Planning a winter trip to Japan, asking on behalf of dad bc he likes driving.
Would anyone recommend these routes, or just too dangerous for early/mid Jan and for inexperienced winter driver?
1. Nagano/Nagoya-Takayama-Shirakawa-Kanazawa (shinhotaka, jigokudani, etc)
2. Sendai-Nikko-Yamadera-Matsushima-Ginzan/Hiraizumi
3. Sapporo-Tomamu-Asahikawa-Otaru (daisetsuzan national park, furano etc)
Any other suggestions for a week+ long driving trip in Japan during January? We have done a self-drive tour for Odawara-Hakone-Fujikawaguchiko in autumn before, and he was really happy we rented a car for that.
If driving isn’t recommended I’ll try to convince him to use public transport, but I’m hoping he gets his drive. Thanks!
3 comments
I wouldnt discourage it, but just make sure you book snow tires (some roads require them) when renting a car, and drive to the conditions.
I’m looking forward for some tips for option 1, but at the start of December. I’m a dad who likes to drive and get off the beaten track, BTW.
Driving in Japan is good idea but I don’t recommend especially in winter. Hokkaido is very snowy and Nagano/Takayama/Tohoku(Sendai) areas are also snowy in winter. You must use winter tires and probably snow chains too.
Most of car rental company offer you winter tire even if you don’t say you need it, however, 3 areas you mentioned are huge snowy area. Some roads are not plowed or simply closed. Hokkaido is especially danger.
So if you want to drive in Japan, avoid east area(including Hokkaido, Tohoku, Hokuriku) of Japan.
West Japan, such as Hiroshima, Shikoku, Kyushu, Okinawa, is good for winter driving, I think. These areas are not snowy. Wait, don’t come to Osaka or Kyoto with a car! Traffic jam is so bad.