Japan in January
 

Is it worth visiting Japan/ Tokyo in January?

I have a multiple entry visa that was issued just a week prior to the global lockdown and it will be expiring in late February 2023.

I was originally planning on visiting this December but I could not take time off work.

It's it ever not worth visiting Japan? 😀

It might be a little cold, but nothing that you can't be handle.

Depends on what you want to do. My last trips to Japan have been in Dec-Jan mostly to my work schedule. It's not a particularly busy time, aside from the New Year's holiday, and the weather is infinitely better than in the summer, IMO. If you've spent winter in a place that experiences snow, Tokyo winter weather is relatively mild in comparison. As mentioned before, the activities you have in mind will determine if it's worth it to visit in Jan. How long will you be visiting? Will Tokyo be your base or are you city-hopping?

Maybe just staying for about a week.

I would really like to visit Hokkaido, but I think that’s more of a spring/ summer destination? I think Tokyo and surrounding areas for January. Any recommendations for activities?

I’m not afraid of snow, but I don’t care for skiing.

Been to Tokyo only once as a kid. Been to Osaka/ Kyoto multiple times in my adult life, so no to that area.

Tokyo is great year-round. It will be chilly in January but there are plenty of indoor activities, and lots of underground shopping arcades for walking around that is not outside. And by chilly I mean you'll want to bundle up but long walks outside aren't unreasonable. The first few days of January will be holidays so there will be more domestic travelers, but after that will be pretty quiet. It's not the best time to be in Tokyo, IMO that's April-May (outside of Golden Week) but there's really never a bad time.

I can't comment much on Hokkaido in winter. I haven't been but I understand it can be very cold and snowy.

If cold weather isn't your thing, consider heading south to Kagoshima or Okinawa. Okinawa won't be beach weather but pleasant enough for outdoor activities and dining. Plenty of natural beauty to see and won't be too crowded late in January. It can get drizzly and cool but the sunny days are beautiful.

The new year's decorations in Tokyo are absolutely spectacular. Every street is full of decorations and lights. A lightly padded jacket is more than enough to survive. Make sure to go to KFC if you arrive for Christmas!

Kyushu, especial Kagoshima is definitely much warmer. Because of the geo-thermal activity the water will boil and steam as it hits the beach. If you are brave, do like the locals and bury yourself in the sand.

Okinawa is very nice, 20°C, wear a tee shirt.

Omigosh please do not KFC lol
It's such a weird semi-tradition, that isn't traditional at all
KFC just managed to get a heads up on commercials every Christmas

There are lots of what Japanese call 'illuminations', which are light decorations, and they are lots of fun
New year's is a family affair and along with the traditional temple visits, osechi and waiting out for the sunrise, it's heaps of fun if you know any locals

Hokkaido is very very cold in January
If you don't ski, probably don't go, is my suggestion
February has the snow festival in Sapporo, and that is spectacular

Second Kyushu and Okinawa
I personally love Kyushu but even the south island is cold in January. Heck, it's starting to get cold now and I'm lazing around the onsen.

As someone else said, there's never a bad time to visit Japan, but driving sucks in January and it gets very cold. I still look forward to spending the new year's at my inlaws though. It really depends what you want to do!
Tell us what you'd like to do and we can make an itinerary for you!

That depends on what you want to do In Hokkaido. You mentioned you're not into skiing, so I guess that leaves out winter sports. One of the other draws, the Sapporo Winter festival, happens in Feb. What is the main draw of Hokkaido for you?

There are a lot of things to do, you actually run the risk of cramming too much in one trip. What I usually end up doing is reading up on events that pique my interest happening around the same time. I also look up places that I haven't visited before or have shown up in my media consumption (books, shows, YT videos, etc.).

What are you into? My schedule revolves around eating stuff I can't get back home, onsen, riding tourist trains, interactive exhibits, hiking/walking around neighborhoods, breweries/distilleries, etc. I can recommend stuff but I'm not be sure if it matches what you're looking for.

If your into cars, the Tokyo Auto Salon, showcasing customised cars, is held between 13th-15th of January.

Went to the one back in 2019 on a whim and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Although otherwise quiet, I always enjoy the major wrestling shows during the first week of January. Tokyo Dome full of screaming fans on the 4th is worth experiencing at least once!

:D

For years I wondered about KFC and Christmas thing in Japan. At my local KFC at Chitose Karasuyama on Keio Line, Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 was reservation only. Yes, it is not a joke, at my local KFC I could not just walk in on Dec. 24 or Dec. 25 and buy two piece meal. I had to order in advance, like more than a week in advance, if I wanted buy something from Chitose Karasuyama KFC on Dec. 24 or Dec. 25.

Few years ago I finally heard the story behind KFC and Christmas in Japan. This goes back to '70s. McDs opened first Japanese restaurant in Ginza in 1971 and was immediate hit. KFC was trying to duplicate that in Japan. KFC Japan (Kentucky Fried Chicken Japan) started as a joint venture between the KFC US and Mitsubishi Corporation. Shohei Tomita was sent from Mitsubishi Corporation to head KFC Japan, he was the first managing director of KFC Japan. Shohei Tomita went around media promoted this new thing call Fried Chicken, which was a new concept to most Japanese back then.

Shohei Tomita was interviewed on a live TV program during the prime time, the reporter did some homework about KFC and Shohei Tomita. Nuns from Catholic kindergarten near home of Shohei Tomita asked Shohei Tomita if he could show up at the kindergarten's Christmas party dressed as a Santa. Nuns asked Shohei Tomita to be a Santa because of his physique. Nuns knew Shohei Tomita was heading the new American company selling fried chicken. Nuns told Shohei Tomita that if he shows up as a Santa at kindergarten's Christmas party, they will buy KFC for kindergarten's Christmas party.

The reporter on the TV show asked Shohei Tomita about fried chicken and Christmas. To promote and sell KFC, Shohei Tomita blatantly lied on the live TV and said "Yes, American people have KFC for Christmas!" This all started KFC craze for Christmas in Japan and still continues. KFC can thank Shohei Tomita's lie on live TV for their success in Japan. :)

I spent around two weeks in Hokkaido in late December/early January for wildlife photography, and it was wonderful. It was indeed very snowy but nothing that we couldn't handle, and everything was stunning.

As they say in Japan, "嘘も方便" (Uso mo hoben: it's sometimes necessary to lie, or circumstances may justify a lie). And look what it did for Mitsubishi and KFC Japan's bottom line! Shohei Tomita is probably a hero in KFC lore. ;)

Overall, this trip to Tokyo/ surrounding area is going to be short. It is somewhat of a mileage run (more like a visa run). Also, I will be using expiring airline credits, and some expiring hotel points.

I'm trying to keep expenses reasonable for this trip. I will plan for a longer trip after I renew my visa and splurge at that time.

Kagoshima sounds interesting but it is a world away from TYO.

How about Kanazawa in January? I only heard about Kanazawa from the Starbucks collectible mug series. A few years back, I got into collecting some of these high-end Starbucks Japan cups/ mugs and Kanazawa was featured in one of them. LOL

I am based out of the Pacific Northwest - I like salmon, nature sceneries, and the occasional hike.
I love food and I have been watching a lot of these Youtube videos with omakase/ kaiseki set menus. They seem like over priced sometimes though. And I don't ear pork or duck anymore. LOL

I do like to cook. Any recommended cooking classes?

Also, isn't there a street in Tokyo where you could buy kitchen items?

Hokkaido I guess is out of my itinerary. I have a very specific list of things I want to do in Hokkaido:
-I would like to visit the seafood market and eat that mixed seafood sashimi over rice; I would like to try Hokkaido curry soup; and of course the Hokkaido seafood ramen.
-I would like to run down that field covered in tulips, then run up the hill with lavender and then eat Hokkaido wagyu (I know I said I gave up eating red meat but will make an exception for that) and taste the lavender ice cream (even though I am lactose intolerant :p)

eating stuff I can't get back home - YES! Just not weird things like live frogs, etc.
onsen - I have an issue being naked/ semi-naked and in the company of strangers; I'd gladly dip in a private one though
riding tourist trains - would really love to do this - saw lots of YT videos with fancy chairs in trains! Tokyo to Nagoya? Worth it?
interactive exhibits - Hmm, what sort of interaction?
hiking/walking around neighborhoods - yes!
breweries/distilleries - I cannot drink alcohol straight up, but will gladly eat cake heavily doused with alcohol