TikTok Japan WhatsApp

December · January · February

Lights, snow and matcha: TikTok’s winter

Winter is Kansai’s secret season: fewer people, night illuminations and, with luck, snowy Kyoto. Snowy temple videos are among the most searched.

Book on WhatsAppTikTok special price: 30,000 ¥ 38,000 ¥

December · January · February

Snowy Kyoto

The shot
The Golden Pavilion or Kiyomizu under snow: winter’s most wanted shot.
When to go
The morning after snowfall; it does not snow every year.
Guide’s tip
I watch the forecast with you and, if it snows, we switch the route that morning.
Fushimi Inari at dusk

Fushimi Inari at dusk

The shot
The torii lit by lanterns, almost empty.
When to go
Late afternoon: in winter it gets dark early.
Guide’s tip
Wrap up warm: it is much colder higher up.
Osaka lit up

Osaka lit up

The shot
Winter illuminations and Osaka Castle at night.
When to go
December evenings; I’ll confirm each year’s dates.
Guide’s tip
Finish in Dōtonbori with fresh takoyaki: the perfect food video.
Arashiyama without crowds

Arashiyama without crowds

The shot
The bamboo in silence, without the autumn crowds.
When to go
In the morning; winter light is soft all day.
Guide’s tip
The best time of year to film the bamboo empty: make the most of it.

Matcha in Uji

The shot
Hot matcha in Uji, the home of Japanese tea.
When to go
Any winter day, ideally a weekday.
Guide’s tip
Matcha is scarce and trending: I take you to real tea houses.
Nara in winter

Nara in winter

The shot
The deer in their winter coats in front of Tōdai-ji.
When to go
In the morning, when the park is quiet.
Guide’s tip
Buy deer crackers and keep them hidden: if the deer see them, they surround you.

Hidden gems across Japan · Winter

What people save… and almost nobody visits

Gardens, flowers and landscapes from all over Japan that show up in saved videos, not on the usual tours.

  1. Ashikaga Flower Park illumination

    Tochigi · late October to February

    Why people save it
    Millions of lights imitating the park’s wisteria, reflected in the pond.
    Getting there
    About 2 hours from Tokyo by train; it has its own station (Ashikaga Flower Park). Go at dusk.

  2. Ōarai’s torii on the rocks

    Ibaraki · all year, best at a winter sunrise

    Why people save it
    A torii on a rock amid Pacific waves, with the sun rising behind it.
    Getting there
    Pair it with Hitachi Seaside Park, about 20–30 minutes away. Cold winter air gives the clearest sunrises.

  3. Atami plum garden

    Shizuoka (Atami) · January to early March

    Why people save it
    Plum trees in bloom — among the earliest in Japan — in a valley with a waterfall and bridges.
    Getting there
    Shinkansen from Tokyo in about 40–50 minutes. Pair it with an onsen.

  4. Ginzan Onsen

    Yamagata · December to February

    Why people save it
    Wooden ryokan, snow and gas lamps along a river: the village from all the winter videos.
    Getting there
    Evening access for non-guests is usually restricted: stay overnight or go by day. Check before going.

  5. Nabana no Sato

    Mie (Kuwana) · illumination from autumn to spring

    Why people save it
    A 200-metre tunnel of lights and whole landscapes made of LEDs.
    Getting there
    About 2 hours from Osaka via Nagoya. Go at dusk to see the light change.

  6. Shirakawa-go lit up

    Gifu · a few days in January and February

    Why people save it
    Thatched-roof houses under snow, lit up at night.
    Getting there
    Only a few nights a year and by prior reservation: plan months ahead.

  7. Zaō’s “snow monsters”

    Yamagata · January and February

    Why people save it
    Ice-covered trees that look like creatures: the juhyō.
    Getting there
    Ropeway from Zaō Onsen; dress very warmly, it is bitterly cold at the top.

  8. Kawazu-zakura

    Shizuoka (Izu Peninsula) · February and early March

    Why people save it
    The year’s first cherry blossoms, deep pink, by a river lined with yellow rapeseed.
    Getting there
    Train from Atami. Sakura in February: perfect if you can’t come in April.

  9. Kitano Tenmangū plum blossoms

    Kyoto · February and March

    Why people save it
    Around 1,500 plum trees in bloom around a shrine, before the cherries.
    Getting there
    Bus from Kyoto Station. Pair it with the nearby Golden Pavilion.
I’ll help you fit it into your trip

In Kansai I guide you myself; elsewhere I help with the plan and connect you with guides from our team.

WhatsApp

Other seasons

AutumnNovember · early December 30,000 ¥ SpringLate March · early April 30,000 ¥

Questions

Will you film the videos for me?

I help with angles and timing, and film the shots you appear in on your phone. Editing and posting are up to you.

What does the special price include?

The guiding: about 4 hours of private guide for your group. Tickets, transport and meals are paid separately.

Can we add other places?

Yes. The route adapts to what you want to film. For a full day, I’ll give you the price when you book.

Is there halal food on the route?

Yes. I can plan the route with halal food stops and places to pray.