Japan in Winter, Culinary Delights, & Hokkaido

Jason Carter
5 days ago
1 min read

Snow-covered Mount Fuji under a clear blue sky with a red pagoda in the foreground. Snow-laden trees add a serene winter mood.

Japan in the winter? Absolutely!

Enjoy pleasant sightseeing away from the ever increasingly crowds during other seasons, but also magnificent winter landscapes under clear sunny skies—the ideal time to view Mount Fuji and soak in hot spring retreats. Unique winter events are also held in Sapporo, Kanazawa, Kamakura, along with a Grand Sumo tournament in January. Skiers will delight in Hokkaido, the finest skiing in all of Asia on "Japowder" and we always recommend a few days in Tokyo before or after.

Rustic pizza on wooden board; half with mushrooms, the other with tomato, basil, and cheese. Golden pizza peel visible underneath.

Japan's Culinary Delights

When we assist our travelers in planning their dining in Japan, they often assume we'll be exclusively arranging sushi bars, kaiseki courses, and local shops and izakayas specializing in udon, ramen, yakitori and the like. However, we also include places that create some of the finest Thai, Italian, and Chinese they'll likely ever experience. Japanese chefs have mastered pizza fresh from wood-fired ovens, nuanced Thai dishes prepared before your eyes, and savory Sichuan ramen. Japan has also been steadily developing an incredible bakery scene, surpassing what one finds in Paris.

Skier descends a snowy slope, creating a spray of snow, with a majestic snow-capped mountain in the clear blue sky background.

Skiing Hokkaido

Hokkaido's powder is so iconic it has its own nickname—"Japow." Meter upon meter of dry, fine powder falls reliably over the island's mountain ski resorts from December through March, to the delight of international skiers. It's never too early to organize a trip during this popular period. Check out our Hokkaido Guide below and contact us to plan your trip with a Tokyo visit en route.