8 Things to Know About New Year's in Japan
All about Japan's biggest holiday of the year!
Bus Down the Three-Star Road
In the snow belt between Hokuriku and Gifu's Hida Mountain Range, take a bus tour down a road lined with three-star tourist spots listed in the Michelin Green Guide Japan.
Nagano Ski & Snowboard Guide
Nagano is easily accessible from Tokyo, offering an incredible range of Olympic-level slopes!
Gunma Ski & Snowboard Guide
Gunma shares borders—and easy access—with Niigata to the north and Nagano to the west, opening up a range of ski and snowboard opportunities both inside and outside the prefecture.
6 Hokkaido Animals that Hide in Snow
These hidden winter animals are just too cute!
6 Things to Do Before New Year's Hits in Japan
Before the clock strikes midnight on January 1, here are a few things that should be checked off before you ring in the New Year!
Hokkaido Ski & Snowboard Guide
Hokkaido is one of Japan's most famous winter regions!
Fukushima Ski & Snowboard Guide
Ski & Snowboard Tohoku Resorts
Your guide to the top slopes in Fukushima!
Navigating the Sapporo Snow Festival
Featuring intricate snow and ice sculptures on a monumental scale—including pop culture icons and near-life-sized replicas of famous structures—the Sapporo Snow Festival draws over 2 million visitors each year.
Niigata Ski & Snowboard Guide
Some of the best powder in Japan is only a day trip from Tokyo!
Japan's 8 Prefectures with the Most Snow
Find the top eight places to visit for snow!
5 Fun Otoshidama Envelopes
What's better than getting an envelope full of money at New Year's? How about a cool-looking envelope full of money!
Top 3 Part-Time Jobs During the Holidays
The end of December is the busiest time of year in Japan, so almost everywhere is looking for extra help!
Yamagata Ski & Snowboard Guide
Ski & Snowboard Tohoku Resorts
Snowboard through "ice monsters" in Yamagata!
5 Spots to Watch New Year's Fireworks in Japan
There's nothing like bright lights to bring in the New Year!
The Snowscape of Daigo Temple
The hidden Daigo Temple is one site you won't want to miss—especially in winter when snow blankets the grounds!
Two Big-Name Shrines for Hatsumode
You can't go wrong visiting your local shrine in the first three days of the New Year to pray for a healthy and prosperous year. But if you're going to go out, why not go big?
All Aboard the Snow Miku Train!
From February 5 to 11, residents of Sapporo City will see their town transformed into a Snow Miku wonderland complete with Snow Miku trains and merchandise.
Iwate Ski & Snowboard Guide
Ski & Snowboard Tohoku Resorts
There are 16 ski and snowboard resorts in Iwate Prefecture, most located on the western mountainous region near the border with Akita Prefecture.
