How to enjoy winter in Akita and Tokyo

Visitor’s guide to Tokyo and Tohoku: make the most of the snowy season

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Time Out in association with Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau

Wednesday 28 November 2018

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Winter in Tokyo sees colourful illuminations at every corner of the city. Tokyoites and tourists make their pilgrimages to the many sparkling attractions, which are available from early November until as late as Valentine’s Day.

But that’s not all the city has to offer. Go enjoy the out-of-season fireworks held throughout December in Odaiba, or snuggling up at a kotatsu (low table covered with a blanket) while dining on some traditional winter dishes at a terrace café in Tokyo’s Ryogoku area. The capital sure knows how to provide a cozy ambience during this freezing time of the year.

If you miss the snow in our city, which is a rather rare occurrence, and long for some frosty adventures, take a trip to Tohoku’s Akita prefecture and improve your winter sports skills. Besides skiing and snowboarding, guided tours let you discover nature’s beauty while trekking through the snowy beech forests. You can even visit an army of mysterious-looking snow monsters. Read on to discover more.

Also see: The complete guide to Tokyo and Tohoku

Akita

Tazawako Ski Resort

Tohoku is famous for its many ski resorts and one of them is located in eastern Akita – or more precisely, Mt Akita Komagatake in the greater Senboku city. The Tazawako Ski Resort boasts pistes with excellent powdery snow along with a breathtaking scenery of the mirror-like Lake Tazawa − Japan’s deepest lake which doesn’t even freeze in frosty temperatures.

Six lifts (two squad and four pair lifts) will bring you up to the 13 pistes with different levels of difficulty, making it an enjoyable experience for beginners as well as advanced skiers. The runs have moguls and deep powder with gentle and medium inclines catering for exciting downhill skis, with the highest run starting at an elevation of 1,186 metres.

If you need professional advice, don’t worry as ski and snowboard lessons are available. Moreover, the on-site rental services make it possible for you to travel comfortably from Tokyo to Akita with minimum luggage. And when the cold temperatures hit hard, a short visit to one of the hot spring resorts in the area will help you warm up and unwind.

Check the official website for more information.

Snow trekking around Lake Tazawa

If you prefer a more relaxing winter adventure, then snow trekking is the perfect way for you to discover the area surrounding Akita’s Lake Tazawa. Try one of these two routes. The first trail departs from Nyuto Onsen town and leads through virgin beech forests which once covered many parts of the Tohoku region. The second route starts at Mizusawa Onsen town and heads towards the approximately 25-metre tall Yujo no Taki waterfall. On clear days, you can even catch a glimpse of Mt Akita Komagatake and Lake Tazawa from here.

These three-hour long guided tours are available between mid December until end March, and they include the rental of snowshoes, boots and walking poles. The price per person ranges between ¥4,900 (for a group of three or more) and ¥5,900 (for a group of two) − insurance is included in the fee.

Book your adventure here.

Walk through Akita’s snow monsters

Akita’s north houses a mysterious art-like formation, which can only be seen at three mountains in whole Japan during winter. Mt Moriyoshi is one of them, where you get to see its many juhyo, Tohoku’s famous snow monsters.

Juhyo are not your regular ice- and snow-covered trees. For one, they all seem to lean to one side – plus, they really do look like a herd of spooky creatures. They only appear when temperatures hit below minus five degrees, along with the occurrence of strong and extremely wet and cold north-west wind, which makes the water droplets freeze and snow stick to the trees. The best time to see this unique natural phenomenon is between January and the beginning of March.

While riding the Ani Ski Resort’s ropeway up to Mt Moriyoshi, you can already take in the breathtaking scenery of the army-like formation of icy monsters. Get off at the Gondola Sancho Station at the top and head over to the information centre where you can rent snow shoes and walking poles for free. From here, a short walk (about five minutes) separates you from the gigantic formation of juhyo, which you can see up close as you take on the approximately 30-minute circle-like route.

Tokyo

Odaiba Rainbow Fireworks

Fireworks are typically a summer tradition in Japan, but Odaiba, the large man-made island in Tokyo Bay, stands out and turns the capital’s night sky into a colourful spectacle every Saturday throughout December.

Starting from 7pm, the ten-minute show is relatively short compared to its predecessors in summer, but nevertheless you can look forward to plenty of fireworks during this short period of time.

Secure a spot around Odaiba’s Seaside Park, which provides the best views when the colour explosions paint the sky right above the city’s iconic Rainbow Bridge with Tokyo Tower in the backdrop. Remember to keep warm and expect larger crowds right before Christmas when the shows will be choreographed to music.

Ryogoku Terrace Café

This café and restaurant takes terrace dining to a new level and provides cozy kotatsu dinner options during the cold winter months. You get to dine at one of the horigotatsu, which is essentially a kotatsu table with a sunken floor to provide space for your feet. It’s equipped with small heaters underneath, so you can snuggle under the blankets which are draped over the tables, keeping you warm and toasty.

Make sure you order one of Japan’s winter comfort food, nabe. These nutritious hot pots add to the warmth and pleasure of the kotatsu. Choose between the beef sukiyaki or pork shabu shabu options (menu may change without prior notice) and dine like a Tokyoite in the capital’s famous sumo area Ryogoku. Reservations are recommended and can be made here.