Deep winter with a promise in it. The snow festivals peak, and by the end of the month the first plum blossoms open in Tokyo.
Weather
Still cold: Tokyo 3-11°C, Hokkaido well below freezing. Snow on the Japan Sea side is at its deepest.
What's on
The Sapporo Snow Festival runs in early February; Otaru's snow-light path glows the same week. Setsubun on February 3 throws beans at demons in temples nationwide.
Where to go
Hokkaido, obviously. Jigokudani's snow monkeys near Nagano soak all month. Atami and Yushima Tenjin open the plum season late in the month.
On the table
Oysters from Hiroshima, miso ramen in Sapporo, amazake at festival stalls.
