Annie's Excursions

It’s peak winter in Hokkaido right now! Japan gets pretty hot (and humid) in the summer, but also gets pretty cold in the winter. Winter in Japan means snow piles up fast in the north, and falls in the southern areas too. As someone who’s survived 3 Hokkaido winters now, I think I’m pretty qualified to give some advice. (Edit: It would seem I already wrote a Winter in Japan post, but no matter, it doesn’t hurt to boost the winter Japan tips. Apologies for the duplicate content!)

1. Kairo (カイロ): These are the most standard type of hand warmers, and can be literally found everywhere you shop. They typically come in two types, stick-on, or non-stick. Most kairo are activated by shaking, and then they heat up. They retain their heat by further shaking, or sticking them in a pocket. There are also some that go in shoes. Kairo are disposable and cheap per hand warmer, but if you are willing to make an investment purchase in exchange for reducing waste, consider buying an electric hand warmer. Most also double as a spare chargeable battery!
2. Heaters: Historically, Hokkaido has not had terrible heat waves, so most houses don’t come with air conditioner. Where the summer is incredibly hot in southern Japan, air conditioners double as heaters, but can eat at your electricity bill. Instead, to heat up our houses in the north, most places use kerosene heaters. Either take a giant tank with you to the gas station, or have gas station come to your place to fill up the tank. This gas tank should be connected to a heater in the main living space. Avoid leaving it on overnight, as carbon monoxide poisoning is a common phenomenon. Make sure there is ventilation during the daytime as well. For places the heat doesn’t radiate, consider getting a smaller electric space heater. To insulate heat in your home, consider using bubble wrap to patch up any empty spaces in your window.
3. Clothing: Bundle up in layers! Outside is super cold, but once you go inside, it gets warm real fast. Uniqlo’s Heattech series, and GU’s line as well, is very famous and effective for keeping your insides warm. Wear snow boots or shoes with grip, as snow tends to melt and harden into ice, which is pretty dangerous. If your shoes have no grip but you don’t want to buy entirely new ones, many sports shops and convenience stores sell snow spikes to latch onto your shoes for winter. These really saved my life!
4. Furnishing: The most famous and must-have for winter in Japan ia a kotatsu. A kotatsu is an electrically heated table that comes with a blanket wrapped around the sides. Beware of the kotatsu: the warmth under the table is apparently addicting, and will suck you in, making you not want to leave. If a kotatsu isn’t realistic for you, you can get the equivalent of Heattech for your bedroom. I really like Nitori’s Warm series, especially the fluffy bedsheet and pillow case!
5. Moisture: Japanese winters are dry, especially running a heater that really gets rid of the moisture. Apply lotion daily, and consider investing in a humidifier for your home to run alongside the heater.
6. Driving: Before the snow starts accumulating, change your car tires to thicker, winter tires to drive across snow and icy roads. Watch out for snow piling overnight; you’ll need to use a wiper to get rid of the snow on top and on the windows. Worst case, you might need to be shoveling snow around the car or in the entryway.
7. Walking: As mentioned before, be careful of where you walk! Take slow steps, and pay attention to the ground for icy patches. If it’s actively snowing, consider bringing an umbrella along to get the snow out of your vision.

A list of recommended DON’Ts:

1. DON’T walk with your hands in your pockets.
2. DON’T step outside wet.
3. DON’T leave the kerosene heater on overnight.
4. DON’T walk in snow with normal sneakers.
5. DON’T go out in a snowstorm if you can help it.