Shizuoka Prefecture, conveniently located on Japan’s main trunk Tokaido bullet train line between Tokyo and Kyoto, is becoming a popular destination for international visitors. Folks come to immerse themselves in Shogun culture, practice wellness at hot springs and tea plantations, and experience off-the-beaten path Mt Fuji adventures. So Why Winter is the Best Season to Visit Shizuoka?
- Shizuoka’s winter is mild. Snaking around Japan’s long Pacific coast, Shizuoka’s climate benefits from the warm current flowing up from the tropics. Occasional snow falls on the low lying areas don’t sit for long. Whilst much of Japan is covered in snow blizzard for periods during winter, Shizuoka’s typical winter weather is mostly blue sky days.
- Best season to see Mt Fuji. The poster child of almost every travel agent’s Japan program, Mt Fuji is in fact a very elusive mountain. Look more closely at your travel agent’s poster of Fuji. Note the clear blue sky background and the white snow covered mountain. That means the photo is taken in winter. Most of the year Fuji is snowless. In warmer months, that same Pacific current that prevents us freezing in winter sends moist air up the slopes of Fuji that condenses into thick clouds. Chances of seeing Fuji are one day in five on average through the year, but that increases to most days in the dry, cool, sunny Shizuoka winter.
- No crowds. Japan has recently become one of the must-visit destinations. Crowds now flock in the Spring to enjoy cherry blossoms and in the Fall for spectacular autumnal colors. But when winter arrives suddenly only the skiers are here. Japan’s ski fields have been so successful in promoting their now world-famous powder that folks have an image of a snow-covered countryside in winter. But apart from Fuji’s upper half and our background Southern Alps, snow is rare in Shizuoka. Our outdoor adventures, marine sports, and health and wellness experiences are available in winter. You can enjoy Shizuoka’s best season at leisure, with plenty of selection for accommodation offering attractive off-season rates.
