancied seeing a giant replica of the pyramids of Giza in snow, this is the festival for you.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6984 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/ym3-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"Pokemon image being projected onto a building ice sculpture\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/ym3-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/ym3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/ym3.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/ym3-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/ym3-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/ym3-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/ym3-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Please note that this festival is <em>very <\/em>popular (because it\u2019s <em>very<\/em> awesome), so you\u2019ll need to book accommodation in Sapporo well in advance.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>8) Red-crowned cranes<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-29780 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-w-uC3Hsg6iw-unsplash-720x427.jpg\" alt=\"Red-crowned cranes singing on a cold morning\" width=\"720\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-w-uC3Hsg6iw-unsplash-720x427.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-w-uC3Hsg6iw-unsplash-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-w-uC3Hsg6iw-unsplash-1024x608.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-w-uC3Hsg6iw-unsplash-768x456.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-w-uC3Hsg6iw-unsplash-564x335.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-w-uC3Hsg6iw-unsplash-1536x911.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-w-uC3Hsg6iw-unsplash-1200x712.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-w-uC3Hsg6iw-unsplash-900x534.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-w-uC3Hsg6iw-unsplash-1440x854.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-w-uC3Hsg6iw-unsplash-390x231.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-w-uC3Hsg6iw-unsplash-780x463.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-w-uC3Hsg6iw-unsplash-510x303.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-w-uC3Hsg6iw-unsplash.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re in Hokkaido for the <em>Y<\/em><em>uki Matsuri<\/em>, why not make your way to Tsurui to witness one of Japan\u2019s most enchanting natural events? Every winter, Japan\u2019s red-crowned crane population congregates in Tsurui to mate, performing intricate and seemingly choreographed mating dances together. It\u2019s an amazing sight, and you can be privy to it at the Tsurui-Ito Tancho Sanctuary.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29786\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29786\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-29786 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-wDLkhlL-Ns8-unsplash-720x554.jpg\" alt=\"Red-crowned cranes with wings spread in mid-air\" width=\"720\" height=\"554\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-wDLkhlL-Ns8-unsplash-720x554.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-wDLkhlL-Ns8-unsplash-300x231.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-wDLkhlL-Ns8-unsplash-1024x788.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-wDLkhlL-Ns8-unsplash-768x591.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-wDLkhlL-Ns8-unsplash-564x434.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-wDLkhlL-Ns8-unsplash-1536x1182.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-wDLkhlL-Ns8-unsplash-1200x923.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-wDLkhlL-Ns8-unsplash-900x693.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-wDLkhlL-Ns8-unsplash-1440x1108.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-wDLkhlL-Ns8-unsplash-390x300.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-wDLkhlL-Ns8-unsplash-780x600.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-wDLkhlL-Ns8-unsplash-510x392.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/birger-strahl-wDLkhlL-Ns8-unsplash.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29786\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>The mating dance of the red-crowned crane at Tsurui crane reserve, Hokkaido <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>9) Illuminations<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In Japan, where the national love of festivals is surpassed only by the love of lighting stuff up, illuminations are another winter must-see. The Halloween decorations are barely down before every city centre in Japan is suddenly flooded with thousands of twinkling fairy lights.<\/p>\n<p>There are some pretty spectacular illuminations throughout Japan in the winter, so if you\u2019re planning a trip there\u2019s bound to be something awesome going on near you. In Tokyo you should head to Tokyo Midtown to see the \u2018starlight garden\u2019; in Kanagawa you can visit the Kanto region\u2019s largest light show at the Sagamiko Resort Pleasure Forest; and for the biggest show in all Japan, make your way to Mie Prefecture for the Nabana no Sato Winter Illumination, which boasts around 7 million LED bulbs.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29789\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29789\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-29789 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/illumination-2470045-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"People walking along a tunnel of lights\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/illumination-2470045-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/illumination-2470045-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/illumination-2470045-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/illumination-2470045-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/illumination-2470045-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/illumination-2470045-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/illumination-2470045-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/illumination-2470045-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/illumination-2470045-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/illumination-2470045-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/illumination-2470045-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/illumination-2470045-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/illumination-2470045.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29789\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Illuminations at Mie Prefecture\u2019s Nabana no Sato <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>10) Shirakawago<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>A preserved traditional village in the Japanese Alps that was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995 for its wonderful collection of original thatched farmhouses, Shirakawago is a superb place to visit at any time of year \u2013 but it&#8217;s particularly spectacular in the winter.<\/p>\n<p>The farmhouses are called <em>gassho zukuri<\/em>, or \u2018praying hands\u2019 because of the steep pitch of their roofs \u2013 designed to cope with the heavy snowfall in this alpine region. If you decide to visit, I highly recommend arranging to spend the night at one of these farmhouses (some of which have been converted into traditional inns) for a totally unique experience that you won\u2019t find anywhere else.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29795\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29795\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-29795 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2180517-900x675-1-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"A traditional wooden farmhouse with snow on its slanted roof\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2180517-900x675-1-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2180517-900x675-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2180517-900x675-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2180517-900x675-1-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2180517-900x675-1-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2180517-900x675-1-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2180517-900x675-1-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/p2180517-900x675-1.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29795\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>A gassho zukuri farmhouse <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>And, of course, you can\u2019t leave without seeing the view from the observation point above the village. On certain days in January and February each year, the village is illuminated, creating one of Japan\u2019s most picturesque winter scenes.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6991\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6991\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-6991 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shirakawa-720x511.jpg\" alt=\"Small village of wooden farmhouses covered in snow at night\" width=\"720\" height=\"511\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shirakawa-720x511.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shirakawa-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shirakawa-1024x727.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shirakawa-1200x852.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shirakawa-900x639.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shirakawa-1440x1022.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shirakawa-390x277.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shirakawa-780x554.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shirakawa-510x362.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/shirakawa.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6991\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shirakawago illuminated in the winter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>11) You can actually see Mount Fuji<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>This article was going to be called &#8217;10 reasons to visit Japan in the winter&#8217; \u2013 but then I went and thought of another one!<\/p>\n<p>Now, I&#8217;m going to have to put my hands up and confess, I have never been blessed with a glimpse of Fuji-san. Not from the pirate ship across Lake Ashi, not from the plane, not from the bullet train \u2013 nada. The fact is, Mount Fuji may be a Japanese icon, but she is also notoriously shy \u2013 hiding her face behind clouds and haze for most of the year.<\/p>\n<p>If you want the best chance of seeing Fuji-san, guess what? You have to go in the winter!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29798\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29798\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-29798 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/manuel-cosentino-n-CMLApjfI-unsplash-Edit-720x468.jpg\" alt=\"Sunset over Mount Fuji seen from a distance with city in the foreground\" width=\"720\" height=\"468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/manuel-cosentino-n-CMLApjfI-unsplash-Edit-720x468.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/manuel-cosentino-n-CMLApjfI-unsplash-Edit-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/manuel-cosentino-n-CMLApjfI-unsplash-Edit-1024x666.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/manuel-cosentino-n-CMLApjfI-unsplash-Edit-768x500.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/manuel-cosentino-n-CMLApjfI-unsplash-Edit-564x367.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/manuel-cosentino-n-CMLApjfI-unsplash-Edit-1536x999.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/manuel-cosentino-n-CMLApjfI-unsplash-Edit-1200x780.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/manuel-cosentino-n-CMLApjfI-unsplash-Edit-900x585.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/manuel-cosentino-n-CMLApjfI-unsplash-Edit-1440x937.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/manuel-cosentino-n-CMLApjfI-unsplash-Edit-390x254.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/manuel-cosentino-n-CMLApjfI-unsplash-Edit-780x507.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/manuel-cosentino-n-CMLApjfI-unsplash-Edit-510x332.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/manuel-cosentino-n-CMLApjfI-unsplash-Edit.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29798\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Fuji looking her finest against clear winter skies <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/about-us\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Get in touch<\/a> to find out how you can visit snow monkeys, sweep down ski slopes, soak in a hot spring and snuggle up under a\u00a0<em>kotatsu\u00a0<\/em>this winter.<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2017\/10\/10\/snow-in-japan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Snow much fun: 10 (non-skiing) winter highlights in Japan<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11943 size-medium-plus-size\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/LakeShikotsu2-1-510x340.jpg\" alt=\"Lone person walking amidst ice structures\" width=\"510\" height=\"340\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/LakeShikotsu2-1-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/LakeShikotsu2-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/LakeShikotsu2-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/LakeShikotsu2-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/LakeShikotsu2-1-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/LakeShikotsu2-1-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/LakeShikotsu2-1-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/LakeShikotsu2-1-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/LakeShikotsu2-1-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/LakeShikotsu2-1.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? 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Help us by sharing it! In the autumn there are the turning leaves, in the summer there\u2019s hot sun and lush green landscapes, and in the spring there is (of course) the famous cherry blossom. Like this post? 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