Things to do in Japan in winter
Winter (December to February) means powder snow, snow monsters and snowy villages in the north, hot springs, illuminations and Christmas markets in the cities, and snow and ice festivals. Pack warm layers for Hokkaido, Tohoku and the mountains.
Spots that shine this season
Hokkaido / Otaru
Otaru Canal & Glass Workshops
Hokkaido / Niseko
Niseko Powder Ski Day
Yamagata / Obanazawa
Ginzan Onsen Gas-Lamp Village
Gifu / Shirakawa
Shirakawa-go Thatched Village
Ishikawa / Kanazawa
Kenroku-en Garden & Kanazawa Castle
Nagano / Yamanouchi
Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
Yamagata / Zao Onsen
Zao Snow Monsters by Ropeway
Events this season
Shizuoka / Shuzenji
Nijinosato Illumi the Night 2026
Sat, October 10, 2026 – Wed, March 31, 2027
Mie / Kuwana
Nabana no Sato Winter Illumination
Sat, October 17, 2026 – Mon, May 31, 2027
Tokyo / Inagi
Yomiuriland Jewellumination 2026
Thu, October 29, 2026 – Sun, April 4, 2027
Hiroshima / Hiroshima Station
Night Tram 768 on Hiroshima's Train Rouge
Sat, October 31, 2026 – Sat, March 27, 2027
Tokyo / Roppongi
Roppongi Hills Christmas: Keyakizaka Illumination
Thu, November 5, 2026 – Fri, December 25
Nagasaki / Sasebo
Huis Ten Bosch: The Starlight Million
Fri, November 6, 2026 – Thu, February 25, 2027
Yokohama / Minato Mirai
Christmas Market at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
Fri, November 20, 2026 – Fri, December 25
Hyogo / Himeji
Himeji Otemae-dori & Castle Illumination
Fri, November 20, 2026 – Mon, January 11, 2027
Kanagawa / Enoshima
Shonan no Hoseki Illumination
Tue, December 1, 2026 – Sun, February 28, 2027
Yokohama / Yamashita Park
YORUNOYO Yokohama Illumination
Fri, December 4, 2026 – Wed, December 30
Tokyo / Shiba Park
Tokyo Christmas Market in Shiba Park
Fri, December 4, 2026 – Fri, December 25
Hyogo / Kobe
Kobe Luminarie
Fri, January 29, 2027 – Sun, February 7
Hokkaido / Lake Shikotsu
Chitose-Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival
Sat, January 30, 2027 – Tue, February 23
Hokkaido / Sapporo
Sapporo Snow Festival
Thu, February 4, 2027 – Thu, February 11
Nagasaki / Shinchi Chinatown
Nagasaki Lantern Festival
Fri, February 5, 2027 – Sun, February 21
Hokkaido / Otaru
Otaru Snow Light Path
Sat, February 6, 2027 – Sat, February 13
Aomori / Hirosaki
Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival
Wed, February 10, 2027 – Sun, February 14
Akita / Yokote
Yokote Kamakura Snow Festival
Fri, February 12, 2027 – Sat, February 13
Akita / Oga
Namahage Sedo Festival
Fri, February 12, 2027 – Sun, February 14
Niigata / Tokamachi
Tokamachi Snow Festival
Fri, February 19, 2027 – Sun, February 21