Visiting Japan in January

January is normally cool and dry in Japan, with temperatures as high as 10C in Tokyo and Kyoto and plenty of sun and blue skies making it ideal for snowy landscapes in the north, relaxing in a hot onsen and all-round epic landscapes. It’s a busy start to the year with New Year celebrations but that also makes January a great time to visit Japan if you want to discover local culture and traditions, including the practice of hatsumode as people visit temples to pray for a good year ahead. 

Festivals: Shogatsu (Japanese New Year) runs from January 1-3, with many businesses closing for the period.

Best for: Snow, exploring without the crowds, celebrating Japanese New Year.