Cool Japan - Fusion with Tradition

In addition to fantastic sushi Japan offers a wide range of cuisine to suit everyone's taste buds. During winter months there are many different delicious warming winter dishes to try.
Most winter dishes, including oden, sukiyaki and shabu shabu, are cooked in a large communal pot at the dining table making them fun to share with others. The pot is filled with one of several different broths, meat, seafood and vegetables are gradually added to the pot to cook, then everyone helps themselves. Other popular winter dishes include ramen and soba noodles, which cost from £4 for a huge filling bowl!

Ryokan are authentic Japanese inns that range from traditional to contemporary design. taying in a ryokan offers visitors a wonderful opportunity to experience Japanese customs and culture, including traditional clothing, futon bedding, delicious cuisine, fantastic service and Japanese-style bathing.
One of the great things about staying at a ryokan is that after a long day skiing or sightseeing you can relax in an onsen (natural hot spring). Japan is very volcanic and the volcanic activity has produced literally thousands of natural hot springs that the Japanese love to relax in. It's an amazing feeling to soak in an onsen surrounded by snow!

High up in the Japanese Alps in Nagano, the small village of Yudanaka is home to the Japanese snow monkeys.
Jigokudani Monkey Park is home to hundreds of monkeys who like nothing better than to take bath in onsen (natural hot springs) during the cold winter months.

During the winter months there are many festivals and events throughout Japan. he winter festivities are a mixture of tradition and fun, with lots of snow, ice, coloured lights and food.
An annual winter highlight in Hokkaido is the Sapporo Snow Festival in early February. The festival's huge and elaborate snow sculptures attract millions of viewers every year. Also popular is the Akan Ice Festival in Hokkaido, a light-illusion show that colours the winter landscape in amazing mystical colours.
In Japanese culture food plays an important role so with most festivals there are lots of tasty treats to try. From mochi cakes at the Kamakura festival in Akita to Hiroshima Prefecture’s Oyster festival. here are numerous festivals to choose from making it easy to include one in your trip whenever you visit Japan.

"Kyoto Winter Special" is a promotional campaign run by the city of Kyoto from December 2009 through March 2010, during which visitors can enjoy discounted accommodation, view cultural treasures not usually open to the public, benefit from special travel deals and enjoy various winter events.
Winter is a beautiful time to visit Kyoto. Marvel at the delicate beauty of Japanese gardens, shrines and temples, all beneath a veil of glistening snow. The captivating winter events will nclude tea parties with geisha, special menus at reduced prices, Hanatouro lantern festivities and special public viewing of private cultural assets. With Kyoto Winter Special, the breathtaking beauty of winter in Kyoto awaits you!