8 things to do in Japan during Autumn and Winter

Autumn

Kinchakuda Manjushage Park "Kinchakuda Manjushage Festival" (Saitama)

The Kinchakuda Manjushage Festival is a festival where you can see one of the largest clusters of spider lilies in Japan . Five million spider lilies bloom in an area of about 5.5 hectares, creating a captivating sight that looks like a red carpet has been laid out .

At the Kinchakuda Manjushage Festival , there will also be stalls selling gourmet food and local products from the city.

Event period: September 18th (Wed) - October 2nd (Wed), 2024, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm * Admission to the red spider lilies colony is from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm * This may change depending on the flowering situation.

Best season: Mid to late September. Cosmos flowers are in full bloom from late September to early October.

Kinchakuda Spider Lily Festival

official

Kiyomizu-dera Temple (Kyoto)

Kiyomizu-dera Temple is one of the World Heritage sites, "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto ." The view of the autumn leaves when viewed from the "Kiyomizu Stage" is spectacular . If you are visiting Japan in the fall, this is a spot you should definitely visit.

Best season: Late November to early December Illumination: 11/18 (Mon) to 11/30 (Sat) 17:30 (last entry at 21:00)

Official website

Other recommended spots in Kyoto in autumn

Recommended spots to see autumn leaves in Kyoto

Fujikawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival (Yamanashi)

Approximately 400 to 500 autumn leaves are along the shores of Lake Kawaguchi. At their peak from early to mid-November, the beautiful scenery is reflected on the lake. Various events are held around the facility, and the "Autumn Leaves Corridor" is illuminated to create a fantastic atmosphere.

Autumn leaves corridor

Event Dates: Saturday, October 26th, 2024 to Wednesday, November 20th, 2024 Illumination: Sunset to 9:30pm

Best season: Early to mid-November

Official website

winter

Ginzan Onsen (Yamagata)

Recommended for anime pilgrimage tours, Ginzan Onsen is a sacred place for anime and is said to have been the model for films such as "Spirited Away" and "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba ."

The hot spring town has a nostalgic and retro atmosphere , perfect for those who want to experience it.

Best season: On winter nights, you can see a dramatic sight of the hot spring town colored in pure white snow and softly lit by gas lamps.

Waraku Footbath

Waraku Footbath, located along the Ginzan River, is a free footbath where you can relax and unwind while taking in the view of the hot spring town.

The recommended time to visit is from early evening to night, when the gas lamps are lit. The foot bath, lit by the soft light of a hot spring town, is especially soothing .

Official website

Jigokudani Monkey Park (Nagano)

The wild Japanese macaques of Jigokudani bathe in hot springs to survive the harsh winter cold. This scene has become a popular tourist spot, known as "monkeys bathing in hot springs" ! Please enjoy watching the mother and child monkeys bathe in the hot springs .

Best season: (For those who want to see people bathing in the hot springs) November to March

(For those who want to see baby monkeys) Japanese macaques give birth in large numbers from April to May, so if you visit Yaen Koen in the spring, not only will you be able to see the cute baby monkeys , but you'll also be able to enjoy the easy mountain paths and beautiful new greenery .

Official website

Drift ice sightseeing icebreaker ship Aurora (Hokkaido)

Large tourist boats travel across the white drift ice that covers the Sea of Okhotsk, breaking through the ice and allowing you to get a close-up look at the drift ice and may even encounter wild animals such as seals and Steller's sea eagles .

Operation period: January 20th to March 31st, 2024Best viewing time: Mid-February to early March*Due to the effects of global warming, the arrival of drift ice is getting later and its area is decreasing year by year, so past data is no longer useful as a reference.

Which seat should I watch from?

・The first floor rooms are unreserved seats with sofas facing the ocean. They are also fully air-conditioned, so you can enjoy the view in comfort regardless of the weather.

・If you want to relax, we recommend the special guest rooms on the second floor. These are reserved seats from which you can watch the ship crush the drift ice as it moves forward. Special guest seats are limited to the first 50 people on the day, so we recommend that you register early.

・If you want something more dynamic, head to the observation deck ! The sound and impact of the ice breaking is very impressive! It's the perfect place to look for wild animals and take photos!

Official website

Yokote Snow Festival Kamakura (Akita)

Inside the approximately 80 kamakura , children invite passersby into the igloos and offer them hospitality with sweet sake and roasted rice cakes .

Event period: February 15th and 16th every year

Snow hut experience

・Kamakura Early Bird Experience (20 groups each on the 15th and 16th) - Call ahead to reserve (Contents: 1 kamakura reserved for 1 hour, 3,000 yen *includes mochi and sweet sake)

・Mini Kamakura Making Experience (15th and 16th) There will also be various events such as venue registration 30 minutes before each event (starting times: 11am on the 15th, 2pm on the 16th, 2pm on the 16th), so be sure to come and make some memories.

Experience application

Official website

Sapporo Snow Festival (Hokkaido)

A major winter event in Sapporo, visited by over 2 million people every year .

At the Odori site , snow and ice sculptures of all sizes are lined up along a 1.5 km stretch from 1-chome to 12-chome. Teams from countries and regions around the world will participate in the International Snow Sculpture Competition on 11-chome, and you can see the creation process during the event.

Past snow sculptures have included anime characters such as "Pokemon," "Hello Kitty," "Gundam," and "Godzilla," as well as "Shohei Otani." *The sculptures change every year.

The Hokkaido Food Plaza is held every year around 6th Street, bringing together local delicacies such as Sapporo miso ramen, seafood bowls, corn, and Genghis Khan, which are representative of Hokkaido.

Event period: Tuesday, February 4th to Tuesday, February 11th, 2025 (national holiday) Illumination: Sunset to 10pm

Official website

JAPAN ROAD TRIP

If you've come all the way to Japan, make sure you enjoy the recommended tourist spots to the fullest. For long-term trips, we recommend a camper van.

You can enjoy traveling with small children or pets without any worries when on public transportation!

We also offer one-way drop-off services from Osaka to Tokyo.

We are currently running a long-term discount and repeat discount campaign that allows you to rent at a discount of up to 20%. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. → Here

Official website

Spots introduced in this model course

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