Japan in Winter: How We Tailor Japan for Two and Best of Japan for Snow — and Add Seoul

Yes, you can do Japan in winter on a package, and the snow season brings quieter temples, hot springs and festivals that the busier seasons don't have. None of our Japan itineraries is a ski package; they are touring itineraries, and we tailor them for the snow. For winter we have three starting points: two flexible touring itineraries, Japan for Two (8 days) and Best of Japan (10 days), and one more structured guided option, The Colours of Japan (10 days). We then add the winter pieces people ask for: a few nights in Hokkaido for the Sapporo Snow Festival, a day with the snow monkeys, an extra onsen night, and often a short stop in Seoul on the way home.

This post covers what each itinerary includes, how we adapt it for December to February, and how booking works from Australia and New Zealand.

Which itinerary for a winter trip?

• Japan for Two (8 days, 2–10 travellers) — Tokyo, a night in a ryokan at Ogoto Onsen on the shores of Lake Biwa, then Kyoto. Suits couples and anyone who wants Japan's classic sights with an unhurried hot-spring night.
• Best of Japan (10 days, 2–16 travellers) — Tokyo, Kyoto, Kanazawa and Takayama, including a traditional ryokan night in the Japanese Alps. Optional extras include a guided day in Nara and Fushimi, and a scheduled coach service via Shirakawa-go. Suits first-time visitors who want Japan's traditional cities and mountain regions.
• The Colours of Japan (10 days, guided touring with coach transport) — Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kaga Onsen, Shirakawa-go, Osaka, Himeji, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Kyoto and Nara. Suits travellers who prefer a more structured trip, with guides and organised transport handling much of the logistics.

These are land-based touring packages, with international flights arranged separately. We can also arrange the flights, and any extra domestic flights, accommodation and experiences for a winter extension into Hokkaido or South Korea; these are quoted separately.

What is included

Both Japan for Two and Best of Japan include an English-speaking assistant on arrival, guided touring in English in Tokyo and Kyoto, and luggage forwarding by courier on the main transfer days. On those days you travel between cities with an overnight bag while your suitcase follows separately. In winter that matters more than usual: platforms, station stairs and snowy footpaths are easier with a small bag.

Japan for Two travels by bullet train (reserved second-class seats) from Tokyo towards Kyoto, with the ryokan rooms at Ogoto Onsen equipped with private-use thermal baths. Best of Japan includes a 7-day Ordinary Japan Rail Pass for its scheduled rail journeys; the optional Shirakawa-go coach is arranged separately. The Colours of Japan includes more guided touring, coach transport on the touring days and more meals, including three lunches and two dinners. Coach transfers on that itinerary may be shared with other travellers.

On pricing: the published seasonal pricing for these itineraries shows increases in March, April, October and November. January and February fall outside those months, which makes winter worth considering as an alternative to Japan's traditional peak seasons. Winter extensions, extra accommodation and domestic flights are quoted separately for your dates.

How we tailor them for snow

Add Hokkaido for the Sapporo Snow Festival. The 2027 festival runs from 4 to 11 February. We can add three or four nights in Sapporo, usually at the end of the trip, with a domestic flight from Tokyo (Japan for Two and Best of Japan finish there) or from Osaka (where The Colours of Japan finishes), depending on schedules. Lunar New Year falls on 6 February 2027, during festival week, adding another regional holiday period to an already popular event. Sapporo hotels are in high demand at this time, so we check what is genuinely open when we prepare your quote rather than promising a particular property.

Snow monkeys at Jigokudani. From Tokyo, we can add a night in the onsen town of Yudanaka near Nagano, with a visit to Jigokudani Monkey Park, where Japanese macaques use the hot-spring pools in the colder months. The walk in follows an unpaved forest path and takes around 30 minutes, so good winter boots are essential. The monkeys are wild, so their presence and bathing on any particular day can't be guaranteed.

Shirakawa-go under snow. The Colours of Japan includes a daytime visit to Shirakawa-go, and Best of Japan offers an optional scheduled coach between Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go and Takayama. The village's evening light-up events are a separate experience, scheduled for 11, 17, 24 and 31 January 2027. Attendance is strictly by advance reservation, with no tickets on the day. If this is a priority, tell us when you enquire and we'll look into the accommodation, transport and admission arrangements.

An extra onsen night. On Japan for Two, the ryokan night can become two, and on Best of Japan we can add an onsen night in the Takayama area, subject to availability at the ryokan. A night spent soaking in a hot spring while the snow falls outside is often the part of the trip people remember.

Kyoto in the cold. We keep Kyoto in every winter itinerary. Many of the city's major temples and sights are generally less crowded outside the cherry blossom and autumn foliage peaks, although New Year and other holiday periods can still be busy. A dusting of snow on Kinkaku-ji is a sight in itself, although snow in Kyoto is never guaranteed.

Add Seoul on the way home

Seoul is a short flight from Tokyo or Osaka and makes an easy two- or three-night stop in winter: palaces, markets, the city wall at dusk and warming Korean food on a cold evening. Our Korea Brochure covers Seoul, day trips and the rest of the country, and we can build a Seoul stopover onto any of the Japan itineraries above. Travellers adding South Korea should check the current K-ETA and entry requirements for their passport and travel dates, as temporary exemptions can change.

Getting there from Australia and New Zealand

Qantas operates seasonal direct flights from Sydney to Sapporo during the northern winter, scheduled from December 2026 to March 2027, which makes an open-jaw trip practical: fly into Tokyo and finish in Sapporo, or the reverse. Frequency varies through the season. Travellers from Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth can connect through Sydney, Tokyo or another Asian hub, depending on schedules.

From New Zealand, Air New Zealand flies direct from Auckland to Tokyo, with additional seasonal services. Direct Christchurch–Tokyo flights are also scheduled three times a week from late November 2026, subject to government approval. Travellers from Wellington and other centres can connect through Auckland or Christchurch, and Sapporo is then a domestic flight from Tokyo.

How booking works

Send us your dates, who is travelling and which itinerary appeals, either through your travel agent or directly. We confirm the itinerary, rates and any winter additions against what is genuinely available for those dates, then send a quote. For January and February travel, particularly around the Snow Festival and the Shirakawa-go light-up dates, an early enquiry helps, because accommodation and event access are the most date-sensitive parts of a winter trip.

Frequently asked questions

Is Japan too cold to enjoy in winter?
It is cold, especially in Hokkaido and the mountains, but cities are generally well heated. Japan's rail network is generally reliable, although heavy snow can occasionally disrupt services, particularly in Hokkaido and mountain areas. Pack layers, a warm waterproof jacket and boots with good grip, and allow some flexibility when planning connections.

Can we combine the Snow Festival with Kyoto?
Yes. For itineraries finishing in Tokyo, we arrange a domestic flight to Sapporo at the end of the trip; for The Colours of Japan, which finishes in Osaka, we look at flights from Kansai to Hokkaido. The best option depends on the itinerary and flight schedules.

Do Australians and New Zealanders need a visa for Japan?
Australian and New Zealand passport holders can currently visit Japan for short tourist stays of up to 90 days without a visa. Entry requirements can change, so check official advice before travel. If you're adding South Korea, also check the current K-ETA and entry requirements for your passport and travel dates.

Plan your winter in Japan

Browse our Japan itineraries or ask your travel agent for a Pack Ya Bags itinerary. You can also contact us at info@packyabags.com. Tell us your dates, who is travelling and whether the snow, the festival or the onsen matters most, and we'll come back with a winter itinerary that fits.