What are the unique charms of winter in Japan? We'll introduce its characteristics and recommended ways to enjoy it.

Hello, my name is Jarrot Septian Prakoso.

On September 26, 2014, I set foot on Japanese soil for the first time.
As I was approaching my 20th birthday at the time, entering Japan became a special present for myself.

The first place I lived in Japan was Aichi Prefecture.
As November begins, the air in Aichi Prefecture gradually gets colder.

This is a story about "What is winter in Japan?" written by me, an Indonesian who lived in Aichi Prefecture for three years and Tokyo for four years.

What are the characteristics of winter in Japan? How do you feel about welcoming winter in Japan?

I'm from East Java, Indonesia.
This is a tropical region with an average temperature exceeding 33°C.

In Japan, December, January, and February are considered "winter."
Japan is a long country from north to south, so temperatures vary depending on the region, but the average temperature in January in Tokyo, where I live, is 5.4℃.
The average January temperature in Hokkaido, located in the north, is -3.2°C, while the average January temperature in Okinawa, located in the south, is 17.3°C.

In some regions, it snows in winter.
Because I was taught by the people around me and my teachers at school that "winter is the season of snow," for me, winter was truly synonymous with "snow."
When I was a child, I would always watch the movie "Home Alone," which was shown on TV every December, and I would imagine that "snow is white and fluffy like cotton, so it must not be cold at all."

However, reality was not so kind.
About a month after arriving in Japan, at the end of October, I caught a cold due to the unfamiliar cold weather.

Even so, I was looking forward to winter, and I was very curious, asking the Japanese people around me, "What is winter like?"

In December, the trees in the city lose all their leaves, and winter truly arrives.
Having grown up surrounded by tropical trees, I found it fascinating how leaves change color and eventually fall off, leaving only the branches.

My first experience of "snow" in a Japanese winter.

The night before the snow fell, the wind blew fiercely, and it was freezing cold.
That day, I was working the night shift.
Because I was working inside the building the whole time, I had no idea what was happening outside.

The moment I finished work and stepped outside, the entire landscape before me was bathed in white!
I couldn't help but smile, completely captivated by its beauty.
"Wow!" This was my first encounter with "real snow" in my life.

The "fluffy, cotton-like snow" I imagined as a child was completely different when I actually touched it.
Some of the snow was crunchy like shaved ice, while other snow was hard and felt like ice.
And what surprised me most was how quickly the snow that fell onto my palm melted and disappeared.

"Snow is really cold, and how mysterious it is," I thought, as I was enveloped in a warm sense of wonder while enduring the harsh winter cold.

After getting home, I didn't sleep, but instead woke up my sleeping friend and we built a snowman together.
In my heart, I was overjoyed, thinking, "I've finally made a snowman just like the one in 'Home Alone'!"

Ways to spend time and scenery that allow you to experience the charm of winter in Japan

In winter, I went to a ski resort and tried snowboarding.
When I saw it on YouTube, it looked easy, but when I actually tried it, it was completely different!
Even just sliding down the slope required considerable courage and the technique to slide smoothly.

But strangely enough, even though we were at a high mountaintop, I didn't feel cold at all while skiing.
I think it's because I was having so much fun and couldn't contain my excitement!

The charm of winter in Japan isn't just the beauty of the snow.
The town is decorated with beautiful Christmas ornaments, and the sight of it sparkling with dazzling illuminations is simply magnificent.
I had never before seen the entire country celebrate Christmas so unitedly, so it was a very refreshing experience.
I love this vibrant and lively Japanese winter.

After Christmas, there's the New Year's holiday period.
Depending on the company, there are usually several days off at the end of the year and the beginning of the new year, in addition to January 1st.
Japanese people also look forward to this holiday, and it seems they go back to their hometowns or travel with their families.

Attractive foods to enjoy in Japanese winter

For my first year-end celebration in Japan, my company held a year-end party, and we all gathered around a warm hot pot dish.
The hot pot dish we all ate together on a cold winter day tasted especially delicious.

▼Japanese hot pot dishes

I was also attending Christian churches in Japan around that time.
There, I met a kind elderly woman who spoke to me.
That person's warm words, "You must be lonely being separated from your parents and family, right? Let's have a Christmas party together!" still resonate deeply with me.

I've even traveled to Sapporo in Hokkaido during the winter.
The shrimp ramen I ate there is a taste I'll never forget.
I didn't mind waiting in line for hours to eat this amazing ramen!

Also, I've recently become hooked on visiting cafes.
When I traveled to Hokkaido, I also enjoyed winter-only items at a cafe.

As a child, I used to long for the scenes in movies where people would sip warm hot chocolate on Christmas Day.
I had no idea that Japan was overflowing with winter-only products like that.
Nowadays, I always look forward to seeing the winter-only hot chocolate and special coffees on the menu, wondering, "When will they be available? When will they be available?"

The hardships and discoveries of winter in Japan

Winter in Japan wasn't all fun and games.
When snow falls and accumulates and hardens completely, the roads freeze and become very slippery.
Because of that, my bicycle tires have slipped, and I've almost fallen on the road.

When I traveled to Sapporo in the winter, I was surprised by the sheer amount of snow.
I remember buying waterproof spray to keep my shoes from getting wet, and rushing out to buy non-slip pads for my shoes to prevent slipping and falling.

Furthermore, the winter cold relentlessly attacks us in our daily lives.
Getting out of my warm bed in the morning is truly a struggle.
When I ride my bike, the cold wind makes my ears and fingertips hurt so much they feel like they're going to freeze off.

And even though I'm wearing layers of clothes, it's so cold I feel like I'm living in a refrigerator!
It was then that I first learned about the Japanese custom of "changing clothes for winter," where people put away their summer clothes and take out their winter clothes every year according to the season.

I also made some new discoveries in my apartment.
I was surprised to discover that air conditioners have a "heating" function that blows out warm air!
Furthermore, I learned that Japan has magical furniture like the "kotatsu" and various other heating appliances.

▼ Kotatsu

However, running these heaters at full blast to warm the room will cause your electricity bill to skyrocket!
That was a huge burden on our household finances.

When I go out into town on my days off, everyone I see is wearing a thick coat, and it really makes me realize, "This is what winter in Japan is like."

Summary: Let's experience the charm of Japanese winter together!

Japanese winters are indescribably charming.
The beauty of the snow I saw for the first time, building snowmen, and the warm hot pot meal we all shared—all of these are unforgettable memories for me.

Japanese people love foods that are only available during the winter season.
The winter-only hot chocolate and special coffees have also become some of my favorites.

And various places become beautiful with illuminations.
Japan offers many winter experiences and sights, such as snowboarding and Christmas decorations.

Would you like to experience a Japanese winter with us?

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