Hello everyone! It’s already December, the season of autumn leaves has come to an end, and snow has begun to fall in some places! This time, I, the author, who has traveled all over Japan and even Hokkaido, would like to share with you some of my favorite winter activities! I would like to share with you some of my favorite winter activities in Hokkaido! Please take a look at our recommended winter activities for couples, families, and friends.
- Introduction: About Winter Activities!
- Let’s start with this!Snowmobile
- Enjoy wakasagi fishing slowly while chatting with friends
- Dog sledding experience, limited to severe winter locations
- Snowshoeing for children and adults
- summary
Introduction: About Winter Activities!
What do you think of when you think of winter activities? Do skiing and snowboarding come to mind first? Ice skating is also popular in some areas! Some experts may be looking forward to mountain climbing in winter.
Everyone has experienced the classic winter activities at least once, haven’t they? Ski resorts and skating rinks are located all over the country, making them easy to get to and participate in!
Have you ever wanted to experience something other than the standard activities?
Since Japan is a land surrounded by mountains, there are actually quite a few winter activities that can only be experienced in winter or that are known only to those in the know. Of course, they are not as popular as skiing or snowboarding, so one of the reasons for the hurdle is that the first step to “experiencing” these activities is far from easy unless you have friends or acquaintances who have done them before.
However, as an activity master who has traveled all over Japan to experience a variety of activities, I would like to introduce some of my recommendations in this article, which I hope you will find useful!
Let’s start with this!Snowmobile
First of all, I would like to introduce snowmobiling. Have you ever experienced snowmobiling? If this is your first time hearing about it, you may feel that it is quite a hurdle, but don’t worry.
In fact, snowmobiling is one of the easiest winter activities you can try.*Sorry for those of you who are thinking of a free activity where you can run around freely in the snow. Please note that snowmobiles are not available for rent at.
However, it is an activity that is often accompanied by a guide to practice maneuvers and go around the course with you. Actually, I highly recommend it for first-timers and those who are wondering about winter activities!
In fact, snowmobiles vary in performance depending on the type of snowmobile. A snowmobile with more horsepower may be fun for experienced snowmobilers, but for first-timers, it may be too powerful or accelerate too quickly, which may be disadvantages.
For beginners, we recommend models with low horsepower and two-seater capacity. When looking for a guided snowmobile experience, look for “pictures” and “two-seater capacity” to help you decide! Newer, more modern snowmobiles tend to have more horsepower.
You do not need a driver’s license for guided tours, but there are often age restrictions, so be sure to check the conditions of participation before you go! Also, since it is possible to ride for two or with children, it is recommended for families and couples!
Hokkaido is the most famous place for this experience! In Honshu, you can experience it in Tohoku and Nagano, so please check them out!
Enjoy wakasagi fishing slowly while chatting with friends
Next, the author recommends wakasagi fishing! I am sure that many of you have never experienced it before, even if you ask your friends and acquaintances. Many of your friends and acquaintances may have never experienced it. Many people think of ice fishing for wakasagi as a winter activity, but in fact, wakasagi fishing can be experienced on lakes that do not freeze!
While ice fishing for wakasagi is available in Hokkaido and the Tohoku region, fishing for wakasagi in a dome boat on a lake that does not freeze is actually more suitable for beginners.
Although the operation varies from place to place, you can easily imagine wakasagi fishing in a dome boat by thinking of a plastic greenhouse for vegetables. Some boats are heated, so you can experience wakasagi fishing without worrying about being cold or uncomfortable!
In most cases, you can rent rods and bait, so you don’t need to bring anything! Because this is a traditional activity, there are few places with young staff, so you need to be careful when choosing a place to fish! Some places only have regulars or experts, so if you are a beginner, be sure to check word of mouth and see if there is a plan for beginners.
Of course, ice fishing for wakasagi is also recommended for those who want to enjoy a real activity. As is the case with both types of wakasagi fishing, you may need to purchase a separate fishing ticket for the lake, so please do your research before going fishing!
Depending on the type of tour, there are many places where you can enjoy eating tempura, so please try it for the first time!
Dog sledding experience, limited to severe winter locations
Have you ever experienced dog sledding?” Dog sledding? What is that? Is that something you do overseas?” I think there are a lot of people who are thinking, “What is it?
In fact, dog sledding can be experienced in Japan! Of course, you have to be in a cold region to experience it, but you don’t actually have to go to Hokkaido to experience it!
This is a must-do activity for dog lovers! It is also a chance to get to know Husky dogs in particular.
The closest place from the Kanto area where you can experience dog sledding is the “Mizukami Kogen Ski Resort. It is located in Gunma Prefecture, so access is fairly easy, don’t you think? Since it is a ski resort, you can enjoy skiing, and since it is in a region with many hot springs, we recommend that you enjoy a quite fulfilling holiday!
Click here for the official website of Mizukami Kogen Ski Resort
Of course, when it comes to dog sledding in Japan, Hokkaido is the place to go! In Hokkaido, there are many places where you can experience dog sledding in winter, but the easiest place for tourists to go is North Safari Sapporo, which is close to Sapporo! Free shuttle service from the bus stop is available, and above all, it is a zoo, so it is recommended as it offers another fun experience!
Click here for the official website of North Safari Sapporo
Snowshoeing for children and adults
Finally, what is the best winter activity for adults and children alike? If asked, I would answer snowshoeing. In Japan, snowshoes, also called kanjiki in the old-fashioned way, are a walking device designed to move comfortably through the snow in areas with heavy snowfall.
Snowshoeing is actually still a minor activity that many people have never experienced. In fact, snowshoeing is mainly a “walking” activity, so it can be enjoyed by people with limited physical strength, women, and children.
When walking in areas with more than 1 meter of snow, it is usually difficult to walk because you will be buried under the snow.
In addition, since you are walking on snow that is usually not used to walking, and on snow that is 1-3 meters higher than the normal ground level, you will naturally see different sights than usual. For example, you may find a bird’s nest or a squirrel’s nest. The fresh snow also shows animal tracks clearly, so even children can enjoy activities such as finding rabbit and fox tracks.
If you want to enjoy such snowshoeing to the fullest, it is recommended to go after January in heavy snowfall areas such as Nagano, Niigata, and Hokuriku, etc. In March, the snow melts and becomes heavier, so January and February are recommended!
summary
Now, I have introduced a variety of winter activities, but did you find any of them to your liking? I hope you have found something you like. This is a recommendation from the author, who thinks it is a waste of time to just stay indoors during the cold winter, so please take this opportunity to try an activity this winter!
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