January brings you to the heart of Japan’s winter.
Steam rises from outdoor hot springs, while snow monkeys enjoy geothermal pools.
Millions of people flock to shrines, dressed in their best, to pray for good luck.
This cold season rewards travellers who bundle up with experiences impossible to find during warmer months.
Flights and hotels drop in price after the first week of January compared to spring’s cherry blossom madness.
You will find crowds thinner at major temples outside the New Year holiday period. Y
ou will see cultural traditions that have lasted for centuries.
People write wishes on wooden plaques and eat symbolic foods for health and prosperity.
What January Weather Actually Feels Like
January brings Japan’s coldest temperatures, ranging from around 8 to 11 degrees Celsius in southern regions down to negative 1 degree Celsius in central areas.
Tokyo averaged 5.7 degrees Celsius in January 2024 with mostly clear, dry days.
Osaka and Kyoto hover around 6 to 7 degrees Celsius.
Hokkaido has tougher weather.
Sapporo’s average temperature is minus 1.8 degrees Celsius.
It also gets 161 centimetres of snow each year.
Pack thermal underwear, a heavy winter coat, waterproof boots, gloves, a warm hat, and a scarf.
If visiting Hokkaido or planning to ski, bring or rent snow boots with good traction.
New Year Celebrations: Shogatsu Traditions
Hatsumode: First Shrine Visits of the Year
Hatsumode is the first visit to a shrine or temple in the new year.
During this time, Japanese people pray for health, happiness, and good fortune in the months ahead.
This tradition attracts big crowds in the first three days of January.
The atmosphere is festive, with food stalls, lucky charm vendors, and families in traditional clothing.
Meiji Shrine in Tokyo attracts some of the largest crowds for Hatsumode, welcoming millions of visitors during the New Year period.
The shrine opens its gates throughout the night from December 31 to January 1, allowing continuous access for worshippers.
Visit early morning or late evening during January 2 and 3 to avoid the heaviest crowds, though you should still expect to wait in line.
Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto offers another popular destination for Hatsumode, famous for its thousands of bright orange torii gates winding up the mountainside.
The shrine’s spot on Mount Inari is far from the crowds of Tokyo’s big shrines.
The hike through the torii tunnels makes for a special start to the year.
When you visit, purchase an ema for around 500 to 1,000 yen.
These small wooden plaques allow you to write your wishes or prayers before hanging them at the shrine.
You can also buy omamori (protective charms) for specific purposes like health, academic success, or safe travels.
Draw an omikuji (fortune slip) to learn your luck for the coming year, with prices typically around 100 to 300 yen.
Osechi: Traditional New Year Cuisine
Osechi is made up of beautifully prepared dishes.
They are served in special tiered boxes called jubako.
Each food has a symbolic meaning for the new year.
Black beans stand for health and hard work.
Herring roe represents fertility and wealth.
Each ingredient has its own meaning.
Families usually make osechi at home.
However, you can also buy ready-made boxes from department stores.
Prices start at 10,000 yen for basic options and can exceed 50,000 yen for luxury ones.
Reserve these boxes weeks in advance, as popular offerings sell out quickly.
Countdown Events and First Sunrise
Major cities across Japan host countdown events on December 31, featuring live music, performances, and fireworks.
Tokyo’s Shibuya crossing, Osaka’s Dotonbori district, and other urban centres fill with crowds celebrating until past midnight.
Some dedicated visitors stay up to watch hatsuhinode, the first sunrise of the year.
This moment is special in Japanese culture.
Popular viewing spots include Mount Takao near Tokyo, beaches along the Pacific coast, and select observation decks that open for the occasion.
Visiting Shrines and Temples Beyond New Year
Once the initial celebrations fade, shrines take on a calmer atmosphere ideal for reflection.
Even after Hatsumode, Meiji Shrine is still a great place to visit in January.
It’s in a lovely forest of 120,000 trees, which looks peaceful in winter with its bare branches and occasional snow.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura is dedicated to Hachiman, the god of war.
It sits at the top of a long stone staircase and offers views of the historic city.
The shrine hosts various ceremonies throughout January, and the walk up provides good exercise on cold days.
Kamakura’s numerous temples and the famous Great Buddha statue make the city an excellent day trip from Tokyo.
Sanjusangendo Temple in Kyoto holds 1,001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy.
There’s one large seated statue in the centre, with 500 human-sized standing statues on each side.
This is in the temple’s main hall, which is 120 metres long, making it Japan’s longest wooden structure.
Out of these statues, 124 are originals from the temple’s founding in 1164.
They survived a fire in 1249. The other 876 were made during the reconstruction in the 13th century.
The sight of these golden statues arranged in perfect rows creates an overwhelming visual experience.
Admission costs 600 yen for adults, and photography is prohibited inside the main hall.
Winter Sports in Hakuba Valley
Away from religious sites, January offers ideal conditions for winter sports. Hakuba Valley in Nagano Prefecture has 10 linked ski resorts.
They get lots of snow and great powder.
These resorts sit at the base of the 3,000-metre tall Northern Japan Alps.
The valley hosted events for the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, establishing its reputation for world-class facilities.
January marks peak ski season with deep snow conditions.
The area receives around 11 metres of annual snowfall and offers terrain for every skill level, from beginner slopes to Olympic downhill courses.
Happo One is the biggest resort in the valley.
It covers 220 hectares and has over 15 runs and 20 lifts.
The vertical drop is 1,071 metres, with courses reaching up to 8 kilometres long.
The resort caters primarily to intermediate and advanced skiers with steep terrain, though gentler slopes exist for beginners.
Day lift tickets cost around 7,000 yen for adults as of 2025.
Hakuba Goryu and Hakuba 47 connect at their peaks, creating a combined ski area with 19 lifts and 24 courses.
Goryu suits beginners and intermediates with long, meandering slopes, while Hakuba 47 attracts advanced riders with steep terrain and the valley’s best snow park.
The Hakuba Valley Lift Pass provides access to all 10 resorts, with multi-day passes typically ranging from 14,000 to 20,000 yen depending on the number of days purchased.
The January Grand Sumo Tournament
Away from the slopes, winter in Japan offers distinctly cultural experiences.
The January Grand Sumo Tournament, called Hatsu Basho, runs from January 12 through January 26, 2025, at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
This tournament marks the first of six annual grand tournaments, setting the tone for the sumo year.
The tournament runs for 15 days.
Matches happen every day from morning to early evening.
Most spectators arrive around 2:00 pm, just as the top division wrestlers start competing.
The atmosphere grows all day, peaking during the final matches.
These matches feature yokozuna and ozeki ranked wrestlers, happening around 5:00 to 6:00 pm.
Tickets go on sale approximately one month before the tournament, with prices ranging from around 3,500 yen for basic arena seats to 52,000 yen for premium box seating for four people.
Popular days, especially weekends and the final three days, sell out quickly.
Purchase tickets through the Japan Sumo Association official website or major ticketing services.
Ryogoku Kokugikan is a short walk from Ryogoku Station.
It’s just one to two minutes from the west exit on the JR Chuo Sobu Line.
If you take the Toei Oedo Line, it’s about a five-minute walk.
The area around the stadium has sumo-themed streets, statues of wrestlers, and many chanko nabe restaurants.
These places serve the hearty hot pot that sumo wrestlers eat to stay big.
Winter Illuminations
When night falls, Japan’s cities trade snow for light displays.
Japanese cities change at night in winter.
From November to February, they light up with beautiful illuminations.
This creates a romantic atmosphere, ideal for evening walks.
Tokyo offers numerous illumination spots.
Shinjuku’s streets become a glowing wonderland with colourful decorations adorning buildings and trees.
The Omotesando Illumination features over 900,000 LED lights creating a beautiful tunnel effect along the fashionable shopping street.
Kyoto follows a traditional path.
Various temples and shrines light up with displays during January evenings.
The Arashiyama district feels magical with lanterns and artistic lights glowing along its historic streets.
The Nabana no Sato illuminations in Mie Prefecture are among Japan’s best light displays.
They include themed areas, light tunnels, and huge LED installations.
These stunning displays run until early June. The venue charges admission around 2,000 to 2,500 yen.
New Year Sales and Fukubukuro
Japanese retailers launch major sales immediately after New Year, offering significant discounts on merchandise from the previous year.
Department stores in Tokyo, Osaka, and other major cities become especially busy during the first week of January.
Fukubukuro, or “lucky bags,” are a fun Japanese shopping tradition.
Stores sell sealed bags filled with surprise items at big discounts.
These bags usually range from 3,000 to 30,000 yen, based on the store and type.
They often hold items worth much more than what you pay.
You can find fukubukuro for clothing, cosmetics, electronics, food, and virtually every other product category.
Popular bags sell out within hours of stores opening on January 2, with some shoppers lining up before dawn.
The contents stay hidden until you open your bag.
This adds a thrill and surprise, but the quality can differ a lot.
Hot Springs and Onsen Culture
January provides ideal conditions for experiencing Japanese onsen culture, when the contrast between cold air and hot water feels most satisfying.
Steam rising from outdoor baths against snowy landscapes creates iconic winter scenes.
Hokkaido offers numerous excellent onsen destinations.
Noboribetsu Onsen is one of Japan’s top hot spring resorts.
It has many ryokan and public baths, all supplied by geothermal activity.
The nearby Jigokudani (Hell Valley) showcases dramatic volcanic landscape with boiling pools and sulfurous steam vents.
Ginzan Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture offers stunning winter views.
Its wooden buildings line a small stream in a narrow valley.
Heavy snow during January enhances the nostalgic ambiance, though this popularity means booking accommodations months in advance.
Many onsen feature outdoor rotenburo baths where you can soak while surrounded by snow-covered nature.
Soaking in 40-degree water as snowflakes fall around you is a uniquely Japanese winter experience.
Proper onsen etiquette requires washing thoroughly before entering communal baths and prohibits wearing swimsuits in most traditional onsen.
Small towels can cover private areas when walking around but should not go into the bathing water.
Traditional Winter Foods
Japanese winter cuisine focuses on warming dishes perfect for cold weather.
Oden is a warm hot pot that features ingredients like boiled eggs, daikon radish, and fish cakes.
These simmer in a light dashi broth. You can find oden in convenience stores and fancy restaurants alike.
Mochi, the chewy rice cake made from pounded glutinous rice, plays a central role in New Year celebrations.
Winter marks crab season, featuring snow crab, king crab, and hairy crab.
You’ll find these on menus across the country, especially in Hokkaido and along the Japan Sea coast.
Jigokudani Monkey Park
Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano Prefecture lets you see wild Japanese macaques relaxing in natural hot springs.
There’s a resident group of more than 200 monkeys.
The name means “Hell Valley” due to steam and boiling water bubbling from crevices in the frozen ground.
The park requires a 25 to 40 minute walk through forest trails from the nearest parking area or bus stop.
The trail remains passable year round, though winter conditions require proper footwear with good traction.
December through March provides the best viewing periods when cold weather encourages monkeys to soak frequently in the hot spring.
Admission costs 900 yen for adults.
The monkeys habituated to human presence ignore visitors, allowing close observation and photography.
However, do not feed, touch, or make sudden movements toward the monkeys, and avoid direct eye contact.
Buses run to Kanbayashi Onsen near the park from Nagano Station (40 minutes), Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen (10 minutes), and Nozawa Onsen (30 minutes).
Shirakawago Village
Shirakawago in Gifu Prefecture, a UNESCO World Heritage site, features traditional gassho-style houses with steep thatched roofs resembling hands clasped in prayer.
These architectural marvels were designed to withstand heavy snowfall.
January turns the village into a winter wonderland.
Deep snow covers the historic houses and nearby mountains.
The dark thatched roofs and bright snow make for striking photos.
This is especially true from hillside viewpoints that overlook the village.
Several houses function as museums where you can enter to see traditional interiors and learn about historical village life.
The village also hosts restaurants serving local specialties like soba noodles and grilled river fish.
Special winter illumination events happen on certain evenings in January and February.
The houses shine with warm light against the snowy backdrop.
Entry needs advance reservations via a lottery for overnight stays or first-come-first-served parking.
Events often sell out fast.
Highway buses connect Shirakawago to Kanazawa (about 75 minutes), Takayama (50 minutes), and Nagoya (2.5 hours).
Plan your visit carefully as bus frequency decreases during winter months.
Practical Considerations
Most businesses close from December 29 to January 3 for New Year.
This includes many restaurants, shops, and some attractions in smaller cities.
Major hotels, convenience stores, and tourist spots in big cities usually stay open.
But, check the hours for specific places before you visit during this time.
Transportation runs on reduced schedules during New Year, with some routes experiencing significant crowding.
Book shinkansen and overnight buses well in advance if travelling during December 31 through January 3.
You’ll notice hotels and flights drop in price after January 6 compared to the peak first week, with prices falling 30 to 50 percent.
This makes mid to late January one of the more economical times to visit Japan.
Bundle up, embrace the chill, and enjoy experiences that define Japanese winter.
