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

30 places are at their best in January; 75 are closed all month and 133 partly closed.

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

What is closed, by prefecture

At its best in January

Mt. Fuji & Hakone 1

• Atami OnsenShizuokaAtami Baien plum festival (early Jan to early Mar), said to have Japan's earliest plums; fireworks on set dates year-round

Kanazawa 1

• Kenrokuen GardenIshikawaSnow ropes and snowy pines, December to February

Takayama & the Japan Alps 3

• Shirakawa-goGifuSnow scenery, January to February
• Okuhida Onsen Villages (Hirayu & Shinhotaka)GifuSnow-viewing outdoor baths in winter; Hirayu Falls ice festival in February; autumn leaves at Shinhotaka in October
• Hida Great Limestone CaveGifuIce Valley, early January to early March, lit up at night

Kyushu 4

• Yufuin & Lake KinrinOitaMorning mist, late autumn to winter
• Lake IkedaKagoshimaRape blossoms with Mt. Kaimondake, late Dec to early Feb
• 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.
• Okoshiki CoastKumamotoSunset over the tidal flats, January to April

Hokkaido 2

• Jozankei OnsenHokkaidoAutumn leaves peak mid-October; Yukitoro snow-candle event late Jan to early Feb at Jozankei Shrine
• Taushubetsu River BridgeHokkaidoA 130 m concrete arch bridge on the former JNR Shihoro Line, completed in 1937. It appears from Lake Nukabira around January as the water drops, starts to sink from about May and lies under the lake by summer.

Okinawa 2

• Kerama IslandsOkinawaWhale watching, January to late March
• Nakijin Castle RuinsOkinawaNakijin Gusuku cherry blossom festival, late January to early February

More in Tohoku 6

• Ginzan OnsenYamagataSnowy evenings, January to February
• Zao Snow MonstersYamagataSnow monsters, late December to February
• Zao OnsenYamagataSnow monsters (juhyo) by ropeway in winter, with evening light-ups; autumn leaves in early October
• Hakkoda RopewayAomoriAutumn colours in October; rime ice in mid-winter
• Mt. Moriyoshi (Ani Gondola)AkitaSnow monsters, early Jan–early Mar; alpine flowers, Jun–Sep; autumn leaves, Oct
• Tamasudare FallsYamagataIlluminations in Golden Week and mid-August; frozen falls from mid-January to early February

More in Kanto 3

• Hossawa FallsTokyoThe falls are known for freezing in winter; a winter festival runs Dec–Feb
• Jogashima Island (Miura)KanagawaAbout 300,000 narcissus bloom mid-Jan to mid-Feb
• Ashigakubo IciclesSaitamaIcicle light-up, January–February (Thursday–Sunday and holidays)

More in Chubu 5

• Jigokudani Snow Monkey ParkNaganoMonkeys in the snow, December to February
• Shibu Onsen (Yudanaka-Shibu)NaganoWinter snow scenes, with monkeys bathing at the nearby Snow Monkey Park
• Nozawa OnsenNaganoDosojin Fire Festival, Jan 15 every year; lantern festival Sep 8–9
• Echizen Coast (Echizen Cape & Kochomon)FukuiNarcissus usually best from late December to February
• Cape TsumekiShizuokaShimoda narcissus festival, Dec 20–Jan 31 (peak in January)

More in Kansai 2

• 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
• 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 1

• Tamatsukuri OnsenShimaneIwami Kagura dance shows on winter weekends (2027: Jan 9 – Feb 21, 20:30)

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 5

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

• 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 10

• 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)
• Mt. Kampu Revolving Observatory
• 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 2

• British & Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Parks
• Mt. Nasu (Chausudake) & Nasu Ropeway

• Gunma 6

• Arafune Cold Storage (Arafune Fuketsu)
• Chatsubomigoke Moss Park
  Closed for snow from December to mid/late April; opens mid-to-late April
• Fukiware Falls
  Closed in winter, usually mid-December to late March
• 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 1

• 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 3

• Echizen Ono Castle
  Castle closed December to March
• Ikeda Kazura Bridge
• Mizushima Island

• Yamanashi 3

• Hirogawara (Kita-dake trailhead)
• Nishizawa Gorge
  Trail closed Dec 1 to late April
• Ojiragawa Gorge
  Valley trail closed in winter, about mid-Dec to mid-Apr

• 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 3

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

• Shizuoka 1

• Mt. Fuji Fujinomiya Trail 5th Station

• Mie 1

• Osugidani Gorge

• Shiga 4

• Kyorinbo Temple
• MIHO MUSEUM
  Closed in winter (2026 autumn season ends Dec 6; 2027 spring season starts Mar 13); breaks between seasons
• Mt. Ibuki
• Oku-Biwako Parkway

• Kyoto 1

• Rurikoin Temple

• Hyogo 1

• Tonomine Highlands

• Nara 1

• Odaigahara

• Tottori 1

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

• Tokushima 2

• Heike Yashiki (Asa Family Residence)
  Closed from December 28 to the end of February
• 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

• Fukuoka 1

• Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden

• Saga 1

• Kunen-an

Partly closed or seasonal limits

• Hokkaido 7

• 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

• 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 4

• 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
• Tono Furusato Village
  Closed on Wednesdays from January to mid-March

• Miyagi 1

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

• Akita 4

• Hottai Falls
  The road from Sarukura closes for winter from late November (Nov 20 in 2025); reopening date not stated
• Isedotai Jomon Site
• 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 1

• 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

• Fukushima 4

• 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

• Ibaraki 4

• Art Tower Mito
  Closed over New Year
• JAXA Tsukuba Space Center
  Closed Dec 29–Jan 3
• Kasama Arts Forest Park & Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum
• Shunpu Banri-so (Rosanjin's House)
  Closed over New Year

• Tochigi 2

• 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

• Saitama 4

• 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
• Tokorozawa Sakura Town (Kadokawa Culture Museum)
• Tove Jansson Akebono Children's Forest Park

• Chiba 6

• 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
• Mt. Nokogiri
  Ropeway stops for yearly checks from about mid-January (1 week to 1 month)
• 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 4

• 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
• 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 2

• Sugisawa Cedar Forest
• Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design (TAD)

• Ishikawa 4

• Ishikawa Prefectural Library
• Kaga Higashitani Hamlets
  Hard to visit in the snow season
• Omicho Market
  Closed Jan 1–4 (a few shops open)
• Shirayama Hime Shrine
  Treasure hall closed Dec–Mar (shrine open)

• Fukui 3

• Echizen Daibutsu (Seidaiji Temple)
• Maruoka Castle
• Yokokan Garden
  Closed Dec 28–Jan 4

• Yamanashi 3

• Itchiku Kubota Art Museum
  Mid-December to mid-March: open Sat–Mon and holidays only
• Mt. Mizugaki
• Shosenkyo Gorge
  Buses stop short of the gorge from December to March

• Nagano 3

• Shirahone Onsen
  The public outdoor bath closes for winter, Nov 25 to mid-April (inns stay open)
• Togakushi Shrine
  Okusha closed Jan 7 to late April; buses skip the Okusha stop in winter
• Ueda Castle Ruins Park
  Turrets closed from mid-November to March; the museum is closed over New Year

• Gifu 1

• Gifu Castle & Mt. Kinka

• Shizuoka 3

• Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace
  Closed Dec 31 and Jan 1
• 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 9

• 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
• 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 4

• 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-ryu Ninja Museum
  Closed Dec 29–Jan 1
• Yokkaichi Port Building Observatory (Umiterras 14)
  Closed Dec 29–Jan 3

• Shiga 2

• Omihachiman Suigo Boat Tour
• Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park
  Closed Dec 28–Jan 4

• Kyoto 2

• 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

• Osaka 4

• 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
• Osaka Museum of Housing and Living
• Tekijuku
  Closed Dec 28 - Jan 4

• Hyogo 4

• 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
• Takeda Castle Ruins
  Closed January 4 to the end of February

• 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 2

• 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

• Tottori 2

• Sand Museum
  Closed between exhibitions: the 2026 show ends Jan 3, 2027; the 2026 show opened Apr 24
• 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 2

• Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
  Boat rides run only on weekends and holidays in January and February
• Nagi Museum of Contemporary Art (Nagi MOCA)

• Hiroshima 2

• 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

• Iwakuni Castle
  Ropeway and castle closed for annual inspection from mid-January to mid-February (2026: Jan 13-Feb 17)

• Tokushima 2

• Mt. Tsurugi
  Chairlift closed December to mid-April
• Otsuka Museum of Art
  Several consecutive closed days in January; open every day in August

• Kagawa 1

• Kasashima District, Honjima Island

• 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 1

• Keya no Oto Cave

• Saga 1

• Yoshinogari Historical Park
  Closed on the third Monday of January and the next day

• Kumamoto 1

• Kikuchi Gorge
  December to March: no staff on site and the visitor center is closed. Paths can be icy.

• 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 1

• 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

• Sendai 3 at their best within 60 km
• Takayama 3 at their best within 60 km
• Kanazawa 2 at their best within 60 km

Onsen in January →

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