Get to know Japan in winter season
While Japan is most often associated with its springtime cherry blossoms, winter is also a superlative time to visit. With perfect pistes, riotous festivals, and steaming hot springs – for people and primates – this season has something for everyone.
Let's hit best powder snow top of the world.
Blessed with a mountainous landscape and some of the heaviest snowfall in the world, is it any wonder that Japan boasts some 600 ski resorts? Although the mountains might not compare to the scale of the Alps or the Rockies, the region of Hokkaido compensates by offering the most reliable ski season in the world, with certain resorts averaging 60 ft (18 m) of snow-fall annually.
The best-quality for you to hit the slope with it best known for receiving the world's best powder snow throughout winter found in Niseko, where you can take advantage of the buoyant après-ski, as well as the excellent skiing and snowboarding conditions.
Cost as a one-day pass during the peak season will set you back at ¥6,800, but it's only ¥8,500 when set your back for all mountain counterpart and with a big group, or you're going for a long period of time, those cost really do add up.
Budget: Vary by time you spend - ¥6,800 - ¥8,500 up
A Good Soak with tradition Japanese's onsen.
Sit in a steaming rotenburo (outdoor onsen), overlooking wintry surrounds, for the ultimate relaxing experience. Hokkaido, with its smol-dering volcanoes, has more rotenburo than any other prefecture, but there are many more across the country. In Northern Honshu, there is even a bath that caters solely to monkeys. Red-faced macaques soak in the hot pools at the Jigokudani Monkey Park.
Visit Most famous snow festival in Sapporo
Japan receives more snow for its latitude than any other country on earth, and the Japanese celebrate this epic snowfall with enthusiasm. The most famous snow festival is held in Sapporo, where hundreds of sculptures, crafted from ice and snow, punctuate the city. Look around at night, when the sculptures of global landmarks and sci-fi characters are illuminated with neon lights. Step inside one of the ice huts – or kamakura – at the Yokote Kamakura Festival to enjoy a mochi (rice cake), chased down with warming amazake (low-alcohol sake).
