43.06° N · 141.35° E — Odori Park, Sapporo

Guide

Japan in Winter: Snow Festivals, Onsen and Ski Towns

Japan's winter splits two ways: deep snow in Hokkaido and the Alps, cool dry cities further south. What to see, what to book ahead and how the weather differs.

Shiv RajOctober 23, 20265 min read

Checked at the source12 sources, linked

Winter is when Japan is most varied. Hokkaido and the Japanese Alps get deep, regular powder snow. Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka stay cold, dry and mostly snow-free. That makes it easy to combine a ski week, an onsen town and a city stay on one trip. For advisors, the planning risks are a few fixed dates (New Year and the Sapporo Snow Festival) when trains, rooms and restaurants fill up.

Weather: two different winters

Japan Meteorological Agency normals (1991–2020) show the gap:

City	December mean	January mean	February mean
Sapporo	-0.9°C	-3.2°C	-2.7°C
Tokyo	7.7°C	5.4°C	6.1°C

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) notes that snow is rare in most big cities, while the mountains and the north get regular fresh powder. Pack for both: a proper winter coat, plus layers you can take off in heated trains and shops.

Snow festivals

The Sapporo Snow Festival is the big one. The organisers have confirmed the 77th festival for Thursday 4 to Thursday 11 February 2027 (11 February is a public holiday). It runs at three sites:

Odori: large snow sculptures along the park from West 1 to West 11, with the International Snow Sculpture Contest at the western end.
Susukino: on the street in front of the station, from South 4 to South 6.
Tsudome: at the city’s Tsudome sports exchange facility.

The organisers say details will be added in stages. If clients want festival week, book Sapporo hotels as early as you can.

JNTO’s winter guide also points to Zao Onsen in Yamagata, where frost-covered trees form “snow monsters,” and Okayama’s Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Man Festival), held in winter.

Onsen, and how to use one

Snow-ringed outdoor baths are a winter highlight. JNTO highlights Ginzan Onsen (Yamagata), Kusatsu Onsen (Gunma) and Kurokawa Onsen (Kyushu). JNTO’s etiquette guidance:

Wash first. Sit on the stool at the washing area and rinse off all soap before getting in.
No swimwear at most baths. Most onsen require full nudity in the bathing area. Changing rooms are separate: look for 女 (women) and 男 (men) on the curtains.
Towels stay out of the water. Take only a small washcloth into the bath area. Rest it at the edge or on your head.
Tattoos: many onsen still refuse guests with tattoos, though some have relaxed the rule. Check before you go, or book a ryokan with a private bath.

Ski regions: Niseko and Hakuba

Niseko (Hokkaido). Niseko United links four resorts on one mountain: Annupuri, Niseko Village, Grand Hirafu and Hanazono. It plans to open on 28 November 2026. Closing dates run from 4 April to 5 May 2027, depending on the resort. Night skiing is scheduled from 12 December to 22 March. Lift pass prices change by season. For 2026–27 the adult 7-day All Mountain Pass is listed at ¥59,600 in early season, ¥85,200 in regular season and ¥91,500 in peak season (24 December to 28 February). The resort describes January and February as the most consistent powder, and says Lunar New Year makes the village busy and restaurants hard to book.

Hakuba (Nagano). Hakuba Valley brings together ten resorts on one season pass, including Happo-One, Hakuba47, Goryu, Iwatake, Tsugaike and Cortina. The season is scheduled from December 2026 to around early May 2027. JNTO suggests Nagano for skiers based in Tokyo and Hokkaido for the deepest powder.

Snow monkeys

Jigokudani Yaen-koen, in Nagano Prefecture, is the park where wild Japanese macaques soak in a hot spring. Its winter hours (November to March) are 09:00–16:00, and the park asks visitors to arrive at least 30 minutes before closing. Adult admission is currently listed at ¥800 (child ¥400). The park says fees will be revised from 1 December 2026.

The monkeys bathe mainly to keep warm in winter, and the park warns they don’t appear every day. There are no paved paths, so the park can’t take wheelchairs or strollers, and no pets are allowed. Bathing with the monkeys is prohibited. It pairs well with a Hakuba or Nagano stay.

Illuminations and winter cities

In winter, the big cities put on light shows. A JNTO winter round-up lists Tokyo Mega Illumi at Oi Racecourse, Omotesando and Roppongi Hills illuminations, Osaka Castle and Osaka Hikari Renaissance. It also lists Christmas markets in Tokyo, Osaka and at Yokohama’s Red Brick Warehouse. Dates change every year, so check each organiser’s site.

For New Year, JNTO suggests hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year, at Heian-jingu or Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto, Meiji-jingu in Tokyo or Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osaka. Planning a Kyoto stay? See our guide to where to stay in Kyoto.

Winter food

Winter is hot-pot (nabe) season. JNTO’s nabe guide covers sukiyaki, shabu-shabu, chanko nabe (associated with sumo wrestlers), and oden, sold in winter at convenience stores and street stalls. It also covers Hokkaido’s Ishikari nabe, a miso broth with salmon, and Kyoto’s yudofu, tofu simmered in kelp broth. JNTO also lists ramen among the season’s warming dishes.

What to book ahead

New Year. JNTO warns that many restaurants and attractions close over the New Year holidays. JR Central makes all Nozomi seats reserved-only during major peak periods (it publishes the dates). Book trains as soon as seats open.
Sapporo, 4–11 February 2027. Hotels in festival week.
Ski weeks over Christmas and Lunar New Year. Lodging, ski school and restaurant tables in Niseko.
Ryokan with private baths. Useful for tattooed travellers and families.

Rail passes are covered in our guide Is the JR Pass still worth it?. Shopping rules change on 1 November 2026. Under Japan’s new refund method, visitors pay consumption tax at the till and get it back after Customs confirms the goods are leaving Japan. Our tax-free refund explainer has the details. For the country overview, see our Japan destination file.

FAQ

When is the Sapporo Snow Festival 2027?
Thursday 4 to Thursday 11 February 2027, at the Odori, Susukino and Tsudome sites, according to the organisers.

Is Tokyo snowy in winter?
Rarely. JMA normals give Tokyo a January mean of 5.4°C, against -3.2°C in Sapporo.

Can you see snow monkeys all winter?
The Jigokudani park is open 09:00–16:00 from November to March. The monkeys bathe mainly in winter, but the park warns they don’t appear every day.

Can I use an onsen with tattoos?
Many onsen still refuse tattooed guests, though some have relaxed the rule. Check in advance or book a private bath.

When does the Niseko ski season start?
Niseko United plans to open on 28 November 2026. Closing dates run into April and early May 2027, depending on the resort.

Lift prices, park fees and festival details change often; check the official pages linked above before booking.

Last checked: 19 October 2026

Sources

Where to stay near Odori Park, Sapporo

Map by Stay22. If you book through it we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. It never decides what we write.

Shiv Raj Contributor

Sources are linked above. Spot an error? See our corrections policy.