Tokyo Winter Guide: Best Things to Do, Eat & Explore

Why Is Winter One of the Best Seasons to Visit Tokyo?

The chill of winter means you'll have to come extra prepared to brave the elements, packing scarves, gloves, down jackets, and more. Once you acclimate to the cold, you'll find the city is full of enchanting spectacles, soothing food, and traditional events that date back several centuries. What's more, the crisp air, deep blue skies, and minimal rain make it the ideal season for looking out over the city center and surrounding landscape from observation decks.

Does It Snow in Tokyo?

It sometimes snows in Tokyo during the winter, but not often. Snow generally falls in January and February, the coldest time of year in the city, but rarely settles. Average temperatures drop from about 8°C in December to about 5°C in January, and most days are dry and sunny. Snow is more likely in the mountains of western Tokyo, such as Okutama, where roads and trails can turn icy.

What to Wear in Tokyo in Winter

It's a good idea to bring warm coats, jackets, sweaters, gloves, and scarves to protect against the cold. Layers work best, as trains, shops, and museums are usually well heated. Despite the cold, it's often sunny, making it a great season for sightseeing, as long as you're warmly dressed.

Getting Around Tokyo in Winter

Tokyo winters don't see much snow, so train, buses, and other forms of transportation operate as usual. Snow rarely accumulates, but if strong winds or heavy snow are forecast, railway companies may schedule planned suspensions of train services to protect public safety. These suspensions are announced in advance, so remember to check the news and official railway websites during your trip for information.

Things to Do in Tokyo in Winter

Warm Up with Nabe: Japanese Hot Pot in Tokyo

Japanese cuisine changes with the seasons. Nabe hot pots are a staple of Japanese winter, and you can find all kinds of them in Tokyo. Head to the Ryogoku area, home of the Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena, to sample chanko nabe—the type of hot pot that sumo wrestlers eat. Sumo wrestlers eat chanko nabe to build up their body, so the dish includes nutritionally balanced ingredients. There are also plenty of other hot pot-style dishes, such as sukiyaki, which features beef and vegetables simmered in a sweet and savory sauce, shabu-shabu, which involves briefly swishing thinly sliced meat through hot broth, and motsu nabe (offal hot pot) made with beef or pork offal, available at specialty restaurants, and Japanese-style pubs called izakaya.

Chanko nabe

Sukiyaki

Try Oden, a Japanese Stewed Dish Popular in Winter

From humble stalls to high-class restaurants, there are a huge number of places in Tokyo that serve "oden"—a selection of stewed fish cake, meats, and veggies.In the winter months, you'll find oden on sale at many convenience stores in the city. At a convenience store, you can order specific ingredients from oden pots that sit next to the cash register. To order, simply tell the staff which ingredients you want in English or point to them. You'll get a pair of chopsticks and a bowl with your order, so you can enjoy some warm take-out oden at a nearby park or bench. It's a very Japanese flavor that you can casually enjoy throughout the city on cold winter days.

Convenience store oden has many ingredients to choose from

Tokyo's Winter Illuminations: Enjoy a Stroll Under the Lights

Tokyo winters come alive with extravagant illuminations and festive decorations for occasions like Christmas and Valentine's Day. Christmas is not a public holiday in Japan, so most shops and attractions stay open. Popular spots for illuminations include the tree-lined streets of Omotesando, Ginza, and Ebisu. Marunouchi district, Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi, and the Meguro River in Nakameguro are also popular. You can check illumination spots with the “Winter Illumination Guide.”

Marunouchi Illumination

Tokyo Midtown Illumination

Warm Up at Tokyo's Onsen and bathhouses

Winter is the perfect season to enjoy a traditional bath or take a dip in a hot spring. Tokyo has numerous Onsen and Bathhouses.

Enjoy an open-air bath (Okutama Onsen Moegi-no-Yu)

Winter Festivals & Traditional Events in Tokyo

Festivals are held in Tokyo throughout the year. One characteristic of Japan's traditional festivals is that they let you celebrate the four seasons: cherry blossom festivals in spring, fireworks displays and bon-odori dances in summer, and autumn festivals where you can enjoy bright, colorful leaves.
What delights can you experience during winter festivals in Tokyo?

Experience Hatsumode: New Year's Shrine and Temple Visits

If you happen to be in Japan over the New Year's holiday, head to Meiji Jingu Shrine to partake in "hatsumode" (the first temple/shrine visit of the new year). Meiji Jingu, which enshrines the Emperor Meiji and his wife, is visited by over 3 million people over the first three days of the new year. It's known for being the most popular place in Japan to go for hatsumode.

Meiji Jingu Shrine

Setsubun Bean-Throwing Festivals

Setsubun, which means "dividing the seasons," falls on or around February 3 each year. It's considered the last day of winter, and comes a day before what's considered the first day of spring. The traditional Japanese way to celebrate is with a bean-throwing festival. People scatter roasted soybeans outside while saying "out with demons" to ward off bad luck and scatter them inside while saying "in with good fortune" to bring good luck.

At Zojoji Temple, you can try scattering beans for yourself and enjoy food from various stalls. At Sensoji Temple, people believe that no demons would dare appear before the enshrined Kannon bodhisattva—so people focus on chants for good luck.
Setsubun takes place at shrines and temples all over the city, including Ookunitama-jinja Shrine and Kanda Myojin Shrine, and draws many visitors. Bean-throwing festivals are less known to tourists, but are open to everyone and can only be enjoyed in Japan in winter.

Kanda Myojin Shrine's Setsubun Festival

Note: See 'The Best Festivals in Tokyo and Japan' for more details about festivals held in Tokyo throughout the year.