10+ Unique & Magical Things to Do in Tokyo in Winter
While I absolutely love visiting Tokyo year-round, there is something extraordinary about Tokyo in the magical wintertime: festive illuminations, cozy izakayas, temple traditions, and a sparkling skyline with the Tokyo Tower and Skytree bookending the heart of the city.
And, of course, there’s always an abundant amount of activities and attractions in Tokyo, but wintertime is the perfect excuse to huddle indoors and get to know Tokyo from the inside out.
From neighborhood sentos (bathhouses) to museums (that you’d never carve time out for otherwise) to geeky attractions, there are tons to do in Tokyo in winter!
In this post, I’m sharing my top ten favorite things to do in Tokyo in the wintertime—perfect for solo travelers/, couples, and families.
1. Wander Through Tokyo’s Dreamy Winter Illuminations & Christmas Markets
Tokyo is always putting on a show, and wintertime is no exception.
From around mid-November through February, you can catch multiple illuminations to see the city sights lit up!
Roppongi Hills is one of my favorite areas in Tokyo to walk through in winter, thanks to the Keyakizaka Dori illuminations with 800,000 LED white and blue “Snow & Blue” lights adorning the tree-lined street framing the Tokyo Tower near-perfectly.
If you go between November and mid-December, you’ll get to catch both the Keyakizaka Street lights and also Roppongi’s annual Christmas Market on O-Yane Plaza, which is said to be modeled after the famous Christmas Market in Stuttgart, Germany.
Of course, there won’t be just lights in Midtown! From the Tokyo Dome to Tokyo Tower to neighborhood corners, there will be lots of winter illuminations to see throughout the winter months.
🧤 If you’re staying outside a while, make sure to pick up some hand warmers at a konbini to stay extra warm! Read more tips in my Tokyo Winter Packing Guide.
And if you visit Tokyo in mid to late winter (such as February or early March), you’ll be able to catch the plum blossoms around Tokyo’s parks.
In early February, we saw so many beautiful plum blossom trees in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (entrance to which is included in the Tokyo Pass).
2. Step Inside the Magic at the Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo
What could be more Christmas-y and magical than sipping butterbeer and exploring the detailed sets behind Harry Potter?
During our last winter trip to Tokyo, we toured the Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter, and had a magical blast!
The only thing to consider is that the tour takes a long time to get through. As a Harry Potter fan, I was highly impressed with how detailed and immersive this tour was. But even if you’re not a big fan, the tour of the studio and how they technically made this magical world come to life is so fun and interesting.
Read more about this experience in my Harry Potter Studio Tour review 🧙
To add even more Harry Potter magic to your Tokyo winter trip, follow up the studio tour with a stroll around the Akasaka Station (not Asakusa!!). It’s decked out in Hogwarts vibes with a themed “Harry Potter Stairs” and a giant Time-Turner.
Just steps from the station, you can dine at the Harry Potter Café for dinner and watch Harry Potter: The Cursed Child live at the ACT theater (in Japanese with English available via pocket devices).
3. Soak in a Traditional Sento in Yanaka
For a little dose of Kyoto in Tokyo, head to Yanaka. This area of old Tokyo is very atmospheric, and even more so in winter, when we can take advantage of the neighborhood’s underrated, retro bathhouses.
Unlike onsens, sentos (or public bathhouses) don’t have open-air baths. However, you should still practice proper onsen/sento etiquette—bathe nude and soap/rinse thoroughly before entering the baths.
These sentos are much more “local” and therefore, expect nothing luxurious. I’ve been late at night (sentos stay open quite late!), and only had fellow Japanese women to bathe with.
I highly recommend venturing beyond your hotel’s private baths (if it has them) and visiting the local sentos scattered around Tokyo.
The one I went to is called Fuku-no-yu, admission for which was included in my stay at hanare hotel—Yanaka’s “village hotel.”
Another retro bathhouse in the area is Asahi-Yu. Let me know in the comments if you try it!
4. Warm Up with Shabu Shabu, Sukiyaki, or Monjayaki
There’s little better than stepping into cozy izakayas and restaurants during a cold Tokyo winter.
I love all sorts of Japanese food, but my favorite, most comforting meal to warm up in winter is probably shabu shabu or sukiyaki—both are communal hot pots with melt-in-your-mouth meats (wagyu) and veggies. For an all-you-can-eat experience, head to the Mo-Mo Paradise chain or Nazebo!
Oden, a fish-cake soup, is also popular (but not my favorite!). Then, of course, there are all sorts of ramen, hot soba, and udon noodles.
If you want a more Tokyoite foodie experience, head out in search of monjayaki—it’s the Tokyo equivalent of Osaka’s famous okonomiyaki (“savory cabbage pancake”). You won’t regret it!
We had monjayaki near Ryogoku Station—the sumo area of Tokyo. There’s also a sumo show with hot pot experience, if you want to eat with a show!
5. Explore Tokyo’s Art and Light Museums
As I said above, Tokyo’s cold winters are the perfect excuse to go inside and spend time immersing in the city’s museums.
Winter is perfect for teamLab Planets (a botanical barefoot experience) or teamLab Borderless (a more complex, light-illumination-focused experience).
There’s also the Tokyo National Museum, Mori Art Museum, and The National Art Center Tokyo for more quiet, less strobe-light-filled afternoons!
These are the top museums in Tokyo, good for cold, gray days in winter:
- Tokyo National Museum (Ueno)
- Mori Art Museum (Roppongi Hills)
- National Museum of Nature and Science (Ueno)
- The National Art Center, Tokyo (Roppongi)
6. See Tokyo Sparkle from Above! Tokyo Tower & Shibuya Sky
No visit to Tokyo would be complete without a visit to Tokyo Tower!
The extra perk of visiting in winter is the clarity from the observation deck. We got to see Mt. Fuji multiple times on clear winter days.
Sunset and evening skyline views are also possible from Skytree, or Shibuya Sky (crowded; book in advance).
I love, love, love the contrast between Tokyo’s nostalgic red radio tower versus its modern, sky-touching Skytree tower. Both are quintessentially Tokyo—the traditional and the modern, literally and metaphorically!
7. Warm Up in a Karaoke or Dart Bar
One of the popular “local” Tokyoite things to do in winter (well, any time of year!) is to sing karaoke or throw darts!
Karaoke originated in Kobe, Japan, but Tokyo’s singing scene is alive and well. For a cheap and fun night out with friends, you can go to karaoke chains like Big Echo or Karaoke-kan, order unlimited drinks, and have a private room all to yourselves.
If you’re a dart-lover, dart bars in Japan are also popular, and Tokyo’s underground dart bars are usually full and busy. These local jaunts are where you’ll rub shoulders with Tokyoites any day of the week.
8. Experience a Traditional Tea Ceremony or Matcha Cafe
Japanese matcha tea ceremonies and cozy matcha cafés are perfect for slow travelers craving a meditative, warm experience to read, journal, or just be.
I did a kimono tea ceremony with Maikoya in winter and loved it!
Tokyo also has gardens worth strolling through (again, the Shinjuku Gyoen Garden is nice for its plum blossom trees and for warming up in the tropical greenhouse). Still, I also love dipping into a matcha or coffee shop.
One of my favorite matcha houses is actually in Yanaka, called Miyano-yu; it’s a 70-year-old sento now a matcha cafe, but with all its original tiling and faucets. So cute!
💡 Read more things to do in Yanaka
9. Watch a Traditional Kabuki Show in Ginza
Is it Japanese Broadway? Not quite.
Kabuki is much more than a dramatic theatrical show; it’s Japan’s living heritage and a timeless artistic performance that draws upon its ancient culture and history, passed down through song, dance, and acting.
You can get tickets to watch a day or evening show at the Kabukiza Theatre in the heart of Ginza, located right by Highashi-Ginza Metro Station.
10. Join the New Year Traditions of Hatsumōde & Winter Festivals
If you’re visiting Tokyo in January, don’t miss the chance to take part in Hatsumōde, the Japanese tradition of visiting a shrine or temple to welcome in the new year.
While you can visit any time and temple, you’ll see locals line up early on New Year’s Day to offer prayers for health, happiness, and good fortune at major sacred sites like Meiji Jingu in Harajuku and Senso-ji in Asakusa.
Of course, make sure to buy an omikuji (fortune slip), ring the bell, and start the year the Japanese way!
Then, if you’re visiting Tokyo in February and early March, watch out for seasonal festivals like the Daruma Market at Jindaiji Temple or the Setagaya Plum Blossom Festival, to experience the first hints of spring!
My Final Thoughts on What to Do in Tokyo Winter
Wintertime in Tokyo is an especially lively season with winter illuminations, temple traditions, and celebratory festivals. But there’s more to see and do beyond the city, too.
For example, winter is the perfect time to experience the natural hot springs culture of Hakone, where you can also witness a snow-capped Mt Fuji!
From Tokyo, you could also take the Shinkansen on a day trip to go see the snow monkeys of Nagano. (But it would be better to make it into an overnight trip to take advantage of the ski resorts like Shiga Kogen or Nozawa Onsen.)
Between the seasonal festivals (and food), illuminations and lights, sento baths and onsens, and museums and cultural performances, there are enough activities and things to do in Tokyo’s magical winter season to keep your itinerary full and happy!
Just remember to dress in layers, keep a pair of hand warmers ready, and plan for both indoor and outdoor attractions to make the most of your winter trip.
Tokyo in winter is a magical time to be in the city, as long as you stay warm!
