My wife and I have a 2 week trip to Phuket in Feb. We may need to shorten the trip to 1 week and we are considering Tokyo.

We will be flying FC on AA and should arrive fairly rested and ready to hit the ground running.

Our trip would be in Jan/Feb and would be our first visit.

Any experienced FT'ers have any advice on this. Good idea? Bad Idea? too cool?

We would want to sight see, absorb some culture etc.

The weather will be chilly (temperatures in the high thirties or low forties Fahrenheit) but probably dry, unless it's one of those odd years when Tokyo gets snow.

As for what to see, buy a guidebook and come back with the questions that the guidebook doesn't answer.

If you will be in Japan during the period 3 - 7 February, I strongly suggest the Sapporo Snow Festival. Although it opens on Tuesday the 5th, it is much better to get there a day or two before to watch the work being done. Sapporo is an hour flight from Tokyo; but the trip is well worth it. You can always tour Tokyo but if your schedule matches the Snow Festival, it is a great chance to see it.

Marc

Just wanted to add (to ksandness' post), that even if it does snow when you are there, this hardly presents a problem within Tokyo.

You'll find that at least 95% of women in the city make no concessions whatsoever when it comes to footwear and will be wearing the most inappropriate shoes for the slush (which is what Tokyo snow rapidly becomes and then remains for most of its short life).

Here's a thread about the freak snowfall that closed Narita in January last year.

Bear in mind that one of the most popular times of the year to visit Japan is October, and that's when typhoons could wreak their havok.

All in all, I consider February a good time of the year to visit Japan - certainly preferable to June, July or August. Even in October this year I was getting devoured by mosquitoes in gardens within the centre of Tokyo, so, in my view, February would be a better time than September or October to visit
some of Tokyo's glorious parks.

The downside of a February visit for me would be the constant static electric shocks from the dry air. My husband has particularly dry skin and we can't even graze against each other without sparks flying. Thankfully, electric earthing devices can be found from stores such as Tokyu Hands. Even this does not discourage me from winter visits to Japan.

On the plus side, the air is clearer so the views from high buildings should be particularly striking and you're in the running for a Tokyo view of Mount Fuji (which didn't appear once between 2nd and 14th October this year).

If you have a full week in Japan, I'd suggest a run down to Kyoto for a couple of days. If that is your only train travel during the week, a Japan Rail Pass would not make much economic sense. Just purchase [I]shinkansen[I] tickets on the Nozomi and zip down in under 3 hours. I do NOT recommend "doing" Kyoto as a day trip from Tokyo. There is just too much to see for a stay of only a few hours.

I have been visiting Japan in Feb every year in the last few years and it had always been nice experiences. This year I spent a few days in Mito and two years ago a few days on Noto Hanto at Wakura Onsen.

As mentioned by other posters, winter is less crowded, air is more crisp, and gardens are less dusty. My first trip to Japan as a teenager was in Jan and that's how I remembered this country.

The only problem with combining Phuket and winter Japan is clothing. You will need to lug around warm weather clothes and cold weather clothes (shoes too). I did the same a few years ago combining Nanjing and Singapore on the same trip and had a heavy coat in Singapore.

Thank you all for your input. We would not be going to Japan and Phuket. It would be Japan instead of Thailand.

Sorry that I misread your post.

A few references for the ryokan Kagaya at Wakura onsen (post #24, #31) where we stayed.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...=682072&page=2

The Kenrokuen garden in Kanazawa is famous for snow scenes.

The other famous garden Kairakoen is in Mito. It is the place to do ume hanami (plum blossom) so mid to late Feb will be best. You can enjoy ume everything (plum soba, plum wine etc) and nato (fermented soybeans) everything too.

The Sapporo Festival mention by Marq above is a good idea too. It will be next on my list.

We have holidayed in Japan in Dec/Jan for 3 of the past 4 years. I think it's a great time to go as it's not too hot and not too rainy. You are there for sumo season, too.

I agree that a side trip to Kyoto is worthwhile and that you should take a Nozomi Shinkansen. Maybe 2 nts in Kyoto and 5 in Tokyo, although with all the great food and shopping, we find 2 weeks is too short in Japan.

Have a great trip.

Agree with last poster. Going to Japan between Dec-Feb is about the only time I'm willing to go. It's not that cold and it doesn't rain.

Honestly, if it's your first time, you could easily spend the entire week in Tokyo.

Yes, Sapporo is a great winter destination. Apart from the festival itself, nearby Otaru has delicious winter fish and seafood available and skiing areas are only a short distance away. Also many indoor and outdoor spas to be experienced in the vicinity.