Japan is an archipelago located in East Asia. Due to its geographic location, it experiences the winter season. Most tourists visit Japan because of its historical background and unique culture. Other people also love to personally experience the cuisine that is known in almost all parts of the world.
As a tourist, you may also wonder what activities will keep you busy during your stay in the place. Here are some of the things that you can enjoy while visiting Japan during the winter:
Hot Springs
Japan has a lot of natural hot springs. You can enjoy the hot waters during the winter to escape from the cold. Aside from that, there are also wild monkeys that are trying to escape from the weather. You will most likely see several wild monkeys taking a bath and relaxing themselves in the hot spring. You may take a video or a picture of these creatures but you should make sure that you will follow local regulations in handling them.
Throwing Soy Beans
Japanese residents follow a lot of traditions. One of them is throwing soy beans during the first day of Spring. Such action, they believe, can help them get rid of evil energy and, as a result, leave good luck inside the house.
Bargain Shopping
If you are fond of going shopping, you would really love going bargain shopping in retail stores, malls, and department stores in Japan. Most expensive commodities are sold at very cheap prices that you can afford. There is also an exciting event where you can purchase a cheap bag that has something inside it. You cannot see what is inside but it could be something that is worth more than what you paid for the bag.
Winter Sports
The town of Niseko is very popular among winter sports enthusiasts. The powdery snow in Hokkaido also attracts tourists who are fond of skiing. Aside from skiing, you can also enjoy snow rafting, snowmobiling, horse riding in the snow, and snowboarding, among others. If you are a beginner interested in learning skiing for the first time, there are numerous ski schools in this area.
Kitami Yakiniku Festival in Hokkaido
In this festival, thousands of people, residents and foreigners alike, gather outside at a freezing temperature just to eat barbecue. There are a lot of barbecued meat to choose from and you will soon realize that it is a very heartwarming experience eating outside and meeting new friends.
Sukiyaki and Hot Pots
Sukiyaki is a famous Japanese traditional dish that people eat during the winter. This hot pot will be a very good nourishment for the body as it includes vegetables and meat submerged in hot soup. Usually, the hot pot slowly cooks on top a gas burner located at the center of the table. You and your friends can make a circle around this dish and eat it together.
Tuna Auctions
At 5am in the morning, tuna auctions are happening at different markets. If you are a fan of eating sushi or sashimi, you can register at the Osakana Fukyu Center so that they can place their bids on the fish they want to purchase.
Robots
You can also visit several robot museums or universities where you can enjoy a football match with robots as the players.