February is a perfect time to visit Japan, even though the weather can be very chilly in the northern part of Japan, you will still find plenty to enjoy! We guarantee you that you’ll have a lot of wonderful memories to share with someone as you embark on a journey across the country.
Whenever you are in Japan, when you look outside, the view is incredible and you will find plenty of things to do. In February, Japan’s amazing winter festivals, early cherry blossoms, and many fun winter sports make it a beautiful place for those who seek unique landscape, adventure, and cultural experiences.
This article gives you useful information to help you plan your trip to Japan this coming February. We love helping people plan their Japan trips. So, here are some exciting things to do this February in Japan.
1. Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido
One of the biggest and popular winter festivals in Japan is Sapporo Snow Festival. It’s held in early February every year at Odori Park in Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido.
When you are in Sapporo in February, you will be absolutely in love with the snowy landscapes and mouthwatering food. During the festival, many travelers from abroad as well as from other parts of Japan visit the city.
Large snow sculptures, ice sculptures, food stalls, illuminations, live concerts, and events are the main highlights of this festival.
A visit to Sapporo during the festival is well worth your time, not only because you can find snow sculptures there but also because you have the opportunity to go snowmobiling at Wonderland Sapporo or skiing at Sapporo Taine.
2. Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival in Shizuoka
.jpg)
While many tourists head towards the north of Japan in order to enjoy snow sports such as skiing or snowboarding in February, many escape the chilly weather and find themselves in a perfect spot to admire the beauty of early spring blossoms.
Kawazu is arguably one of the best places to visit in Japan in February, where people can enjoy early cherry blossoms (kawazu-zakura). This little town on the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture has approximately 8,000 cherry trees that start to bloom from the beginning of February.
Most of the trees can be found along the beautiful Kawazu River. Rows of cherry trees and their pink blossoms are definitely a great sight to behold!
Depending on the temperatures, visitors can see the blossoms until early March. The best viewing time comes around late February.
If you are in Tokyo, be sure to plan a trip to Kawazu, as it is possible for tourists to visit Kawazu for a day trip and head back to Tokyo by train at the end of the day.
3. Skiing in Niseko
Without question, Niseko is the best ski area in Japan. This popular ski area in Hokkaido has become a prime ski location for many winter sports fanatics.
February is the peak season for skiers to hit the slopes there, and you won’t believe how amazing your trip can be as the ski infrastructure development in Niseko is highly praised.
You get everything you need, from ski school to ski rentals to world-class terrain and the best powder snow. Besides, it has one of the longest ski seasons in Japan.
Whether you are on a mission to hit the epic trails or just want to travel around Niseko to appreciate its beautiful snowy landscapes, you should begin your journey during the peak ski season. If you are too late, snow will start to melt, and the chance of getting the best ski experience will slowly disappear.
4. Plum Blossoms
One of the best things to do in Japan in February is to explore some of country’s best plum blossom spots. Usually, plum blossoms (ume) blooms in February, which is before the arrival of spring, but some varieties even start blooming in late January.
There are many wonderful places to admire the delicate beauty of plum blossoms in Japan. One of the most notable plum viewing spots is Kairakuen, located in Mito. This garden is particularly famous for its huge plum grove, featuring over three thousands plum trees.
Located in Mie Prefecture, another popular ume spot in Japan is Inabe Plum Grove. The area is home to a wide variety of plum trees.
When they are in full bloom, the entire place becomes a place like nowhere else! There it is impossible to get bored of the colorful blossoms of over 4,500 plum trees.
Read more about Japan’s best plum blossom spots in our guide here.
5. Otaru Snow Light Path Festival in Hokkaido
When you visit Sapporo during the Sapporo Snow Festival, it is hard not to pay a visit to Otaru. The locals of this little port city celebrate one of the best winter festivals in Hokkaido, known as the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival.
It’s held in mid-February every winter. You can see a lot of glowing snow candles and snow statues along the iconic Otaru Canal and other places throughout the city.
In the evening, the scenery you experience along the canal is absolutely mind-boggling! Please note that Otaru is famous for sushi, so be sure to enjoy delicious sushi before you leave Otaru for Sapporo by train.
Find some awesome day trips from Sapporo city, Hokkaido.
6. Nagasaki Lantern Festival
Do you want to travel somewhere with beautiful streets featuring thousands of lanterns and lights? One of the best things you can do in Japan in February is the Nagasaki Lantern Festival.
This winter festival is held in Chinatown and the surrounding areas of Nagasaki City for 15 days, which starts on Chinese New Year’s Day based on the Lunar Calendar.
Many activities are held to celebrate the festival, such as parades, dragon dances, lion dances, mask-changing show, music shows, Chinese acrobatic performances, etc.
7. Okinawa’s Cherry Blossom
In Japan, the earliest cherry blossoms can be seen in Okinawa, which usually happens from late January to mid-February. On the other hand, in mainland Japan, cherry trees bloom from mid-March to early April.
If you plan a trip to the Okinawa Islands in February, you can enjoy the earliest cherry blossom in Japan. Okinawa has a subtropical climate, which brings early cherry blossoms to the islands. The most common type of sakura tree in Okinawa is the Ryukyu kanhizakura, also known as hikanzakura.
These dark pink bell-shaped cherry blossoms attract many tourists every spring. In addition, visitors can enjoy beautiful ocean views, whale watching, road trips along the stunning coastlines, delicious Okinawa cuisine, and more.
8. Saidai-ji Temple Eyo Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Man Festival)
Japan celebrates many traditional festivals annually. From hanami, the cherry blossom viewing to stunning dance performances out in the street, they all play an important role in Japanese culture.
There are also some strange events you can experience in Japan. Saidai-ji Temple Eyo Hadaka Matsuri is one of Japan’s three strange festivals. It’s held every year on the third Saturday of February at Saidai-ji Temple in Okayama.
During this traditional festival in Japan, about ten thousand men participate to obtain one of the lucky sticks (shingi) thrown into the crowd by the temple priests. Participants wear nothing but mawasi (Japanese loincloth) and tabi (traditional Japanese socks).
It is believed that those who manage to grab the sticks are recognized as the lucky men (Fukuotoko) and will get good health and fortune during that year.
9. Onsen (Hot springs)
Visiting an onsen is one of the must-do experiences in Japan. Winter is the perfect time for hot springs. So, if you have not tried this before, it’s time to do it!
Japan is home to many great onsen (hot spring) towns. Finding one is not a daunting task at all. If you are looking forward to a perfect onsen trip in Hokkaido, we highly recommend Noboribetsu Onsen. An overnight stay at Daiichi Takimotokan is highly recommended.
Those of you who are searching for an onsen nearby Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, should consider visiting Jozankei Onsen.
If you want to enjoy bathing with a great view, look no further than Lake Kawaguchi. The area is packed with hotels and ryokans, offering great hot springs and a stunning view of Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi.
Besides, find some popular hot spring towns near Tokyo for more travel inspiration.
10. Yokote Kamakura Festival in Akita
This snow festival features kamakura (igloos or snow huts), where you can go inside as a guest and eat rice cakes and drink amazake. Besides, there are many miniature kamakura illuminated by candles, especially along the Yokote River.
You must explore Yokote Castle, one of the festival venues, which provides great views of Yokote city from its top floor.
Please note that the festival is held on February 15 and 16 every year in Yokote city, Akita Prefecture.
