Dining inside a snow hut at Iiyama’s Kamakura Village, enjoying a piping hot noroshi nabe as snow falls outside—one of Nagano’s most memorable winter experiences.

Witness the Yokote Bonden Festival, where intricately decorated staves are judged for design and craftsmanship before being offered to Shinto deities—an engaging and colourful winter tradition in Akita.

An evening walk through the Yokote Kamakura Festival, where candle-lit snow huts, centuries-old traditions, and warm amazake create one of Japan’s most atmospheric winter celebrations.

Ride the SL Fuyu-no-Shitsugen steam train through Hokkaido’s snowy wilderness. From spotting red-crowned cranes to tasting Shibecha’s famous dairy, this scenic winter journey is a must for train and nature lovers alike.

A quiet winter journey on the Abashiri–Shiretoko-Shari sightseeing train offers stunning coastal views of Hokkaido’s Sea of Okhotsk and Shiretoko mountains—a serene alternative to drift-ice cruises.

Abashiri is home to the southernmost drift ice in the world. I travelled here to see the famous ice on the Sea of Okhotsk. Sailing through the floating ice at sunset was an unforgettable moment — the orange glow over the frozen sea made it a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

A winter visit to the Asahikawa Winter Festival, featuring massive snow sculptures, ice carvings, giant snow slides, and playful snowmen—an immersive and family-friendly winter experience in Hokkaido.

A winter walk through the 2023 Sapporo Snow Festival, exploring towering snow sculptures in Odori Park and intricately carved ice displays in Susukino, capped off with a warming bowl of ramen in Hokkaido’s winter capital.