5 of Japan’s Most Beautiful Winter Destinations

Visitors from around the world fly to Japan in the spring or fall to revel in the pink cherry blossoms or fiery red leaves, but many are instead sleeping in the country’s many uniquely beautiful winter destinations. In addition to its ski and hot spring resorts, Japan is dotted with dazzling snowscapes immortalized in paintings such as Hiroshige’s “Late Snow in Kanbaru” and literary works such as this. snow country Kawabata Yasunari.

These wintry landscapes are worth exploring and admiring, allowing you to make the most of January and February – months that are often considered the off-season. From bizarre towering “snow monsters” to the mesmerizing sight of bathing snow monkeys, these five iconic locations transform the season’s chill into evocative and poetic images.

Shirakawa-go, Gokayama Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture, Toyama Prefecture

Glowing softly amid the snow-capped peaks of the Japanese Alps, the Shirakawa-go and Gokayama regions boast one of Japan’s most unique and stunning winter landscapes. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, the area features Gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are believed to be more than 250 years old, and feature distinctive thatched roofs that are angled to protect against heavy snowfall. When late winter sets in in January and February, you may be lucky enough to see the valley cloaked in white, framing a fairy-tale townscape beneath a shimmering velvet sky.

These two areas are home to three traditional villages: Ogimachi in Shirakawa-go and Aikura and Suganuma in Gokayama. Of these, Ogimachi is the largest and most tourist-friendly, and many of its farmhouses are now home to restaurants or museums. Some have also been converted into minshuku – family-run Japanese bed and breakfasts – for overnight stays.

On select nights in January and February, the village hosts its famous light event; admission is by reservation only, and the viewing platform is restricted to package tours or overnight guests.

Zao Snow Monster in Yamagata and Miyagi Prefectures

On the slopes of the Zao Mountains, which straddle the border of Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures, beautiful and bizarre natural phenomena occur every winter. Driven by harsh sub-zero temperatures and fierce Siberian winds, the mountain’s native fir trees were covered in layers of ice and packed snow, transforming them into towering, misshapen figures reminiscent of a Tim Burton movie.

Affectionately known as the Zao Snow Monster, or “juhyo” in Japanese, these ice trees are most easily seen near the top of Zao Onsen Ski Resort. Winter sports enthusiasts can enjoy skiing and snowboarding in the cold beasts, but arguably the best way to view them from above is via the Zao Ropeway, which is accessible to skiers and non-skiers alike. From Zao Sanroku Station, take the Sanroku Line to Juhyo Plateau Station, then transfer to the Summit Line to Jizo Summit Station.

From late December to early March, the trees are illuminated at night, creating an even more otherworldly view that can be admired from all angles around the mountain. There are also nighttime tours where visitors can see the monsters up close on heated snowcats.

The surrounding Zao Onsen town is a very popular winter sports and hot springs destination, with a variety of accommodation options including hotels and traditional inns. If you want to see the monsters in their prime, it is recommended to go in mid-February.

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