Snow Scenery
Snow Monsters, Snow Festivals, and Winter Views With Kids in Hokkaido and Tohoku
Frost-covered snow monsters, a zoo in the snow, snow lantern festivals and kamakura snow huts. A winter trip for looking, paired with hot springs, area by area across Hokkaido and Tohoku
14 areas · 233 hotels (total listings across these areas)
Winter in Japan's snow country offers a different kind of pleasure from playing in the snow. The frost-covered "snow monster" trees of Zao, a zoo in deep snow, snow lantern and kamakura (snow hut) festivals, an unbroken world of white. The trick to enjoying a winter of looking with small children is to keep time outdoors short and leave plenty of time to warm up in the hot spring or inside the hotel. Choose ways to get around where everyone can sit down and watch the view (a ropeway, a bus, a hotel shuttle), and even a trip with a baby or toddler stays manageable.
This collection lists the areas of Hokkaido and Tohoku known for winter scenery and snow festivals where kid-friendly hotels are clustered. On each area page you can narrow the list by features such as snow play or a ski resort nearby, a private bath you can reserve for your family, a bath in the guest room, in-room dining ("heya-shoku," meals served in your own room), and Japanese-style or Japanese-Western rooms.
When the snow monsters are at their best, the dates of snow festivals and lantern events, and whether the ropeway is running all vary by year and by operator. Check the latest information from each tourism association or facility before you set out. In the depths of winter, Hokkaido and Tohoku stay below freezing even at midday, so give your children one extra layer.
Features to look for in this collection
Hokkaido (snow festivals, a snow zoo, and drift ice)
February's snow festivals and a zoo in the snow. Keep travel short with hotels that offer airport transfers and easy subway access.
Sapporo
The city famous for its snow festival. Easy to get around by subway, with plenty of family-ready hotels
Asahikawa
A zoo in deep snow, plus a winter festival. Close to hotels in the city center
Jozankei Onsen
Sapporo's own hot-spring retreat. Stay at a snow-view hot spring and head into the city for the festival
Furano
Snowy hills and ski slopes. Hotels made for taking in the winter view
Hokkaido
Search family-friendly hotels across all of Hokkaido together
Tohoku (snow monsters, snow lanterns, and kamakura snow huts)
A ropeway takes you up to the snow monsters, and the snow festivals are close to hot-spring towns.
Zao
The highland known for its snow monsters. Ride the ropeway up to see them, then warm up in the hot spring
Yamagata
Search the prefecture's hot-spring towns and snow-view hotels together
Family-Friendly Hotels in Lake Tazawa, Kakunodate & Nyuto Onsen (Hot Springs)
Snowy Kakunodate and the secluded hot springs of Nyuto Onsen
Akita
The prefecture famous for kamakura snow huts and snow festivals. Search its hotels together
Towada & Oirase
The snow monsters of Hakkoda and the frozen falls of Oirase. Check how you will get around in winter
Aomori
Search the prefecture's snow-view and hot-spring hotels together
Hanamaki Onsen
A hot-spring village in the snow. Large hotels with plenty to do on site
Aizu
A snow-covered castle town and Higashiyama Onsen. The area is known for its snow lantern festival
Urabandai & Inawashiro
A snowbound lake below Mount Bandai, with some hotels offering farm experiences
Tips for traveling with kids
- checkKeep the outdoor viewing short, and get around by ropeway, bus, or hotel shuttle so everyone can sit and watch the scenery
- checkIn midwinter it stays below freezing even at midday. Bring an extra jacket, hat, and gloves, and wear shoes with good grip
- checkSnow monster season and festival dates change from year to year. Check the tourism association's information for peak viewing and event dates before you leave
- checkSnow festival grounds get crowded and are hard going with a stroller. Bring a baby carrier, and locate an indoor spot to take a break before you arrive
- checkRather than only going out to see the scenery, choose a hotel with a private bath or in-room dining and make time at the hotel the main event. That is what makes these trips satisfying with babies and toddlers
Recommended hotels in this collection (28)
Selected automatically from the top-ranked hotels in each area.
Chateraise Gateaux Kingdom Sapporo
Hotel Abest Sapporo
Asahikawa Takasago Onsen
Hotel WBF Grande Asahikawa
Jozankei Hanamomiji
Jozankei Yuraku Souan
Hotel Naturwald Furano
Chalet Fuyuri Furano
Toyako Manseikaku Hotel Lakeside Terrace
Ki Niseko
See all hotels in this collection (28)expand_more
- Chateraise Gateaux Kingdom Sapporo
- Hotel Abest Sapporo
- Asahikawa Takasago Onsen
- Hotel WBF Grande Asahikawa
- Jozankei Hanamomiji
- Jozankei Yuraku Souan
- Hotel Naturwald Furano
- Chalet Fuyuri Furano
- Toyako Manseikaku Hotel Lakeside Terrace
- Ki Niseko
- Zao Liza Woody Lodge
- Mercure Miyagi Zao Resort & Spa
- Atsumi Onsen Tachibanaya
- Hohoemino Yado Takinoyu
- Kyukamura Nyuto-Onsenkyo
- Wanowi Kakunodate
- Hotel Plaza Annex Yokote
- Kamenoi Hotel Akita Yuze
- Sukayu Onsen Ryokan
- Grand Sunpia Hachinohe
- Nanbuya Kaisenkaku
- Hoshino Resorts Aomoriya
- Hotel Shidotaira
- Musubino Yado Airinkan
- Aizu Higashiyama Onsen Shousuke-no-Yado Takinoyu
- Aizu Ashinomaki Onsen Marumine Kanko Hotel
- Hotel Listel Inawashiro Wing Tower
- Bandai Atami Onsen Hotel Hananoyu
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we go see the snow monsters with kids?
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At Zao and similar spots a ropeway carries you close to the summit, so the walking is minimal. It is bitterly cold and windy at the top, so bundle everyone up, keep the visit short, and plan to warm up at a hot spring at the base. That way even small children enjoy it. Peak viewing shifts from year to year, so check before you go.
Is it all right to take a baby to a snow festival?
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The grounds get crowded and your feet get cold, so the trick is to keep the viewing short and pick a location where you can duck into an indoor space or back to your hotel quickly. Strollers are hard to maneuver, so a baby carrier is the better choice. Choosing a hotel near the venue, or one you can reach by subway, takes a lot of the strain out of it.
What should we watch out for when traveling around Hokkaido and Tohoku in winter?
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Snow can disrupt transportation, so build slack into your itinerary and keep transfers to a minimum. If you are not used to driving on snowy roads, the safe move is a hotel with an airport shuttle or an area you can reach by train.
How should we choose a hotel for a winter trip built around scenery?
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Because you spend less time outdoors, you spend more of it at the hotel. Look for a private bath you can reserve, a bath in the guest room, in-room dining, or a Japanese-style room, and your family can settle in comfortably even with a baby. Each area page lets you combine these features to narrow the list.
When is the best time for snow monsters and snow festivals?
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The snow monsters are generally at their best in the depths of winter, from late January through February, and most snow festivals and lantern events are held in February, but the dates and peak viewing change every year. Check the latest information from each tourism association or facility before you set out.