At my first visit to Japan, I decided to go in January. As a Japan lover, I already knew how winter in Japan would be like but sometimes reality is still a little different.
First, there a few things that makes the winter in Japan a bit uncomfortable. It is mainly the lack of a central heating system and the thin windows that can make things very nasty. Don't ruin your stay and instead prepare yourself.
Pack Adequately
This is the first step and the most important. You should be prepared for little rain, strong snow, and windy cold weather. In Japan, especially Tokyo you will feel a little colder than it seems because of the ocean breeze. You should have a Windbreaker Coat, Scarf, gloves and warm underwear. Specially important are socks. With this you are all set.
Make use of the Bathing Tub
All Japanese homes and hotels have bathtubs. Relaxing in the bathtub for 30 minutes can completely revitalize you. If you want to experiment something new and more Japanese like, you can grab your stuff and go to the closest Onsen or Sento.
Get a Kotatsu
This is a classic way of spending those cold days at home. The Kotatsu is a small table that has a sort of coverlet and a heater build in. You can get simple ones for $150. All you do is switch the Kotatsu on, sit down and enjoy the gentle warmness. Just be careful to not touch the heater or you will burn yourself.
By DryPot - Own work, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12441049
Discover all Warm soups
A great option for the home is Nabe or hot pot. If you are in a hotel or just don't want to cook, you can go out and discover the vast array of soups Japanese restaurants have to offer. Be careful because most soups are so delicious the moment it touches your tongue, you become addicted. The soups are not expensive and they will fill you. My favorite soup is Ramen but you don't have to eat soups. These restaurants offer all sort of other Japanese foods like Katsudon, Gyudon,Tamago kake gohan for $5 to $10.
Learn how to use you AirCon
The Air Conditioner (エアコン) will be your best friend. Air Conditioners which are called "Ea Kon (エアコン)" in Japanese don't just cool you down they can also heat your home. Look closely at the remote and search for this Kanji "暖房". The kanji reads "danbou" or heating.
I hope this helps and enjoy your time in Japan. If you have your own experiences and tips about winter in Japan, please share them with us on our Google Plus page