If you are looking for excitement, there are several places to fly in Japan during the winter. In the next few minutes, you will learn about five places you can go to have an unforgettable experience during the Japanese winter. Composed of 6,852 islands, Japan offers a plethora of spots for the adventure-seeking traveler. Here you will discover five of them: Niseko, Tokyo, Nozawa Onsen, Nagano, and Koyasan. Let’s dive in and take a look at these winter wonderlands!
Niseko: the perfect spot for skiing
With six months of winter and some of the finest slopes in the world, Niseko is the perfect spot for all skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts. Here you can go cross country skiing, take on the slopes, and take a snowshoe tour through beautiful and awe-inspiring scenery. If you want to see the mountains in Niseko without expending as much energy as you would by doing the above activities, consider going on a snowmobile tour, enjoying the views at a comfortable pace.
Tokyo: the most authentic experience
If you find yourself in Tokyo during your winter holiday to Japan, there are several exciting things you can do. First, because spring is tourist season in Tokyo, vacationing there during the winter will allow you to have a more authentic experience of everyday life in the capital. Tokyo also boasts several excellent rinks for ice-skating aficionados. Finding places to stay in Tokyo during the winter will also be less expensive than during the high season, allowing you to save more money for traveling around the city and shopping at places like Shibuya.
Nozawa Onsen: explore the Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort
Nozawa Onsen, with the Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort at Mt. Kenashi as its main feature, is another excellent choice for anyone traveling to Japan during the winter. The Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort, by far the most popular place to visit here, is accessible by three trails: the Hikage Trail, the Nagasaka Trail, and the Karasawa Trail. With a terrain at the base that is perfect for people learning to ski or snowboard, Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort is the perfect place for the whole family. If you have children who are too young to tackle the slopes, you can drop them off at the “Yumin” day care nursery and enjoy the slopes without worrying. In addition to skiing, snowshoe and snowmobile tours are also available at Nozawa Onsen
Nagano: the famous Olympic town
Nagano, site of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, offers travelers a rich variety of things to do. You can hit the slopes at places like the above mentioned Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort, go mountain climbing, or relax in one of the many hot springs. Located just over 106 miles from Tokyo and considered to be the gateway to several other winter holiday destinations in Japan, Nagano is a place anyone traveling to Japan during the winter should consider visiting.
Koyasan: one of the coldest towns
If you feel like braving one of the coldest places in Japan, pay a visit to Koyasan, located in Osaka. Surrounded by breathtaking mountain vistas, you will be able to actively participate in Buddhist life and learn through experience about the traditional Japanese way of living.
So, what is your plan?
Whether you decide to go shopping in Tokyo, hit the slopes in Niseko and Nozawa Onsen, start your winter journey in Nagano, or learn more about Japanese culture and tradition in Koyasan, there is somewhere to meet your expectations needs on your winter stay in Japan. It is quite possible that you will find yourself exploring other places, enjoying the splendid scenery winter offers throughout Japan. Whatever it is you are seeking to do during a winter holiday, you will find it in Japan.