Agoda highlights five lesser-known winter destinations across Asia - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

Winter travel in Asia extends far beyond the established ski resorts of Japan and South Korea. Digital travel platform Agoda has identified five destinations where visitors can experience distinctive winter landscapes, seasonal festivals and local traditions away from the region’s most heavily promoted holiday centres. The selection spans Japan, South Korea, India, China and Vietnam, highlighting the geographical diversity of winter tourism across the continent.

The destinations offer very different experiences. Some, such as Japan’s Zao Onsen and India’s Gulmarg, combine mountain scenery with skiing and other winter sports. Others are primarily attractive for their landscapes, cultural traditions or seasonal events. China’s Kanas region is known for its remote alpine environment, while South Korea’s Taebaek celebrates winter with elaborate snow sculptures and outdoor activities.

For travellers interested in exploring less familiar parts of Asia, these destinations provide alternatives to conventional winter holidays. However, their conditions vary considerably. Reliable snowfall, seasonal accessibility and the availability of tourism services differ between locations, making advance planning particularly important. In northern Vietnam, for example, snow is an occasional weather phenomenon rather than a predictable feature of the winter season.

Snow monsters, festivals and Himalayan skiing

Zao Onsen, Japan

Located in Yamagata Prefecture in northern Japan, Zao Onsen is known for its unusual winter phenomenon called juhyo, or snow monsters. These formations develop when freezing winds coat trees with layers of ice and snow, gradually transforming the forest into a landscape of towering white shapes.

The formations are particularly striking when illuminated after dark. Zao Onsen also offers skiing and traditional Japanese hot springs, allowing visitors to combine outdoor activities with the region’s bathing culture.

Taebaek, South Korea

In South Korea’s mountainous Gangwon region, Taebaek attracts winter visitors with its annual snow festival, traditionally held in late January. The event features large snow and ice sculptures, sledding activities and other seasonal attractions.

The surrounding mountains provide opportunities for winter hiking and outdoor recreation. Compared with the country's internationally recognised ski destinations, Taebaek offers a different perspective on Korean winter tourism, with a stronger emphasis on seasonal celebrations and mountain landscapes.

Gulmarg, India

Gulmarg, in the Kashmir region of northern India, is among Asia’s most distinctive high-altitude winter sports destinations. Its mountain cable car provides access to extensive snow-covered terrain, attracting skiers interested in the Himalayan environment.

The destination combines winter sports with the cultural atmosphere of Kashmir’s mountain communities. Its altitude, mountain weather and potential avalanche hazards require careful planning, particularly for visitors considering skiing beyond managed slopes.

Frozen landscapes and rare snowfall

Kanas, China

In the Altai Mountains of northwestern China, the Kanas region offers a remote winter landscape of forests, snow-covered settlements and a glacial lake. Located in northern Xinjiang, the area is also associated with the cultural traditions of local Tuvan communities.

During winter, the region takes on a markedly different character from its summer tourism season. Snow-covered wooden buildings, frozen waterways and the surrounding mountains create opportunities for landscape photography and nature-focused travel.

The remote location and severe winter conditions mean that transport arrangements and access to accommodation require particular attention.

Sapa, Vietnam

Northern Vietnam’s Sapa provides a contrasting winter experience. Situated in the Hoàng Liên Son mountains, the region is better known for its terraced landscapes, mountain villages and trekking opportunities than for conventional winter sports.

During particularly cold spells, frost and occasional snowfall can appear at higher elevations, transforming the surrounding landscape. Snow is not guaranteed, however, and visitors should regard it as a possible seasonal attraction rather than the main reason for travelling.

Sapa’s mountain markets and local cultural traditions remain central to its appeal throughout the cooler months.

For travel planners, Agoda’s selection illustrates how winter tourism in Asia can extend beyond skiing to include cultural festivals, mountain communities, hot springs and nature experiences. The five destinations also demonstrate the importance of distinguishing between established snow destinations and places where winter conditions are less predictable.

While the platform presents these locations as alternatives to major winter resorts, their accessibility and tourism infrastructure vary widely. Travellers considering the more remote regions should therefore check seasonal transport, weather conditions and local arrangements before finalising their itineraries.

Image Credit: AI generated illustration