10 Things to Do in Tokyo in Winter

Temperatures drop substantially during the winter in Tokyo. Travelling through the snow and ice and making the most of the winter activities on offer can be one of the best experiences of your trip.

From visiting Mount Fuji to gazing down on the city from the heights of the Radium Tower, from fine dining to celebrations to ward off bad luck. Get your coat ready, because here are the best plans for your visit.

Temperatures in Tokyo during the winter can drop substantially, reaching freezing temperatures and sporadic but heavy snowfall. However, in Japan during the winter, as long as it doesn't rain or snow, the skies are usually clear, which is rare during other times of the year when clouds often dominate the horizon. This is good news for visitors because Mount Fuji remains in full view from the city, revealing its best profile.

If you want to visit, you can book a Mount Fuji tour from Tokyo, which also includes a visit to Lake Ashi, or go on your own, but one way or another it's worth a visit during the winter season:

• At the foot of the mountain is the Fujiten Snow resort , with its seven ski slopes of varying difficulty levels where you can practice winter sports.
• There is also a toboggan run designed especially for the little ones, so it's also an interesting plan if you're visiting Tokyo with children.
• Special events are held at the resort every night, including fireworks.

Traditional baths, or onsen in Japanese, are volcanic hot springs that are a cultural experience in Japan. These baths have healing qualities, but they are also beauty-oriented, as it is customary for them to be arranged with views of outstanding natural sites, such as Mount Fuji or the Five Lakes.

In Tokyo there are many options, some of them themed:

• Niwa No Yu baths at the Toshimaen amusement park.
• Open-air baths, such as LaQua.
• Neighbourhood baths, such as Daikokuyu.
• Myojin No Yu onsen, which is set in the post-war era.

As you will see, there are many different types and styles, and some also include sauna and jacuzzi, but the tributaries of all have a natural origin in the volcanic nappes, even if they are located on islands or in inhospitable terrain.

The medieval village of Shirakawa-go is famous for its typical houses and Gassho-zukuri-style buildings , a type of architecture that involves building sloping roofs to prevent snow accumulation, as rainfall is abundant in the mountainous region of Gifu.

A two-day trip from Tokyo will also take you to the Tateyama Kurobe route, which is known for its 20-metre snow walls in winter, on a winding route that leaves only the bulldozer-cleared road in sight.

Visiting the village during the snowfall is a very interesting experience and the typical Japanese winter photographs you can take there are very beautiful. In fact, if you like photography, I also recommend you to book a night photo tour in Tokyo where you can take the best pictures.

If you are visiting Tokyo in February, you can attend the Setsubun no Hi festivals held throughout the country, marking the last day of winter according to the lunar calendar.

Setsubun no Hi is a tradition where roasted soybeans are thrown while saying the phrase "Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi", something like "demon out, fortune in", to chase away demons from the house. The practice of throwing soybeans is known as mame-maki.

During the celebration it is very common for guided tours of the city to be themed, so don't hesitate and book a private tour of Tokyo.

The Radio Tower marks the second highest peak in Tokyo and is the city's most visited observation deck. Inspired by the Eiffel Tower and painted white and international orange to comply with aviation safety regulations, the 332-metre-high structure has two observation decks and one of the best views of the Japanese capital during the winter, when snow blankets the city's skyscrapers and streets in white.

If you are visiting Tokyo during the winter, I recommend that on a clear day you visit the tower and marvel at the view. One of the observation decks also has a transparent glass floor that gives you the sensation of floating in mid-air.

To get the most out of your visit, book your tickets for the Tokyo Tower Observatory in advance. If the skies are clear, you can even see Mount Fuji on the horizon.

Interesting details

• Price... Entrance to the Tower's observation decks costs approximately 10 euros.
• Location... 4 Chome-2-8 Shibakoen, Tokyo.
• Opening hours... The tower observation deck is open daily from 9.00 am to 10.00 pm.
• How to get there... By underground on the Oedo Line to Akabanebashi Station, Hibiya Line to Kamiyacho Station, Mita Line to Onarimon Station and Asakusa Line to Daimon Station. By train on the JR Yamanote line to Hamamatsucho station.

Ueno Park holds some mysteries in winter that are often only known to locals, and although its leafy trees are often bare, the snow, cold and leaves carpeting the ground bring the enchanted forest to life.

The enchanted forest is actually a meandering trail of dull-coloured, snow-covered paths. If you dare to brave the cold, you can walk through Ueno and at the weekend, when the flow of visitors slows down, listen to the sounds of nature to escape for a few minutes from the bustling, glittering Tokyo.

Ueno Park is also home to Japan's oldest and largest museum, so it might be a good idea to get tickets to the Tokyo National Museum and make the most of your visit before continuing your tour of the capital. I also recommend you visit Shinobazu Pond and, if you have the chance, wait there for the sunset.

Japan has adopted many of the customs of the West, especially when it comes to celebrations, so it's no surprise that Tokyo dresses up for Christmas from November onwards. And one of the places where the Christmas spirit is most alive is at the markets:

• Ebisu Garden is one of the most beautiful in the city and is inspired by France. There you can find French specialities such as handmade decorations, candles and traditional mulled wine.
• If you want something more local, you can visit the Tokyo Skytree flea market, which stands out for its illumination, or the Roppongi flea market.
• If you want to experience a traditional Christmas market, I recommend Shiba, which is inspired by German culture.

You can't miss a visit to one of the many markets in the Japanese capital to enjoy the decorations and music, buy all kinds of gifts and eat some of the exquisite local dishes, which you can also enjoy by booking a food tour of Tokyo.

The Japanese cherry tree, or sakura, is the most famous in Asia, but the plum tree, or ume, is the harbinger of spring and also one of the most beautiful with its striking plastic pink colour. Hanegi Park, in the Setayaga district, has the largest plantation in Tokyo and becomes an attraction when its groves begin to bloom in mid-February.

Plum trees are considered symbols of life and rebirth in Japan and are therefore revered by locals. If you enjoyed the trails in Ueno Park, the Hanegi ume trees are not to be missed. Be careful of the branches sticking out of the trees!

Hanegi Park is a bit far from the epicentre of Tokyo's main attractions, but it's a good excuse to explore Shibuya or Hachiman Shrine as well.

Christmas in Tokyo is highlighted by the illuminated buildings and the myriad of bulbs, LED lights, signs and creative designs that recreate a bright and cheerful winter cityscape, magical to discover on every nighttime walk.

The virtual map of places worth visiting during the winter nights to see Tokyo lit up covers every corner of the city, and an excellent way to do this in the cold is to book a bus tour of Tokyo.

The best thing about this experience is that you can discover it from anywhere in the city because Tokyo vibrates with its wonderful lights from November until the end of winter:

• The vicinity of Shinjuku station becomes a glowing forest littered with wooden walkways, benches and crowned by the Docomo Tower.
• The Roppongi district is also illuminated by Christmas lights, as is the Radio Tower and the Tokyo Skytree structure.
• Parks are also places that usually glow at night in Tokyo: Ueno Park, Yebisu Gardens and Shibuya Gardens.

The cold weather is a good excuse to enjoy Japanese cuisine during your winter visit to Tokyo. Hot dishes will be the stars of your tour of one of the best cuisines in the world, which is even more enjoyable when the temperature outside is below freezing.

If you want to complete a totally indigenous experience , you can book a food tour of Tokyo, where you'll try fresh sushi, which during Setsubun no Hi becomes a signature dish, as well as dashi soup, fried fish cake, octopus tentacles, Japanese tea and much more.

Whichever option you choose, you'll taste exquisite flavours and learn more about the delicious Japanese food that is usually the star of Tokyo food tours.

During the winter, the temperature in Japan drops significantly and, although snowfall in Tokyo is neither persistent nor a daily occurrence, it can be heavy. The good thing about the Japanese capital is that rain is rare during the winter period. On a sunny day you can climb Tokyo Skytree and, if you're lucky, see snow-capped Mount Fuji. Sounds good, doesn't it?

In December the temperature stays at a high of 12°C and a low of 5°C at night, but in January the lows drop to 0°C or below. February usually starts off very cold with temperatures below freezing and then warms up towards the end of the month, returning to December's average temperatures.

When touring Tokyo, I recommend that you always wear warm coats and comfortable shoes, especially as when it snows, the city is packed and public transport becomes a hive of activity.

Winter is one of the best times to visit Tokyo. The influx of tourists drops substantially and the already crowded Japanese capital becomes friendlier to walk around.

If you don't mind cold weather, the winter period is a highly recommended option not only because of all the activities the city has to offer but also because it's the cheapest time .

On the other hand, Japan's domestic tourism is also active during the winter and many locals leave Tokyo, so that also frees up public transport in the Japanese capital. Just keep in mind that during snowfall the underground and trains are often jammed, causing delays.

Tokyo is not a cheap city in general, but prices are cheaper during the winter. Due to the lower demand from tourists, you can find some discounted accommodation and winter excursions also cost less than activities in Tokyo during the summer.

There is a reason for this: January to March are the coldest months of the year in Tokyo, but also an interesting opportunity to ski in the mountains surrounding the Japanese capital and enjoy other typical winter activities.

Tokyo's winter weather will require you to pack a variety of coats in your suitcase , including comfortable shoes and waterproof jackets to cope with the snowfall.

Here's a list of items to pack if you're planning a trip to Tokyo during the cold season:

• Woollen hats
• Woollen scarves
• Waterproof and tactile gloves
• Thermal socks
• Thermal fleece
• Fleece trousers
• Woollen jumpers
• Waterproof and comfortable boots
• Winter coats
• Waterproof jacket
• Sunglasses

If you are travelling to Tokyo during the months of December and March you should be aware that cold and snowfall will be common but the city has a wide variety of activities to offer, and you can always escape the cold by taking a bus tour of Tokyo.

However, if you come across a heavy snowfall during your tour or want to beat the cold, you can opt to spend the day in the restaurants of Roppongi or in the closed markets or enjoy some of the Kabuki-za plays.

Tokyo has many museums to explore with a wide variety of themes. In Akihabara you can spend the afternoon in a maid café or in a bar in Kabukicho. And you can also try a local secret, which is kairo, a thermal hot pack that you can put on your back or inside your shoes and it will keep you warm.