Come winter, Japan will transform into a magnificent winter wonderland. This opens up a multitude of possibilities for people who love winter sports. Not only can they ski to their heart’s content while admiring picturesque snow-capped landscapes, they can also ride on snow mobiles and try out snowboarding. For those of you who are not that sporty, fret not. Japan still has lots to offer you, with options spanning the whole gamut from onsens to snow festivals to awe-inspiring attractions. Here are four awesome ways you can enjoy snow in Japan.

Skiing Snowy Japan is a paradise for ski enthusiasts because it boasts the kind of feather-light powdery snow that will gently break your fall rather than with a painful thud. Many prefectures are heavenly for skiing: Hokkaido, Niigata, Yamagata, Shizuoka, Nagano, among others. They have gorgeous ski resorts that come with their own unique selling points. Some of them allow for night skiing, which is great for die-hard skiing fanatics who want to pack as much skiing as they can into a trip. For travellers who would prefer a relaxing ski-spa combination, they can turn to other resorts that are strategically located near onsens where they can soak away their fatigue after a full day of skiing. Or if breathtaking panoramic scenery is what knocks your socks off, Japan will more than fulfill your expectations; it will blow your mind away with some arresting sights! Imagine skiing with the majestic, world-renowned Mount Fuji in the background. Or skiing amongst juhyo (樹氷 ice-frosted trees) that evoke a surreally mystical feel. Just how cool is that?! Whatever your preferences, you are sure to find a resort that is the best fit for your needs.

Snow festivals Held at three sites for a week in February, Sapporo Snow Festival attracts both domestic and international tourists alike to partake in its festivities. Rows of snow statues in all shapes and sizes will be prominently displayed, transforming Odori Park into a lively spectacle. Be sure to visit this park at night too, for this is when the statues will be illuminated, dazzling the starry night with all their splendour. Not forgetting the ice sculptures displayed at the Susukino Site. Have fun spotting Hokkaido’s delicacies such as salmon and crabs frozen inside the ice!

If you wish to experience a slice of local culture, you will be intrigued by Yokote Kamakura Festival in Akita prefecture. Here, adorable Akita children will stand in front of 100 ‘kamakura’ (snow huts) and invite you in Akita dialect to step inside one of them to drink some sweet fermented rice brew, eat mochi (rice cakes) and worship the water gods. Apparently, rooted in a custom of returning New Year decorations to the gods by burning them, this festival is a longstanding tradition that has been held for about 400 years! So feel a compelling sense of history as you pay respect to the altar set up inside the kamakura.

Tourist attractions There are many places that you should check out during winter time. Tottori Sand Dunes - incidentally, the only sand dunes in the whole of Japan - is already an impressive sight with wide stretches of sand overlooking the sky-blue sea in summer, but its sublime combination of sand and snow in winter enhances its aesthetic appeal.

And of course, you should not miss out on the World Heritage-listed Shirakawa-go in Gifu prefecture. Comprising gassho-zukuri (constructed like 'hands in prayer') houses that have steep thatched roofs to withstand heavy snowfall in winter, Shirakawa-go is an idyllic snow-covered landscape that yields you many Instagram-worthy photos!

Last but not least, animal lovers ought to make a beeline to Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park in Nagano prefecture, where they can revel in the sight of wild macaques bathing in its piping hot waters. Watching these monkeys taking a dip is strangely cathartic and will melt all your worries away!

Onsens Sitting in a rotenburo (outdoor bath) and watching snow fall in front of you will definitely be cherished as a wonderful experience that will make you feel like you are in a hidden gem. When I visited, Yubara Onsen in Okayama prefecture was one such hidden gem. The rotenburo, which was incredibly FREE for both men and ladies (at different times), was surrounded by a fence that inspired everyone there to use had towels around them, so there was no feeling of embarrassment. I read books the whole time I was dipping in the rotenburo!

Many people are apprehensive of Japan's notoriously harsh winters. However, on the flip side, there are many winter food festivals, watch the snow dance and soak up exclusive winter sights. Indeed, Japan is the perfect place to enjoy winter to the fullest!