Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival 2027: Weekends Now ¥3,000
Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival 2027 runs Jan 30 to Feb 23. Entry is ¥1,000 on weekdays but now ¥3,000 on weekends and holidays. Dates, buses and weather.
12 min read ·Where to go
Where to go in Japan: Tokyo Disney, teamLab, cherry blossom and autumn leaf dates, ski resorts, festivals and ticket prices, with what is open each season.
70 stories · Page 2 of 7
Hakuba Happoone Winter Resort: January Snow Averages 216 cm
Hakuba Happoone Winter Resort 2026-27: Hakuba averages 216 cm of snowfall in January, and Tokyo to Nagano takes 1 h 17 min by Kagayaki.
10 min read ·
Does Japan Celebrate Lunar New Year? 2027’s Busiest Days
No, Japan does not celebrate Lunar New Year as a holiday, but Nagasaki, Kobe and Yokohama do. Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea are all off on 6-9 February 2027.
14 min read ·
When Does It Snow in Japan? 2026-27 Forecast and City Dates
When does it snow in Japan? Sapporo's first snow is 28 October and Tokyo's 3 January on average (JMA); 2026-27 may bring less snow on the Sea of Japan side.
14 min read ·
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Entrance Fee and What You Pay For
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest entrance fee: none, the path is free. What costs money: the 240 yen JR ride from Kyoto, Okochi-Sanso, Tenryu-ji's garden and lodging tax.
13 min read ·More stories
- Where to go
Hokkaido Jingu Shrine: Free Entry and Hatsumode 2027 Hours
Hokkaido Jingu Shrine is free and a 15-minute walk from Maruyama-koen Station. Hatsumode 2027 hours, winter tips and access from New Chitose Airport.
11 min read · - Where to go
Can You Visit Ginzan Onsen in Winter Without a Reservation?
No, not reliably. The 2026-27 draft plan expects very few same-day places and strongly recommends booking a Priority Pass in advance.
14 min read · - Where to go
Sapporo Snow Festival 2027 Guide: Feb 4-11, Sites, Access
Sapporo Snow Festival 2027 runs 4-11 February at Odori, Tsudome and Susukino, and entry is free. Site hours, subway passes, airport access and what to wear.
13 min read · - Where to go
Shirakawago Light-Up 2027: 5 Ways In and Their Sale Dates
Shirakawago Light-Up 2027 runs on four January nights, 17:30-19:30, by reservation only. The 5 ways in, their sale dates and prices.
14 min read · - Where to go
Azabudai Hills Christmas Market 2026 Runs Nov 21 to Dec 25
Azabudai Hills Christmas Market 2026 runs 21 Nov to 25 Dec, 11:00-21:00, with 19 stalls in the Central Square. Roppongi Hills dates, lights and access.
12 min read ·
Photo credits
- Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival 2027: Weekends Now ¥3,000 — 千歳・支笏湖氷濤まつり（Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival） - panoramio.jpg by t-konno (CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped), via Wikimedia Commons.
- Hakuba Happoone Winter Resort: January Snow Averages 216 cm — Hakuba Happo-one Winter Resort.JPG by Ski Mania (Public domain, cropped), via Wikimedia Commons.
- Does Japan Celebrate Lunar New Year? 2027’s Busiest Days — Dozamachi, Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture 850-0841, Japan - panoramio.jpg by Masoud Akbari (CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped), via Wikimedia Commons.
- When Does It Snow in Japan? 2026-27 Forecast and City Dates — Shirakawa 2024.jpg by Qian2007 (CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped), via Wikimedia Commons.
- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Entrance Fee and What You Pay For — 2021 Sagano Bamboo forest in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan.jpg by Naokijp (CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped), via Wikimedia Commons.
- Hokkaido Jingu Shrine: Free Entry and Hatsumode 2027 Hours — Hokkaido Jingu.JPG by Daigaku2051 (CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped), via Wikimedia Commons.
- Can You Visit Ginzan Onsen in Winter Without a Reservation? — Ginzan Onsen Ashiyu night view.jpg by さかおり (CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped), via Wikimedia Commons.
- Sapporo Snow Festival 2027 Guide: Feb 4-11, Sites, Access — 第67回さっぽろ雪まつり（The 67th Sapporo Snow Festival） - panoramio (2).jpg by t-konno (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
- Shirakawago Light-Up 2027: 5 Ways In and Their Sale Dates — Shirakawa Go (198622037).jpeg by Yoshiyuki Ito (CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped), via Wikimedia Commons.
- Azabudai Hills Christmas Market 2026 Runs Nov 21 to Dec 25 — credited at the end of the story