Temples, KitKat, Pokémon, and Matcha–here's your ultimate winter travelogue through Japan

Ritika Raghunathan
1 day ago
6 min read

Updated: 16 hours ago

The art of chill:Ritika Raghunathan maps out the ultimate travel blueprint for the land of the rising sun.

Freezing and jet-lagged!

The land of the rising sun is a destination on everyone's bucket list off late. Whether it's the Anime and Manga enthusiasts , foodies , architecture nerds or simply wanderers, there's something for everyone! Everyone wants to be a part of the sakura studded spring, but did you know that Japan turns into an absolute dream during the winters? Now, that also depends on your itinerary, but here are my recommendations!

We started with Tokyo, landing at Haneda early in the morning–jet-lagged. Tokyo was chillier than we expected . The temperature was 2 °C , but felt as low as -3 degrees or lesser. Freezing, we felt grossly unprepared travelling from the tropics. Soon enough, we realised that our lives depended on Google Translate and Google Maps, and we relied heavily on the apps during the course of our trip.

Ginza–where couture thrives

We set off to Ginza using the local subway system. The upmarket expensive district of Tokyo flaunted exclusive designer brands and housed the world's biggest Uniqlo, occupying 11 stories! We stocked up on their winter essentials and heat resistant thermals, much needed to bear the fearsome winds. We then headed to the Onitsuka Tiger in Ginza which does customised sneakers, like name engravings on their Mexico 66 and is a must-visit for sneakerheads .

Pro tip - Carry/buy comfortable sneakers on your trip, as you'll easily cover a good 15k steps a day while exploring new places. Forget about your stylish heels in Japan, unless you want to stop every km and end up with painful feet sores.

The next day, we headed to Senso-ji Temple and explored Asakusa, the cultural heart of Tokyo and a window into the country’s more traditional side.

Pikachu and all things cute!

Contrast that with Japan’s ubiquitous Kawaii culture—a phenomenon centered on cuteness, playful aesthetics, and innocence. Think iconic characters like Hello Kitty and Pikachu, or street fashion dominated by soft pastels and colorful hair clips. The culture even trickles into the kitchen, where bento lunchboxes are artfully styled with food shaped like pandas and cartoon figures to make every meal a visual treat. You’ll find this vibrant energy on full display in Harajuku, renowned for its quirky fashion and anime subculture.

We wrapped up our day at Shibuya Sky, taking in stellar, panoramic views of the sprawling cityscape from high above.

Next up: the iconic Mount Fuji.

No journey to Japan feels complete without seeing the sacred peak of Fujisan. Since clear views are heavily dependent on the weather, we lucked out with crisp, open skies.

How to visit:

Lake Kawaguchi Route: Take the train out to the lakes for stunning, panoramic views of the mountain.
Hakone Route: Take a scenic lake cruise, then ride the ropeway to Owakudani to spot the peak from above.

We did the latter, and we were awestruck. Simply stunned by the ethereal beauty of Fujisan. The wind atop was chilly and fierce. We could barely step outside for 15 minutes before rushing back in. No, really! I wouldn't be surprised if I had ended up with a frostbite. Luckily, our driver came to the rescue and within no time, we felt nice and warm again .

Sapporo - a modern day Winter Wonderland

Sapporo is in the island of Hokkaido while the other major cities are in Honshu so we got to experience domestic air travel in Japan! It was a pretty smooth process, and within half an hour we were ready to board. Sapporo was snowy, and felt like a modern-day Winter Wonderland . Everyone frequents Sapporo in winter to try their hand at skiing , Japanese snow is known to be soft and easier to ski on. To complement the snowy outdoors we soothed ourselves with a hearty bowl of Vegan Ramen( vegetarians need not worry, you will find options if you persist!)

Also download Vegan Maps or Happy Cow for Vegetarian restaurant options near you. Sapporo has a Ramen alley with a plethora of options to spoil you rotten. What stayed with me, and the taste still lingers on my tongue is the creamy Hokkaido ice-cream, its texture quite reminiscent of the city's smooth snowclad streets– a perfect representation of its winter. Don't forget a visit to the Sapporo Beer Factory to sample their delicious local beer. Another experienece on your list should be to make yourself warm and cosy in a local onsen (traditional Japanese hot springs which are great for skin and vitality.) However, you have to be adventurous to say the least, to be buck naked in a public bath .

Honourable mention - Otaru

A local village about an hour from Sapporo—absolutely worth a day trip! There is a stained glass factory, a Music Box Museum, and a Hello Kitty flagship store and restaurant that are all well worth visiting. The music box factory took me straight back to my childhood; each box was prettier than the last. I’m definitely coming back here with my future kids!

When in Otaru, do go to LeTAO, famous all over Japan for its mouthwatering desserts—especially the double fromage cheesecake.

Osaka-Seafood Haven

Osaka, the other megapolis in Japan, is reminiscent of Mumbai with its seaside energy and lively harbour along Dotonbori. I loved Osaka Castle for both its rich Japanese history lessons and stunning city views.

Osaka is well known for its seafood and thrift shopping. After a long detour, we stumbled upon a tiny hole-in-the-wall store where I scored a pair of limited-edition New Balance sneakers for roughly 8,000 Yen (about ₹5,000)—an absolute steal!

Seafood lovers must try the fresh local catches and the Okonomiyaki, a savory Japanese pancake packed with octopus or squid. We wrapped up our day with dinner at a fabulous local Indian dhaba, Mirch Masala, run by an owner from Ludhiana. We felt like we were instantly teleported to Amritsar; the chole kulchas were that authentic! To top it off, a warm cup of chai completely restored our souls in the crisp Japanese winter.

Before leaving, you must also try the famous Rikuro’s fluffy Japanese cheesecake, which is exclusive to Osaka. After a quick 20-minute bullet train ride, we arrived at our next stop: Kyoto.

Destination Kyoto

No trip to Japan is complete without visiting its cultural heart. It’s hard not to feel transported back to a time when Geisha and Samurai sightings were common. Walking through the streets of Gion feels like stepping right into Memoirs of a Geisha. If you're lucky, you might spot a Geisha—just remember that photography is strictly prohibited.

Kyoto is home to over 2,000 shrines, with Fushimi Inari and the Golden Pavilion standing out as two of the most famous.

The hike up Fushimi Inari was an arduous journey, but walking beneath the iconic red Torii gates and reaching the top rewarded us with a breathtaking view of the Kyoto skyline. The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove was another unmissable stop, where a dense green canopy enveloped us completely.

Finally, no visit to Kyoto is complete without sampling the local matcha. You'll find it infused into everything imaginable—from desserts and sweets to lattes. For matcha enthusiasts, participating in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony is an absolute must; it’s as therapeutic as the tea itself.

Nara – Hello, Bambi!

A day trip to Nara is a must. Take the high-speed train; you'll reach in just an hour. Also, what a heartwarming experience to interact with the deer there. They are absolutely gorgeous creatures. Treat them well, they're considered sacred and roam the streets freely, even bowing in exchange for treats. How adorable!

Todai-ji temple was awe-inspiring with its massive Buddha statue, and the deer were actually pretty great company to walk the path. We wrapped up our Kyoto trip with a shopping excursion to Gion, where I picked up my Japanese skincare must-haves and a few fun knick-knacks from Don Quijote.

We took the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Nagoya and started our trip at the Toyota Commemorative Museum. It gave us a fascinating insight into the evolution of their cars—from their nascent stages to the modern-day models we are familiar with.

Shirakawa-go – a glimpse of rural Japan

Shirakawa-go was a three-hour ride away from Nagoya. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it felt like being transported to an ancient Japanese village with its snow-clad wooden roofs craftily shaped like hands pressed together in prayer. Local farmers were hard at work, and it was refreshing to see this rural side of an otherwise modern, mostly urban country.

We ended the trip with a two-and-a-half-hour bullet train ride back to Tokyo. It was our longest leg on the rail, giving us time to finally sit back and enjoy the Shinkansen experience.

Once back in the city, we made a pit stop at the DAWN Avatar Robot Cafe—an inspiring space where you are served food and drinks by robot avatars controlled remotely by individuals with disabilities, including former service members. The daily interactions and sense of purpose give them a true sense of Ikigai, keeping their spirits bright.

See you soon, Japan!

We also visited teamLab Planets, which honestly deserves a blog post of its own. It was completely worth the visit, rendering even my parents childlike with its immersive installations and real-life sensory simulations.

Our final stop was the legendary Mega Don Quijote in Shibuya, open 24/7 for our last-minute souvenir shopping. The sheer range of products is almost overwhelming—everything from local alcohol and skincare to wild KitKat flavours and electronics.

We left Japan with suitcases full of memories and KitKats—full of surprises!

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