About less than an hour away from the capital of Yamagata Prefecture by bus, Zao Onsen is a ski resort and hot spring town with a long history. While the most popular season to come visit is undoubtedly in the winter to take full advantage of the quality of snow, there’s still so many things to do and see regardless of the season.

Skiing and Ice Monsters

Carve through ice monsters at Zao ski resort.

There are multiple ski equipment rental shops available as well as several ski and snowboarding schools in town. Lift tickets are valid on all of the lifts throughout the resort, ranging from a 4-hour ticket for ¥4000 to a 7-day ticket for ¥21,600. There are also season ticket options. Suffice it to say, you have no excuse not to spend your day zipping down the scenic mountain slopes. With 15 slopes and 12 courses, there is enough of a range to satisfy complete beginners as well as seasoned pros.

Take a cable-car to the top of Mount Zao to get an aerial view of the juhyo or ice monsters – rows of snow-covered trees that look like gnarled creatures out of a dreamscape which you’ll have skied or boarded through earlier. Temperatures can go as low as -20C so make sure to bundle up.

Zao Onsen Outdoor Hot Springs

Photo by: Zao Onsen Dairotenburo The epic waters of the Zao Onsen Dai Rotenburo.

Once you’ve tired yourself out, wind down in one of the many onsen (hot springs) that give the town its name. Supposedly discovered in 110 A.D., Zao’s hot springs are the oldest in the Tohoku region. The waters are renowned for their high-acidity which helps heal skin conditions and gastrointestinal disorders – whatever the benefits, this is bath time at its most epic.

There are three public bathhouses and each hotel has its own fully fitted onsen too. However, it’s the three open-air onsen you should make time for. Sitting in a hot bath while looking out into the forest at any time of the year is an unforgettable experience.

The Dai Rotenburo (Big Outdoor Spring) sits deep in a mountain ravine. With views that overlook the surrounding snow-coated mountains and forests, it makes stripping off in front of strangers totally worth it. Plus, this particular onsen is one of our Top 30 Tattoo-friendly onsen in Japan.

Hiking Mount Zao

Most famous for having the shape of a pot, Okama crater can only be seen at a distance.

If you miss the winter season, Zao Onsen is a hiker’s paradise during the rest of the year. Mountain guides can be hired to show you around or simply choose one of its many courses and explore by yourself. Most routes lead to the enormous Okama crater, or the Five Color Lake, in the middle of volcanic Mount Zao.

Take the Zao Echo Line trail to Kattadake, from where you can get a view of the crater from a picture-perfect distance.

Zao is a magical place, filled with natural elegance no matter the season.

It is not difficult to see why countless visitors flock to the famous “hell” in Nagano Prefecture especially in winter.

The world-famous “Snow Monkey Park” is located in the Valley of Yokoyu River in northern Nagano, where steep cliffs and steaming hot springs in the area resemble harsh hell-like conditions — but in a picturesque kind of way. Hence the park name Jigokudani, which literally means “Hell Valley” in Japanese.

Thanks to the heavy snow that the park receives each year, we are able to watch families of Japanese macaque monkeys happily bathe in roasting hot springs up close.

Hell Valley

Can’t monkeys get a little privacy?

The drive up to Jigokudani through a mountainous forest is quite bendy and narrow. But once you arrive, you will instantly realize the changes in your surrounding landscape. Suddenly, there are only cliffs, rivers and steam coming from small hot springs.

Explore Nagano

The park is open all-year-round and is beautiful in all seasons. Winter, though, is by far the best season to visit as the snow monkeys are most likely to be bathing in the hot springs, which is listed as one of GaijinPot’s Travel’s iconic cultural experiences. Needless to say, the bathing monkeys are cute to watch. Monkey babies napping on their mother’s tummy also makes an adorable scene.

Bathing macaques

The famous snow monkeys of Nagano.

There are over 160 snow monkeys at Jigokudani. Visitors can get close, but make sure you don’t touch or feed them. (There are plenty of staff members checking human behaviors.)

Unfortunately, the outdoor hot bath is only for the monkeys, but there is no need to be jealous. You can take a dip in the ryokan (Japanese style inn) called Jigokudani Onsen Korakukan, which is on your way to the park entrance.

If you’d like more hot spring options, know that you’re in a hot spring town already! Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka Onsen are two other popular destinations in the Yamanouchi area, so make sure you take your time and soak in the Nagano vibes besides adoring fluffy, pink-faced snow monkeys.

Shiretoko Peninsula is one of Japan’s last untouched regions, with glittering alpine lakes, snow-capped mountains, and beautiful ocean views. Located on the northeast edge of Hokkaido, Shiretoko is ripe for outdoor activities like camping and even walking on drift ice floating down from Russia.

A family of sika deer in Shiretoko National Park.

The name Shiretoko is derived from the indigenous Japanese Ainu term sir etok, which means “end of the world.” The region is still home to one of the largest Ainu populations who are considered Japan’s original people. Many sites on the peninsula are spiritually significant to them.

In 2005, UNESCO named Shiretoko Peninsula a World Heritage Site due to its abundance of wildlife and marine ecosystems. Although UNESCO sites often bring hordes of tourists, the peninsula is isolated enough that it remains relatively untarnished.

Outdoor activities in Shiretoko

Take a stroll on the ice.

Most of the peninsula is designated as Shiretoko National Park. The park is a pristine expanse of wilderness and so remote that there’s not even a road to connect you to the outermost edges of Shiretoko.

The most popular attractions at Shiretoko Peninsula will have you appreciating nature on both land and sea. You can walk on the Okhotsk Sea during the winter months on drift ice that flows down to Shiretoko from Russia. This unique experience is something you can’t do anywhere else in the world!

Famous Foods You'll Find in Hokkaido

A few different hiking routes that circle the scenic Shiretoko Five Lakes region may steer you face-to-face with deer, raccoon dogs, and red foxes. Between May and July, you may even stumble upon a brown bear so be careful!

Oshinkoshin Falls and Oronko Rock

Oshinkoshin Falls in summer.

Natural sights on Shiretoko include Oshinkoshin Falls and Oronko Rock, which are considered sacred by the Ainu.

Oshinkoshin means “beautifully forked waterfalls” in the Ainu language and is known for its two wide streams. Oronko Rock, or Oronkoiwa, named after the indigenous Oronko people, is a massive rock formation jutting out of the sand. Visitors who climb the 60-meter staircase on the rock’s side will be rewarded with a stunning view of the sunset at the end of the day.

Shiretoko Pass is another popular destination. It marks the highest point where the east coast connects to the peninsula’s west coast. The observation deck at the pass has incredible views of some of the nearby islands and the snowy peaks across the peninsula.

Accommodation in Shiretoko

Rausu is one of the Shiretoko Peninsula’s last villages.

The best places to stay in the Shiretoko Peninsula are its gateway towns, Rausu and Utoro. Rausu is located on the eastern coast, while Utoro can be found on the western coast.

These are fishing villages-turned-tourist hubs, which both have natural hot springs perfect for keeping warm or relaxing sore muscles. Utoro is also home to one of Japan’s Godzilla rocks. It makes sense that the Shiretoko Peninsula would be the big guy’s stomping grounds.

These are the last large villages where you can find amenities like hotels, restaurants, and visitor centers. Aside from a few lonesome lodges and cabins, north of these towns is mostly pure wilderness (perfect for camping!). Both towns are well-connected to other sections of the Shiretoko Peninsula via tourist shuttles and busses and offer sightseeing boating tours.

• Feb. 9 to 16, 2020
• The main festival areas are lit up from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Otaru is a charming harbor city in Japan’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido. Its historic streets and picturesque canal make it the perfect location for this fairytale winter festival. Hundreds of lanterns floating in the freezing canal transform the city into an ethereal wonderland, their soft glow reflected in the serene water.

The beautiful sight is referred to as the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival (Otaru Yuki Akari no Michi).

Photo by: かがみ～ Oh, the romance.

Alongside the canal, small illuminated snow sculptures form a second river of light. The flickering candles create a wonderfully cozy atmosphere. This festival is a much more peaceful affair compared to the nearby Sapporo Snow Festival. Helpfully, Otaru’s festival is timed to coincide with Sapporo’s, so that visitors can easily enjoy both events.

The organizers intentionally want to keep the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival more spiritual than commercial. Their website encourages visitors to relax and forget about their busy daily lives. Simply enjoy the tranquil, otherworldly atmosphere created by the soft light.

Other festival sites

The festival is held mainly along the Otaru Canal, but a second festival site is located along the tracks of the town’s abandoned Temiya railway line which was built in 1880 and remained in service for just over 100 years. Here you’ll find food stalls, a snow tunnel, and hand-crafted, illuminated snow statues. Many locals also create their own lanterns for the festival, which they display in front of their shops and houses.

Photo by: Kirk K Sample Otaru’s amazing seafood while you’re there.

In addition, there are two smaller illumination sites further afield. One is the “River Site” in the hot springs village of Asarigawa, where candles are placed on snow-covered stones in the river. The other is Mount Tengu, which offers a spectacular view over Otaru, as well as its own candle displays and lit-up trees.

After you get an eyeful, you should definitely stop at one of the local eateries. Otaru is not just a quaint port town to look at, it’s also serving up some of the freshest seafood in Japan.

• Feb. 15 to Feb. 16, 2020
• Night time Illumination: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Photo by: Akita Prefecture Snow domes!

Kamakura are a traditional feature in parts of northern Japan and this festival in Yokote City, Akita Prefecture, has a history dating back around 450 years. The snow domes were originally built to deify a Shinto water god, and pray for abundant water, bountiful harvests and the safety of the community. Inside the kamakura, you’ll find an altar where you can make an offering to the deity.

See the kamakura lit up at night

When dusk falls, local children invite visitors into the over 100 large kamakura at different sites all around the city. The main locations to visit include Yokote Central City Hall Festival Plaza, Minami Elementary School, and Yokote Castle. The latter extends its opening hours until 10 p.m. so that visitors can also enjoy a stunning night view of the city from the observation deck.

Yokote city turns into a romantic little spot come winter.

If you accept the invitation inside you will be able to enjoy freshly grilled mochi (sticky rice cakes) and amazake (a sweet, low alcohol drink made from fermented rice). It’s perfect for banishing the winter chill!

Both large and small snow domes are constructed along the bank of the Yokote River. These are illuminated from within by candles after dark, creating a second river of flickering light next to the water.

Woah is that Godzilla?

In Yokote’s Kamakurakan Hall, a couple of kamakura are preserved year-round in a special low-temperature room. Even if you can’t visit Yokote during the two days of the festival, it’s still possible to see one of these traditional snow domes for yourself.

Want more winter festivals? Check out our list of the best Snow and Ice Festivals in Japan.

• Feb. 4 to Feb. 11, 2020

Every February, Sapporo, in the country’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, is the site of the week-long festival. It sees a lot of snow in winter and—as a city with a lively vibe—is the perfect venue for Yuki Matsuri.

Larger than life sculptures.

The Snow Festival features hundreds of snow and ice sculptures ranging from big to down-right enormous. Sapporo City’s Odori Park is where the main event takes place. Visitors can take a short walk from Sapporo Station and be entertained all day and night.

Each year, people come to Sapporo to make creative snow and ice sculptures, often based on pop culture. In the past, fan favorites have included carvings dedicated to Star Wars, Final Fantasy, numerous anime characters, and more.

Among the intricate artwork made from snow and ice are pathways lined with food stalls with everything from meat skewers and fresh seafood to “hot milk” (a Hokkaido special), plus live performances ranging from J-Pop to rock.

Photo by: Victoria Vlisides 2017 Snow Fest: PPAP!

The multi-day festival’s popularity has skyrocketed, especially among foreign tourists and especially on the weekends. However, it comes from humble roots starting in 1950 when a few high school students made snow sculptures, according to the official site. Despite just six statues, the festival ended up drawing a crowd of 50,000! In 1955, the Self Defense Force joined in to help make the massive sculptures you still see today.

Before you go

The Snow Festival has three sites, with Odori Park being the main one to see snow sculptures. Odori Park also has illuminated snow structures so you can see them at night until 10 p.m. The second is the Tsudome site, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and has tons of activities like snow rafting and is great for families.

Photo by: Alfie Blincowe A snow sculpture at the 2018 Sapporo Snow Fest.

Last is Station Avenue (Ekimae-dori), which has beautiful illuminated ice sculptures. These are usually open for viewing until 11 p.m. and 10 p.m. on the last day of the festival.

Sapporo 2013: Illuminated snow sculpture The Land of Ice ~ Princess of White Wings.

Accommodation

Most people stay in Sapporo city, but you may need to branch out a little depending on how early you book it. Reasonably priced accommodation—like hostels and Air BnBs—book up months in advance, so plan early. Some may end up staying in Chitose City, which is closer to New Chitose Airport. However, it’s 30-60 mins away from Sapporo, depending on the train you take.

Photo by: Victoria Vlisides 2017 Snow Fest: Final Fantasy!

While you’re in the Sapporo area, it’s worth heading out of the city after you get your fill of the snow festival, which you could easily enjoy for at least two days. You can also sightsee in the charming port town of Otaru, with its lighted canal and amazing onsen, or Jozankei for skiing and even more onsen.

• 2020 Dates: Jan. 5 to Feb. 24
• Mon to Thurs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Fri, Sat, Sun until 8 p.m. The nighttime lights are from sunset on Fri through Sun only.
• Due to warm weather, very few icicles have formed in winter 2020. For more updates, please visit the official website.

The Icicles of Ashigakubo (Ashigakubo no Tsurara) in the town of Yokoze are the perfect winter getaway from Tokyo. Here, visitors can see amazing artificial ice formations from January to February.

Photo by: Maureen Del Rosario The icy neon feel of the place!

It’s one of the Three Great Icicles of Chichibu, which includes the Icicles of Onouchi and the Icicles of Misotsuchi. While all three possess their own distinct beauty, the Icicles of Ashigakubo are the most easily accessible.

How are the icicles made?

This popular attraction has popped up every year since 2015, thanks to the locals. They make the frozen structures by spraying water on a small hill until it becomes crystallized in the freezing weather. At night, it becomes illuminated with vibrant lights.

Although artificially made, Yokoze’s fresh take on Japanese winter illuminations is an impressive and enchanting sight. Plus, the train ride only takes an hour and a half from Ikebukuro in northern Tokyo.

Photo by: nakkosann See the icicles until 4 p.m. on weekdays.

Ashigakubo highlights

Once the radiant purple, blue, green, and red lights hit the icicles, they create a romantic—almost surreal—photogenic spot for couples. Likewise, children become absolutely wide-eyed, staring at the mesmerizing lights and shapes.

A train passing by from time to time creates even more of a dramatic effect on the icicle’s dreamy atmosphere. Visitors can savor the scenery as they wander around, but the best view is right on the hilltop.

Photo by: visitjapanth A wall of ice.

On the hilltop, visitors can relax and warm themselves by a wood-burning stove while they drink amazake (sweet fermented rice drink) or hot tea. This treat is included in the ¥300 entrance fee.

As a part of the scenic Chichibu district, Yokoze is surrounded by mountains and lush greenery. Although there are no stores at Ashigakubo, there is a souvenir shop at the station 10 minutes away that sells local produce such as honey and handcrafted goods.

Photo by: Maureen Del Rosario Check out the night illumination until 8 p.m.

Lastly, there are food stalls at the train station where you can enjoy hot oden (stew), soba noodles, and other traditional Japanese winter foods. They’re sure to warm your bones on the way to the icicles or serve as a hearty meal before heading back home.

• Jan. 24 to Feb. 16, 2020
• 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Illumination from 4:30 p.m.)

You’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to another world as you wander around these surreal frozen abodes.

Lake Shikotsu is part of the Shikotsu-Toya National Park, in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido. It was formed in a volcanic crater and is surrounded by three volcanic mountains.

Enjoy sculptures, ice skating, and more

Photo by: redlegsfan21 Chitose’s Lake Shikotsu winter festival will light up the night.

During the ice festival, the lake’s water is used to create a huge range of stunning ice sculptures. The statues glisten blue under the sunshine during the day, but at night they’re illuminated in a host of bright colors forming a magical fairytale kingdom. You’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to another world as you wander around (and even inside) these surreal frozen abodes.

The sculptures are the main attraction, but there are plenty of other activities to enjoy during your visit. Glide across the ice rink, go down the ice slide or go for a horseback ride. To take it up a notch, pledge your eternal love for your significant other with an “ice wedding.”

Photo by: Robert Thomson Inside the ice sculptures!

As with any good festival, you can also find plenty of local food and drink stalls. Warm up with a bowl of oden (a classic Japanese soup), hot soba, and udon noodles.

On weekends and holidays, there are additional events including powerful taiko drumming performances and spectacular fireworks displays. After an evening of chilly fun, you can relax in any of the nearby onsen (hot springs). It’s the only suitable honeymoon for an ice wedding, really.

Want more icy winter festivals? Check out our list of the Top 10 Snow and Ice Festivals in Japan. Brrrr.

Niseko is one of our Top 10 Japan Travel Destinations for 2020. Add these spots to your Japan bucket list for the ultimate travel itinerary.

Niseko has gained international recognition over the last decade as one of the best winter resorts in the world, attracting large crowds of skiers and snowboarders. Located on the northern island of Hokkaido, the region experiences more than 15m of annual average snowfall, blanketing 48 km of ski runs in heavenly powder snow.

The spectacular backdrop of Mount Yotei—Hokkaido’s own Mount Fuji—turns every pre-run selfie into a postcard.

The ski season in Niseko can last up to six months, providing ample opportunity for snow shredding.

Gnarly.

The spectacular backdrop of Mount Yotei—Hokkaido’s own Mount Fuji—turns every pre-run selfie into a postcard, one for showing off later among the city’s buzzing dining and nightlife scene.

Four interconnected resorts meet at the top of Mount Niseko Annupuri and you can easily ski between them via groomed runs or off-piste and back-country terrain. There are 38 lifts in total, covering the whole way around the mountain, and they can all be accessed with the Niseko All Mountain Pass (around ¥6,900).

Niseko has countless ski areas.

Alternatively, you can buy passes for each separate area. Discounts start to become available later on during the season in March and April when the crowds start to disappear and accommodation is cheaper to find.

Warm me up, baby

One thing that makes skiing in Japan special is the onsen (hot spring bath) culture. Sinking into a warm natural bath after a hard day on the mountains is a quintessential Japanese winter experience.

Niseko in other seasons

Colorful moss phlox blooms in Niseko from late May to mid-June.

Niseko is also making efforts to become a year-round tourist destination, offering up outdoor activities like hiking and rafting, as well as more genteel options such as golf during the summer. In spring, from late May to mid-June, bright pink moss phlox covers the Mishima Shibazakura Garden.

The carpet of blooming flowers before Mount Yotei is free to the public, attracting flocks of Instagrammers trying to snap the perfect shot. A 15-minute stroll from Kutchan Station will take you there.

Japan is cute animal sanctuary central and what could possibly be cuter than a fox village? In the picturesque mountains of Miyagi prefecture you can watch, feed and take adorable pictures with six different breeds of Japanese foxes.

Once you arrive, stock up on cheap bags of fox food at the entrance and get your camera ready to capture some foxy hijinks.

You can pick up bags of fox food for around 100 yen at the entrance to the village.

The main part of the village works as a kind of open-air fox preserve where foxes roam freely outside. There are a few houses and play areas for the foxes but you can pretty much get away with pretending you’re the Lord of the Foxes in your own live-action fairy tale.

The foxes are wild so avoid trying to get too close to them without permission from the friendly staff. If you do desperately want to play or stroke one of the many fluffy inhabitants, they can set you up with a more docile member of the crew.

A special section is set aside for those who want to cuddle a sleepy fox, and let’s face it, who doesn’t?

This is obviously very popular, so make sure you give yourself enough time to line up before your coach or taxi leaves. If you don’t fancy getting comfy with the real thing, you can always purchase a range of fox plushies and souvenirs from the on-site shop.

Sadly, you can’t take a real one home.

Although accessible all year round, visiting in winter is highly recommended for the ethereal quality it adds to the village. Bring hiking boots (whatever the season) to make it easier to explore in the snow and protect you from the inevitable piles of fox poo.

Foxes get a pretty bad rep for being tricksters in many cultures but in Japan they’re also believed to be magical beings and messengers of Inari Okami, the Shinto deity of fertility, prosperity and rice. After an hour or two hanging out with these little guys you might just believe they’ve got a little magic in them too.