The Best Winter Travel Destinations and Activities in Japan for Non-Skiers

Winter experiences you can enjoy in Japan without strapping two planks or a board to your feet

Morning after the Snow at Koishikawa in Edo (Koishikawa yuki no ashita), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei), Katsushika Hokusai. Public domain.

For quite a while now, winter sports enthusiasts have discovered “Japow” and have come from all over the world to experience the legendary powder snow of Japan’s mountains. But what is less known is that Japanese winter is an amazing season that can also offer a variety of unique experiences to non-skiers and non-snowboarders.

Just the simple act of viewing a snow-covered landscape alone can inspire feelings of awe and reverence for the majesty of nature. This practice, known as yukimi (snow viewing) in Japanese, dates to olden times in Japan. It’s the winter equivalent of viewing cherry blossoms in spring and the blazing red, orange, and golden foliage in autumn. It can be a profoundly healing experience to view snowfall and snowy landscapes while being in the energizing company of friends and family.

Today, with the comfort of indoor heating, the viewing can be done from a warm and cozy place indoors, while enjoying warming foods like atsukan (warmed sake), or soaking in an open-air (rotenburo) onsen bath.

Source: ozmall

Snow fun for non-skiers and snow newbies

What is the simplest way to partake in winter mountain viewing in Japan, and enjoy the beauty of Japan’s breathtaking snow-covered landscapes? One of the most hassle-free ways is to travel to a snow resort or snow park with observation decks and gondolas that can take non-skiers and snow newbies up the mountain. You don’t need any special equipment–just turn up in warm clothes and waterproof boots suitable for walking in snow.

Once up the mountain, take in the panorama–snow-capped mountain ranges and snow-covered valleys and marvel at the majesty of nature. Feeling a bit cold and getting hungry? No problem, just hop over to a restaurant on the mountain and refuel with some hot chocolate and fragrant Japanese curry rice–the experience on a cold winter’s day is truly one of winter’s ultimate pleasures.

Some snow resorts even have heated winter domes for you to sit in, as you relax and watch the skiers and snowboarders charge down the mountains.

Depending on the snow resort or snow park you’re at, you might be able to try other non-ski snow activities, such as snowmobile riding, snow biking, snowshoeing, dog sledding, and snow tubing/rafting. With so many activities you can do, you’ll quickly realize that it’s getting dark time to head down the mountain and end the day with a hot soak in an onsen, with memories to last a lifetime.

Best family-friendly snow resorts and parks in Japan

If you’re ready to start planning a family-friendly snow holiday, here is a list of suggested resorts and snow parks that cater to non-skiers and non-snowboarders.

Niigata

●    Naeba Ski Resort: Known for a snow tubing area, Waku Waku, and a snowmobile land in addition to a variety of ski slopes for various levels.

Waku Waku Family Snowland at Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata Prefecture. 

●    Maiko Ski Resort: Known for wide gentle ski slopes perfect for beginners.

●    Shirakaba Ski Resort: A family-friendly resort with a large learning zone for kids, and a zoo to experience winter animals such as seals, owls, and rabbits.

Nagano

●    Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort: While the resort is popular for skiing, it also features a dedicated snow play area with activities such as snow rafting, tubing, and a kid-friendly snow park. Visitors can also enjoy the nearby hot springs and shopping outlets.

●    Hakuba Tsugaike Snow Wow: Paraglide above or tube or bike through the snow in the same spot where the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics were held.

●    Ryuoo Ski Park: While the resort is known for difficult skiing and snowboarding, it also offers sledding, rafting, and snow buddy rides. Nozawa Onsen and the snow monkeys are close by. Enjoy a unique dining experience at KAMAKURA POT dining in kamakuras, an indoor-heated dome shaped building.

Kamakura Pot Dining at Ryoo Ski Park. Source: Ryoo Ski Park, official website

Gunma

● Tambara Ski Park: This snow park offers a variety of activities including sledding, snow tubing, and snow play areas for children. The park also features igloo-building workshops and snowball fight zones. It has very gentle slopes and is suitable for complete beginners who want to learn how to ski.

● Norn Minakami Ski Resort: Enjoy sledding and tubing.

Others

● Hakusan Ichirino Hot Spring Ski Resort (Ishikawa): This resort offers snowshoeing tours through scenic forest trails and a snow play zone for building snowmen and snow forts.

● Chichibu Muse Park (Saitama): The park offers sledding and snow games which are ideal for young children and families. The park also hosts winter-themed workshops and events during the snow season. A great park for beginner snow sports.

● Nasu Onsen Family Ski Resort (Tochigi): The resort focuses on family-friendly snow play with tubing lanes, sledding hills, and snow rafting. (Note: Ski-only resort)

● Fujiten Ski Resort (Yamanashi): Gentle slopes to learn to ski or snowboard with a view of Mount Fuji. Also offers a sledding slope and a daycare center.

● Mount Jeans Nasu (Tochigi): The resort features a kid's park with sledding and biking, in addition to gentle skiing and snowboarding slopes.

● Fujiyama Snowtown Yeti (Shizouka/Kanagawa): A small ski resort with sledding, a snow playground, gentle ski runs for beginners, and views of Mount Fuji.

Even more winter tourist activities for non-skiers

Picture this. It’s your first time in Japan and you want to try your hand (actually, your legs) at skiing. But why stop at skiing when there’s so much more you can do? Here is a list of all the activities you shouldn’t miss if you’re in Japan for your winter holiday.

Winter festivals

- Fireworks: While commonly associated with the summer months, many winter destinations also host winter fireworks or fire festivals. We recommend the Chichibu Night Festival, enjoy all the best a Japan festival can offer, in cold weather!

Enjoy the magical splendor of Japanese Festivals with Fireworks at the Chichibu Festival, Saitama. Source: Rakuten Travel

- Temple and Shrine festivals: The winter months feature many festivals of historical reenactments or blessings for the coming year, such as the Daruma festival. This is a festival featuring a sort of wishing doll.

Daruma Festival at Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture. Source: JNTO

- Snow and ice festivals: While commonly associated with Sapporo in Hokkaido, many regions closer to Tokyo have festivals that celebrate the beauty of ice carvings, snow domes, and lanterns that light up the night sky. In the Yunishigawa Kamakura Festival, which runs from late January to late February, the onsen town of Yunishigawa in Nikko, Tochigi, builds hundreds of kamakura or illuminated snow huts. The glow emanating from the translucent snow almost feels like a scene out of a Ghibli Studio anime.

Yunishigawa Kamakura Festival. Source: hapitas

Nature

- Fall leaves: While snow season snow might cover the mountains, fall colors can often still be viewed in lower elevations through December.

- Flower viewing: While most people associate Japan with cherry blossoms, Japan is also famous for several winter flowers such as the camellia, peony, wintersweet, and plum blossom, all of which peak during winter.

- Icicle and “snow monster” viewing: Some winter destinations feature dramatic landscapes of icicles or snow-encrusted trees known as snow monsters.

- Monkey viewing: The Jugokudani Monkey Park, part of the Joshinetsu National Park is known for wild monkeys that enjoy warming up in a hot bath. A short hike will lead you to a place where you will be surrounded by hundreds of wild monkeys. Don’t feed them!

- Snow-covered rice and tea terraces: Hike through a terraced snow-filled landscape where tea and rice grow in the summer with snowshoes

Food & Drink

- Soups: Enjoy winter staples such as oden, a light warm broth filled with vegetables, boiled eggs, fishcake, konnyaku (a low-calorie jelly made from a root vegetable). Not to be missed is nabe is a broth-based hotpot dish with robust flavor, and it comes with all sorts of varieties. Kanazawa–and more generally Ishikawa prefecture–is famous for jibu-ni, a stew made from poultry, wheat gluten, local vegetables, and mushrooms.

- Soba Noodles: Shinshu Soba from Nagano Prefecture is served with a hot broth and tempura. Negi Soba is made with seaweed for an extra firm texture, and Kawara Soba is made with green tea.

- Strawberry picking: Winter months are prime strawberry season in Japan, as they are primarily grown in greenhouses. Many farms offer timed pick-your-own experiences during the winter months. Certain regions also have their own varieties, such as the Niigata Echigo Hime.

Hot Springs

- Onsens: Japanese hot spring towns are known as onsen gai, meaning hot spring town. Often nestled among nature, these towns are perfect for warming up on a cold day and enjoying peaceful picturesque villages. Many onsen waters are known to have therapeutic properties for various ailments. Learn more about our fully customizable spa experience in Tsumagoi Village, Gunma.

Enjoy a bespoke winter travel package and authentic snow experience in Japan

If you are interested in experiencing a memorable, authentic snow experience in Japan, we can help you craft a one-of-a-kind winter travel package.

Want to have a go at skiing or snowboarding, but don’t want to make it the focus of your winter holiday in Japan? Let us know, and we can plan for that in your fully customizable Japan winter travel package.

You get to travel safely to the snow resorts of your dreams instead of struggling to drive in the snow–which requires special snow tires and could even be dangerous if you’re not used to it. Once we’re there, we can help you get sorted with any kinds of rental equipment, or arranging private ski lessons.

Or, you could decide to do yukimi without any snowsports. It’s all up to you.

Ultimately, a private tour with TokudAw means you get to decide where you go, what kind of winter activities you do, and what winter delicacies you get to enjoy. Although we can’t control the weather, we promise to deliver the most magical winter holiday you’ll ever experience in Japan.