Top Japan Travel Stays for a Calm, Beautiful Holiday Escape
Japan in winter means powdery slopes, crisp nighttime air, and starry nights under paper lanterns. Forget Tokyo and Osaka—these spots take you off the usual path. Bookmark this guide for your next getaway — each spot earns its place on your itinerary.
Snow-Kissed Sunrises
📍 Kutchan, Hokkaido
Source: Airbnb
Wake up to mountain light spilling through floor-to-ceiling windows before heading out for your first run of the day. After skiing, drop your gear in the heated locker, soak in the tub, and watch snow fall from your sofa with a glass of wine in hand. Here, even the quiet feels cinematic where it’s just you, the snow, and a view that keeps you still. ❄️
Long-Stay Basecamp
📍 Kutchan, Hokkaido
Source: Airbnb
Set on one of Hirafu’s peaceful streets, this townhouse is made for long stays and louder laughs. You’re 10 minutes from the village center and lifts—close enough for night skiing, far enough for calm mornings. Inside, there’s space for everyone to sprawl out, a kitchen built for group dinners, and TV nights with cozy socks and hot hojicha. ☕️
Ramen Runs & Road Trips
📍 Sapporo, Hokkaido
Source: Airbnb
This stay feels like the first stop of a good story—easy highway access, a full kitchen for late-night ramen experiments, and Netflix for cozy nights in. Wake up, pour a hot coffee, and decide between Otaru’s canals or a drive toward Niseko’s slopes. It’s freedom with a roof. 🏡
Rustic Luxe for the Crew
📍 Otaru, Hokkaido
Source: Airbnb
Step out of the cold and warm up in your private barrel sauna, share drinks by the fire pit—steam, reset, repeat. Evenings are for stories around the fire pit, sipping sake under Hokkaido’s quiet sky. Built entirely from local wood, it feels like a secret cabin where luxury meets hush. 🛖
Beachfront Bliss in White
📍 Ishikari, Hokkaido
Source: Airbnb
Here, mornings begin with the sound of waves and a sea of white outside your window. Read by the window, light a fire, or simply let the horizon do the talking. When you’re ready to explore, Sapporo’s food scene is just a short drive away. Fair warning though: you might never want to leave this place. 🌨️
Tatami & Teahouse Strolls
📍 Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Source: Airbnb
Stay in a renovated traditional Japanese machiya, just five minutes away from the teahouse district. Think, tatami floors, a hinoki bath, and sliding doors that open to a quiet garden. You’re just a short walk to Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle, making it the perfect base for exploring on foot. You can even level up your stay by having a private tea ceremony led by a local tea master in this machiya house. 🍵
Let the holiday mood begin—secure your spot early and keep your season stress-free and hair-free. Wink branches will be open until 6PM on December 24 and 31, and closed on December 25 and January 1. Think of it as your quick layover between travels—just enough time to unwind before another year of adventure begins.
