Do you need to journey to Japan in January? We have now collected all of the related info you want earlier than visiting this time of yr, together with tips on climate, seasonal occasions and general prices.
Japan presents distinctive experiences in each season, and January isn’t any exception. The start of the yr is a superb time to immerse your self in conventional tradition and winter sports activities – whether or not it’s visiting shrines and temples, having fun with the snowy landscapes on a snowboarding or snowboarding journey, or stress-free in a scorching spring resort on a cold day.
With New Yr’s celebrations in full swing, January can be a month the Japanese sometimes spend with their households. It’s a time for reflection and contemplation on the previous yr and the yr forward, having fun with conventional winter consolation meals, and in search of heat from the chilly climate.
On this article, we’ll cowl the professionals and cons of visiting Japan in January, and every part else you must know earlier than your journey. Let’s dive proper in!
Is January a Good Time to Go to Japan?
As January is likely one of the coldest months in Japan, inbound tourism is at a decrease stage than throughout peak journey months like April or November. Whereas sightseeing in cities like Tokyo is likely to be much less comfy as a result of chilly temperatures, it’s undoubtedly attainable due to clear skies, sunshine and little precipitation (see beneath for extra).
Furthermore, Japan’s considerable snowy and mountainous landscapes, particularly in Hokkaidō and the Japanese Alps, make it a really perfect vacation spot for winter sports activities fans. With the snowboarding and snowboarding season nearing its peak in January, fashionable vacation resorts like Niseko and Hakuba welcome guests from all internationally.
Apart, the New Yr’s celebrations spur an enormous home journey wave in Japan every year till the primary week of January.
New Yr’s Celebrations in Japan
New Yr’s (お正月, oshōgatsu) is an important vacation for households in Japan. Many sights resembling museums, in addition to some eating places and retailers stay fully closed between late December to early January.
Shinkansen trains and home flights are typically absolutely booked, as many Japanese purchase their tickets properly prematurely for household visits. Well-known shrines and temples are additionally extraordinarily crowded, as loads of individuals go to to supply their New Yr’s prayers and needs.
Subsequently, early January may not be the most effective time to go to Japan as a world traveller (extra on this beneath).
Climate in Japan in January
As one of many coldest months in Japan, January means dry, chilly climate. Humidity in winter averages round 50%, however can drop beneath that mark in some locations. In Tokyo, the change in humidity often turns into evident ranging from round mid-November, with January being the driest month of the yr.
On Japan’s largest fundamental island Honshū (together with Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto) each day temperatures are often round 5-6°C. Nevertheless, similar to in different seasons, the climate in January varies vastly from north to south.
Hokkaidō, well-known for its snowy winters, is way colder than Honshū, with temperatures sometimes beneath zero. In distinction, Okinawa enjoys a milder winter with round 17°C. Under, you will discover an outline of the common each day temperatures for Japan in January:
| Imply temperature | Max. temperature | Min. temperature | |
| Sapporo, Hokkaidō | -3.2°C | -0.4°C | -6.4°C |
| Tokyo | 5.4°C | 9.8°C | 1.2°C |
| Osaka | 6.2°C | 9.7°C | 3.0°C |
| Fukuoka, Kyūshū | 6.9°C | 10.2°C | 3.9°C |
| Naha, Okinawa | 17.3°C | 19.8°C | 14.9°C |
On Honshū, the likelihood of rain per day in January is round 30% (or 10 days a month). Snow in huge cities like Tokyo and Kyoto is uncommon (only some days every winter). Most days are clear however chilly.
If you wish to see plenty of snow, you’ll sometimes want to go to Hokkaidō (together with Sapporo, Furano, and Niseko), Nagano Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture within the Japanese Alps, or locations like Yamagata Prefecture within the Tōhoku area.
Under, you will discover the common sunshine hours and rain for Japan in January:
| Sunshine hours | Rain (in mm) | |
| Sapporo, Hokkaidō | 90.4 | 108.4 |
| Tokyo | 192.6 | 59.7 |
| Osaka | 146.5 | 47.0 |
| Fukuoka, Kyūshū | 104.1 | 74.4 |
| Naha, Okinawa | 93.1 | 101.6 |
What to Put on in Japan in January?
When visiting Japan throughout a chilly month like January, you must deliver plenty of heat garments.
Pack gadgets like sweaters, cardigans, hoodies, and lengthy pants. A heat jacket or coat can be important. Don’t overlook comfy sneakers and/or heat waterproof winter boots, in addition to gloves, a shawl, and a hat.
For snow-heavy areas like Hokkaidō, Nagano, or Niigata, you must deliver some extra-warm items, and ideally some HeatTech clothes (leggings, tops). Retailers and cafés in bigger cities are often well-heated. If you happen to plan to change so much between indoor and outside actions, layering is really helpful. This fashion, you may simply take away clothes if wanted.
In case your garments turn into too skinny, kairo (カイロ), small, disposable heating pads that you may connect to your jacket, footwear or pockets, will assist you to keep heat. In winter, these are often out there in drugstores, comfort shops, and varied different retailers all through Japan.
Is Japan Crowded in January?
Many Japanese journey to go to their households through the New Yr holidays between late December and early January. Home journey reaches a excessive round this time.
This leads to Shinkansen trains and home flights being absolutely booked. Spiritual websites are exceptionally crowded on New Yr’s Day and the next days for hatsumōde (初詣), the primary shrine or temple go to of the yr. Many museums, eating places, and different sights stay closed.
For these causes, it could be higher to keep away from coming to Japan between late December and early January as a traveller, until you plan to expertise these celebrations.
Moreover, ski resorts like Niseko and Hakuba get plenty of guests all through January, so be ready for larger crowds there. Except for that, January is usually thought of low-season when it comes to inbound tourism. In comparison with the excessive seasons from March to Might and October to November, many sights are much less swamped with travellers.
Prices of Travelling to Japan in January
As defined earlier than, early January is excessive season for Japanese travellers. Trains and home flights are sometimes absolutely booked between the final week of December and the primary week of January. These reserving flights to and from Japan throughout this time will usually face larger prices. Lodge costs may also be elevated.
By the second half of January, flight and lodging costs sometimes drop and stay decrease than in fashionable journey months like April, October, or November.
Prices of Snowboarding & Snowboarding in Japan
Yearly between December to March, the winter sports activities season in Japan attracts each home and worldwide travellers. Through the peak season spanning from early January to mid-February, many lodges and visitor homes in ski resorts are likely to cost larger costs per evening.
Lodging costs in these resorts differ relying on the kind of lodging you select. For funds travellers, primary lodges and guesthouses sometimes vary from ¥8,000 to ¥15,000 per evening. Mid-range choices price round ¥15,000 to ¥30,000, whereas luxurious lodges would possibly cost as much as ¥70,000 or extra per evening. These costs are simply tough estimates.
If you happen to’re keen on renting snowboarding or snowboarding gear, you will discover additional info on the official tourism web sites of the 2 ski resorts Hakuba and Niseko. Web sites of rental retailers like Spicy Leases in Hakuba may provide you with an thought of the general prices. Customary packages (skis, poles and boots), for instance, begin from ¥5,500 a day for adults.
Finest Issues to Do in Japan in January
January in Japan presents a wide range of great winter experiences, good for profiting from the chilly season. Whether or not you’re savouring a heat winter dish indoors or having fun with the snowy landscapes within the mountains, there are many issues to do.
The start of the yr begins on a moderately quiet observe with completely different distinctive New Yr’s traditions to expertise. Moreover, a few of Japan’s well-known winter illuminations lengthen from December into January and February, making a magical ambiance in cities throughout the nation.
For these on the lookout for outside adventures, Japan has some improbable snowboarding and snowboarding spots to supply. Common locations in Hokkaidō and Nagano resembling Niseko, Hakuba, and Nozawa Onsen appeal to guests from world wide.
Right here’s a abstract of among the greatest issues to do in Japan in January:
- Go to a shrine or temple on New Yr’s Day: Not like in lots of nations world wide, New Yr’s in Japan isn’t celebrated with huge firework shows, however in a moderately quiet method. Many New Yr’s rituals in Japan are linked to purification and renewal. Within the first week of January, plenty of individuals go to native shrines or temples to wish for good luck within the upcoming yr. This practice is called hatsumōde (初詣). If you happen to occur to be in Japan on New Yr’s Day or one of many following days, you may pray for good luck at a shrine or temple, too. Please be respectful and thoughtful throughout your go to, as this is a vital nationwide vacation in Japan.
- Get up early for the primary dawn of the yr: Hatsuhinode (初日の出), which interprets to “first dawn of the yr,” is one other lovely New Yr’s customized in Japan. Many individuals watch the primary dawn of the yr from the ocean, mountaintops, or statement decks throughout the nation. Some sights supply particular occasions on today to have a good time the primary dawn. For instance, Tokyo Skytree holds a yearly pre-sale of round 800 restricted “dawn tickets”.
- Attempt Japanese winter dishes: It’s chilly in January, so why not embrace Japan’s winter meals tradition and check out some typical dishes to heat your self up? Among the many hottest winter dishes are nabe (a Japanese scorching pot full of all types of veggies and meat) or oden (one other sort of scorching pot with fish cake), yaki-imo (baked candy potatoes) and completely different scorching noodle dishes, every providing comforting flavours good for the chilly season. Osechi ryōri, conventional New Yr’s meals, is a superb selection when spending time in Japan in early January.
- Indulge your self in fortunate bag procuring: Yearly in January, fortunate baggage, or fukubukuro (福袋) in Japanese, let the hearts of procuring lovers beat sooner. These baggage are bought round New Yr’s in quite a few retailers, full of a collection of randomly assorted merchandise from varied manufacturers or franchises. You received’t know precisely what’s inside till you purchase one. If you happen to’re fortunate, you would possibly rating a fantastic deal.
- Take pleasure in Japan’s romantic winter illuminations: Though December is the height season for winter illuminations in Japan, a few of them final properly into February. Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Prefecture, for instance, units up three completely different winter illuminations, every lasting round one to 1 and a half months. The New Yr Illumination runs from January 1 to mid-February.
- Go snowboarding or snowboarding: Whereas you’ll not expertise a lot snow in cities like Tokyo, Japan has some nice mountainous and snowy areas with well-known snowboarding and snowboarding spots. Niseko and Hakuba are among the many hottest locations for winter sports activities followers coming to Japan. If you wish to keep away from the crowds, there are many lesser-known ski resorts to select from.
- Loosen up in an onsen: Japan’s scorching springs are well-visited all yr spherical, although many would argue there may be nothing higher than stress-free in an out of doors onsen surrounded by a snowy panorama in winter. To have this expertise, it’s greatest to journey to areas with plenty of snow, resembling Hokkaidō, the Japanese Alps, or Yamagata.
Festivals and Occasions in Japan in January 2025
January in Japan is well known with an enormous number of distinct festivals and traditions.
New Yr’s Day in Japan
On New Yr’s Day, households in Japan collect to welcome the beginning of the brand new yr. Streets and houses are adorned with decorations like kadomatsu (pine and bamboo preparations) or kagami mochi (stacked rice truffles) to ask luck.
New Yr’s additionally features a set of various customs:
Historically, individuals want for well being, prosperity, and happiness throughout hatsumōde, the primary shrine or temple go to of the yr. Well-known spiritual websites like Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto or Meiji Shrine in Tokyo are likely to get extraordinarily crowded on January 1 and the next days.
Others wish to ring within the new yr with hatsuhinode, watching the primary dawn of the yr. This custom entails travelling to spots with a gorgeous view, resembling mountaintops, seashores, or statement decks to witness the dawn in a peaceful and reflective ambiance.
One other custom is mochitsuki, the method of constructing mochi (or rice truffles) by pounding steamed glutinous rice with a picket mallet in a mortar. Moreover, mochi is commonly loved as a part of osechi ryōri (conventional New Yr’s meals) like ozoni (mochi soup) throughout New Yr’s.
Coming of Age Day (Seijin no Hello)
Although this isn’t a pageant to attend as a traveller, you would possibly nonetheless surprise why you’re encountering teams of younger Japanese wearing kimono and fits strolling the streets of Japan in early January.
Coming of Age Day (成人の日, Seijin no Hello) is a nationwide vacation celebrated yearly on the second Monday of January. Younger Japanese who’ve turned or will flip 20 through the present yr have a good time their transition into maturity on today.
Lastly, here’s a collection of public festivals and occasions that can happen in Japan in January 2025:
- NAKED’s Backyard of Japanese Lights at Heian Shrine, Kyoto (13/12/2024-13/01/2025, excluding 31/12/2024-05/01/2025): The digital artwork exhibitions by NAKED have lengthy change into a staple in Japan’s yearly illumination calendar. Between December 2024 and January 2025, you may see the artwork collective’s latest show at Heian Shrine in Kyoto. Through the occasion interval, all the complicated can be reworked into a vibrant world of sunshine at evening.
- Zao Juhyō Pageant in Zao Onsen, Yamagata Prefecture (27/12/2024-24/02/2025): Between late December and late February, guests to Zao Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture can expertise the otherworldly-looking surroundings of frost-covered timber, often called “juhyō” (樹氷) in Japanese. The annual Zao Juhyō Pageant includes a nighttime illumination of the snow-enclosed panorama, a stamp rally, snowboarding & snowboarding actions and extra.
- Tōka Ebisu Pageant at Imamiya Ebisu Shrine in Osaka (09/01/2025-11/01/2025): The Tōka Ebisu Pageant is an annual celebration devoted to Ebisu, the god of fortune and prosperity. Throughout this pageant, individuals pray for good enterprise within the upcoming yr. The occasion options quite a few stalls promoting fortunate charms and avenue meals. Whereas the principle celebration takes place on the tenth day of the month (tōka, 十日), all the occasion spans throughout three days, beginning with a pre-festival (zenyasai, 前夜祭) and concluding with an after-festival (known as “remaining luck” or nokorifuku, 残り福). There are comparable festivals in locations resembling Tōka Ebisu Shrine in Fukuoka (08/01/2025–11/01/2025) and Kyoto Ebisu Shrine in Kyoto (08/01/2025–12/01/2025), making it a extensively celebrated occasion to wish for luck for the brand new yr.
- Wakakusa Yamayaki Pageant in Nara (25/01/2025): The Wakakusa Yamayaki Pageant takes place yearly on the fourth Saturday of January in Nara. Throughout this occasion, the grass on Mt. Wakakusa is ready on fireplace. The mountain burning is seen throughout the town and is accompanied by a 15-minute-long fireworks show.
- Kobe Luminarie in Kobe (24/01/2025-02/02/2025): The Kobe Luminarie is an annual illumination occasion that commemorates the victims of the Nice Hanshin Earthquake, which struck Kobe and its surrounding areas in 1995. Throughout this occasion, big corridors of sunshine are arrange in several venues round Kobe Sannomiya. Initially held yearly in December, the occasion was moved to January in 2024.
As all the time, it’s price testing the occasion calendars of your native vacation spot inside Japan. There are a lot extra festivals to find!
Conclusion – Visiting Japan in January
Total, January is an efficient, although maybe not supreme, month to go to Japan. Put together your self for dry and chilly days, and remember that many museums and different sights stay closed through the first week of January on account of New Yr’s celebrations.
Except for that, January is a superb month for a snowboarding or snowboarding journey, in addition to for experiencing winter festivals and illuminations. Crowds are usually manageable, with only some exceptions (resembling shrines and temples in early January and fashionable ski resorts all through the month).
