JAPANESE WINTER

These "cherry blossoms" at Hirosaki Castle in Aomori Prefecture are bringing some much needed warmth to Japan's wintery north.

Japanese photographer Yusuke Komatsu's "Snow in Tokyo" series shows the beauty of Japan's huge metropolis on the rare occasions it receives snowfall.

The Sapporo Snow Festival is underway in Hokkaido, with more than 190 snow and ice sculptures on display around the city between February 4 to February 11.

Check out our guide to Hokkaido’s biggest and best snow and ice festivals—perfect for making the most of the cold weather!

While Japan is famous for its stunning cherry blossoms in spring, red leaves in the autumn and countless festivals in summer, Japan is also a veritable winter wonderland! Here are some tips for making the most of your time in Japan in its coldest season.

As the year draws to a close, cities across Japan light up with some of the most spectacular winter illuminations. Here are a few of our favorite displays outside of Tokyo.

Japanese sake is the nation's favorite drink. As the chill of winter sets in, the temperature of the sake rises, which is the perfect way to stay warm!

Tokyo's winter illuminations are some of the highlights of the calendar year. People flock from far and wide to catch a glimpse of these dazzling visual displays! Here are 5 of our favorites!