| Snow falls almost everywhere in Japan. |
Not only Hokkaido, but areas throughout Japan see snow from January to March. Snow sometimes even falls on cold days in Tokyo and Osaka. Snowstorms sometimes hit the high altitude places in Kyushu and Shikoku too!
That said, the snow generally only stays on the ground in winter in the Northern areas. How about looking for a new snowy landscape this year?
You can actually reach a place that is covered in at least 3 cm of snow in only an hour or so shinkansen ride from Tokyo. |
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| World natural heritage site. This place that is famous for ice drifts as well as snow offers many activities you can only experience here. Tourist spots in Shiretoko and the rest of east Hokkaido are all connected by express buses so you can enjoy traveling solo even in winter when it would be dangerous with a rental vehicle. |
■Access:
Take the bus for 2 hours and 15 minutes from Memanbetsu airport
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■Recommendations for accommodations:
GENESIS search engine
| City/Area |
Hokkaido
-Shiretoko peninsula |
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Shiretoko Grand Hotel Kitakobushi JPY 26,600～ With Breakfast & Dinner、Twin (sleeps 2) |
| The only Japanese resort hotel that faces the harbor and offers amazing views of the Sea of Okhotsk from the bathhouse on the 8th floor and the open-air bath on the top floor. |
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Shiretoko Daiichi Hotel JPY 22,200～ With Breakfast、Japanese Room (sleeps 2) |
| Located on a small hill in Utoro Onsen with great views, the floor of main hall in the hotel is covered with high-end luxury carpet. Amazing landscapes can be enjoyed from the three-storey bathhouse while taking a bath. |
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10% Discount! Drift Ice Sightseeing on the Aurora Icebreaker from Abashiri |
JPY 3,000 |
GENESIS search engine
| Tabs | private arengemet |
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Private arrangement
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servise |
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hans-on-activity
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| Service Code |
ACT1H88103HHB
ACT1H88203HHB
ACT1H88303HHB
ACT1H88403HHB
ACT1H88503HHB |
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Participants on this tour will experience a cruise aboard the Aurora icebreaker ship and enjoy seeing the drift ice floating on the water.
Normally priced at JPY 3,300 per adult, this tour is available at a JPY 300 discount, bringing the price to JPY 3000.
Ride atop drift ice at the bow of the ship, pushing forward as the ship breaks through the drift ice. You will be thrilled being able to see drift ice up close!
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Drift Ice Walk® at Shiretoko |
JPY 4,800 |
GENESIS search engine
| Tabs | private arengemet |
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Private arrangement
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servise |
| Services |
hans-on-activity
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| Service Code |
ACT1H89604HHB
ACT1H89704HHB
ACT1H89804HHB |
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Put on a special dry suit and head out to explore the Okhotsk Sea, which is teeming with drift ice. Enjoy this mysterious world created by Mother Nature. Don't miss this extraordinary experience!
Normally priced at JPY 5,100/adult, this tour is available here for the discounted price of JPY 4,800/adult.
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There are many places across the Tohoku region where you can get an up-close look at the soft rime art that is created by special temperature and wind. There are various tours from the hot spring area that is the source where you can see it easily.
Zao is a famous ski resort that offers a special experience with a convenient ski lift from which you can descend the slope through the soft rime and not only look at the scenery, but also ski down through it.
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■Access:
Yamagata Zao: From JR Yamagata station (Yamagata Shinkansen), take the bus for 40 minutes and get off at Zao Onsen
Miyagi Zao: From JR Shiroishi-Zao station (Yamagata Shinkansen), take the bus for 47 minutes and get off at Togatta Onsen
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■Recommendations for accommodations:
GENESIS search engine
| City/Area |
Yamagata Prefecture
-Zao Onsen |
| City/Area |
Miyagi Prefecture
-Miyagi zao/Toggata onsen |
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HotelHammondTakamiya(Zao Onsen) JPY 13,500~ With Breakfast、Twin (sleeps 2) |
| The log-style bathhouses use the well-known Zao hot springs and guests can make themselves comfortable in the well appointed guest rooms. |
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Miyagi Zao Royal Hotel(Miyagi Zao/Togatta Onsen) JPY 17,900~ With Breakfast、Twin (sleeps 2) |
| A resort hotel tucked away in a vast natural landscape with endless fun and activities to enjoy across the seasons. The hotel's location is suitable for sightseeing in Miyagi, Yamagata and Fukushima prefectures. The hotel is also the place where the soft rime tour begins. |
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Tohoku Snow Monster Tour in Zao, Miyagi via Snowcat(From Sendai) |
JPY 7,000 |
GENESIS search engine
| Tabs | private arengemet |
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Private arrangement
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servise |
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hans-on-activity
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| Service Code |
ACT1J02104TTB |
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“Snow monsters” - trees covered in snow and ice - are beautiful, natural works of art created by the unique conditions on Mt. Zao.
Marvel at the snow monster trees while touring around the ski slopes on the “Wild Monster”, a new, heater equipped passenger snowcat.
Includes a round-trip shuttle bus from Sendai Station!
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"Juhyo[Snow Monster] Illusion Corridor" Night Tour via Snowmobile in Zao, Yamagata |
JPY 3,500 |
GENESIS search engine
| Tabs | private arengemet |
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Private arrangement
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servise |
| Services |
hans-on-activity
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| Service Code |
ACT1T02201TTC |
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Get lost in a fantasy world created by swathes of illuminated Snow Monsters at night--an experience completely different from seeing their dazzling-white appearance during the day.
This tour is typically available for booking within 7 days of the tour date when there are open seats on group tours, but bookings on this plan are available earlier than 7 days before departure. Also take advantage of this low price (Normally JPY 3,800/adult). |
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| It has been almost three years since the Hokuriku shinkansen line opened. Kanazawa that is becoming an increasingly popular sightseeing spot accessible from Tokyo is often considered the most gorgeous in winter during snowfalls. Old towns like the samurai residences and the tea house town become covered in white and the snowy landscape in the Kenroku-en Garden that is one of the top three gardens in Japan presents the perfect beauty of form with snow accumulating on ropes strung around the pine trees to keep the branches from breaking. Be sure to see Kanazawa in winter. For accommodation, in addition to hotels in the city, lodging is also available in a hot spring village with high quality buildings offering excellent food and service, so how about staying there? |
■Access:
From JR Kanazawa station (Hokuriku Shinkansen), take the JR Hokuriku Main Line for 27 minutes and get off at Kaga-Onsen station
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■Recommendations for accommodations:
GENESIS search engine
| City/Area |
Ishikawa prefecture
-Downtown Kanazawa
-Katayamazu,
Yamashiro,
Yamanaka Onsen |
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Hanamurasaki (Katayaamzu/Ymashiro/aymanaka) JPY 61,700~ With Breakfast & Dinner、Japanese Room (sleeps 2) |
| With both check-in and out time set to 12 noon, guests can have a relaxed stay. Enjoy the distinctive atmosphere of both the large shared baths and the rooftop open-air baths. |
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ANA Crowne Plaza Kanazawa （Downtown Kanazawa） JPY 23,300~ Room Only、Double (sleeps 2) |
| Located right in front of JR Kanazawa Station, this hotel is perfect for leisure or business. Rooms are designed for comfort, each including LAN Internet access and an electric trousers press. Also, ANA Crown Plaza Hotel's original sleep comfort program "Sleep Advantage"menu is available. Guests can choose from prepared pillows and aromatic oils. Other available amenities include eye-warmers and bathwater additives. The hotel's open, bright atmosphere is very popular among female guests. The hotel also actively accepts many guests from oversea. |
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Shirakawago & Takayama Platinum Route Tour /With Lunch(From Kanazawa) |
JPY 10,800 |
GENESIS search engine
| Tabs | TOUR |
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Departing
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Wed.,Thu. |
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kanazawa
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| Service Code |
BUS1C03312CCB |
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Take this shuttle bus from Kanazawa to Shirakawago, then on to Takayama. Visit popular spots in 1 day on this reasonably priced tour.
Enjoy lunch at Shirakawago featuring a menu full of delicious mountain delicacies. Approximately 75 minutes is allotted at Takayama for participants to go sightseeing.
Along the way also enjoy a senbei (rice cracker) baking experience, as well as shopping for local souvenirs.
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| As the cold becomes very harsh in Japan, both humans and monkeys want to sit in the hot springs. It is very rare to see monkeys soaking in open-air baths welling up from the snowy landscape, so this famous spot receives many visitors throughout the cold days. This is true despite the fact that it takes a train and bus ride followed by a 30-minute walk to see the monkeys. The hot spring village that is the most convenient place for seeing this park is a lovely spot with old-fashioned streets from which you can visit the different baths. It is also a base for going skiing. |
■Access:
From JR Nagano station (Nagano Shinkansen), take the Nagano Electric Railway for 45 minutes and get off at Yudanaka station
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■Recommendations for accommodations：Yudanaka,Shibu
GENESIS search engine
| City/Area |
Nagano
-Yudanaka Shibu Onsen Village |
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Shibu Hotel (Nagano) JPY 24,400~ With Breakfast、Japanese Room (sleeps 2) |
| Relax in a hot spring and listen to reminiscent songs from childhood. This hotel gives its guests the opportunity to take a trip back to a simpler time. |
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Aburaya Tousen JPY 28,600~ With Breakfast & Dinner、Japanese Room (sleeps 2) |
| In its 2nd renewal in 2004 and 2007, the hotel added 9 new rooms with open-air baths. A bathhouse on the 7th floor, a stone sauna and aromatherapy facilities were also added for guests' relaxation. Wagyu beef plan is also available |
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1-Day Snow Monkey Tour (From Nagano) |
JPY 16,900 |
GENESIS search engine
| Tabs | TOUR |
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Departing
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Mon.,Wed.,Fri. |
Departs from
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Nagano |
| Service Code |
GDT1J00241CCS |
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Visit the Jigokudani Monkey Park, a world-famous park where Japanese macaques can be seen up close as they freely soak in hot springs. The hot spring baths here are exclusively for wild monkeys, the only one of its kind in the world. Enjoy seeing the monkeys' charming expressions while they spend time relaxing in hot springs.
Visit the Zenko-ji Temple, a designated National Treasure. |
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| If asked where is the top hot spring paradise in Japan, the answer would be Gunma prefecture. The most highly recommendable spot in the prefecture is Minakami that is an hour from Tokyo station and offers powder snow and open-air baths. There is an endless number of accommodations with excellent open-air baths in stunning rural scenery. Especially famous is Takaragawa Onsen Osenkaku that was the main shooting location for the movie Thermae Romae. Also please enjoy the hot springs where you can choose your ideal accommodation based on price and style. At Minakami, you can enjoy skiing as well as lots of other snow activities. |
■Access:
Take the JR Joetsu Shinkansen and get off at Jomokogen station
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■Recommendations for accommodations:minakami
GENESIS search engine
| City/Area |
Gunma prefecture
-Minakamikogen,
Okutone Onsen Village |
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Okutone Onsen Hotel Sunbird JPY 16,500~ With Breakfast & Dinner、Japanese Room (sleeps 2) |
| Guests to this hotel can soak in the 11 private reservable open-air baths and a large open-air bath with sweeping views of the natural woodlands. Guests can have strolls through the abundant nature with numerous flowers and take part in various outdoor activities. |
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Minakami Kogen Hotel 200 JPY 24,600~ With Breakfast、Twin (sleeps 2) |
| This resort hotel offers sports facilities such as golf, tennis, and skiing for guests' leisure and enjoyment. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Minakami Highlands, guests can look forward to sports or hiking before taking a relaxing soak in the hot spring baths. English and Chinese speaking staff are on hand. |
