11 Best Things to Do in Winter in Japan
How to Make the Most of Winter in Japan
From bōnenkai to Setubun and beyond~
Snow covered Kinkakuji, at Kyoto (Image Credit: Shutterstock)
Winter in Japan is a season of stark contrasts and vibrant traditions. This season is not just about the scenic splendor; it's a time steeped in rich customs and celebrations. From the hustle of Shiwasu preparations to the warmth of kotatsu tables and the joy of year-end bōnenkai parties, each aspect of winter in Japan weaves a tale of cultural depth and beauty.
1. Winter landscapes across Japan
The winter landscape in Japan is a tale of two scenes. On the west coast, moisture-laden winds from Asia transform the region into a winter wonderland, blanketing towns and forests in white. In contrast, the Pacific side, guarded by mountains, experiences finer and colder days, often with clear blue skies.
While Japan’s cities rarely experience snowfall, the surrounding hills and mountains get blanketed in fresh powder, meaning downhill destinations are never that far away. Wherever you find yourself, winter can be a great time to get out and see the Japanese countryside. Whether you are bound for the slopes or not, be sure to pack a warm winter jacket wherever you go.
2. The December Rush
As December arrives, Japan gears up for the New Year. The month, known as Shiwasu, is a bustling period of preparations and celebrations. Light displays spring up everywhere and some of the more famous ones, Kobe's Luminarie and Tokyo's Omotesandō, draw quite a crowd.
From shopping for kotatsu heated tables and kairo pocket warmers to sending out Nengajō New Year cards, the festive spirit is palpable. This is also when people gather for bōnenkai, or literally “parties for forgetting the past year.” They’re a time to leave your troubles in the past and focus on the future.
For the winter solstice on December 21, there is a tradition of taking a hot bath scented with aromatic yuzu.
3. Christmas in Japan
Christmas is surprisingly popular in Japan, even though less than one percent of the population is Christian! It’s not a national holiday and carries no religious significance to most, but people still mark the occasion with something fun. Many Christmas trees and lights go up to mark the occasion, and families still go shopping for gifts.
Unlike in the West, the main event is Christmas Eve. It’s a big date night, and dishes like fried chicken and special strawberry-laden cakes have become seasonal staples.
4. New Year’s celebrations
In December, there is a custom of preparing for the visit of the toshigami, or New Year gods. Traditional seasonal decor like rice cakes and decorative garlands go up, and this is when a specific range of beloved dishes make their appearance, like osechi-ryori—a delicious and beautiful arrangement of nutrition to keep you sated well into the new year with minimal fuss.
The New Year in Japan is a blend of traditions and joyous gatherings, like the Kōhaku uta gassen song contest on NHK. Japan’s answer to NYC’s ball drop is the ringing of temple bells in a ritual called the joya no kane. They ring 108 times, a significant number to symbolize a fresh start.
To make the most of your New Year’s in Japan, make arrangements to see the first sunrise from atop a mountain overlooking the sea. In Tokyo and other major cities, you can join crowds of young people and tourists in celebrating. Pro tip: “Happy New Year” in Japanese is “Akemashite omedetō.”
Other fun New Year’s traditions include Coming of Age Day, when people who turned 20 in the previous year get dressed up and celebrated, and Fukubukoro, or Lucky Bags, which are sold at stores in the first few days of the new year. They are basically a mystery grab bag that often contain goods worth far more than the purchase price of the bag.
The celebratory New Year shōgatsu season lasts until January 7. When all the revelry finally ends, you can nurse your party-weary soul like a local with nanakusa-gayu—a special kind of herbed rice porridge. Enjoy pounding freshly steamed glutinious rice (mochi tsuki) and making mochi hana with TokudAw to usher in the New Year!
5. Winter pleasures: onsen
Winter in Japan is synonymous with relaxing onsen baths. The country's hot springs, especially the outdoor rotenburo, provide a serene escape.
The onsen experience in winter is unparalleled, offering a blissful escape in scenic locations like Ginzan Onsen and Kusatsu Onsen. But there are famous onsen hot-spring towns all over the country, some even in major cities. While visiting one, you may be accompanied by some fuzzu bathing neighbors, like macaques or capybaras.
Can’t find an onsen? Try the more ubiquitous sento bathhouse experience to warm your soul and get a clean, fresh start to the new year.
6. Winter treats: seasonal cuisine
Japanese winter cuisine is a delightful journey through new flavors, with many that you already know and love. The season is ideal for savoring soothing specialties that warm your bones and stick to your ribs, so you can get back to hitting the slopes and enjoying the festivities.
Dishes like nabe, or hot pot, oden, another variety of the same, and fresh seafood like crab, oysters, and fugu—a poisonous blowfish that must be correctly prepared in order to not be deadly—are all popular menu items at this time of year. The obligatory ramen or soba noodles are other winter favorites.
7. Celebrating Setubun
The traditional holiday of Setubun offers unique cultural insights. The name of the festival means literally “seasonal division,” as it is held on the last day of winter, according to the Japanese lunar calendar.
To ensure good luck in the coming season, families throw roasted soybeans, or fukumame “fortune beans” from their homes or local shrines while chanting “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” or “Devils out! Fortune in!” Sometimes, one person will don a special ugly mask and play devil while everyone throws beans at them. The ritual wraps up with everyone eating their age in beans.
8. Valentine’s Day
Then comes Valentine’s Day—a Western holiday that has grown in popularity in Japan, though they have their own take on how to celebrate it. On Valentine’s Day in Japan, it’s actually the women who are expected to make all the moves, preparing gifts for the men—not just men they’re romantically involved with, but all the men in their lives (the gesture gets reciprocated exactly a month later on White Day to keep things even).
Chocolate is also as popular in Japan as anywhere else, and lots of it gets consumed for this holiday. However, oddly enough, the trend of late has been for people to just buy it for themselves rather than give it to someone else.
9. Where to ski in Japan
Japan's mountainous terrain is a haven for winter sports enthusiasts, and there’s plenty of it around, no matter where in the country you are. If you’re in Tokyo, then the Japanese Alps in Nagano prefecture, home of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games, is your best bet for a ski trip. Hakuba, among other areas, is home to world class skiing.
Seasoned skiers looking for the freshest powder and more expert slopes should head to the island of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture. In fact, it’s famous for its snowy landscapes and beautiful wilderness. You’ll find some of the best skiing in Niseko and Rusutsu. Our ski transfer service will get you straight to the slopes with zero stress
10. Visiting temples and shrines
Visiting temples and shrines during New Year, a practice known as hatsumōde, is a vital part of Japanese culture. People wait in long lines to pray for good fortune in the coming year. Even for visitors it's a must, especially during the winter holiday when most other attractions shut down.
With over 80,000 shrines in the country, one is never that far away. But, if you want to visit a famous shrine to take part in this special tradition, the massive Heian-jingu Shrine in Kyoto welcomes huge numbers of visitors each year, holding its official New Year’s ceremony early in the morning on January 1. In Tokyo, the Meiji-jingu Shrine, surrounded by peaceful greenery, is another top hatsumōde destination.
11. Winter festivals
Winter festivals in Japan are a spectacle of culture and community bonding. People gather in spite of the cold to share good vibes, delicious food, and fun traditions. The Sapporo Snow Festival, held in early February in Hokkaido, is one of the biggest of these winter events. Millions of people come each year to gawk at hundreds of snow and ice sculptures.
For something completely different, there’s the Naked Man Festival in Okayama Prefecture. No, this is not Japan’s take on Burning Man, but there are plenty of loincloths. It consists of crowds of sparsely clad men competing in ritual games before praying at Saidaiji Kannonin Temple for good fortune.
Winter in Japanese is “fuyu”
As winter's tapestry unfolds, Japan offers a myriad of experiences—from the serene first sunrise of the year to the lively celebrations of Coming of Age Day. The warmth of onsen baths contrasts with the cool thrill of skiing in the Japanese Alps, and the palate delights in seasonal delicacies like buri and oden. Each moment, from the Setsubun festival's spirited traditions to the unique spoiling of men on Valentine's Day, encapsulates the essence of Japanese winter.
In this vibrant season of contrasts and celebrations, the role of reliable transportation becomes ever more crucial. The best way to experience as much of Japan’s beautiful winter life as possible is to rely on an experienced private car service for your transportation needs. Not only can a company like TokudAw tell you where to go and when, they can get you there safely no matter the weather or road conditions.
As you navigate the snowy streets or seek out secluded hot springs, the comfort and ease provided by a chartered vehicle ensure that your focus remains on the joys and discoveries of winter in Japan.
