Best
Winter Spots
in Japan
in Japan
Let's go around Japan in winter well in 5
nights and 6 days!
DAY1
From Kansai International Airport, take the decorative train “Hello Kitty Haruka” to Osaka Station!, change to the special express train “Thunderbird” and zoom off to Fukui! After observing the powerful exhibition at Fukui's “Dinosaur Museum,” spend your first day relaxing and enjoying the hot springs and dinner at “Awara Onsen!”
Hello Kitty HARUKA
© 1976, 2020 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO. L617299
The Hello Kitty designed train is cute with lots of kitty designs inside, making travel from Kansai International Airport to Osaka Station fun!
Dinosaur Museum
The largest museum in Japan has many attractions! The exhibition room is composed of three zones, “Dinosaur World,” “Earth Science,” and “History of Life,” and there 44 dinosaur skeletons that look like they could move at any moment! The dinosaur burger set at the museum’s “DINO CAFÉ” is a very satisfying meal!
Awara Onsen
Awara Onsen, also known as “Kansai’s Okuzashiki,” is a very popular hot spring town visited by many bathers! There are 74 hot springs, and you can enjoy different hot spring ingredients and qualities at each inn! The inns are full of charm, with beautiful gardens, meals that incorporate local foods, and elaborate hospitality!
- Hello Kitty Haruka
- Please check the website for details on how to ride.
- Dinosaur Museum
- Address: 51-11 Murokochoterao, Katsuyama-shi, Fukui. In the Katsuyama Dinosaur Forest
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last entrance 4:30 p.m.)
*During the extended summer period (July 20th to August 18th in 2024), the opening hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Last entry is 5:30 p.m.)
Reservations are required. - Awara Onsen
- Access: From JR Awaraonsen Station take the Keifuku Bus bound for Tojinbo to “Awara-Yunomachi Station,” or take the Echizen Railway to “Awara-Yunomachi Station”
DAY2
From Awaraonsen Station, take the Thunderbird for Kanazawa, shop and dine at “Omicho Fish Market”, and then visit the famous “Kenroku-en!” After walking around a little and having some Gyokusen-an matcha tea, take a walk around the “Higashi Chaya District,” buy traditional crafts and gold leaf souvenirs, and feel luxurious with “gold leaf soft serve!” Accommodations are conveniently located in front of Kanazawa Station!
Omicho Fish Market
At the historic Omicho Market in Kanazawa's kitchen, there are plenty of winter specialties such as kobako crabs and cold yellowtail! There are about 180 stores, such as butcher shops and fruit and vegetable shops lined up, and there are also fresh fruits that you can eat on the spot and a popular conveyor belt sushi shop, so you will be stuffed full of delicious food!
Kenroku-en
Kenroku-en, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, is full of highlights!
“Yukitsuri,” which protects trees from heavy snow, is the real charm of winter. Move to the nearby
“Gyokusen-an” and relax with matcha tea and seasonal original namagashi sweets♪
Higashi Chaya District
Photo courtesy of Kanazawa-shi
The Higashi Chaya District has been selected as for Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings, and you can enjoy the calm atmosphere of the castle town of Kanazawa just by walking around. Buy traditional crafts and gold leaf souvenirs here in the Higashiyama area! Don't forget the famous gold leaf soft serve!
- Omicho Fish Market
- Address: 50 Kamiomicho, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa
Business hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (may vary by store) - Kenroku-en
- Address: 1 Kenrokumachi, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa
Business hours: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from October 16 to the end of February) - Gyokusen-an
- Address: 3-3 Marunouchi, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa
Business hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (reception until 4:00 p.m.)
*No entrance between noon and 1:00 p.m. due to cleaning. - Higashi Chaya District
- Address: Higashiyama, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa
Business hours: You can walk around freely and it is also a place of living, so please be careful especially at night. - Hakuichi (Higashiyama shop)
- Address: 1-15-4 Higashiyama, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa
Business hours: <Shop> 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. <Cafe> 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
DAY3
Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Shin-Takaoka and go to a spot where you can meet Doraemon!
After that, be overwhelmed by the beauty at “National Treasure Zuiryuji” temple. Then, after experiencing
the production of “Traditional Crafts, Takaoka Casting,” spend a night in accommodations front of Takaoka
Station.
Doraemon Tram
© Fujiko-Pro Photo courtesy of Manyosen Co., Ltd
Doraemon is everywhere in Takaoka-shi, the birthplace of Fujiko F. Fujio!
Take a walk around the “Doraemon Mailbox” and the “Doraemon Walking Road” around Takaoka Station, or take
the “Doraemon Tram” to the “Takaoka Fujiko · F · Fujio Hometown Gallery!”
National Treasure Zuiryuji
“National treasure Zuiryuji” is highly regarded for its Zen Buddhist temple architecture from the early Edo period. There is no doubt that you will be overwhelmed by the magnificent and elegant beauty of the buildings and layout! In 1997, the mountain gate, Buddhist temple, and temple lecture hall were designated national treasures. Fully enjoy the splendor!
Traditional Culture, Takaoka Casting
Photo courtesy of Nousaku
You can feel the inherited technology and craftsmanship with all your senses! It's fun to take a experience casting where you can make a tin cup using the same techniques as the craftsmen♪ Enjoy a fun-filled day experiencing and learning!
- Manyosen Takaoka Station
- Address: 6-1 Shimozekimachi, Takaoka-shi, Toyama
- Takaoka Fujiko · F · Fujio Hometown Gallery
- Address: 1-1-3 Nakagawa, Takaoka-shi, Toyama (Takaoka City Museum of Art 2F) Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Admission is until 4:30 p.m.) * Please check the website for closed days.
- National Treasure Takaokasan Zuiryuji
- Address: 35 Sekihonmachi Takaoka-shi, Toyama
Business hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from December 10 to January 31 - Casting experience "Nousaku"
- Address: 8-1 Office Park, Takaoka-shi, Toyama
Business hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Please check each website for the times of facility tours and casting experiences.
DAY4
Take the Toyama Chihou Railway Bus to Shirakawa-go, which is not an exaggeration to say is the main tourist spot in Japan! After that, feel the Japanese history of Takayama by taking a walk through “Takayama Old Town,” and stay at the “Ryokan Honjin Hiranoya Bekkan” to rest your weary body during your trip.
World heritage site Shirakawa-go
Needless to say, the famous “World Heritage site Shirakawa-go!” In addition to strolling, we also recommend the gassho-zukuri style temple, which is also an observatory, folk museum, and an open-air museum where you can experience old-fashioned life! This is the original scenery of Japan, sure to soothe your body and soul!
Takayama Old Town
Photo courtesy of Takayama-shi
The beautiful cityscape is a symbol of Takayama. The area around Kamisannomachi, which has a reputation for its particular beauty, has irrigation water flowing on both sides of the straight road, and there are many traditional townhouses that have been renovated to restaurants and souvenir shops, so you can take a walk with no end of things to see! Imagine the lively sights of the time when it was a castle town.
Ryokan Honjin Hiranoya Bekkan
Photo courtesy of Honjin Hiranoya Bekkan
At the Honjin Hiranoya Bekkan, a hot spring inn in Hida Takayama located in the center of the town where you can fully enjoy the atmosphere, you can rest during your trip with a delicious meal, a large bath, and a relaxing room.
- Shirakawa-go
- Address: Ogimachi, Shirakawamura, Ono-gun, Gifu
- Takayama Old Town
- Address: Kamisannomachi, Takayama-shi, Gifu
Hours: You can walk around freely and it is also a place of living, so please be careful especially at night. - Honjin Hiranoya Bekkan
- Address: 1-5 Honmachi, Takayama-shi, Gifu
DAY5
Start the morning with the “Takayama Morning Market”♪ After that, in Hida Furukawa, after walking around the “Shirakabe Dozogai” warehouses and experiencing the history, take the limited express train “Wide View Hida” to Nagoya Station and enjoy shopping! After leaving your heavy luggage at your hotel, enjoy the last night in Japan to the fullest!
Hida Takayama Miyagawa Morning Market
Photo courtesy of Hida Takayama Miyagawa Morning Market Cooperative
The “Takayama Morning Market” is a farmer's market where local vegetables and folk crafts are sold mainly by local farmers! The cheerful Hida dialect can be heard from the shops, and it's fun just to take a walk around♪
Seto River and Shirakabe Dozogai Street
Photo courtesy of Hida Tourism Association
A popular spot that can be called the face of Hida Furukawa♪ It developed as a castle town, and there are still many traditional townhouses and grid divisions, and the white-walled warehouses that stretch for about 500 m are worth a visit. In winter, the rich, emotional scenery is wonderful along the Seto River, which is used as a “flowing snow ditch” to move snow.
"Meieki" area
From Hida Furukawa, take the limited express train “Wide View Hida” to Nagoya Station!
Now, it’s time to shop!
Enjoy shopping at the fashionable department store “JR Nagoya Takashimaya” in the commercial complex
building “JR Central Towers & JR Gate Tower,” directly connected to “Nagoya Station,” buy home appliances at
specialty stores such as “Bic Camera,” and enjoy the night view while eating in the restaurant area!
In addition, there are many highlights such as the large store of "UNIQLO", "Matsumotokiyoshi" and
limited items of "Grand Kiosk Nagoya"! Enjoy yourself at this big city entertainment spot in the
"Meieki" area to your heart's content!
"Piyorin"
Photo courtesy of JR Tokai Food Service Co., Ltd.
A new specialty of Nagoya that looks "kawaii"! "Piyorin”, well-known chick-shaped sweets made with eggs of Nagoya Cochin chickens, are wonderful in taste and appearance! Let’s take a break and have “Piyorin” at a café inside of a station, if you are tired from shopping.
Oasis 21 and TV Tower
Photo courtesy of Nagoya Convention & Visitors Bureau
After dropping off your luggage in your hotel, stretch your legs a little and go to
Oasis 21♪
A beautiful three-dimensional spot consisting of a massive glass roof with water flowing on its surface, a
large open lawn, and an event plaza! Take a selfie with the illuminations and the recently renovated TV
tower in the background♪
Nagoya JR Gate Tower Hotel
Photo courtesy of Nagoya JR Gate Tower Hotel
After a full day, you can relax at the hotel directly connected to Nagoya Station♪
- Hida Takayama Miyagawa Morning Market
- Address: Shimosannomachi, Takayama-shi, Gifu
Business hours: 7:00 a.m. to noon (8:00 a.m. to noon in winter) - Seto River and Shirakabe Dozogai Street
- Address: 8 Furukawa-chō Tono-machi, Hida-shi, Gifu
Business Hours: You can walk around freely - JR Nagoya Station
- Address: 1-1-4 Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi
- JR Nagoya Takashimaya (department store)
- Address: 1-1-4 Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi
Business hours: Varies by store
Please check the website for details. - Oasis 21
- Address: 1-11-1 Higashisakura, Higashi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi
Business hours: Varies by facility
Please check the website for details. - Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER
- Address: 3-6-15 Saki, Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi
Business hours (observatory): Weekdays and Sundays 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (last admission 8:40 p.m.)
Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 9:40 p.m. (Last admission 9:20 p.m.) - Nagoya JR Gate Tower Hotel
- Address: 1-1-3 Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi
- BicCamera Nagoya JR GATE TOWER Store
- Address: JR gate tower 9 - 10F
Business hours: 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. - UNIQLO Nagoya store
- Address: JR gate tower 11F
Business hours: 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. - Drug Store Matsumotokiyoshi
- Area: Taiko-doriguchi of JR Nagoya Station
Business hours: Weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday and Holiday 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. - GRAND KIOSK Nagoya
- Area: 1F concourse of JR Nagoya Station
Business hours: 6:15 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. - Cafe Gentiane JR Nagoya Station
- Area: 1F concourse of JR Nagoya Station
Business hours: 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (L.O. 9:30 p.m.)
