Japan in January and February With Kids: Snow, Festivals and Fewer Crowds

On this page

1. January and February weather in Japan
2. Tokyo in January and February
3. 6 things to enjoy in Japan in January and February
4. When to go: avoid the busiest weeks
5. Things to watch out for
6. Sample plans
7. What to book, and when
8. For Muslim travellers
9. Let a Japanese local plan your winter trip

If you are travelling in the UAE school winter holidays in December, see our guide to Japan in December with kids. This guide is for trips after the New Year.

January and February weather in Japan

Place	January (day / night)	February (day / night)	Snow?
Tokyo	10°C / 1°C	11°C / 2°C	Occasionally
Kyoto and Osaka	9°C / 1°C	10°C / 1°C	Occasionally in Kyoto
Nagano	3°C / -5°C	5°C / -5°C	Yes, in the mountains
Sapporo (Hokkaido)	0°C / -6°C	0°C / -6°C	Yes, deep snow

Average temperatures, rounded. Days are dry and sunny in Tokyo, which is why Mount Fuji is so clear.

Tokyo in January and February

• Quieter after the New Year: from about the second week of January, the big sights and Tokyo Disney are less crowded than in the holidays
• Mount Fuji from the city: on clear mornings you can see Mount Fuji from observation decks in Tokyo. For a closer view, see our day trips from Tokyo by private car
• Winter lights: some illuminations, such as those in Marunouchi, usually continue into February
• Strawberry picking: strawberry farms near Tokyo open for picking from around January, a favourite with children

6 things to enjoy in Japan in January and February

1. The Sapporo Snow Festival

• What: huge snow and ice sculptures in Odori Park in the centre of Sapporo, lit up in the evening
• When: 4 to 11 February 2027
• Tip: hotels in Sapporo fill up months ahead for the festival week. Book as soon as your dates are fixed

2. Skiing and snow play in Hokkaido

• Why January and February: the snow is at its deepest and driest, often called powder snow
• For families: big resorts such as Niseko and Rusutsu have ski schools for children and snow play areas
• Getting there: about 1.5 hours by plane from Tokyo, then about 1.5 to 2 hours by car to the resorts
• More ideas: see our guide to Hokkaido in winter with kids, with Sapporo, Otaru, Niseko and the penguin walk

3. The snow monkeys in Nagano

• What: wild monkeys bathing in a hot spring at Jigokudani, surrounded by snow
• Why now: January and February are when the snow is deepest, and the monkeys are most often in the water
• Getting there: about 1.5 hours from Tokyo to Nagano by bullet train, then by bus or car and a walk of about 30 minutes through the forest. Wear boots with a good grip

4. Shirakawa-go in the snow

• What: a village of steep thatched houses in the mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, at its most beautiful under snow
• Evening light-up: held on selected evenings in January and February, usually with advance booking. Check the dates on the official site before you plan
• Tip: roads can be icy, so go with a tour or a private car rather than driving yourself

5. Setsubun on 3 February

• What: a festival marking the start of spring, when people throw roasted beans and call out “demons out, good luck in”
• Where to see it: many temples and shrines hold bean-throwing events, sometimes with sweets thrown to the crowd. Children love it
• Good to know: it is a seasonal custom, and you can simply watch

6. Plum blossoms in late February

• What: plum trees flower about a month before the cherry blossoms, in white and pink
• Where: temple and shrine gardens in Tokyo and Kyoto. Our guide to the cherry blossoms covers the season that follows

When to go: avoid the busiest weeks

Period	Crowds and prices
Early January (to about 6 January)	Very busy, the end of the New Year holidays
Mid January to early February	The quietest weeks of winter
Around Lunar New Year (6 February 2027)	Busy at popular sights, especially in Hokkaido and Kyoto
Sapporo Snow Festival week	Sapporo hotels are full and expensive
Late February	Quiet, with the first plum blossoms

Things to watch out for

• Snow can delay flights and trains, especially to Hokkaido and in the mountains. Spend the last night before your flight home in Tokyo or Osaka
• Icy pavements in Sapporo: wear shoes with a good grip and walk slowly
• It is colder than it looks: coming from the Gulf, pack a warm coat, gloves, a hat and thermal layers for children
• Short days: it gets dark around 17:00 in Tokyo, so plan outdoor sights in the morning

Sample plans

7 nights: Tokyo (3 nights) → Sapporo for the Snow Festival or skiing (3 nights) → Tokyo (1 night before the flight home)

5 nights: Tokyo (3 nights) → Nagano for the snow monkeys and a ryokan (1 night) → Tokyo (1 night)

For a night at a ryokan with its own open-air bath in the snow, see our top 10 ryokan with private onsen.

What to book, and when

• Sapporo hotels for the Snow Festival week: as early as you can, ideally 3 to 6 months ahead
• Ski resort hotels and family rooms in Hokkaido: 3 months ahead
• Shirakawa-go light-up: when bookings open, as places are limited
• Tokyo hotels: easier than in December, but book 1 to 2 months ahead

For Muslim travellers

• Plan around Ramadan: in 2027, Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February, so a trip in January or early February lets you travel before fasting begins
• Halal food in winter destinations: Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto have the most halal restaurants. Sapporo has fewer, so plan your meals ahead or get our free lists of about 150 halal restaurants and mosques
• Prayer: see our guide to mosques and prayer rooms in Tokyo

Let a Japanese local plan your winter trip

Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and we will plan your trip: the right snow destination for your days, family rooms, the Snow Festival, bullet trains and a private car. Plan my trip, or see our Japan tour packages from Dubai.