Where to travel in Japan in December? If you’re wondering where to go in Japan in December, look no further. December is perhaps one of the most magical times of the year to visit Japan.
Japan offers a lot of travel-related activities, both indoors and outdoors. Even though indoor activities tend to be more popular in winter, I believe outdoor activities are quite rewarding but sometimes challenging as well.
There are many interesting places to visit and events to experience in Japan in December; unfortunately your time won’t let you discover them all. Therefore, I believe this travel guide will help you to plan your upcoming Japan trip the best possible way.
Whether you are in search of epic ski slopes or magical winter illuminations, here are the most incredible places to travel this winter. Let’s see what places in Japan are worth your time in December:
1. Sapporo
Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido, the northernmost prefecture of Japan. If you are interested in visiting a place with snow on the ground in December, then Sapporo should be on the top of your bucket list.
In December, the temperature often drops below zero degrees Celsius there, especially at night, so please be prepared to stay warm by wearing jackets and snow boots.
For locals and tourists alike, the city offers many great places and events, including incredible night illuminations for indescribable joy throughout the winter months.
Besides, you can enjoy amazing day trips from Sapporo to some of the best places to visit in Hokkaido, such as Otaru, Jozankei, Lake Toya, Shakotan, Lake Shikotsu and Noboribetsu. No doubt the ski resorts in and around Sapporo provide great slopes to enjoy a variety of winter activities.
With events like the Sapporo White Illumination and German Christmas Market, this city definitely knows how to celebrate winter in December. Try Hokkaido’s delicious cuisine in Sapporo, as there is no shortage of restaurants in the city.
There are a number of great locations to enjoy the stunning winter views in Sapporo. For example, the Takino Suzuran Hillside National Park, where visitors can enjoy snowshoeing for an once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Take a walk in Maruyama Park, a beautiful park in Sapporo, and feel the incredible atmosphere of tranquility and snow-covered ground.
It is always well worth a detour to Sapporo any time of year, there is always something to see and do. So, start planning a trip to Sapporo this coming December.
Read: Best Places to visit in Hokkaido in December.
2. Niseko
When someone visits Hokkaido in winter, it is hard not to pay a visit to Niseko, one of the best ski areas in Japan. Whether you want to enjoy skiing in the Niseko mountain range or spend a few hours at Hanazono resort doing fun outdoor activities like snowmobiling or snow rafting, there’s a lot going on.
In Niseko, you can find your accommodation at the base of Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu. It’s packed with hotels, restaurants, cafes and shops. This ski resort is the largest night ski area in Japan, offering world-class lifts and trails.
If you are not going to try skiing, then the other options you have there are the fun outdoor winter activities that include snowshoeing, snow tubing, snow rafting, snowmobiling, and horseback riding. These are popular winter activities in Niseko that you and your family can enjoy together.
In addition, you should get out there and enjoy the beautiful scenery that Niseko in winter has to offer. In fact, snowshoeing is an ideal way of exploring the great outdoors, which allows you to take photos of the stunning countryside in Niseko.
3. Nabana no Sato Winter Illumination
One of the biggest reasons to visit Mie Prefecture in winter is to see the breathtaking illumination displays at Nabana no Sato. Part of Nagashima Resort, it is located in Kuwana city. You can easily access this park from Nagoya city. It is considered one of the best day trips from Nagoya City by train.
This is one of the largest winter illuminations in Japan, which begins in late October. Visitors can enjoy this magical attraction until late May every year.
A flower theme park like this with mind-boggling illuminations at night will make you speechless. Here, visitors can see wonderful flower blossoms throughout the year, but don’t forget to experience the winter illumination that highlights millions of LED lights.
The Tunnel of Light is one of the major highlights of this winter illumination event. This eye-catching tunnel is about 200 meters long. Walk through this tunnel and admire the dazzling lights that make this winter event captivating and unique.
In addition, make sure you explore the whole area that lights up to create a rare and mystical sight. I also like the atmosphere inside the greenhouse. I bet you will like it too, as there are many flower blossoms to see.
This flower theme park is packed with many visitors year-round. It can offer some amazing experiences with things to see and do for everyone. So, don’t miss it!
4. Ashikaga Flower Fantasy
Have you been to Ashikaga Flower Park to see its beautiful wisteria flowers in the spring? Every year in spring between early March and mid-May, millions of tourists flock to this impressive flower arena to admire the beauty of colorful tulips, sakura, ume, azaleas, wisteria, peonies and so on.
It is one of the epic and best day trips from Tokyo that are well worth taking if you are waiting to escape from the busy streets of Tokyo City. This flower park in Tochigi Prefecture is just a little over 2 away by train from Tokyo.
Ashikaga flower fantasy is a famous winter illumination event in Japan. Though it starts in autumn (mid-October), visitors can enjoy illuminated flowers until mid-February. Approximately 5 million colorful LED lights are used to create the amazing display of illumination throughout this vast park.
The park offers limited-time illumination shows, which take place throughout the season with three different themes. If you visit the park around late December, the Christmas fantasy illumination will blow your mind.
Visiting an illumination event like this one in Japan in the winter months will create plenty of memorable travel experiences.
5. Lake Kawaguchiko and Mount Fuji
The view of Lake Kawaguchiko and Mt. Fuji in the distance is truly a marvelous sight to behold. There are a number of renowned places to admire the view of Mt. Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture.
Among those places, the most iconic location is arguably the north shore of Lake Kawaguchiko. Sometimes you can see Mount Fuji reflection in the lake. Please note that it is difficult to see the reflection of Mt. Fuji in summer. So the perfect time is in the winter (December, January, and February).
December is the best time to see Mount Fuji because in the winter months the sky is clear and the visibility ratio is higher than in the summer and autumn. Besides, it is great to see snow-capped Mount Fuji as you take a walk along the shore of Lake Kawaguchi.
The first photo that you see in this post shows a beautiful view of Lake Shoji with Mount Fuji in the background! It is the third deepest of Fujigoko (the Fuji Five Lakes).
Your trip in Japan in December wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the stunning Lake Kawaguchiko. You can easily reach Lake Kawaguchi by the Fuji Excursion train (limited express) from JR Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. It’s a direct train service between Shinjuku station and Kawaguchiko station.
Make sure to check the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway on the way back to Kawaguchiko Station. It offers stunning views of Mount Fuji and the lake below, making it one of the best attractions for tourists to visit in the area.
Those of you thinking about exploring other places around Mount Fuji should visit these places. If you want to stay a night around Lake Kawaguchiko, this hotel seems like the perfect choice!
6. Tokyo
Many people visit Tokyo for one particular reason. Do you have any idea what that is?
It’s Otaku culture. They are inspired by it. Those who have obsessive interest in anime and manga are called otaku. With a lot of shops and indoor activities, Tokyo is a mecca for anime and manga lovers.
Are you an Otaku? Tokyo is the perfect place to be, especially Akihabara. There you will find plenty of activities based on your interest, such as exploring anime and manga shops and museums, maid cafes, playing video games, comic book stores, and so much more.
During winter (December), you can also enjoy some of Tokyo’s festivals and events, like the Christmas Markets, Winter Illuminations, Disney Christmas at Tokyo Disneyland, Countdown Events on New Year’s Eve and more.
Many people from downtown Tokyo go to Sagamiko Resort Pleasure Forest, Kanagawa Prefecture, to see the annual Sagamiko Illumination event. With six million dazzling LED lights and various themes, this illumination show proves why it’s considered one of the best winter illuminations in the Kanto region.
Tons of decorative lighting displays here and there, the tunnel of light, the Rainbow lift, and the Light Ferris Wheel provide a one of a kind experience that you will never forget for the rest of your life! Please note that this event starts in early November and lasts until mid-May.
Tokyo has something for everyone. If you are a nature lover, you may head towards some of its popular parks and gardens in December. Located in Ueno Park, the Tokyo National Museum is the right place to go if you want to see a great collection of Japanese arts and artifacts, including many national treasures.
7. The Hakuba Valley
The Hakuba Valley is located in the Japanese Alps of Nagano Prefecture. The valley comprises 10 world-class ski resorts with amazing ski facilities and ski schools for beginners to learn skiing and snowboarding.
Visitors can hit the slopes of Hakuba as early as late November, though the prime ski adventure kicks off in mid-December. If you are traveling around Tokyo in late December, then you should take a trip to the Hakuba Valley and spend a few days exploring its ski resorts and other attractions nearby.
With stunning mountain views and expansive terrain, skiing at Hakuba can be a great alternative for those who can’t travel to Niseko, the best ski area in Hokkaido and one of the best in Japan.
8. Shirakawa-go
A trip to Japan is not complete without a trip to Shirakawa-go during winter. This mind-boggling place in Gifu Prefecture is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Most of the visitors who come to explore Shirakawa-go usually visit Ogimachi, the largest village of Shirakawa-go. It has several dozen picture-perfect gassho-zukuri farmhouses. In fact, some of these are hundreds of years old and well preserved! Without question, these iconic farmhouses are the main attractions in the area.
The arrival of winter brings plenty of snowfall there, and those farmhouses look absolutely impressive with piles of snow on their roofs.
The Shiroyama viewpoint offers the best vistas of the whole village, including the surrounding mountains covered in snow. You will be amazed looking at those traditional farmhouses from the observatory!
Visit Gassho-zukuri Minkaen, which is an open-air museum in the village consisting of a total 26 buildings including 9 buildings designated as Important Cultural Properties of Gifu Prefecture. This open-air museum recreates the traditional way of life of the people in the region.
There, an overnight stay at a farmhouse is highly recommended! If you fail to make a reservation, here is an alternative you may find useful. Be sure to book well in advance. With diverse landscapes and unique experiences, Shirakawa-go is a must-see attraction in Japan during winter.
9. Kyoto
If you are planning to go on holiday in Japan in the autumn months (late November – early December), the best place to explore is Kyoto.
In general, the peak autumn foliage comes in mid-November in Kyoto and you can experience the best views of the transitional autumn leaves until mid-December. How cool is that!
Kyoto is considered one of the best cities in Japan to see autumn leaves. The first week of December still is a very good time to see lush autumn foliage in gold and red tones.
In Kyoto, there are many popular autumn foliage spots, like Tofukuji, Nanzenji, Kodaiji, Kiyomizudera, Eikando, Chionin, and Kitano Tenmangu, to visit in early December. You’ll get some great views of the colorful trees there, and you can imagine why this is Kyoto’s most beautiful season.
If you want to experience a Japanese theatre in Kyoto, then visit Minamiza Theatre. This is one of the oldest Kabuki theatres in Japan founded in 1610. Surprisingly, you can watch Kabuki performances at this theater only in December! You are lucky that you will visit Kyoto in December and you shouldn’t miss this opportunity.
10. Kamakura
Kamakura is an amazing place to visit. You can spend a lovely day in Kamakura as a day trip from Tokyo city. So, there is no need to stay a night or two, as the JR Yokosuka Line connects Tokyo station directly with Kamakura station.
This ancient city near Tokyo boasts a number of famous attractions, such as the Great Buddha of Kamakura, Hasedera Temple, Hokokuji Temple, Hachimangu Shrine, Meigetsuin Temple and more!
On the way to The Great Buddha of Kamakura from Hase Station, you will come across many shops selling antiques, local crafts, and unique souvenirs. It’s worth checking those shops, and you should look for something unique and useful to bring home!
You cannot say you have truly experienced the best highlights of Kamakura if you don’t visit the Great Buddha of Kamakura, also known as Kamakura Daibutsu, located at Kotoku-in temple. In fact, this is the symbol of this charming coastal town.
Don’t forget to visit Hasedera Temple in early December. You will see plenty of autumn’s most attractive shades around its temple complex. I was impressed seeing the giant wooden Buddha Statue inside the main temple building (Photography is prohibited). This is arguably one of the most tranquil and sacred spots in Kamakura.
