★THE TRIP HYPE✦Japan’s now, delivered pop★MODERN VOYAGE & TECH✦Food · Shopping · Things to Do · Know-How · Culture★THE TRIP HYPE✦Japan’s now, delivered pop★MODERN VOYAGE & TECH✦Food · Shopping · Things to Do · Know-How · Culture

★THE TRIP HYPE✦Japan’s now, delivered pop★MODERN VOYAGE & TECH✦Food · Shopping · Things to Do · Know-How · Culture★THE TRIP HYPE✦Japan’s now, delivered pop★MODERN VOYAGE & TECH✦Food · Shopping · Things to Do · Know-How · Culture

Tag · Season

#Winter

December through February, when the New Year holiday quietly rearranges what's open. Small independent shops close for several days and shrines fill with hatsumode crowds making the year's first visit, while the big chains keep normal hours. Winter illuminations, onsen, getting to snow country and dressing for it, and the food that only shows up once it's cold.

34 articles

Ground-floor seafood stalls at Karato Market's sushi battle in Shimonoseki

Karato Market, Shimonoseki: Which Days the Sushi Battle Runs — and How to Get There Car-Free

King penguins walking single file through the snow at Asahiyama Zoo's winter Penguin Walk

Asahiyama Zoo in Winter (2026–2027): Penguin Walk Schedule, Hours, and Access from Sapporo

A whole boiled Matsuba snow crab served as a crab-kaiseki dinner at a Kinosaki Onsen ryokan.

Snow Crab in Kinosaki Onsen 2026-2027: When to Go and How to Pair It with the Public Baths

A whole boiled snow crab (Matsuba crab) served as part of a winter crab-kaiseki dinner at an onsen ryokan.

Snow Crab Season in Japan 2026: Where to Eat Matsuba Crab, from Kinosaki Onsen to Echizen

Visitors ringing a temple bell, the Joya no Kane, at midnight on New Year's Eve in Japan

Joya no Kane: Which Temples Let You Ring Japan's New Year's Eve Bell (and How to Get Home)

Snow-covered gassho-zukuri farmhouses of Shirakawa-go's Ogimachi village lit up at night during the winter light-up, seen from the Ogimachi Castle Ruins observation deck

Shirakawa-go Winter Light-Up 2027: 4 Nights from January 11, How to Reserve & the Last-Bus Trap

Midtown Garden at Tokyo Midtown lit up at night with THE DREAMING TREE, the roughly 8.5-meter Christmas tree, during MIDTOWN CHRISTMAS 2026

Tokyo Midtown Christmas Illumination 2026–2027: Free, Opens November 26, When Each Display Ends

The snow-covered Hakuba mountains rising above a ski resort slope

Hakuba Valley 2026-27: Lift Pass Prices, Opening Dates, and Getting There from Tokyo

Japanese disposable hand warmers (kairo), the stick-on, handheld, and toe types, shown with their packaging

Hand Warmers in Japan (Kairo): Where to Buy and Flight Rules

Promotional key visual for the Dragon Quest × Final Fantasy winter collaboration, Yokohama Minato Mirai Winter Holiday 2026

Dragon Quest × Final Fantasy Yokohama 2026: When to Book the Cafe and Which Mall Has What

The stone bridge in front of the Imperial Palace Main Gate, with Nijubashi behind it on a clear winter day

Imperial Palace New Year Greeting 2027: Which Gate, When to Arrive, What to Bring

Street trees along Marunouchi Naka-dori glowing champagne gold during the Marunouchi Illumination 2026-2027

Marunouchi Illumination 2026: Harry Potter Snow Tree & the December 25 Catch

A Nozomi Shinkansen at a Tokyo Station platform beside the electronic departure board

Year-End Shinkansen 2026–27: When Tickets Go On Sale, and the Nozomi's All-Reserved Window (Dec 25–Jan 5)

The exterior of Makuhari Messe, the Chiba venue hosting Jump Festa 2027

Jump Festa 2027 Tickets: Free Entry, But Lottery-Only (Apply by Nov 16)

Midosuji's ginkgo trees glowing along Osaka's main avenue at night during the Midosuji Illumination

Midosuji Illumination 2026 (Osaka): Dates, Hours, and the One Night (November 23) the Street Opens to Walkers

Maneki name boards on the facade of Kyoto's Minamiza theater during the December Kaomise kabuki run

Minamiza Kaomise 2026: Kyoto Kabuki Tickets, Prices & Dates

Snow-covered Ginzan Onsen at dusk, with gas lamps glowing along the wooden Taisho-era ryokan on both banks of the river.

Ginzan Onsen in Winter 2026-27: No Cars, the Shuttle, and the Day-Trip Catch

The Starlight Million winter illumination lighting the canal-side promenade at Huis Ten Bosch after dark

Huis Ten Bosch Winter Illumination 2026-2027: The Starlight Million (Formerly Kingdom of Light)

USJ's New York area at night with Christmas decorations and visitors

USJ Christmas 2026: Christmas Night Shows Run Nov 25–Jan 11 Only, Best Dates & What to Wear

Tokyo Disney Resort decked out in Christmas decorations

Tokyo Disney Resort Christmas 2026: Parade Viewing, Crowds, and What to Wear

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