Winter in Japan sees 15% rise in Indian travellers: Report

Indian travellers are also leaning into Japan’s deep winter culture. Snow-led experiences like skiing, snow villages, wildlife trails, snowy hikes and open-air onsens (hot springs) are rising fast.

According to Cox & Kings, Japan has now become a top winter bucket-list destination with demand rising 15% for December–February departures compared to last year.

Cox & Kings’ traveller insights point to several defining shifts behind the winter surge. Winter illumination season is becoming a major travel driver. From Tokyo Midtown’s Illumination Walk to the famous Nabana no Sato light gardens, Japan's winter lighting festivals, among the world’s most elaborate, are now trending across Indian couples, families and young travellers. These attraction-based evenings are becoming a high-FOMO seasonal experience. 

“Japan in winter has a completely different soul,” said Karan Agarwal, Director, Cox & Kings. “From local food trails to cultural rituals and unhurried neighbourhood days, travellers want depth, and winter is when Japan reveals its most authentic side. Already among the top choices for 2025, Japan’s growing winter appeal now makes it a truly all-season destination”

Data from Cox and Kings shows, advance bookings for next year’s cherry blossom itineraries are already up by 10%, showing that winter demand is not replacing the cherry blossom season, it is expanding the overall Japan travel curve.

As 2026 approaches, Japan continues to dominate Indian bucket lists both for its cherry blossom and a richly layered winter destination.