Winter activities you can try in Japan that aren't skiing
Winter in Japan is right around the corner, and while many Aussies will be jetting off over the next few months for the ski season, there is a much bigger world of exciting winter activities in Japan waiting to be explored.
From rafting over the snowy landscape to building your very own igloo, here are some of the best and perhaps unexpected winter activities to try in winter in Japan.
READ MORE: Japan tips for first-timers
Snowshoeing
Explore Japan's snowy landscapes on foot with a pair of snowshoes allowing you to trek comfortably across the deep snow. Snowshoeing is an excellent way to immerse yourself in some of the most remote and unspoilt areas of Japan in winter to enjoy the silence through snowy forests - and also maybe spot wildlife.
Where: Hokkaido's Daisetsuzan National Park, Nagano's Hakuba Valley, and Aomori's Oirase Gorge are popular spots.
Sapporo Snow Festival (Yuki Matsuri)
The festival is one of Japan's largest and most famous winter events featuring massive snow and ice sculptures, ice art, light displays, and ice skating.
In true festival style you can also try some of the most delicious local dishes and treats at the food stalls.
The next one is on from February 4-11, 2025
Where: Sapporo, Hokkaido.
READ MORE: Best places in Japan for each season
Snow Monkey Onsen
Visit Jigokudani Monkey Park and watch wild Japanese macaques, known as snow monkeys bathe in natural hot springs, surrounded by snow-covered mountains.
Where: Jigokudani, Nagano Prefecture.
Ice Fishing
Fish for freshwater fish like smelt through holes drilled in frozen lakes. Some ice fishing locations will allow you to cook your fish after catching them as part of a hearty winter meal.
Where: Lake Akan in Hokkaido and Lake Shirakaba in Nagano.
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Snow Rafting
For the adrenaline junkies, snow rafting is a high-speed adventure ride which involves being pulled on an inflatable raft by a snowmobile across snow-covered fields.
Snow rafting can also be an enjoyable family friendly activity offering a welcome alternative to skiing.
Where: Niseko in Hokkaido, Hakuba in Nagano, and other ski resorts.
Dog Sledding
Get pulled through the snow on a sled by a team of energetic huskies to experience the thrill of traditional transportation methods in Japan's snowy environments.
Where: Furano and Asahikawa in Hokkaido.
Zao Snow Monster Sightseeing
Take a cable car ride up the mountain to see the famous "snow monsters" (juhyo), which are actually trees coated in a heavy blanket of snow and ice, creating surreal 'monster-like' shapes.
The snow-covered trees are especially magical at night when the trees are illuminated in all colours.
Where: Zao Onsen, Tohoku, Yamagata Prefecture.
READ MORE: Best free and cheap things to do in Tokyo
Snowmobiling
Enjoy the thrill of speeding through the snow on a snowmobile across snowy plains and hills.
Snowmobiling offers an exhilarating way to see more of the mountain and forested landscapes up close.
Where: Hokkaido's Niseko resort, Nagano's Hakuba Valley, and Tohoku's Zao Onsen ski resort offer snowmobiling courses.
Igloo Building (Kamakura Making)
A family friendly activity, you can learn the traditional art of building a kamakura (snow hut or igloo).Igloos are a big part of winter culture in Japan with some built big enough to host events and parties.
Where: Yokote Kamakura Festival in Akita, while some resorts in Nagano and Hokkaido also offer igloo-building experiences.
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