How to Enjoy Winter in Japan
Winter in Japan can provide a dreamy travel experience for tourists. There are many things available, but these things to do in Japan during winter are essential for you to maximize the fun in this country. The beginning of December is a good time to visit Japan as it’s the month between the high and low seasons. The winter season is cold; however, there are not many visitors around the cities. Here are a few things to do while you are in Japan during the wintertime.
1. Skiing in GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort
One of the best things to do when it is winter in Japan is to go skiing at the GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort. There are a total of 12 ski resorts in GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort, offering skiing and snow-related sports for all levels of participants. If you just want to make some snowballs and play in the snow, well, you can do that at GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort, too. Also, there are snowmobile rides available here that will give you a nice view of the mountain. As for children, this resort provides a sledding area where kids can snow play and make snowmen in this area.
2. Visiting the Blue Pond in Hokkaido
The Blue Pond Hokkaido is a unique blue-colored lake in the forest near the town of Biei, Hokkaido. Furthermore, the best time to see the Blue Pond Hokkaido is during the winter in Japan, when it comes with snow. This pond is even more beautiful at night when the color of the water is reflected in the snow. It is good to know that, actually, the blue pond Hokkaido is a man-made pond built in order to protect Biei town from volcanic mudflow.
3. Bathing in Hot Springs of Yamagata
Another of the main things to do during winter in Japan is try the hot springs in Yamagata. Getting into hot springs (onsen) is a way of life in Japan. In winter, bathing in outdoor hot springs becomes a more memorable experience. There are 2 onsen public baths, namely Shiroganeyu and Omokageyu, right in the center of Ginzan. Also, a free-of-charge Warashiyu public foot spa is available for you.
4. Shopping During Winter Sales
Winter in Japan generally comes with end-of-the-year sales. In fact, you will see many sales in Japan happening in December when retailers start discounting all their winter stock. Also, December is a fantastic month for getting cheaper home appliances. Further, in January, you get lower prices on everything even lower when the famous ‘lucky bags’ go on sale.
5. Be at Fuji-Q Highland in Fujiyoshida
You might think that winter is not the right time to get into a theme park, or maybe Japan is not really the place for it; however, you should rethink that. Fuji Q Highland is an amusement park at the base of Mount Fuji, with some of the best rides worldwide. Because Fuji Q Highland is close to Tokyo, a lot of people rush here, and you will wait a long time to get on the rides.
6. Visiting Jigokudani Monkey Park
Jigokudani Monkey Snow Park is located in a valley called Yokugawa. You can find this park in the north of Nagano Prefecture, and it is part of the Joshin’etsukogen National Park. These monkeys in Japan are famous as Koen. These creatures have a lot of fans all over the world because they show very interesting behaviors and communicate well with humans.
Undoubtedly, one of the best places to see this type of monkey is Jigokudani Monkey Snow Park. All the monkeys in this park are protected, and no one can harm them. The best time to visit Jigokudani Monkey Snow Park is from December to March; it is a good time to visit when there is snow during winter in Japan. However, the best months are January & February when the temperatures are at -10 Celsius, which is when the monkeys like to bathe.
7. Enjoying Sapporo Snow Festival
Sapporo Snow Festival is a week-long celebration in Sapporo, which is the capital of the Hokkaido. In fact, the Sapporo snow festival takes place during the first week of February and brings more than 2 million tourists and locals here yearly. Staying over is expensive. Therefore, if you want to travel there, make sure to plan in advance. The best option is to arrive a few days prior to the beginning of the Sapporo snow festival and leave after the end of it.
If you are a fan of winter cold, you might want to check out winter hotels such as the one in Sweden. The Ice Hotel in Sweden; an unforgettable stay in Sweden could be your dream come true. This winter hotel is only available during winter time and has plenty of winter activities that you can do while staying there.
