10 Things to Do in Kyoto in Winter

Kyoto is characterized by a very marked winter with cold, rain and even snow. However, these weather changes are not an impediment for you to enjoy the great cultural and recreational offer that usually exists during these months. From festivals to hot springs or extreme sports, there are many activities to do in the city.

For example, among the best things to do in Kyoto during the cold months, you can contemplate a different perspective of the town of Arashiyama, which in winter is illuminated with hundreds of lanterns. Also, chase away the spirits with soybeans in the Gion Quarter, take amazing pictures at temples and shrines, taking advantage of the nostalgic scene of the season, among other activities that I will tell you about in a moment.

Walking through the streets of Kyoto in winter and seeing groups of people sharing nabe, also known as hot pot, is a common sight for locals. Go to a local traditional restaurant or the Nishiki Market and try this popular seasonal dish.

This meal should be prepared by yourself at the table with the people accompanying you. One of them will be in charge of cooking and adding the ingredients to the pot: mushrooms, tofu, cabbage, meat, green onions, according to the taste of the guests. Afterwards, everyone serves the stew in their own bowl, accompanied by rice.

But, if in addition to tasting nabe you wish to explore Japanese culinary culture, then you might consider taking a culinary tour of Kyoto. You could also join one of the best cooking lessons in Kyoto to learn how to make other sweet and savory dishes.

Participating in a tea ceremony during your 2-day stay in Kyoto or longer is a popular activity in winter. You can be in an air-conditioned space and enjoy the warmth of a matcha (green tea) drink. All this, while learning about this ancient art form .

You will have a practice guided by a geisha (hostess). She will teach you the sado, or way of tea, which consists of tranquility, respect, harmony and purity, with the purpose of appreciating the beauty of the simple things in life, as dictated by the philosophy of wabi sabi.

During the Kyoto tea ceremony experience you will have the option of wearing a kimono. You will watch in front of you the preparation of matcha tea, which incorporates a series of rituals, bows and gestures by the hostess. Afterwards, you will taste the beverage and a kyogashi, a handmade sweet used in ceremonies.

A good idea during the winter is to grab your camera and embark on a tour of Kyoto city. You will get a different perspective of the streets and historic buildings, thanks to the nostalgic atmosphere of the season.

You can visit Kinkaku-ji or Golden Pavilion, Ginkaku-ji Temple among other local shrines and temples. You will see how these places change their appearance, especially during the month of February in Kyoto, which is the snowiest period.

This is an activity that you can do on your own or by joining a private tour in Kyoto. In either case, you will get magical scenery: frozen ponds, surrounded by snow-covered gardens, as well as the roofs of their respective temples, shrines and pagodas. All this, under a cloudy sky, which gives you dim natural light and a series of shadows that you can take advantage of to take wonderful pictures.

In the city of Kyoto in December, the annual Arashiyama Hanatoro Winter Festival takes place. For 10 days, you can enjoy a dreamlike atmosphere in this town, where you will find its streets and roads lined with flowers and traditional lanterns.

To enjoy this spectacle, you should go to Arashiyama, about 30 minutes drive from the center of Kyoto. There, after sunset, you will see the lighting of more than 2,500 lanterns placed on the ground and distributed along a route of about 5 kilometers.

You will see a different perspective of the Togetsukyo Bridge across the Katsura River, illuminated with pale blue lanterns. The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest area, meanwhile, will surprise you with its night scene: shadows and glows produced by the lights passing through the hundreds of moso bamboo stalks on this trail.

In fact, you can enhance this experience and embark on a culinary tour of the Kyoto Arashiyama and Sagano Bamboo Forest. You will enjoy the lights and in turn taste some seasonal sweet and savory dishes at the food stalls in this natural area.

During your stay of at least 3 days in Kyoto, you can visit an onsen or hot spring to relax. Take advantage of the cold temperatures of the winter season and enjoy the hot water in these pools.

This is a popular attraction for locals and tourists alike. You will find onsen in the center of the city and others in some nearby districts with easy access. In any of them, you will have the opportunity to enjoy indoor and outdoor baths, allowing you to be in contact with nature. Everything will depend on your preferences.

For example, some onsen you could visit are the following:

• Kurama Eleven, with open-air sulfur waters and a mind-blowing mountain view. It is located on Kurama Mountain, about a 26-minute drive from downtown Kyoto.
• Funaoka Onsen, located about 11 minutes from downtown by car and 30 minutes by public transport. This hot spring dates back to 1923 and is considered a tangible cultural property.
• Goko-yu Onsen, this is a public bath set in the onsen style, which you can visit about 15 minutes by public transport from the city center.

Among the things to see and do in Kyoto in winter is the Ume Matsuri or Plum Blossom Festival. Annually, locals and tourists flock to some temples during January and February to enjoy this natural spectacle. Be part of this celebration and see the plum trees in bloom.

You can visit the Kitano Tenmangu Shinto Shrine, which houses approximately 2,000 plum trees. Also, at the Buddhist Kaju-ji Temple, whose history dates back more than 1,000 years and is considered one of the finest temples in Kyoto, you will have the opportunity to observe the ancestral plum tree, transplanted from the Imperial Palace.

During this experience, you will see the vibrant colors (pink and white) of the plum blossoms, which blend with the nostalgic atmosphere of the winter season. In addition, you will enjoy the sweet scent that comes from the blossom.

Warding off evil spirits by throwing mame (soybeans) at them is a traditional activity in Kyoto. You can observe this ritual, which dates back to the Muromachi period (mid-14th century), during the first days of February in the Gion Ward.

Setsubun (separation of seasons), as this ancient celebration is known, is held at Yasaka Shrine. There, geishas and maiko are in charge of chasing away the spirits, represented by people wearing traditional warrior costumes and devil masks.

Along with the launching of the mame, you will hear the phrase "oni wa soto! fuku wa uchi!", which translates as "Out with the demons! let good luck come in! All this takes place in a lively and very picturesque atmosphere.

Then, the ritual continues by eating some seeds. This will make your life long. In fact, it is said that the more mame you eat, the longer your longevity line will be. Likewise, locals usually eat maki sushi on this day to attract fortune.

Kyoto is surrounded by mountains and many of them are usually covered with snow in December, January and February. If you are a winter sports enthusiast and find yourself in the city during this season, you should take advantage of such weather conditions to ski or snowboard.

Some of the popular ski resorts in Kyoto are as follows:

• Hirogawara Station. On the outskirts of Kyoto you will find this mountain with a maximum altitude of 635 meters, being a suitable slope for ski amateurs.
• The Swiss Ski Village in the town of Ine (Kyoto Prefecture). This approximately 683-meter-high mountain is ideal for snowboarders and beginners.
• Oeyama Ski Resort, a mountain about 480 meters high, located in the town of Miyazu, Kyoto Prefecture.

Welcoming the new year is one of the biggest celebrations in Kyoto and all of Japan. Join this tradition called Hatsumode or first visit to the temple and live a different experience: rituals, seasonal foods, colorful shows, among others.

You can go to one of the temples in the city on New Year's Eve during December 31 to participate in the Joya no Kane (bell ringing ceremony). Thus, you will eliminate bad karma and start the year with good luck. At Chion-in Temple, you will see 17 monks ringing the legendary bell, considered the largest in Kyoto.

In addition, during the first week of January, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a celebratory atmosphere at the various Buddhist and Shinto temples. For example, Heian Jingu Temple, Kitano Tenmangu Temple, among others. There, pick up an omikuji, which is a strip of paper with a writing on it, and find out your fortune for the year that is beginning.

Kyoto is full of amazing celebrations, one of them being the Musha Jinji. This is a military archery ritual, held annually during mid-January, for the purpose of dispelling bad luck. Attend this spectacle that keeps alive the legacy of the last period of Japan's classical era, the Heian.

This activity takes place at the Kamigamo Shrine. You should arrive before 11:00 a.m. to get a good spot to enjoy this cultural spectacle of Kyoto.

During the ceremony, you will witness the firing of whistling and purifying arrows. All of them, launched at objects identified with the word oni, which means demon. For their part, the more than 2,000 archers are dressed in kariginu, costumes belonging to the Heian court.

The average temperature in Ky oto during the winter months, which runs from mid-December to mid-March, usually settles between 7ºC and 5ºC. You will rarely see the thermometer drop to around -3ºC or rise to 9ºC. Basically, winter in this city is mild compared to regions such as, for example, Hokkaidō, where daily temperatures are 0ºC.

Throughout your stay in Kyoto during the winter period, you will experience dry and cold weather. You will also notice partly cloudy skies and shorter days. Periods of rain, blizzards, snowfall and night frosts are common during these months.

If your trip to Kyoto coincides with winter, you should know that the city's weather during this season is cold, with some rainy days and some snowy days. Therefore, you should take precautions with respect to your clothing and food, so that you do not have any inconveniences.

Some tips to take into consideration include the following:

• Dress in layers, so you can adapt to temperature changes during the day. Keep in mind that although the outdoors may be cold, there is heating in stores, trains and buses, so you can take off some clothes if necessary.
• Carry a bottle of warm water with you so you don't get cold and stay hydrated.
• Eat warm meals such as nabe or ramen, especially in the evenings when temperatures tend to drop the most. This will help keep your body warm.
• Don't forget your raincoat or umbrella, as rainfall is often unexpected.

December is a time of transition between autumn and winter, so it is normal to get a high influx in the second half of that month, as temperatures still remain between 7ºC and 9ºC. However, during January and February, the panorama changes significantly. Tourist demand decreases and a low volume of people is recorded.

Generally speaking, the number of tourists in Kyoto during the winter is generally low compared to other seasons of the year. However, the city has a wide range of cultural and leisure activities during the cold months which, together with low airfares and accommodation prices, are attractive to visitors.