Savor Japan’s Delicious Local Cuisines in the Winter
With four distinct seasons, Japan offers a variety of tasty foods depending on the season you are visiting. During the wintertime, from December to February, try the various seasonal seafood options or savory simmered dishes that warm your bodies. Here are great ideas to make your winter trip especially memorable: tasting a range of seasonal winter delicacies in Hokkaido, exploring the lively food stalls in Fukuoka and experiencing Japanese culture through regional cuisine in Akita.
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Winter is the season for delicious seafood, such as crab and sea urchin caught off the coast of Hokkaido. Visit the market in Sapporo bustling with fresh produce and experience the energetic atmosphere in the early morning hours.
At the market, be sure to try the exceptionally fresh “kaisen-don” seafood rice bowl and sushi. Every restaurant features special kaisen-don that are filling and satisfying for the heart and body on a winter day.
Otaru’s Sakaimachi Street is a popular shopping area with delicious sweets and foods. Enjoy strolling along the retro architecture decked with snow.
Fukuoka’s Nakasu area comes alive in the evening with around 100 food stalls. One of the charms of food stalls is that tourists are also welcome to casually drop by, providing the opportunity to try many local gourmet foods.
“Oden” is a winter staple of food stall cuisine, a hot pot simmering daikon radish, boiled eggs and other ingredients in a broth. Let the delicate soup warm your chilled body.
Hakata ramen, “yakitori” grilled chicken, beer... enjoy the time pondering about what to eat. Hop from one stall to another and find your favorite!
Honba Odate Kiritanpo is a delicious local cuisine of Akita, one of the top producers of rice in Japan. Try your hand at making “kiritanpo” by mashing cooked rice and spreading the paste over a skewer, which is ready to be grilled over a fire. Explore the food culture and the wonderful flavor of rice.
Enjoying hot pot dishes during the cold months is a tradition in Japan. Kiritanpo is a favorite ingredient for hot pot in Akita, so be sure to taste this local winter specialty.
Workshops require reservations in advance.
“Magewappa” is a traditional woodcraft of Akita, in which cedar is bent to create boxes. Create your very own box as a souvenir for your trip. The gentle aroma of cedar adds a soothing touch.
Spots introduced this time
- Spot name
- Odate Kiritanpo Association
Odate Cultural Activity Promotion Committee - Address
- 13-19, Sannomaru, Odate-shi, Akita
Area information
Hokkaido
Hokkaido offers a host of winter events, including the penguin snow stroll at Otaru Aquarium and the Sapporo Snow Festival featuring intricate snow and ice sculptures. The famous Sapporo Clock Tower appears dreamlike when covered in snow. Enjoy the many aspects of Hokkaido in the wintertime, not just the food!
Why choose ANA?
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Save with special value fares
ANA Discover JAPAN Fare
Weekday flights are a great deal!
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Haneda to New Chitose
Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
Make the most of your travel time.
Shorten your travel time by flying.
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Convenient access to all parts of Japan
Extensive network
ANA flies to over 50 domestic airports
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Save when purchasing fares early
ANA SUPER VALUE Fare
Reserve early for deals!
-
Haneda to New Chitose
Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
Make the most of your travel time.
Shorten your travel time by flying.
-
Convenient access to all parts of Japan
Extensive network
ANA flies to over 50 domestic airports
Special Discounted Fares
-
Tokyo
(Haneda) Sapporo
(New Chitose) -
Osaka
(Itami) Sapporo
(New Chitose)
How to get Special Discounted Fares
ANA Discover JAPAN Fare is a special discounted fare that is available for tourists visiting from outside of Japan.
If available, discounted fares will be displayed on screen that is entered from the “Search” buttons.
How to get Special Discounted Fares
If available, discounted fares will be displayed on screen that is entered from the “Search” buttons.
Fukuoka
Fukuoka has so much to offer, from the cuisine to sightseeing and hot springs. The popular “tonkotsu” pork bone broth ramen has many variations depending on the region and restaurant and is highly recommended. For hot springs, visit the Nansuikaku Inn in Wakita, a hot spring town featuring nine different types of baths.
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©Fukuoka Prefecture Tourism Association
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©Fukuoka Prefecture Tourism Association
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Why choose ANA?
-
Save with special value fares
ANA Discover JAPAN Fare
Weekday flights are a great deal!
-
Haneda to Fukuoka
Approximately 2 hours
Make the most of your travel time.
Shorten your travel time by flying.
-
Convenient access to all parts of Japan
Extensive network
ANA flies to over 50 domestic airports
-
Save when purchasing fares early
ANA SUPER VALUE Fare
Reserve early for deals!
-
Haneda to Fukuoka
Approximately 2 hours
Make the most of your travel time.
Shorten your travel time by flying.
-
Convenient access to all parts of Japan
Extensive network
ANA flies to over 50 domestic airports
Special Discounted Fares
-
Tokyo
(Haneda) Fukuoka -
Osaka
(Itami) Fukuoka -
Okinawa
(Naha) Fukuoka - Saga, Fukuoka and Kitakyushu airports employ a multi-airport system.
How to get Special Discounted Fares
ANA Discover JAPAN Fare is a special discounted fare that is available for tourists visiting from outside of Japan.
If available, discounted fares will be displayed on screen that is entered from the “Search” buttons.
How to get Special Discounted Fares
If available, discounted fares will be displayed on screen that is entered from the “Search” buttons.
Akita
Akita is a destination where you can experience traditional Japanese attractions. Enjoy events like sampling “mochi” rice cakes and “amazake” sweet sake in a “kamakura” igloo or play with adorable Akita Inu dogs. For active travelers, we recommend the Tazawako Ski Resort, which overlooks the beautiful view of Lake Tazawa.
Why choose ANA?
-
Save with special value fares
ANA Discover JAPAN Fare
Weekday flights are a great deal!
-
Haneda to Akita
Approximately 1 hour 10 minutes
Make the most of your travel time.
Shorten your travel time by flying.
-
Convenient access to all parts of Japan
Extensive network
ANA flies to over 50 domestic airports
-
Save when purchasing fares early
ANA SUPER VALUE Fare
Reserve early for deals!
-
Haneda to Akita
Approximately 1 hour 10 minutes
Make the most of your travel time.
Shorten your travel time by flying.
-
Convenient access to all parts of Japan
Extensive network
ANA flies to over 50 domestic airports
Special Discounted Fares
-
Tokyo
(Haneda) Odate Noshiro -
Tokyo
(Haneda) Akita -
Osaka
(Itami) Akita
How to get Special Discounted Fares
ANA Discover JAPAN Fare is a special discounted fare that is available for tourists visiting from outside of Japan.
If available, discounted fares will be displayed on screen that is entered from the “Search” buttons.
How to get Special Discounted Fares
If available, discounted fares will be displayed on screen that is entered from the “Search” buttons.
