Kifune Shrine, also known as the inner parlor of Kyoto, is located in a valley between Mount Kibune and Mount Kurama and has served as a religious landmark since times of yore.

It's also well-known as a spiritual healing spot where one can visit to get blessings from the god of marriage and relationships.

When snow blankets the long stone stairwell leading to the shrine and the stone lamps by its sides, visitors often feel like they're being directed toward a wholly different and mystical world with each step they take.

In 2023, from January 7th to February 26th, on weekends and public holidays, the area was illuminated from sunset until 8 PM, limited to days with accumulated snow (Details for 2024 are pending).

For easy access to Kifune Shrine, visitors can conveniently take the bus from Eizan Electric Railway's "Kibune-guchi Station".

Ine is a fishing village right on the Sea of Japan. It is sometimes also called Funaya, or ‘boat house’, because the rows of houses standing right at the edge of the sea make it seem as if the town is floating.

On snowy days, the sight becomes even more fantasy-like and is something unlikely to be quickly forgotten. Boat houses, the traditional house structures of this area, are built with garages on the first floor for fishing boats to dock.

The second floor is used as a normal living space. During the winter season, try out the area's famous "Ine Buri" shabu shabu hot pot to truly bask in the local vibe.

Ine City can be reached by bus from Miyazu Station on the Kyoto Tango Railway, which is directly connected to both Osaka and Kyoto.

Amanohashidate can be found in Kyoto's Miyazu City and is known as one of the three best views of Japan. The beautifully sculpted natural landscape was formed by the ebb and flow of the tide over thousands of years.

More than 5,000 pine trees adorn this stretch of sandy beach measuring 3.6 kilometers (about 2.2 miles) long and between 20 to 170 meters (about 65 feet to 558 feet) wide.

Because it looks like a bridge leading into the sky, it was given the name Amanohashidate, which literally means "sky bridge".

The snowy makeover of the landscape during winter portrays a silvery world and makes the bridge look almost like a carefully calculated art painting rather than the haphazard natural formation it is. It takes about 50 minutes to walk the entire length of Amanohashidate. On bicycle, this goes down to about 20 minutes.

The place is accessible from Miyazu Station on the Kyoto Tango Railway, and bicycles can be rented from the station if desired.

At the northern tip of Shiga Prefecture is Lake Yogo, a beautiful lake surrounded by luxuriant mountains with broad-leaved trees like beech and Mongolian oak to the east, south, and west. This mystical lake that has inspired the legend of celestial maidens perfectly reflects the landscape around it on windless days. The mirror-like view is captivating enough to draw in any onlooker, and this lake is thus well-known among visitors as the Mirror Lake and even Japan's Uyuni Salt Flats.

During winter, waterfowls fly to the lake and the entire place turns into a wintry wonderland of silver hues. Smelt-fishing, a winter-exclusive activity, is available for visitors to try as well, a simple activity that's easy enough even for beginners to enjoy!

Lake Yogo is within walking distance from Yogo Station on the JR Hokuriku Main Line.

Planted along the 2.4 kilometers (about 1.5 miles) stretch of road that leads from Makino Pic-Land to Makino Highland in Shiga Prefecture's Takashima City are about 500 metasequoia trees that change appearances along with the seasons.

Going down this path allows you to enjoy summer foliage, autumn leaves, and other lovely seasonal scenes at different times of the year. In wintertime, when snow accumulates on the branches of the trees here, the trees themselves start to look like ephemeral snow flowers that only bloom in winter.

This road is recognized by many as a lover's sanctuary, and simply being at the place can make you feel like the main character of an epic film because of its sheer magnificence - something that can only be experienced during deep winter, when snowfall becomes more regular.

The road can be reached within 10 minutes if you hop a bus from Makino Station on the JR Line.

Lake Biwa is the largest lake in Japan, and the torii, or temple gate that floats on it can be found near Takashima City, northwest of Shiga Prefecture. The torii gate belongs to Shirahige Shrine, which was established around 1,900 years ago and serves as the main shrine to the other Shirahige undershrines that can be found throughout Japan. Behind the torii is Okinoshima, the largest island in the lake.

Admiring the large torii gate against the backdrop of a clear winter sky is something many visitors love to do, and local residents hold this amazing scene dear to their hearts as well. It's also definitely worth your while to come here to personally watch the sun sink behind the horizon at this quaint and exotic spot.

This place can be reached in about 5 minutes by taxi from the Omi-Takashima Station on the JR Lines.

Happiness Corridors Nararurie is a fantastical illuminated path leading to the three major shrines of Nara Park (Kasuga Shrine, Kōfuku Shrine, and Tōdai Shrine) is typically held around mid-February.

Traditionally, during the period, special nighttime viewings (between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m.) are available at each shrine and temple. Here, picturesque scenery studded with glittering lapis lazuli wait to draw you into a dreamlike world as it beautifies the chilly landscape of Nara during winter.

The Shiawase Kairo Nara Ruri-e event, connecting Nara Park's three major shrines and temples—Kasuga Taisha, Kofukuji, and Todaiji—with an enchanting corridor of light, are held from February 8th to 14th, 2024. During this period, visitors can enjoy special nighttime visits to each shrine and temple, immersing themselves in the beautiful world of Ruri-e paintings and adding vibrant colors to the cold winter of Nara.

Nara Ruri-e
・Kasuganocho, Nara-shi, Nara (Nara Park area)
・Nearest Stations: Kintetsu Nara Station, JR Nara Station
・Phone: 0742-20-0214
・Duration: Feb 8th (Thu) to 14th (Wed), 2024. Times vary.
・Check official website (https://rurie.jp/) for details.

Kikusei literally means "to scoop the stars", and is a fitting name for the platform on Mount Maya where you can enjoy the electrifying night view of Kobe City from up high. Standing here, it almost feels like you could reach out and grasp those stars scattered about from Kobe City towards the direction of Osaka City indeed. This is a night view that shouldn't be missed!

If you happen to be visiting during the day, get ready for a wide panoramic view of Kobe all the way to the faraway Kii Peninsula. The sight of the sun slowly setting over the horizon as the lights in Kobe City start turning on is quite something to behold as well. Winter is an especially good time to check out the scenery here because the air will be clearer and crisper than usual.

Kikusei Platform is within immediate walking distance from Hoshino Station on the Maya cable car.

Mount Minoh is the site of Japan's oldest place of ascetic training, and the Minoh Falls found therein is part of the training package. This is also where you can come into contact with plenty of greenery just about 30 minutes away from Osaka.

Minoh Falls are also listed as one of Japan's top 100 waterfalls and there are plenty of lovely sights to catch here as well as in nearby Ryōan Temple. The waterfall path that goes from Minoh Station to Minoh Waterfall is about 2.7 kilometers (about 1.6 miles) long and lined with souvenir shops selling deep-fried maple snacks and cafes operating out of historic buildings, amongst other commercial spaces.

Although Minoh Falls is probably better known for its impressive fall foliage, its winter makeover is worth a visit as well. As the slim trees and branches become blanketed by white snow, the entire place feels like an ink painting that has come to life on its own. A must-visit spot in any Osaka winter.

Shirahama City in Wakayama Prefecture is where a natural hot spring has gushed for more than 1,350 years. As such, you can find plenty of bath-related facilities such as hot spring places, sea baths, the theme park Adventure World and others - all of which are very popular among locals and foreign visitors alike.

Despite that, the scenic Engetsu Island is probably the most iconic sight Nanki Shirahama is known for around the world. In fact, it's also included in a list of Japan's 100 best sunset spots.

This naturally-formed island has a round shape tunnel (sea cave) through its middle that is especially captivating when the sinking sun peeks out from it. This charm is further enhanced during winter due to a calmer sea surface than usual. Winter is also the best time to scout for grouper cuisine here.

As you can see, Kansai is a region with many faces - from vast seas to towering mountains, historic shrines, the largest lake in Japan, and more!

Which of the scenic spots in this list is your favorite so far? There are fantasy-like sceneries, romantic places, and magnificent natural landscapes for you to choose from - all places that are better personally experienced than admired in a photograph.

One thing's for sure: You'll never have to worry about not having something to see and do in Kansai!

English translation by: Huimin Pan
*This article was updated in November 2023.