Old townSnow · Drift Ice · Rime Ice
Japan Winter Scenery Guide: Snow, Drift Ice & Rime Ice
Drift ice, snow monsters, snow-covered thatched villages, frozen waterfalls and snowy hot spring towns: Japan’s best winter scenery with typical seasons, illuminations, access and tips for staying warm. Seasons, hours and prices are listed only when confirmed by official sources.
Calendar
Winter Scenery Calendar
Sorted by when the season usually starts. Snow scenery begins around December; drift ice and frozen waterfalls are best from late January through February.
Early Nov
- Otaru Canal in Winter(Hokkaido)
- Amaharashi Coast(Chubu & Hokuriku)
Mid Nov
Late Nov
- Kusasenri Rime Ice (Aso)(Kyushu)
Early Dec
- Hirosaki Park (Hirosaki Castle) in Winter(Tohoku)
- Geibikei Gorge Kotatsu Boat(Tohoku)
- Miyama Kayabuki-no-Sato in Snow(Kansai)
- Yamadera (Hojusan Risshakuji Temple) in Snow(Tohoku)
- Hoshino Resorts Tomamu Frost Tree Terrace(Hokkaido)
- Shinhotaka Ropeway(Chubu & Hokuriku)
Mid Dec
- Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park(Chubu & Hokuriku)
- Kenroku-en Garden Yukitsuri(Chubu & Hokuriku)
- Ginzan Onsen(Tohoku)
- Shirogane Blue Pond & Shirahige Falls (Winter Illumination)(Hokkaido)
- Hakuba Iwatake HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR(Chubu & Hokuriku)
Late Dec
- Fukuji Onsen Aodaru Ice Pillars(Chubu & Hokuriku)
- Mt. Gozaisho Rime Ice(Kansai)
- Shirakawa-go Ogimachi Gassho-zukuri Village(Chubu & Hokuriku)
Early Jan
- Hachimanzaka Slope in Winter (Motomachi, Hakodate)(Hokkaido)
- Tsurui Red-crowned Cranes (Tsurumidai & Tsurui-Ito Tancho Sanctuary)(Hokkaido)
- Goryokaku Park & Goryokaku Tower in Winter(Hokkaido)
- Ouchi-juku in Snow(Tohoku)
- Hakkoda Rime Ice (Hakkoda Ropeway)(Tohoku)
- Kegon Falls Frozen Waterfall(Tokyo & Around)
- Gokayama Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village(Chubu & Hokuriku)
- Gokayama Suganuma Gassho-zukuri Village(Chubu & Hokuriku)
- Frozen Lake Akan (Lake Akan in Winter)(Hokkaido)
Mid Jan
- Tamasudare Falls Frozen Waterfall(Tohoku)
- Misotsuchi Icicles(Tokyo & Around)
- Jewelry Ice (Otsu Beach, Toyokoro)(Hokkaido)
- Ashigakubo Icicles(Tokyo & Around)
- Hida Folk Village (Hida no Sato)(Chubu & Hokuriku)
- Kogano Falls Ice (Aso)(Kyushu)
Late Jan
- Jozankei Onsen Snow Scenery & Yukitoro(Hokkaido)
- Kakunodate Samurai District in Snow(Tohoku)
- Lake Towada in Winter (Yasumiya)(Tohoku)
- Oirase Gorge Ice Falls(Tohoku)
- Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura & Snow Scenery(Tokyo & Around)
- Abashiri Drift Ice & Aurora Icebreaker(Hokkaido)
- Shiretoko Utoro Drift Ice(Hokkaido)
- Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan(Hokkaido)
- Notsuke Peninsula Frozen Sea (Hyoheisen)(Hokkaido)
Early Feb
- Narai-juku(Chubu & Hokuriku)
Mid Feb
- Hirayu Great Falls(Chubu & Hokuriku)
- Mombetsu Drift Ice & Garinko Icebreaker(Hokkaido)
Mid Apr
Hokkaido
Winter Scenery in Hokkaido
Old town
Rime iceHoshino Resorts Tomamu Frost Tree Terrace
Hokkaido ・ Tomamu, Shimukappu
❄ Best season: Early Dec – Early Apr
LakeShirogane Blue Pond & Shirahige Falls (Winter Illumination)
Hokkaido ・ Shirogane, Biei
❄ Best season: Mid Dec – Late Mar
✦ Illumination
Old townHachimanzaka Slope in Winter (Motomachi, Hakodate)
Hokkaido ・ Hakodate
❄ Best season: Early Jan – Late Feb
✦ Illumination
Park & natureTsurui Red-crowned Cranes (Tsurumidai & Tsurui-Ito Tancho Sanctuary)
Hokkaido ・ Tsurui
❄ Best season: Early Jan – Late Feb
CastleGoryokaku Park & Goryokaku Tower in Winter
Hokkaido ・ Hakodate
❄ Best season: Early Jan – Late Feb
✦ Illumination
LakeFrozen Lake Akan (Lake Akan in Winter)
Hokkaido ・ Akan-cho, Kushiro
❄ Best season: Early Jan – Late Mar
Drift ice & frozen lake
Hot spring townJozankei Onsen Snow Scenery & Yukitoro
Hokkaido ・ Jozankei, Minami-ku, Sapporo
❄ Best season: Late Jan – Early Feb
✦ Illumination
Drift ice & frozen lakeAbashiri Drift Ice & Aurora Icebreaker
Hokkaido ・ Abashiri & Shiretoko
❄ Best season: Late Jan – Early Mar
Drift ice & frozen lake
Lake
Drift ice & frozen lakeNotsuke Peninsula Frozen Sea (Hyoheisen)
Hokkaido ・ Notsuke Peninsula, Betsukai
❄ Best season: Late Jan – Mid Mar
Drift ice & frozen lakeTohoku
Winter Scenery in Tohoku
CastleTsuruga Castle (Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle) in Snow
Tohoku ・ Aizu-Wakamatsu & Ouchi-juku
❄ Best season: Mid Nov – Mid Mar
✦ Illumination
CastleHirosaki Park (Hirosaki Castle) in Winter
Tohoku ・ Hirosaki
❄ Best season: Early Dec – Late Feb
✦ Illumination
Gorge
TempleYamadera (Hojusan Risshakuji Temple) in Snow
Tohoku ・ Yamagata, Zao & Yamadera
❄ Best season: Early Dec – Late Mar
Hot spring town
Snowy village
Rime ice
Frozen waterfall & icicles
Old townKakunodate Samurai District in Snow
Tohoku ・ Kakunodate, Lake Tazawa & Nyuto Onsen
❄ Best season: Late Jan – Late Feb
✦ Illumination
Lake
Frozen waterfall & icicles
Snow corridorTokyo & Around
Winter Scenery in Tokyo & Around
Frozen waterfall & icicles
Frozen waterfall & icicles
Frozen waterfall & icicles
Hot spring townYunishigawa Onsen Kamakura & Snow Scenery
Tokyo & Around ・ Nikko
❄ Best season: Late Jan – Late Feb
✦ Illumination
Chubu & Hokuriku
Winter Scenery in Chubu & Hokuriku
Mountain & highland
Mountain & highland
Park & natureJigokudani Snow Monkey Park
Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Nagano / Yudanaka-Shibu Onsen
❄ Best season: Mid Dec – Late Feb
Park & natureKenroku-en Garden Yukitsuri
Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Kanazawa
❄ Best season: Mid Dec – Late Feb
✦ Illumination
Mountain & highland
Frozen waterfall & iciclesFukuji Onsen Aodaru Ice Pillars
Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Okuhida, Gifu
❄ Best season: Late Dec – Late Feb
✦ Illumination
Snowy villageShirakawa-go Ogimachi Gassho-zukuri Village
Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Shirakawa-go
❄ Best season: Late Dec – Early Mar
✦ Illumination
Snowy villageGokayama Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village
Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Gokayama, Toyama
❄ Best season: Early Jan – Late Feb
✦ Illumination
Snowy villageGokayama Suganuma Gassho-zukuri Village
Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Gokayama, Toyama
❄ Best season: Early Jan – Late Feb
✦ Illumination
Snowy villageHida Folk Village (Hida no Sato)
Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Takayama
❄ Best season: Mid Jan – Late Feb
✦ Illumination
Old town
Frozen waterfall & iciclesKansai
Winter Scenery in Kansai
Snowy villageMiyama Kayabuki-no-Sato in Snow
Kansai ・ Miyama, Kyoto
❄ Best season: Early Dec – Late Feb
✦ Illumination
Rime iceKyushu
Winter Scenery in Kyushu
Rime ice
Frozen waterfall & iciclesSeasons, hours, prices and access are based on official sources such as the spot’s own website, local governments and tourism associations. Winter weather often causes suspensions and road closures, so check the official website before you go.
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