7 Unique Winter Tours and Activities in Japan

A time when the landscape shimmers in snowy white, Japan's winter season is a great time to see breathtaking natural scenery, and uplifting illuminations, and try unique activities beyond winter sports!

We recommend the following seven winter tours and experiences for a magical experience of this season in Japan. Since you move around by bus, you don't need to worry about reaching remote but splendid destinations!

7 Unique Winter Tours in Japan

1. Day Trip From Sapporo: Asahiyama Zoo, Shirohige Waterfall, and Blue Pond Light-Up
2. Drift Ice Walking Experience in Hokkaido
3. Winter Activity Experience in Kushiro, Hokkaido
4. See the Snow Monsters! Winter Day Tour from Aomori City
5. Shirakawago Village and Takayama Winter Bus Tour
6. Mt. Gozaisho Snow Viewing and Nabana no Sato One-Day Tour from Nagoya
7. Miyama District and Amanohashidate Day Tour with Japanese Lunch Set

1. Day Trip From Sapporo: Asahiyama Zoo, Shirohige Waterfall, and Blue Pond Light-Up

Photo courtesy of Klook

Hokkaido's Asahiyama and its surroundings are bound to be a great winter experience. This is especially true for anyone who loves any form of nature or natural scenery.

In this day trip from Sapporo, visitors will get to experience a range of nature-based activities and sights. First, you will visit Asahiyama Zoo where you'll encounter cute and cuddly animals living in uniquely designed habitats.

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Afterward, the day trip rolls on towards the Shirohige Waterfall. Normally thundering down the stark stone, in winter the threads of white and deep blue are frozen in place. This frozen cathedral of ice that cascades down the canyon will leave any viewer awe-struck!

Finally, visitors will be able to take themselves on a self-guided walk around the famed Shirogane Blue Pond which is even more spectacular when illuminated during the winter. The leafless skeletons of the trees lit up with blue light give the area an otherworldly feel that cannot be replicated.

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2. Drift Ice Walking Experience in Hokkaido

Photo courtesy of Klook

Hokkaido is definitely seen as the wintry playground of Japan. From skiing and snowboarding to the great natural scenery, Hokkaido attracts many during the winter months.

However, on the Sea of Okhotsk, a unique tour experience exclusive to winter takes place. Here visitors will be able to take part in a chance to walk on drift ice! The Drift Ice Walking experience allows visitors to see a landscape of ice that extends to all edges of the horizon. You'll witness the titanic forces of nature churn and crack the ice and enjoy the beautiful charms that this day tour has to offer.

Visitors need to make sure they book early as these tours sell out very quickly even more so for the morning tour. This amazing drift ice walk lets visitors witness the sunrise as an orange glow bathes the ice floes in an orange warmth. While the activity does look a little perilous at first, you can be safe in the hands of the tour company, which provides a comprehensive safety explanation as well as protective dry suits that will keep you toasty during the ice walk.

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3. Winter Activity Experience in Kushiro, Hokkaido

Photo courtesy of Klook

Enjoy a variety of winter activities as a group while spending time in Kushiro, Hokkaido. Visitors who join this tour will be able to choose up to three different winter activities to take part in.

Photo courtesy of Klook

Imagine rowing along the placid shores of a wintery marsh, snowshoe trekking across some winter landscapes, and then wrapping up with a warming culinary experience as well. The stunning white landscape stretches out all around, and while you are spending time in Kushiro, you might even get to see the iconic white cranes that are a traditional symbol of Japan.

The two culinary experiences see visitors either make their own homemade roast chicken with bread or make some tempura out of the fish that they caught while fishing on the lake. There's no need to bring any specific gear other than clothes that keep you warm and a good group of friends who want to make the most of the wintry landscape in Hokkaido.

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4. See the Snow Monsters! Winter Day Tour from Aomori City

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Enjoy your own personal winter playground in Aomori with a chartered car and a customizable itinerary. On this tour, you'll be taken up to Mt Hakkoda, which lies at the heart of Aomori Prefecture.

From here, you'll be able to choose a range of activities to fill out your winter plans. Participants can enjoy skiing, alpine hiking, and volcanic hot springs as part of this package. Hakkoda Ski Resort sports a 7-kilometer ultra-long ski run from the top of Mt. Tamogidake at the Ropeway Sancho Koen Station.

Or maybe just viewing the scenic mountainside is more your style. With mysterious "snow monster" shapes and natural formations caused by the buildup of snow on trees in the area, the scenery is a mix of spectacular and eerie.

Finally, enjoy some relaxing time at the sulfuric hot springs on the mountain and rest those weary legs after a day filled with activity. The chartered car caters to groups of up to 45 people, so you can really go as one big group!

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5. Shirakawago Village and Takayama Winter Bus Tour

Photo courtesy of Klook

A world heritage site that offers a glimpse of Japanese rural village life along with a tour through a historic town that offers traditional crafts and sake tasting. If any of these sound enticing to you, why not try out this tour that departs from Nagoya by bus?

Photo courtesy of Klook

Often, reaching Takayama can be difficult and involves many train changes if you don't have a car, but on this convenient trip, visitors can take a day trip from Nagoya out to this stunning world heritage site. Your first stop is Takayama's Historical District. With specialty shops and seven different sake breweries to visit, you'll be spoiled for choice.

Make sure that you try out the mitarashi-dango, chewy balls of mochi dipped in a sweet and umami-packed soy glaze that is a Takayama specialty. Or maybe try the Hida beef sushi that melts on the tongue and leaves a savory beef taste.

Afterward comes the main event - visiting the village of Shirakawago. Often photographed as an idyllic snapshot of rural Japan, the thatched houses of the village are iconic and even more so during winter. The roofs accumulate pillowy blankets of pure white snow, giving the impression of a village that you just want to trap inside a snow globe and preserve forever!

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6. Mt. Gozaisho Snow Viewing and Nabana no Sato One-Day Tour from Nagoya

Photo courtesy of Klook

From snow, to flowers, to illumination tunnels that transport you to another world! This day tour starting from Nagoya allows winter visitors to experience both spectacular winter scenery atop Mt Gozaisho as well as the world-class illumination at Nabana no Sato.

Departing from Nagoya Station, visitors will head by train and bus up to Mt Gozaisho. You'll be first taken up the snow-covered slopes by cable car, getting to see the beauty of the wintry landscape from high above. Then when you disembark, you'll be treated to a view of the crystalline trees, coated in thick layers of ice. The replacement of the lush environment with the stark white ice gives the area a truly whimsical feel.

After strolling through this area, why not warm up on the next stop of the tour at the Aqua Ignis Onsen? You'll be treated to some truly luxurious bathing areas that combine natural scenery with modern, well-designed baths.

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Finally, after you're well and rested, you can take in the beauty and majesty of the Nabana no Sato gardens and their yearly winter illumination. With changes made to improve the viewing experience every year, the illuminations are a true highlight of the winter months around the Nagoya area and attract a strong following every year!

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7. Miyama District and Amanohashidate Day Tour with Japanese Lunch Set

Photo courtesy of Klook

Visitors to Kyoto often focus on the accessible districts of Gion, Higashiyama, and Arashiyama. But did you know that Kyoto Prefecture stretches all the way to the Sea of Japan?

This means that Kyoto is also the home of some of the most striking winter scenery in the country along its northern coast. On this day trip from Osaka, visitors will get to experience this lesser-known side of Kyoto and see one of the most interesting winter views in all of Japan.

Amanohashidate, a sandbar home to a beautiful pine grove, connects the two ends of Miyazu Bay to form a mythical bridge to heaven. Covered in powdery white snow, the bridge looks like it could truly connect you to another world.

With lunch also included on this leg of the tour, you'll be able to enjoy the full beauty of the view after being warmed by a traditional Japanese lunch. After this, you'll be able to take a stroll through Miyama Kayabuki no Sato - a traditional Japanese village with quaint mountain cottages and snow lanterns dotting the town.

Enjoy Japan's Winter Scenery Through Tours and Activities

Whether you're up in Hokkaido viewing the drift ice or savoring the scenery of northern Kyoto in winter, Japan's snowy season is filled with unique experiences. Thanks to the bus tours that can be booked on Klook, accessing these remote, splendid locations has become easier than ever!

So why not add one of these to your winter itinerary and make some snowy memories that you won't soon forget?

Main image by Pixta