Japan Tours in January 2026
4.6 stars on(9,265 reviews)- Choose from 350+ Japan tours
- 2,800+ verified reviews from TourRadar travelers
- 24/7 customer support
10 best Japan trips in January 2026
Compiled by

SteffJapan travel expert at TourRadar
- Japan Winter Classic 11 Day - One Life Adventures
- Japan Winter Wonder (Classic)
- Explore Japan: Snow Monkey & Onsen (Private Guided)
- 10 Days Family Winter Japan: Ski, Snow Monkeys & Mt.Fuji Tour (private guide and driver)- Customizable
- A Classic 11 Day Japan Holiday
- 9 Day Independent Japan
- 11 Day Explorer Central Japan Snow Monkey Park(Private Guide and Driver)
- 7 Days Ski Niseko, Winter in Hokkaido Tour (private guide and driver)- Customizable
- 13 Day Wonders of Central Japan Snow Monkey Park (Private Guide and Driver)
- Stunning Japan with Shirakawa-go (private 3 star hotel rooms)
Japan Winter Classic 11 Day - One Life Adventures
32 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Always conscious of timing & schedule, knew a lot of fun facts of different spots we visited.”
BB, traveled in February
Duration 11 days Destinations Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, Nagano Age Range Ages 18-59 Operator One Life Adventures January departure dates
See All Departure Dates12 Jan, 2026 8 spaces left 26 Jan, 2026 8 spaces left From
- NZ$4,328
Japan Winter Wonder (Classic)
17 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Loved the tour, the group and the manager.”
DenniMareeRankin, traveled in December
Duration 10 days Destinations Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Tokyo, Hakone Age Range Ages 18-35 Operator Contiki January departure dates
See All Departure Dates3 Jan, 2026 10+ spaces left 7 Jan, 2026 7 spaces left From $4,965
15% Off- NZ$4,220You save $745
Explore Japan: Snow Monkey & Onsen (Private Guided)
6 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“He exceeded our expectations and is already working on another vacation for us.”
Katie, traveled in February
Duration 10 days Destinations Tokyo, Nagano, Takayama, Kyoto, Osaka Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Odynovo January departure dates
See All Departure Dates6 Jan, 2026 10 spaces left 7 Jan, 2026 10 spaces left From $6,534
10% Off- NZ$5,881You save $653
Duration 10 days Destinations Tokyo, Yuzawa, Nagano, Mount Fuji Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator UME Travel Co. Ltd January departure dates
See All Departure Dates1 Jan, 2026 10 spaces left 2 Jan, 2026 10 spaces left From $16,241
25% Off- NZ$12,180You save $4,060
A Classic 11 Day Japan Holiday
14 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The itinerary was great in general and gave us a rich sense of Japan and its history.”
MaryBeth, traveled in March
Duration 11 days Destinations Tokyo, Takayama, Kyoto, Osaka Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Wonderful Holidays UK January departure dates
See All Departure Dates1 Jan, 2026 10 spaces left 5 Jan, 2026 10 spaces left From $7,763
22% Off- NZ$6,055You save $1,708
9 Day Independent Japan
6 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The daily tours we went on were great, and the choice of attractions to visit was excellent.”
HORACE, traveled in August
Duration 9 days Destinations Tokyo, Odawara, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Vio Travel January departure dates
See All Departure Dates6 Jan, 2026 10 spaces left 7 Jan, 2026 10 spaces left From $3,129
5% Off- NZ$2,973You save $156
Duration 11 days Destinations Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Nagano, Jigokudani Valley, Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara, UjiSee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator UME Travel Co. Ltd January departure dates
See All Departure Dates1 Jan, 2026 10 spaces left 2 Jan, 2026 10 spaces left From $13,591
25% Off- NZ$10,193You save $3,398
Duration 7 days Destinations Sapporo, Niseko Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator UME Travel Co. Ltd January departure dates
See All Departure Dates1 Jan, 2026 10 spaces left 2 Jan, 2026 10 spaces left From $11,419
25% Off- NZ$8,564You save $2,855
Duration 13 days Destinations Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Hakone, Nagano, Jigokudani Valley, Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa, Kyoto, FushimiSee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator UME Travel Co. Ltd January departure dates
See All Departure Dates1 Jan, 2026 10 spaces left 2 Jan, 2026 10 spaces left From $15,388
25% Off- NZ$11,541You save $3,847
Stunning Japan with Shirakawa-go (private 3 star hotel rooms)
104 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The itinerary was well planned and gave us the chance to see so many highlights, including Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto, Mt. Fuji, and the beautiful UNESCO site Shirakawago.”
Oliver, traveled in August
Duration 8 days Destinations Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Gifu, Takayama, Fuji, Hakone, Yokohama, Tokyo Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Stunning Tours From $6,379
50% Off- NZ$3,189You save $3,189
What people love about Japan Tours in January
- Japan Winter Classic 11 Day - One Life Adventures
This was my first group tour and it was honestly one of the best trips I had. I felt like we saw and did a lot while still having a lot of free time and not feeling super exhausted. The snow monkeys were a special treat. Our Tour guide Jordan, was great! He always made sure we had what we needed for the day and always gave us good recommendations whether if it was for photo spots, food, or things to do during our free time. I would definitely recommend this tour to friends in the future.
- Japan Winter Wonder (Classic)
Loved the tour, the group and the manager
- South Japan Express
All the places that we visited were all interesting particularly the temples and shrines, while the gardens are beautiful (Karakuen and Ritsurin). The guides (Pablo & David) are both very knowledgeable and friendly particularly David who was also funny and jovial. I would definitely recommend your tour company to my family and friends. I am also interested in doing a tour of northern Japan particularly Hokkaido in autumn. Suggestion - since we come from Australia we always need adaptors for our mobile phones, perhaps the guides can ask reception for adaptors during check-in time. It's difficult for us to explain what we want because we don't speak Japanese. The staff don't always get it right the first time. Overall it was an excellent trip . Alvin Bella
What our customers ask about Japan Tours in January 2026
What is the weather like in Japan during January?
Japan experiences its coldest temperatures in January with significant regional variations. Tokyo sees temperatures ranging from 2-10°C (35-50°F) while Hokkaido can plunge to -20°C (-4°F). The Lake Akan Tsuruga Wings hotel provides front-row views of frozen lakes and snow-dusted mountains that define the winter landscape. As one TourRadar traveler noted: "The winter landscapes were breathtaking especially around Lake Akan where we could witness hundreds of red-crowned cranes gathered in the river at sunrise."
Are there any special festivals or events in Japan during January?
January brings several notable celebrations across Japan. The Sapporo Snow Festival draws crowds to see large-scale ice sculptures while Tokyo hosts the traditional Sumo New Year Basho. Local temples and shrines come alive with New Year (Shogatsu) festivities. As one TourRadar traveler shared: "The Sapporo Snow Festival was incredible with over 60 international teams competing to build massive snow sculptures reaching over 15m in height."
Which locations in Japan are best to visit in January?
Winter creates ideal conditions for visiting Hakone's hot springs with views of Mt. Fuji snow-covered Kyoto temples and Tokyo's extensive indoor attractions. Strategic bases include THE GATE HOTEL RYOGOKU in Tokyo and the Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa in Hakone both offering easy access to winter activities and sightseeing.
Which Japanese hot springs (onsen) are best to visit in January?
The winter months make hot spring visits especially rewarding in regions like Hakone and Kusatsu. Hotel Moriaki Ryokan offers outdoor baths with scenic winter views while Kusatsu Onsen's steaming yubatake (hot water fields) create a dramatic winter scene. A TourRadar traveler recalls: "Soaking in an outdoor onsen while snow fell around us was an unforgettable January experience."
Is January a good time for seeing Japanese wildlife?
Winter reveals unique wildlife viewing opportunities particularly in Hokkaido. Visitors can observe red-crowned cranes in Tsurui village snow monkeys bathing in Nagano's hot springs and numerous winter bird species. One TourRadar traveler noted: "Watching the red-crowned cranes dance in the snow at sunrise was a magical experience that could only happen in winter."
How crowded are tourist attractions in Japan during January?
January offers relatively quiet conditions at most attractions except during New Year's week and winter festivals. Visitors can explore popular sites like Tokyo's Senso-ji Temple and Kyoto's Golden Pavilion without large crowds. According to a TourRadar guide: "January offers a unique opportunity to see Japan's most famous sites beautifully decorated in snow with fewer tourists than during cherry blossom season."




















