Year end is the time of celebration where almost every part of the world prepares themselves to make your celebration magical and memorable and big cities make the best possible ways to offer world class hospitality and experiences, but this time instead of choosing big cities with huge crowd choose Snow Villages of Japan where celebration are done with ancient traditions wrapped with snow, slow mornings, deeply cultural and breathtaking natural beauty is exactly what your soul craves for the whole year running in the crowded streets, surrounded by people everywhere you go and totally packed local transports.
These soul soothing escapes feels calm, peaceful and dreamlike where night glows up golden, lit by gas lamps under the clear sky and snow sparkles in winter, with magical mornings straight out of postcard.
Everyone is always attracted to big cities but only a few explore these untouched beautiful villages which are serene, peaceful, authentic and surprise you in your journey.
From capturing the picturesque view, to trying winter food, sipping coffee in the laid back cafes, learning new culture the experience is unparalleled with true charm away from the crowded cities.
Celebrating this part of the year with your loved ones surrounded by magical and Best Snow Villages in Japan offering a blissful experience will be one of the best ways to start the new year and get ready for all the new opportunities with a clear mind and happy soul .
Best Snow Villages in Japan
Otaru Hokkaido
Signature Winter Experiences in Otaru
- Otaru is a picturesque port town on the sea of Japan during the time of winter the town turns into a winter wonderland surrounded by soft snow, hill paths, a canal and Victorian style lamps illuminating golden glow. Otaru consist of historical buildings of western style architecture made of stone and Japanese style architecture buildings.
- Walking the canal is a magical experience in Otaru during the evening when lamps are lit.
- Otaru is known for its unique art and crafts famous for studio glass and musical boxes. You can create original glassware from the glassware trials, a perfect souvenir.
- Visit the kitaichi venezia museum with 3000 panes of Venetian glasses bearing 1000 years of history.
- You will enjoy rainbow towering ice cream with delectable flavours of colourful 7 layers.coming Otaru
- Yatai village offer night life in otaru.
- Every year during the month of February a beautiful event is organised known as snow light path when numerous candles are lit together in the snow offering mesmerizing experience.
- You can reach at the top of the mount Tengu available from the foothills offering beautiful view of Shokenbetsu mountains and Shakotan peninsula night view is famous
- You can enjoy skiing and hot springs in Asarigawa onsen hot springs resorts surrounded by majestic mountains and rivers.
- Visit the Otaru aquarium and experience the surreal sunset from the shukutsu observation deck overlooking the sea of Japan.
- Visit the artisan slopes where artists, painters, vintage clothing makers, and Buddhist altar makers offer unique artifacts in Shokunin zaka narrow slopes of Yamada cho of Otaru.
- Otaru canal cruise for sightseeing old ports, old stone warehouses and impressive evening illumination.
Shirakawa Go
Signature Winter Experiences in Shirakawa Go
- Shirakawa go along with Gokayama village is the UNESCO world heritage site known for preserving unique architecture, culture and tradition adorned by the Shogawa river valley and mountains from Gifu to Toyama prefectures. It is a small traditional village at the foot of sacred mount Hakusen famous for the unique building style gassho zukuri traditional houses more than 250 years old with steep thatched roofs surrounded by powdered snow during winters turns into winter dreamland offering the most unique cultural experience.
- These thatched roofs protected during heavy snowfall look magnificent during the time of winters.
- You can have the glimpse of houses turned to museums to experience the traditional way of living.
- Gassho zukuri, the steep farmhouse, resembles the Buddhist monks’ hands pressed in prayers.
- The Tajima house museum of silk culture denotes the history and process of silk farming, which was the main industry of the premodern era.
- Shirakawa go Village organizes illumination events in January and February.
- Visit Takayama for amazing cafes, restaurants, art galleries, museums which are less than an hour away from shirakawa go, do not forget to try tamakaya ramen for irresistible flavours.
Ginzen Onsen
Signature Winter Experiences in Ginzen Onsen
- Ginzen onsen is enchanting fantasyland often compared to ghibli studio spirited away for its mesmerizing beauty surrounded by mountains, traditional unique style wooden houses, the ginzan river, hot springs, soft glow of gas lamps on the snow-covered house, bridges and streets where you will be fascinated with nature’s beauty in its purest form, we only use to imagine in poems or in the imaginary world of our dreams.
- The best part of this town is that the pedestrian only district restricts private cars to park in designated parking lots to enhance your experience while exploring the majestic beauty in serenity, managing overtourism and safety.
- The age-old traditions architecture made with bare timber framing and white plaster make it a unique and interesting place to explore while booking the stay in advance.
- Ginzen onsen is famous for its hot springs and known for hot springs resorts and ryokan, a traditional japanese inn surrounded by ginzan river flowing through the town offering indoor hot springs baths so interesting and unique.
- Cave hot springs doukutsu is worth exploring in one of the establishments in town.
- You can explore 22 metre tall Shirogane no taki waterfalls at the back of the town and the historic silver mine at its base where you can enter the light up tunnel.
- You can explore Senshinkyo gorge, an area upstream of the ginzen onsen for the splendid view of the red Sekotoi bridge and lion no taki waterfall.
- You can enjoy divine frost covered trees as snow monsters called by the name due to their fluffy appearance by cable car approx 2 hour drive away in mount Zao. While the night view looks magnificent after illumination, you can also explore majestic snow trees glowed by colourful lights by snow vehicle night cruisers.
Ine Village
Signature Winter Experiences in Ine Village
- Ine is one of the most enchanting villages of japan also known as fishing village and is famous for funaya. The boat houses consist of boat garages and residential spaces on the upper floor.
- You can relax Ine cafe offering messerizing view of bay and funaya house, with amazing interior where you can enjoy delectable cakes and lip smacking delicacies.
- You enjoy the breathtaking sunset and night gazing experience from the observation deck of Funaya no sato park.
- You can also book a Ine cruise ferry, one of the best ways to explore the village’s unparalleled beauty of the bay, house surrounded by picturesque views.
Historic village of Hokkaido
Signature Winter Experiences in Historic village of Hokkaido
- You can feel old Japan in the historic village of Hokkaido, an open air museum of 52 historic buildings from all over the hokkaido located in Nopporo forest park which is covered with snow during winters offering mesmerizing views.
- The museum divided into different theme area town zone, fishing village zone, farming village zone and mountain village zone
- The building consists of original tools, furniture and everyday items depicting Meiji to Showa era pioneering life bringing the history alive.
- You can explore Hokkaido museum depicting unique indigenous Ainu culture, history and wildlife.
- You can enjoy horse drawn carriage rides surrounded by powdered snow during winters.
- You can try soba buckwheat noodles, vegetable curry, yakiimo, a Japanese favourite sweet potato street food snack and many amazing options available.
Things to remember before You come to the Villages in Japan during Winters
- Some places have restrictions and rules of entering private vehicles to manage tourism during vacations and for the safety of the tourists, you should check from the official website before coming to the place.
- During the time of winter temperature drops suddenly so you should pack waterproof jackets, thermal layers, gloves and proper winter shoes having a good grip and are skid free which works best on snow.
- Book your stay early in the season of Christmas, new year and specially during the month of February, the time of snow festivals.
- Carry enough cash beforehand, as the village may have limited ATM and finding them during snowfall can become challenging.
- Snowfall can affect the timing of local buses and rural routes so keep a buffer time between connections.
- Respect the culture, tradition and sentiments of local while exploring villages in Japan.
Conclusion
The list of Best Snow Villages in Japan don’t rush you to run for the same old itineraries to cover in the huge crowd with jam packed roads, but will welcome you in peace to explore the majestic landscape perfectly combined with snowy weather, the place no less than winter wonderland where you will feel the magic of stillness.
Surrounded by snow-covered villages, warm lights, quiet evenings when the time pauses. The beauty is natural with raw elegance, which doesn’t require any decoration and still feels so beautiful and gorgeous.
