Winter itinerary with elderly

[whuttt]

My parents want to go and see snow in 2020. Is there anywhere in Japan where can see and feel snow and winter is not too bitter. They are mobile, but probably cannot walk for too far too long compared to us. Planning for about a week.

If you have taken your aged parents to Japan for winter, pls share your itinerary. Many thanks!

 

[purpleberry]

Gala Yuzawa? Very accessible from Tokyo. It can be very slippery indoors where the snow melts so do very careful. Nagano another option with plenty of onsen.

 

[winthestone]

Budget ah? Must share first ha

 

[whuttt]

Budget ah? Must share first ha

my pocket is not bottomless.

Have not thought about the budget yet. but of coz will not expect parents to stay in capsule.

 

[whuttt]

Gala Yuzawa? Very accessible from Tokyo. It can be very slippery indoors where the snow melts so do very careful. Nagano another option with plenty of onsen.

thanks! will research on these areas. not familiar with japan yet that's why have to ask for advice.

 

[Entropy]

Another possible location is Sapporo, there's the annual Snow Festival with ice carvings and other activities in town, also the main avenue in town has a large underground mall which has shopping/food and links to many other places for when you don't want to walk outside in the cold.

Hotels and AirBNB are also cheaper in Sapporo too compared to Tokyo.

 

[thwysg]

Not too cold then tail end of the season. Say March. Also depends on whether if they wanted to play snow or just looking at places with snow covered grounds.

 

[purpleberry]

If want to see snow but not into skiing, you can skip Gala Yuzawa and visit Hokkaido instead like Entropy mentioned. Can rent a car and visit nearby towns also.

 

[whuttt]

thk u everybody for the suggestions.

 

[deodorant]

My parents want to go and see snow in 2020.

It also really depends what you mean by "see snow." If you mean you just want to see snow on the ground and touch it a bit, then you can go in like March (or even April), then head up to the mountains. It will be springtime so temperatures won't be that cold -- snow that's built up over 3-4 months of winter takes a pretty long time to completely melt away.

However if you want to experience snowfall and kick powder around then you need to go in Jan / Feb for the highest chance (but it will also be really cold and windy).

In either case, you don't have to spend the entire week in the mountains. Can consider flying in to Tokyo, and plan a 2-3 days trip to Nagano/Niigata mountains (pair with snow monkeys ... although it's a 20min walk on a snowy path in winter), or the Yamagata mountains (pair with Fox Village).

 

[purpleberry]

Another alternative is Takao san, easily accessible from Tokyo too. Some path ways might be slippery so need to be very careful.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3029.html

https://kantokitsune.wordpress.com/2014/03/29/schnowy-mt-takao-with-subtokyo-and-shiverz/#more-2538

 

[whuttt]

wow! thank you all. march / april sounds like a good time too. not so cold.

 

[Nakedtoes]

Do note that if u want to experience snow u need go mountain from central Japan to below.. If not u need to travel north. Like in Tokyo for the whole month of jan maybe snow 1 or 2 times only.. And is light snow type.

 

[Nakedtoes]

I went Jan to Gala Yuzawa.. It is a nice skii resort in the mountain. Need to take shinkasen from Tokyo for 1.5hrs then cable car up. If u dun skii can try snow sledding. It's pretty fun too.

 

[FireEmblem]

Can try kairuizawa, just outside the shinkansen rail station will have snow already in right period. The premium outlet is also there so if cold just go into any shop and get blast of warm air