What to do in Japan during February: You’ll Love Winter!

Visiting Japan in February isn’t just cold and snow

Visiting Japan during February is probably not the first image that comes to your mind. You won’t find pink trees and fluffy sakura petals lining each street like you would in March or April, and you won’t find maple leaves floating through the wind and chestnut themed desserts in every shop like you would in November. However, there is still magic to be found when visiting Japan in February – from some of the best snow festivals to budding plum blossoms, February in Japan will give you a range of exciting options that are still quintessential Japan.

Is February a good time to visit Japan?

February is a good time to visit Japan if you’re interested in skipping the crowds that travel to Japan for spring and autumn. February is not peak season so it is often one of the cheaper times to visit Japan. You will find snow in the mountainous and northern regions of Japan but Tokyo rarely snows so you can pick what suits you best. Actually, the first time I ever went to Japan was in February – and I absolutely fell in love with it and ended up living there for 7 years! 

What you will find here

Here you’ll find a range of fun activities in Japan that I have personally experienced during my 7 years living and working in Japan. These include experiences both in Tokyo and throughout Japan, so hopefully it will give you some new ideas if you are living in Japan and wanting to travel – or convince you to take that trip to Japan this February! If you’re not sure if visiting Japan in February is for you but you still want to see Japan in winter, you can find my top spots to experience winter in Japan over here.

What to do in Japan in February

Eat the most delicious seasonal food

Valentine’s Day seasonal treats

JAPAN-WIDE

Japan is huge on seasonal foods and during February you will find amazing Valentines Day desserts, chocolates, and meals all over the country. It is a real girly kind of day and all your favourite cafes will have a Valentine’s Day themed event leading up to the day. Valentine’s Day is a little different in Japan – it is a day where women share gifts not only with their partner but co-workers and friends, too (the men’s version is a month later). 

Hōtō nabe

Yamanashi prefecture

Hōtō Nabe is a speciality nabe (hot pot) dish famous in the Yamanashi prefecture. It has thick, thick noodles and chunky veg so it is perfect for a cold day. The best places to find it are in the Fujiyoshida and Kawaguchiko area (I’ve been to most of them and the best restaurant for hōtō nabe imho is Kosaku in Kawaguchiko). Winter is the best time to see Mt Fuji too as the sky is clearest and the mountain is covered in snow! If you want more spots to visit in Mt Fuji, I wrote a blog post about that here.

Enjoy Japan in the snow

Ginzan

Obanazawa, Yamagata Prefecture

Ginzan, the magical onsen town ((銀山温泉), looks like it is straight out of a Ghibli movie. When I went, there was a massive snowstorm and it was such an amazing experience to sit inside a small tea shop and watch the snow twist and roll with the wind. This is a small town and it gets quite busy, so make sure you visit early or plan to stay so you can enjoy it in the evening when the crowds have gone home.

Snow monkeys

Jigokudani, Nagano Prefecture

Visiting the snow monkeys is one of the most popular activities during the winter season in Japan and photos of the monkeys bathing in the onsens are some of the most iconic scenes of Japan. The most likely place to see them is at Jigokudani Monkey Park. Remember, it is really important we respect their space and their behaviour. The monkeys come down to enjoy the hot springs during the cold mornings so that’s when you should plan to go and see them so as to not disturb them.

Onsens

Japan-wide

Onsens are the best way to warm your cold bones in the February month. There is nothing more magical than watching the snow fall around you while you sit in a hot spring. If you’re staying in Tokyo, Hakone and Kusatsu are great for a day trip to explore some of the best onsens in the area. If you’re travelling through Japan make sure you check out the iconic onsens like Takaragawa onsen and Dogo onsen, or visit the famous onsen towns like Beppu.

Visit the February festivals in japan

Sapporo Snow Festival

Hokkaido Prefecture

Sapporo Snow Festival is one of the big winter festivals in Japan. You’ll find magnificent snow and ice sculptures and delicious warm food to keep you in the festive mood. This is the best time to visit Sapporo in my opinion as the whole city is blanketed in snow. 

The 2025 Sapporo Snow Festival will be held between Saturday the 4th of February until Saturday the 11th of February.

Setsubun

Japan-wide

Setsubun (節分) is a traditional Japanese holiday celebrated on the day before the beginning of Spring. This day symbolises bringing good luck by throwing soybeans (known as fortune beans or 福豆) to ward off the evil spirits. It is usually celebrated on the 3rd of February but sometimes it falls on the 2nd or 4th – depending on the lunar calendar. Find a nearby popular temple or shrine to see the festivities.

Plum blossom festivals

Japan-wide

You might be missing the sakura (cherry blossom) season but luckily, cherry blossoms have an early-bird cousin known as plum (ume) blossoms that typically start blooming in February. The plum blossoms are an exciting sight to see as they’re the first signs that winter is starting to wane. I can personally recommend the Hanegi Park, Koishikawa Korakuen, and Kameido Tenjin plum blossom festivals in Tokyo!