Japan is at the top of so many people's bucket lists, and I understand why. After all, it was at the top of my bucket list too for a very long time but even after I was lucky enough to actually go there, it stayed put at the top of my bucket-list. Why? Because I want to go back, again and again. There's something so unique about Japan, I don't know if it's due to them being an island (and therefore relatively isolated) or them never being colonised by the west, or both, but when I was in Japan it felt like absolutely everything was interesting and different.
Top Reasons to Take a Winter Vacation in Japan
You will read a lot of blog posts that talk about the question 'when is the best time of year to go to Japan'? Which season? Spring for the cherry blossoms? Summer for the weather? Autumn for the colourful leaves? Or winter for the snow? I have a simple answer for this: go in all seasons. Whether that means taking four separate trips or just moving there for a year (or life), try to experience all seasons. Of course, this isn't financially feasible for most of us, with Japan being one of the most expensive countries in the world, and it's remote location making just getting there costly for most of us. So, in this blog post I will focus on the snowiest of seasons: winter. Thus here we have, what I humbly believe, are the top reasons to take a winter vacation in Japan:
#1. There's lots of Snow!
Japan is beautiful, snow is beautiful, put the two together and you have double beautiful. It does snow in Japan in the winter - but not in all parts of Japan, so let's plan accordingly. For example, in the southern regions like Okinawa it almost never snows, but in contrast, places like the Tohoku region see A LOT of snow. As for Tokyo, the capital, it does get snow, but not a lot and it tends not to last very long. Lots of people around the world have never seen snow before - imagine if the first place you see it is somewhere as incredible as Japan!
For those of us that grew up with snow, it's no less magical. There's something so pure and serene about a fresh blanket of snow. There are many things you can do in Japan in the snow, some of which we will examine below, but first, just picture a Shinto shrine covered in snow. If your imagination just smiled, we're on the same page.
#2. Skiing and snowboarding!
With snow, comes snow-cones. But more importantly, with snow comes snowboarding and all-inclusive skiing in Japan with Sno. What better place to ski and snowboard than in Japan! If you've never been skiing before, I'm so happy for you because I think experiencing skiing (or snowboarding) for the first time in a foreign country makes it all that much cooler.
For me it was Canada for skiing, and Germany for snowboarding, but I personally think that Japan would be even more amazing. Japan is also renown for it's compliance to safety rules and it's top of the line healthcare, meaning that you're less likely to hurt yourself here than certain other countries, and even if you do, you will be well looked after. (As always though, please don't travel without insurance.)
#3. Snow Monkeys!
I feel like this reason to visit Japan in winter, snow monkeys, needs no more explanation. But still, just in case you need some more convincing: snow monkeys, officially called the Japanese Macaque, are native to Japan. They're super special because they live further north than all other primates (with the exception of us humans). They're called the snow monkey because they live in the parts of Japan where you get snow.
You can, of course, see them any time of year, but I personally think it's more fitting to see them in the snow they've been named after. They are also famous for taking dips in hot springs! It's believed that they first started doing this after observing humans doing it in onsens. The epitome of monkey see, monkey does.
#4. You can Enjoy Onsens!
Speaking of onsens, what actually is an onsen? An onsen is a hot spring. There are many of them in Japan - some you pay for, some a free, but I really recommend you visit them in the winter and take a nice hot soak. Why do I recommend this specifically in winter? I learnt this myself, firstly in Iceland, then in Hungary, next in Portugal before I finally got the message - hot springs are great, but they're the best in winter.
In summer, it's just too hot after a few minutes. But in winter, your body is toasty warm, and your mind is fresh and clear in the cold. I feel almost like our heads and the rest of our bodies thrive best in two different temperatures. Inconvenient - but not in an onsen!
#5. There are way fewer people!
Visiting Japan in the winter means that there will be fewer people. Even if you don't have ochlophobia (like I do), there are many other reasons why this will be an advantage to you: perhaps at the top of the list is that it will be cheaper - for example, hotels offer lower rates in winter. This can be extended to mean that you're almost guaranteed to get the hotels you want and have access to the sites you want to see (aka neither will be fully booked).
Wrap Up: Top Reasons to Take a Winter Vacation in Japan
I could go on much longer about reasons to take a winter vacation in Japan, but alas I had to stop somewhere. Hopefully I've given you one or two reasons to think about, because I believe that no matter if you're an animal lover, or a winter sports fan, an onsen lover or you simply have a fear of crowds (or all of these, like me), you will find a million reasons to love Japan in the winter. If you're already convinced, have a great time and let me know how your trip goes!
What about you, have you ever been to Japan in the winter? Feel free to share any tips & advice below!
ABOUTME
We overland. We eat plants and fungi. We live outside as much as possible. We are all connected. A female travel blogger overlanding and writing about ecotourism, ethical and sustainable travel, socially conscious travel and housesitting. An online travel magazine since 2015.
Disqus Comment
Facebook Comment