Those staying in Tokyo during the months of December, January and February, will notice that the air feels bitter and the temperature cold. Although it can sometimes feel more tempting to just stay in your apartment, there are still many things you can see and do in the city, whilst staying nice and warm.
Learn More About Japanese Culture at a Museum
One of the best ways to spend a cold day in Tokyo is by spending the day at one of Tokyo’s many museums. Whether you are into learning more about history, culture or science, there is a museum which will cater to your interests.
If you are wanting to learn more about Japan’s rich culture and history, then you should pay a visit to the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno. If it is science that you are interested in then go to the National Museum of Nature and Science. For art lovers, the best places to go are The National Art Center and Mori Art Museum. Many of these museums also host special exhibitions dedicated to a certain artist or collection of work, so we recommend keeping an eye out on these museums’ official websites to see if there is anything special coming up.
Tokyo also has many family-friendly museums, which are based on popular characters as well as have more interactive elements designed for children. Some of the best choices include the
Ghibli Museum, Anpanman Museum and Kidzania. Unsurprisingly, these types of museums get fairly busy on the weekends and holidays, with ones like the Ghibli Museum having to be booked in advance. It is highly recommended that you buy tickets online and plan your visit to avoid disappointment.
Browse around one of Tokyo's many shopping malls
Everyone knows that Tokyo is full of amazing places to shop. On those cold days where you want to avoid walking around outside, a good option is to go to a shopping mall or department store instead.
Some of the best and biggest in the city include Diver City in Odaiba, Lumine in Shinjuku and PARCO Shibuya. All of these have a good range of designer brands, clothes and toy shops, meaning that there is somewhere for everyone to browse at. Most of them also have food courts and restaurants in addition to other entertainment facilities like games centers so you can easily spend the day, and your money, at one of these complexes.
For tourists visiting Japan, make sure to take advantage of tax-free shopping. To find out more about this, read this article.
Immerse Yourself in the World of Cinema
For another indoor activity, why not consider going to watch a film at the cinema. From the big Hollywood blockbusters to the more independent Japanese films, there are a great range of films to choose from. One thing to note is that most of the blockbusters have a subbed and dubbed version, so for those who want to watch the film in English, make sure that the viewing is a subbed one!
Although you will get a nice experience at any cinema, you could pay that little bit extra and treat yourself by going to one of the more luxury cinemas. Some of the most notable include United Cinemas Aqua City Odaiba, Toho Cinema Roppongi Hills and 109 Cinemas Premium Shinjuku. What is different about such cinemas is that they utilize the newest technologies as well as provide additional services such as a lounge space to make the cinema-going experience that little more exciting and luxurious.
Enjoy one of Japan's Famous Winter Dishes
Japan has a range of great winter warming dishes. One of the most popular dishes people enjoy during the colder months is nabe, a type of hot pot filled with different meats and vegetables. Sumo wrestlers actually eat a lot of chanko nabe, a type of nabe which is more rich in protein and served in massive quantities, as a way to gain weight.
However, most people tend to eat a slightly healthier version of the dish and will actually host nabe parties in their homes where they invite friends and family over to share this relaxing and nourishing dish. If you aren’t able to make a pot of nabe yourself, don’t worry, you can just go to restaurants like Nabezo to enjoy the dish. For those who want to try out a sumo wrestler’s diet, you can visit places like Kappo Yoshiba and Chanko Kuroshio who are famous for serving chanko nabe.
Another famous winter dish is oden, another type of hot pot which is instead filled with ingredients like boiled eggs, daikon, konjac and fishcakes, all served in a soy-flavored dashi broth. Similar to nabe, oden is a comforting and homely sort of dish that many people make themselves at home. There are also a few different oden restaurants around the city including Otako and Kamata. You can even buy hot oden to-go at convenience stores and customize it with your favorite ingredients.
End the day by Unwinding and Destressing at an Onsen
There is no better feeling than stepping into a nice hot bath on a cold winter’s day. Japan is famous for its onsens, a type of hot spring. Going to an onsen is one of the best things to do when you want to relax as the hot water helps to relax your muscles and clear your mind as well as allows you to sleep better.
There is no better feeling than stepping into a nice hot bath on a cold winter’s day. Japan is famous for its onsens, a type of hot spring. Going to an onsen is one of the best things to do when you want to relax as the hot water helps to relax your muscles and clear your mind as well as allows you to sleep better.
Although there are many famous onsen hotels, known as ryokans, around the country, you don’t need to travel far to experience the wonders of an onsen, there are many onsen facilities in Tokyo itself. Some of the most notable ones include Thermae-Yu, a 24 hour onsen complex located in Shinjuku, Niwa No Yu in Nerima and Times Spa Resta in Ikebukuro.
There are few things to be aware of before visiting an onsen, most of them will require you to be fully nude to go in the baths and many do not accept visitors with tattoos. However, there are onsens places out there that do cater for those with tattoos including Hisamatsu-yu in Nerima.
Let us know how you are planning to spend a cold day in Tokyo!
