Japan in December: What's at Its Best and What's Closed

13 places are at their best in December; 64 are closed all month and 160 partly closed.

Plan your December trip Map: what's a day trip from where you stay

What is closed, by prefecture

At its best in December

Tokyo & Yokohama 1

• Tonogayato GardenTokyoA strolling garden built into a valley on the Musashino terrace edge: a bright lawn above, a spring-fed pond and bamboo grove below.

Kanazawa 1

• Kenrokuen GardenIshikawaSnow ropes and snowy pines, December to February

Kyushu 2

• Yufuin & Lake KinrinOitaMorning mist, late autumn to winter
• Izumi Crane Observation CenterKagoshimaAn observation hall on the Izumi plain, where over 10,000 hooded and white-naped cranes spend the winter. You can watch them feed and fly from the rooftop deck.

More in Kanto 1

• Yoro Valley & Awamata FallsChibaA wooded valley of the Yoro River in the middle of the Boso Peninsula, with waterfalls, hot-spring inns and riverside paths; Awamata Falls is the best-known view.

More in Chubu 3

• Jigokudani Snow Monkey ParkNaganoMonkeys in the snow, December to February
• Shuzenji OnsenShizuokaAutumn leaves, mid-Nov to mid-Dec in the town
• Yoro FallsGifuFalls opening ceremony every July 1

More in Kansai 3

• Kinosaki OnsenHyogoCherry trees along about 1 km of the river (Apr); Yume Hanabi 5-min fireworks on most nights Jul 30 – Aug 21, 2026; snow crab season from early Nov to end of Mar
• Makino Metasequoia AvenueShigaAutumn colors, late November to early December
• Kawayu Onsen (Sennin-buro)WakayamaSennin-buro giant river bath Dec – end Feb (6:30–22:00, free); lanterns on Saturday evenings during the season

More in Chugoku 2

• Yubara OnsenOkayamaCandle Fantasy at Sunayu (late Dec)
• Taineiji TempleYamaguchiAutumn leaves, mid-Nov to early Dec (evening light-up); cherry blossoms, late Mar to early Apr

Open as usual — well-known places

• Sensoji TempleTokyoTokyo's oldest temple, entered through a giant red lantern and a long shopping street.
• Fushimi Inari TaishaKyotoThousands of orange torii gates form tunnels up a forested mountain. Open all day and night.
• Kiyomizu-dera TempleKyotoA wooden temple stage built out over a hillside, with views across Kyoto.
• Itsukushima Shrine (Miyajima)HiroshimaA red shrine and giant torii gate that seem to float on the sea at high tide. Deer roam the island.
• Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion)KyotoA pavilion whose upper two floors are covered in gold leaf, reflected in a still pond.
• Shibuya Scramble CrossingTokyoTokyo's famous intersection in front of Shibuya Station, where over a thousand people can cross at once from every direction.
• Mt. Fuji 5th Station (Fuji Subaru Line)YamanashiTrailhead of the Yoshida Trail at about 2,300 m. No climb needed: enjoy the views, Komitake Shrine and short walks.
• Todaiji TempleNaraA giant bronze Buddha inside one of the world's largest wooden buildings.
• Himeji CastleHyogoOften called Japan's most beautiful original castle — the 'White Heron', for its white walls.
• Arashiyama Bamboo GroveKyotoA path through towering green bamboo, near the famous Togetsukyo Bridge.
• DotonboriOsakaOsaka's neon-lit canal street of giant signs and street food — takoyaki, okonomiyaki and more.
• Shirakawa-goGifuJapan's best-known village of steep thatched 'praying hands' farmhouses, in a snowy mountain valley.
• Arakurayama Sengen Park (Chureito Pagoda)YamanashiThe famous postcard view: a five-story pagoda with Mt. Fuji behind it, after climbing 398 steps.
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Atomic Bomb DomeHiroshimaThe ruined dome left as it stood after the 1945 atomic bombing, and a museum that tells the story.
• Meiji Jingu ShrineTokyoA quiet shrine in a deep forest, right next to busy Harajuku.
• Gion & HanamikojiKyotoKyoto's geisha district around Yasaka Shrine, with teahouse-lined lanes south of Shijo and the willow-lined Shirakawa canal.
• Tokyo SkytreeTokyoA 634 m tower with views over all of Tokyo — and Mt. Fuji on clear days.
• Nara ParkNaraOver 1,500 free-roaming deer that bow for rice crackers, among ancient temples and shrines.
• Osaka CastleOsakaA white-and-gold castle tower on huge stone walls, inside a large park with moats.
• Great Buddha of KamakuraKanagawaA bronze Buddha over 11 m tall that has sat in the open air since storms and a tsunami destroyed its hall centuries ago.

Closed all month

• Hokkaido 6

• Former Hanada Family Herring House (Obira)
  The town lists the house as closed December to March
• Former Maruichi Honma Merchant House (Mashike)
  Open late April to 3 November only
• Himenuma Pond (Rishiri Island)
• Kitakogane Shell Mound
• Shiretoko Five Lakes
  Closed in winter (about mid-November to late April)
• Shiretoko Pass

• Aomori 4

• Anmon Falls (Shirakami-Sanchi)
• Cape Shiriya & Kandachime horses
• Komakino Site
• Osorezan Bodaiji (Mt. Osore)
  Closed November to April

• Iwate 3

• Geto Onsen
• Takadachi Gikeido
  Closed in winter from Nov 21; the hall's site says it reopens in March, the Iwate tourism site says Mar 15
• Toshichi Onsen

• Miyagi 2

• Mt. Kurikoma (Iwakagami-daira)
• Zao Okama Crater Lake
  Road closed from early November to late April

• Akita 9

• Dakigaeri Gorge
  Trail and toilets closed in winter (late Nov to late April)
• Former Ikeda Family Garden
• Hachimantai Summit & Dragon Eye
  Aspite Line closed in winter (early Nov to mid-April)
• Kawarage Jigoku (Hell Valley)
• Kawarage Oyutaki (Hot-Spring Waterfall)
• Mt. Chokai (Hokodate)
• Takedai Nature Observation Forest (Shirakami)
  Closed from late November to mid-May (access road closed in winter)
• Tamagawa Onsen
  Closed in winter (about Nov 30 to mid-April); sister inn Shin-Tamagawa stays open
• Yasu-no-Taki Falls
  Road closed by snow from about mid-November to late May

• Yamagata 3

• Hojin no Ie (Former Ariji Family House)
  Closed December 1 to March 31
• Mount Gassan
  Climbing season is about July 1 to late September; the road to the 8th Station is open about late June to late October and closed by snow the rest of the year
• Yudonosan Shrine
  Open from June 1 to about November 3 (2026); closed by snow the rest of the year

• Fukushima 3

• Jododaira and Bandai-Azuma Skyline
  The Skyline is closed in winter, from mid November to early April
• Nakatsugawa Gorge
• Oze National Park (Fukushima side, Ozenuma)

• Tochigi 1

• British & Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Parks

• Gunma 5

• Arafune Cold Storage (Arafune Fuketsu)
• Chatsubomigoke Moss Park
  Closed for snow from December to mid/late April; opens mid-to-late April
• Ichinokurasawa
• Lake Nozori
• Oze National Park (Gunma side)
  Closed by snow from November to April; May and October are the edges of the season

• Saitama 2

• Ashigakubo Icicles
• Ushijima Wisteria (Tokaen)
  Open only from about mid-April to early May; closed the rest of the year

• Niigata 1

• Lake Okutadami (Sightseeing Boat)

• Toyama 3

• Kurobe Gorge Railway
  Runs from late April to November
• Shomyo Falls
  Road closed in winter (about late Nov to late Apr); bus runs mid-May to mid-Nov
• Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
  Closed from December to mid-April

• Ishikawa 1

• Hakusan Shirakawa-go White Road

• Fukui 2

• Echizen Ono Castle
  Castle closed December to March
• Mizushima Island

• Yamanashi 2

• Hirogawara (Kita-dake trailhead)
• Nishizawa Gorge
  Trail closed Dec 1 to late April

• Nagano 3

• Happo Pond (Hakuba Happo-one)
  Hiking lifts run from late May/June to early November (2026: May 30-31 and Jun 6-Nov 3); the area is a ski resort in winter
• Kamikochi
  Open from mid-April to November 15
• Kitazawa Pass

• Gifu 2

• Cormorant Fishing on the Nagara River (Ukai)
• Mt. Norikura (Norikura Skyline)

• Shizuoka 1

• Mt. Fuji Fujinomiya Trail 5th Station

• Mie 1

• Osugidani Gorge

• Shiga 1

• Mt. Ibuki

• Osaka 1

• Osaka Museum of Housing and Living

• Hyogo 1

• Tonomine Highlands

• Nara 1

• Odaigahara

• Tottori 1

• Mitokusan Nageiredo
  Nageiredo trail closed from December to March (snow)

• Tokushima 1

• Oku-Iya Double Vine Bridges
  Closed December to March

• Kagawa 1

• Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art (MIMOCA)

• Ehime 1

• Tonaru Besshi Copper Mine Ruins
  Closed in winter (Dec to end of Feb)

• Kochi 1

• Monet's Garden Marmottan in Kitagawa Village
  Closed for winter from December 1 to end of February

• Saga 1

• Kunen-an

Partly closed or seasonal limits

• Hokkaido 9

• Cape Erimo
• Cape Kamui (Shakotan)
  Trail beyond the Nyonin Kinsei Gate closed for works 5 Oct 2026 – early Apr 2027; the cape can still be viewed from near the gate
• Kakinoshima Site (Hakodate Jomon Culture Center)
• Kaminoko-ike Pond
• Lake Onneto
  Road beyond Meakan Onsen closed early Dec – early Apr; the lake can only be reached on snowshoes
• Lake Toyoni (Heart Lake)
• Matsumae Castle & Park
• Mt. Asahidake Ropeway (Daisetsuzan)
  Ropeway suspended for maintenance 16 Nov – 10 Dec 2026
• Shiretoko Nature Center

• Aomori 7

• Fujita Memorial Garden
  Garden closed Nov 24 to mid-April; only the Western house opens (9:00–16:30)
• Hirosaki Nakacho Samurai District
  Nov–Mar each house opens only 2–3 days a week; Umeda house closed Dec–Mar
• Hotokegaura
• Juniko Lakes (Aoike Pond)
  The Juniko bus runs only from about mid-April to the end of October
• Korekawa Jomon Museum
  Closed Dec 27–Jan 4
• Lake Towada
  Cruises and through buses do not run in winter (cruises roughly late Apr – early Nov)
• Tsuta-numa Pond

• Iwate 3

• Hashino Iron Mining Site
• Koiwai Farm Makiba-en
• Narushima Bishamon-do (Mikumano Shrine)
  Statue viewing hours (9:00–16:30) are given for April–November only; check before a winter visit

• Miyagi 1

• Naruko Gorge
  Gorge trails are closed from late November to late April

• Akita 5

• Hottai Falls
  The road from Sarukura closes for winter from late November (Nov 20 in 2025); reopening date not stated
• Isedotai Jomon Site
• Mt. Kampu Revolving Observatory
• Oyasukyo Gorge Daifunto
  Gorge path closed in winter (about early Nov to late April); view from the bridge
• Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Center Fujisato

• Yamagata 2

• Uesugi Shrine (Matsugasaki Park)
  The Keishoden treasure hall is open from mid-March to November 25 (and on the Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival weekend in February); the shrine grounds are open all year
• Zao Onsen
  Zao Onsen Dai-rotenburo (big outdoor bath) is closed late Nov to mid-April; public baths stay open

• Fukushima 5

• Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum
• Maezawa Magariya Village
  The museum and facilities close for winter, from mid November to late April
• Mugenkyo Ferry
• Shingu Kumano Shrine Nagatoko
  December to March: open on weekends and holidays only
• Shiramizu Amidado
  Closed December 20–31

• Ibaraki 6

• Aqua World Ibaraki Prefectural Oarai Aquarium
  Maintenance closures for a few days each June and December
• Art Tower Mito
  Closed over New Year
• JAXA Tsukuba Space Center
  Closed Dec 29–Jan 3
• Kasama Arts Forest Park & Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum
• Kodokan (Mito Domain School)
  Closed Dec 29–31
• Shunpu Banri-so (Rosanjin's House)
  Closed over New Year

• Tochigi 5

• Ashikaga Gakko (Ashikaga School)
  Closed Dec 29–31
• Mt. Nasu (Chausudake) & Nasu Ropeway
• Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park
  Closed Dec 29–Jan 1
• Oya History Museum (Oya Stone Quarry)
  Closed Tuesdays Dec–Mar; closed Dec 26–Jan 3
• Oyaji Temple (Oya Kannon)

• Gunma 2

• Dokutsu Kannon
• Fukiware Falls
  Closed in winter, usually mid-December to late March

• Saitama 2

• Kitain Temple (Kawagoe)
  Visitor course closed from Dec 19 to Jan 15
• Nagatoro River Boat Ride
  Regular boats run about mid-March to early December; small kotatsu boats in January–February

• Chiba 7

• Chiba Port Tower
  Closed Dec 28-31
• Kamogawa Sea World
• Kasori Shell Mound
  Museum closed Dec 29 - Jan 3
• Mihama-en Garden (Makuhari Seaside Park)
  Autumn leaves from mid-Nov to early Dec; closed Dec 29 - Jan 3
• Museum of Aeronautical Sciences
  Closed Dec 29-31
• National Museum of Japanese History (Rekihaku)
  Closed Dec 27 - Jan 4
• Tojo-tei (Tojogaoka Historical Park)

• Tokyo 4

• Hama-rikyu Gardens
  Closed Dec 29 – Jan 1
• Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
• Mukojima-Hyakkaen Gardens
  Closed Dec 29 – Jan 3 (only the Fukurokuju hall area opens for the Sumidagawa Seven Lucky Gods walk)
• Rikugien Garden
  Closed Dec 29 – Jan 1

• Kanagawa 5

• Hokokuji Temple (Bamboo Garden)
  Closed to visitors Dec 29 – Jan 3
• Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum (Nihon Minkaen)
  Closed Dec 29 – Jan 3
• Odawara Castle
  Keep closed on the 2nd Wed of Dec and Dec 31 – Jan 1
• Sankeien Garden (Yokohama)
  Closed Dec 26–31
• Yamate Bluff & Western-Style Houses (Yokohama)
  Houses closed Dec 29 – Jan 3; streets and parks open

• Niigata 11

• Former Saito Family Villa
  Autumn leaves usually early to mid-November; closed Dec 28 - Jan 3
• Fossa Magna Museum (Itoigawa)
  Closed Mondays Dec-Feb and Dec 28 - Jan 4
• Hoshitoge Rice Terraces
  In winter the car park and viewpoint are not cleared of snow and cannot be used, sometimes until after early May
• Matsudai Nohbutai Field Museum (Echigo-Tsumari Art Field)
• Mt. Yahiko (Ropeway and Summit Park)
• Oyashirazu Cliffs
  Western walking path closed Dec-Mar
• Ryugakubo Pond
• Sado Magistrate's Office (Sado Bugyosho)
  Closed Dec 29 - Jan 3
• Senkaku Bay (Sado)
  Agejima Yuen hours from December to February are announced separately
• Shibata Castle
  Closed in winter (Dec-Mar); the exterior can still be seen
• Toki Forest Park (Sado)
  Closed Mondays Dec-Feb

• Toyama 1

• Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design (TAD)

• Ishikawa 3

• Ishikawa Prefectural Library
• Kaga Higashitani Hamlets
  Hard to visit in the snow season
• Shirayama Hime Shrine
  Treasure hall closed Dec–Mar (shrine open)

• Fukui 3

• Ikeda Kazura Bridge
• Maruoka Castle
• Yokokan Garden
  Closed Dec 28–Jan 4

• Yamanashi 6

• Fugaku Wind Cave & Narusawa Ice Cave
  Closed for a period in December
• Itchiku Kubota Art Museum
  Mid-December to mid-March: open Sat–Mon and holidays only
• Mt. Daibosatsu
• Mt. Mizugaki
• Ojiragawa Gorge
  Valley trail closed in winter, about mid-Dec to mid-Apr
• Shosenkyo Gorge
  Buses stop short of the gorge from December to March

• Nagano 3

• Kitayatsugatake Ropeway & Tsuboniwa
• Shirahone Onsen
  The public outdoor bath closes for winter, Nov 25 to mid-April (inns stay open)
• Ueda Castle Ruins Park
  Turrets closed from mid-November to March; the museum is closed over New Year

• Gifu 2

• Gandate Gorge (Gandate Park)
• Gifu Castle & Mt. Kinka

• Shizuoka 6

• Hamamatsu Castle
• Mount Omuro
  Lift closed for maintenance for part of June and December (Dec 7–18 in 2026)
• Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace
  Closed Dec 31 and Jan 1
• Ryotanji Temple
  Closed Aug 15 and Dec 22–27
• Sumpu Castle Park
  Paid facilities close over the New Year holidays; the park stays open
• Toro Archaeological Site
  Museum closed Dec 26 – Jan 3

• Aichi 10

• Cultural Path Futabakan
  Closed Dec 29 – Jan 3
• Ghibli Park
• Museum Meiji-mura
  Irregular closed days in summer and winter; shorter hours Dec–Feb
• Nagoya City Science Museum
  Closed Dec 29 – Jan 3
• Okazaki Castle
  Closed Dec 29–31
• SCMaglev and Railway Park
  Closed Dec 28 – Jan 1
• Tokugawa Art Museum
  Closed over the New Year holidays
• Tokugawa-en Garden
• Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
  Closed over the New Year holidays
• Urakuen Garden and Joan Teahouse
  Closed Dec 29 – Jan 1

• Mie 6

• Akame 48 Waterfalls
  Closed Dec 28–31, and on Thursdays from January to the second week of March
• Gojoban Yashiki Samurai Row Houses
  Closed over the New Year holidays
• Iga Ueno Castle
  Closed Dec 29–31
• Iga-ryu Ninja Museum
  Closed Dec 29–Jan 1
• Mikimoto Pearl Island
  Closed for 3 days from the second Tuesday of December
• Yokkaichi Port Building Observatory (Umiterras 14)
  Closed Dec 29–Jan 3

• Shiga 6

• Biwako Terrace (Biwako Valley)
• Kyorinbo Temple
• MIHO MUSEUM
  Closed in winter (2026 autumn season ends Dec 6; 2027 spring season starts Mar 13); breaks between seasons
• Oku-Biwako Parkway
• Omihachiman Suigo Boat Tour
• Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park
  Closed Dec 28–Jan 4

• Kyoto 3

• Kurama-dera Temple
  Reihoden museum closed Dec 12-end of Feb; the temple stays open
• Nijo Castle
  Castle closed Dec 29–31; Ninomaru Palace also closed Dec 26–28 and Jan 1–3
• Rurikoin Temple

• Osaka 3

• Kishiwada Castle
  Closed Dec 29 - Jan 3; open daily Apr 1-15 for the castle festival
• Osaka Museum of History
  Closed Dec 28 - Jan 4
• Tekijuku
  Closed Dec 28 - Jan 4

• Hyogo 5

• Akashi Kaikyo Bridge (Maiko Marine Promenade)
  Closed Dec 29–31
• Ako Castle Ruins
  Gardens closed Dec 28–Jan 4
• Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution (Earthquake Museum)
  Closed Dec 29–Jan 3 (Dec 28, 2026–Jan 4, 2027 this season)
• Ikuno Silver Mine
  Closed Tuesdays Dec–Feb and over New Year
• Kokoen Garden
  Autumn leaves in November; closed Dec 29–30

• Nara 4

• Isuien Garden
• Kasuga Taisha
  Gohonden special worship is closed Dec 20 – Jan 7 and on festival days
• Mt. Wakakusa
• Sakafune-ishi Site and Turtle-shaped Stone Basin

• Wakayama 3

• Inamura-no-Hi Museum and Hiromura Embankment
  Closed Dec 29–Jan 4
• Tomogashima Island
  Jan–Feb: ferry on weekends and holidays only; no ferry Dec 29–Jan 3
• Wakayama Castle
  Cherry blossoms in early April; keep closed Dec 29–31

• Tottori 1

• Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park
  Closed on Tuesdays in July-August and on some Tuesdays December-March; closed Dec 31

• Shimane 1

• Kuniga Coast (Oki Islands)
  Sightseeing boat not running Nov - mid-March

• Okayama 1

• Nagi Museum of Contemporary Art (Nagi MOCA)

• Hiroshima 4

• Fukuyama Castle
  Closed Dec 28-31
• Orizuru Tower
  Closed Dec 31
• Sandankyo Gorge
  Autumn leaves late Oct - late Nov. Ferry boats do not run in winter (about Dec-Apr)
• Taishakukyo Gorge
  Lake cruise runs about mid-Mar to Nov (2026: Mar 20 - Nov 30)

• Yamaguchi 1

• Mohri Garden and Mohri Museum
  Museum closed Dec 22-31 (garden open)

• Tokushima 2

• Heike Yashiki (Asa Family Residence)
  Closed from December 28 to the end of February
• Mt. Tsurugi
  Chairlift closed December to mid-April

• Ehime 2

• Mount Ishizuchi
  Snow from late Dec to early Mar (ski area); Ishizuchi Skyline closed Dec-Mar. Autumn colours peak Oct to early Nov
• Tenshaen Garden
  Closed on Mondays from the 2nd Monday of Dec to end of Feb, and Dec 28-Jan 1

• Fukuoka 2

• Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden
• Keya no Oto Cave

• Kumamoto 2

• Kikuchi Gorge
  December to March: no staff on site and the visitor center is closed. Paths can be icy.
• Tsujunkyo Bridge
  Walking on the bridge is suspended for the rest of 2026 while earthquake damage is surveyed; the water release still goes ahead.

• Oita 2

• Makinoto Pass
• Oka Castle Ruins
  Cherry blossoms in early Apr (festival); autumn leaves mid to late Nov; closed Dec 31-Jan 3

• Kagoshima 3

• Ibusuki Sand Bath (Saraku)
  Closes for maintenance some days in July and December
• Kagoshima City Aquarium (Io World)
  Closed for 4 days from the first Monday of December
• Reimeikan Museum
  Dec 2026 – Apr 25, 2027: 2nd-floor permanent gallery closed for lighting work (1st and 3rd floors open)

• Okinawa 1

• Sefa Utaki
  Repair works: parts closed 1 Jul – 1 Nov 2026; from 2 Nov 2026 to 5 Jan 2027 only up to the Ujoguchi gate (entry free)

Where to stay this month

• Tokyo 1 at their best within 60 km
• Kanazawa 1 at their best within 60 km
• Nagoya 1 at their best within 60 km

Onsen in December →

Other months: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November