I have curated the best destinations to visit in different areas of Japan in this blog post. So if you are planning a winter vacation, it is important to check reviews and whether it is worth it to visit the place. Most people on self-planned winter vacations mostly end up wasting time just deciding what to do. This is mostly because of poor research, lack of budget planning, and not being up to date on local prices.
In this article, we will be checking out beautiful and family-friendly locations to visit with your family during winter, trip planning, and preparations.
Osaka Castle
The Osaka Castle in this Japanese city is a great destination to visit with your family or partner. Osaka, known for its nightlife, street food, and balance of modern architecture and tradition. That, combined with the cold weather, light snow, and the Osaka Festival of lights, makes it a great destination for your winter vacation.
Osaka’s illuminations are one of the great highlights for tourists & locals, especially during the winter break.
These light festivals take place at many venues like Osaka Castle, Namba Parks, Grand Front Osaka, Midosuji and countless others.
Sumiyoshi Taisha
If you are planning to explore tradition-rich areas in Japan, then visiting Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine in Osaka is definitely worth it. It is one of the oldest shrines established in the 3rd century. This site is also one of the pilgrimage sites as it is part of Sumiyoshi Saijin( 3 gods).
Some of the transport options for Sumiyoshi Taisha include taking a taxi, Hankai Tramway from Isshin-ji to Sumiyoshi Taisha, which help you stay within your budget. Another mistake that tourists make is not using an appropriate eSIM plan and not checking for coupon codes and seasonal offers before buying travel packages. Depending on the location, some travel packages include an eSIM along with the discount.
Highlights:
- Nearest access from Kansai and Itami airports.
- Near Sumiyoshi Taisha station and at a walkable distance.
- No entry fees required.
- Another way of reaching the shrine is from Tennoji using the Hankai Tramway.
Osaka Street Food
There are many new foods for you to try while roaming around the markets of Osaka. It is important to know that it can be hard but not impossible to find food options if you are a vegetarian when it comes to street food.
One of the famous street foods in Osaka includes Takoyaki, and Kushikatsu consists of deep-fried vegetables and meat. This also makes for a great dish for vegetarians to try out, as it includes cabbage, Chinese cabbage, Japanese mustard spinach, and more.
Sapporo
Sapporo, located in Hokkaido on the Ishikari Plain, is a great city to visit during winter. It attracts not just the locals but also foreign tourists towards the end of the year.
One of the biggest winter events that happens here is the Sapporo Snow Festival. This event takes place for a week every February. You can expect to see a crowd of people gathered to see snow sculptures and other ice figures. Visit the following 3 sites where this festival is held:
- Susukino Site
- Odori Site
- Tsu Dome Site
I would recommend giving it a visit during evenings as there would be more people to enjoy the event with and it would be great to end your day with. Some of the other landmarks in Sapporo include:
- Tanukikoji Shopping Street
- Hill of the Buddha
- Ganso Sapporo Ramen Street
- Makomanai Takino Cemetery
Tokyo Disneyland
The Tokyo Disney Resort usually has special offers and discounts towards the winter & end of the year. If you are planning to be in Tokyo during your trip, then it is worth checking its Disneyland park. You can also download the Tokyo Disney Resort App to make advanced bookings( iOS and Android ). It is better to plan your arrival around other visits in Tokyo.
Best ways to get to the Disneyland Resort:
- Use the shuttle bus services that are available from many locations.
- Take a train and get off at Maihama Station.
- Taking public transport is recommended due to traffic.
Final Verdict
Although visiting Japan is great at any time of the year, it is during the winter holidays that most travel websites start to offer big discounts. There could be some price hikes for products and services in tourist areas during this time, but the weather, destinations, and hustle and bustle make it worth visiting.
For first-time visitors, I would recommend checking out the cultural destinations during the day and going to events in the evening as they are less crowded in the daytime.