Hi,
We have now booked our tickets, we arrive Haneda Airport the morning of the 16 December (and shall spend two nights in Yokohama to start with (like it there! Also want to see the big buddha again))and we leave on the morning of Sunday 6 January ex Haneda Airport so, we have three weeks in all.
1) Since booking our ticket a friend who has been to Japan (I don't know if it was in winter - but she taught for a couple of years in Korea) has said that we will need special shoes and special clothes, is that correct? If so, what shoes etc - we do live in London UK, which, apart from maybe 1 or 2 days a year, doesn't have snow (and when it does, we slip and slide around worrying about falling etc! Although they don't grit/ salt the pavements and roads here as they do elsewhere). For cold days here in the UK, we do have ordinary winter coats, scarves, hats, stockings,socks and thick warm track suit pants and trainers. Winters are usually around 3C to 5C at worst here, can be in the minuses for a couple of weeks if a cold year.
2) We did want to take in Wakayama Province in particular: and maybe Takayama and Kanezawa for just a day or two - have been to Takeyama (want to go back for the good special on hida beef!!)and Kanezawa before. What worries me about Takeyama, for example, is that precipitation is about 40% (Japan guide).

Just to put you in perspective, we have done the usual route of Tokyo, Matsumota, Takeyama, Kanezawa, Kyoto and Nara and Himeji, Hiroshima and Miyajima, then back to Yokohama and Tokyo in 3 weeks the last time in Japan last year in Oct/ November.
3) We are mainly concerned about too much snow cover, and the wind factor: I mean, when looking at temperatures for Japan, it all seems fairly manageable, but then I google more and it seems that the wind chill factor can often make things uncomfortable.
So, my question is do we ditch Wakayama Province which was intended to be a pretty big focus: will that also be very snowy and wet over this time: anyone have any experience to relate)?
If so, where should we go to try and enjoy a relatively warm and dry holiday (w don't mind rain, it's snow that we are worried about)
Thanks for all help.

Looking at the Wakayama tourist guide winter looks like a safe bet. With the weather, you pay your money and take your chance.
https://en.visitwakayama.jp/plan-you...yama-climates/
Last March our plans to hike Kunisaki were severely curtailed by rain, we still had a great time though. You just have to stay flexible.

Since you've covered a lot Honshu I'd think heading south to Kyushu makes sense.
I don't know about backtracking as Takayama may have snow and Kanazawa has a better chance to be colder, and you've been there.
Just brainstorming perhaps a ferry from Wakayama to Shikoku, Matsuyama for Dogo Onsen, Then on to Beppu, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kagoshima.
Hida beef is good but it seems every prefecture has its claim to fame, Hyogo/Kobe, Bungo, Saga beef all are pretty good.
Also if you like Yokohama you might consider a stay in Kobe, we really enjoyed this city.

One other tip about winter wear. When we were in Tokyo we visited the Montbell store and picked up some good deals on "smartwool" which is fine merino that you can layer.
A few layers with a vest and good windbreaker/rainwear really works and is fairly light and easy to pack
These garments can be expensive but Japan seems to have good deals as we met some Aussie tourists at the store saying the prices were better than Australia where much of the merino comes from.
Good solid walking shoes should be fine.
Check some of the trip reports here as there are a few winter trips that are interesting
Your trip sounds good, I'm looking forward to hearing about it as I've wanted to travel to Japan over the winter months.
Hope you have a great time

Thanks Kalihiwai2, some great ideas there - has Kyushu got the lovely cuisine that Honshu has?

patriciatbrogan,
I think the regional cuisine specialties are one of the big attractions we have for Japan travel.
We still talk about our near disaster table cooking mountain vegetables with a magnolia leaf at a small place in Takayama, the crisis was averted, meal enjoyed.
Kyushu has an abundance of local produce, meat and seafood and each area boast its own specialties.
Hakata Ramen, Kurobuta Pork, Champon and others too numerous to mention here but quickly accessible by the google machine.
In Japan I use tablelog
https://tabelog.com/en/
Here are some links I've saved for our my own future travel
Itoshima Kakigoya ? Oyster Hut Guide | Fukuoka Now
Fukuoka Now has other good links for travel /events
Also overview...
https://japan-magazine.jnto.go.jp/en...yushufood.html

Yum, food sounds great there - BUT the problem is travelling around Kyushu, I think public transport is limited. also, I am told Kyushu is cold at mid-winter.

I guess it depends on where you would want to go. Here's a map of the major train lines; I'm sure there are buses....
https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1108.html

Well, it is winter in the northern hemisphere!
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2273.html

You can expect snow in Takayama and Kanazawa. Be prepared to walk in snow and slush a couple of inches deep. Think boots, waterproof hiking shoes.

In Kanazawa you will see yukitsuri in practice. They tie up tree branches so that they can support the snow, otherwise the weight of the snow (and ice, I suppose) will break the branches
Yukitsuri (protection for tree?s branch from snow) | Kanazawa Travel.com

Wakayama weather would be better if you want to try to avoid snow.

I enjoyed the two weeks I spent on Kyushu. The trains are newer and more luxurious than on Honshu. While it is true that the trains do not go to Mt. Aso, if you are interested in that area, there are indeed buses, as kja had said. In fact, I was about to pick up my rental car in Kumamoto to head to Mt. Aso, and I met a couple who had just come back from Mt. Aso via the bus.

The food on Kyushu is amazing. For example, I enjoyed the mizutaki (hot pot) in Fukuoka. I took a day trip north from Fukuoka to Kitakyushu, and the regional dishes there are blow fish and cheese ramen. Nagasaki has interesting dishes as well, as there have been Chinese and Dutch settlements there that have influenced the cooking. If you have already been to Honshu, why not experience a different island this time?

Cold is relative. Kyushu will be cold in winter relative to summer. Kyushu winter will be milder than in other parts of Japan. Lots of places to visit in Kyushu by rail and also by bus.

The japan-guide page that I linked in above has some statistics that anchor this point in numbers.

In my time in Kyushu, the coldest it got was a few degrees above freezing. You could find some snow in the mountains though, and if you are considering driving to the mountains (like Aso) there could be ice and slippery pavements to worry about.
You don't need "special" clothing in Japan, unless you are really going up north or the mountains. Korea generally gets it worse than the southern half of Japan.
You didn't mention which Big Buddha you want to see again. Since you say Yokohama, I presume you mean Kōtoku-in in Kamakura. If that's your interest, there is also the Ushiku Great Buddha (120m tall) in nearby Ibaraki north of Tokyo.

The food in Kyushu is indeed excellent. The people in Fukuoka are quite proud of the tonkotsu ramen and mentaiko, and the chanpon and saraudon in Nagasaki are something amazing. There are some non-traditional favorites as well like yaki-curry in Kitakyushu, and in Sasebo there is the Sasebo burger.

If you want warmer weather though, there is nothing stopping you from going to Okinawa and the Yaeyama Islands. Other seasons would be better of course but you can still enjoy a lot, and see the Ryukyu side of Japan which is quite unique.



Ishigaki Island

You can also fly there dirt cheap on low cost carriers like Peach or Jet Star. Or use ANA's Experience Japan Fare.

No worries about snow there at all.

Thanks to everyone - I must say I am leaning towards Wakayama Prefecture (Kii area) and the Kumano trail, I may do it partly by bus and partly walking - can one do that. Must one book hotels in advance - any thoughts?
In the end the Kyushu cuisine sounds a bit too exotic for me.
Although we have done an itinerary in Honshu, we, by no means have done it comprehensively.