Cold Picks for Winter in Asia 2020

Asia isn’t just beaches and cocktails. For the adventurous traveler – and especially for the skier – the slopes of Central Asia and northern stretches of East Asia and Siberia provide picturesque winter getaways for every type of traveler. Pack warm and get ready for the top five cold winter holiday destinations for 2020.

TOHOKU

Tohoku is Japan’s travel secret. It’s expansive, it’s diverse, and it’s a way to experience rural Japan without a fuss. Among other things, Tohoku is sparsely populated because of the harsh seasons, winter especially – but that need not be a bad thing. These prefectures allow travelers to get a great shot at both the culture and the slopes. Starting off in Tokyo, visitors can take the high-speed rail and be in Oirase with their skis before they know they’ve left. From there travelers have their choice of Iwate Snow Festival, the Samurai stronghold of Kakunodate, the onsens of Yamagata, and the natural beauty of Urabandai.

Oh, and the snow monsters – did we not mention the snow monsters? The most Instagrammable sight in the whole of Tohoku is likely to be the “snow monsters,” a result of the fast, harsh onset of winter in

Tohoku. The trees are covered in an odd, heavy snow that turns the mountains into what looks like an abstract art exhibition. The best place to see the snow monsters and get some of the best skiing in Tohoku is at Mount Zao. In the summer, it’s the site of hiking, but when the tough winter comes along, those hills belong to the skiers. For even more mobility, hop on a snowmobile and go snow monster hunting.

“With the varied terrain – coastlines, mountains, volcanos, fields, lakes – there is so much to do and see in Tohoku. It is also very seasonal so there is something special to do in each of the six prefectures every season. There’s a road called Sakura Dream Road with 88-viewing spots to see cherry blossoms. There’s also a “sushi city” – a small city that has the highest density of sushi restaurants in all of Japan. There’s also a little hot spring town called Ginzan Onsen that is pedestrian-only with quaint old buildings that is simply magical when it snows. I think Tohoku is the perfect place for people who want to do, see, and eat a lot - and be far away from the crowds.”

— Travel expert Trinity Nguyen

WHERE TO STAY

Because the area of Tohoku is less developed than other regions of Japan, you won’t find a Ritz or an Aman nearby, but the accommodations can still be pretty plush. Zao Onsen, for example, from the eponymous Mount Zao, is an excellent stop for skiers. The rural surroundings are a great chance for visitors to get acquainted with the concept of a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn. Two of particular note that should be on every Tohoku traveler’s list are Kakunodate Sanso Wabizakura and Onsen Ryokan Harataki.

LAKE BAIKAL

For the adventure traveler, this is the first place that comes to mind when considering winter in Asia. Both beautiful and brutal, traveling to Siberia at any time of winter is no easy feat, but considering the wealth of activities available at Lake Baikal, it’s well worth the arduous journey.

First off, let’s discuss the obvious: It’s cold in Siberia in winter. It’s really cold – prohibitively cold. Late December and early January are when you’ll find Baikal at its most frigid, but it’s also when travelers can really steer into experiences like dog-sledding, driving on the ice, and tearing around on snowmobiles.

You could take all the water in all the Great Lakes in the United States and Canada and dump them into Lake Baikal, and it wouldn’t even come close. This is the largest lake on planet Earth by volume, containing more than 20 percent of all the freshwater in the world. The opportunities for adventure on the lake are endless, from doing donuts in a Russian army van and hovercraft to – and this really is adventure – diving into its frozen depths.

But there’s more than adventure too. Lake Baikal’s isolated location has made it a hotbed of culture that has survived both the Soviets and the harsh winters. The Old Believers, for example, are colorful and interesting examples of Russian heritage in Siberia – and they can really hold their vodka.

“As culturally significant as it is scenically dramatic, Baikal’s shores and islands are considered hallowed places by those who call it home. [...] In the years following the Soviet collapse, the Buryat traditions practiced in secret under Soviet rule began to reemerge. The Buryats inhabit the southern tip of the region around Lake Baikal, having migrated there from Mongolia thousands of years ago.”

— Remote Lands co-founder and COO Jay Tindall

WHERE TO STAY

This isn’t Singapore or Hong Kong. This land can be harsh. Still, there are a few accomodations worth a mention. After staying at the confluence of the Angara River and Lake Baikal at the Legend of Baikal hotel for a rest, travelers will no doubt be making their way to the famed Olkhon Island to set out on all manner of adventure; here visitors will find the Baikal View Hotel to be a surprisingly comfortable option. For those who want to journey on the other side of the lake for something more remote, there are the Mergen Bator Hotel and Hotel Baikal Plaza in Ulan Ude.

KYRGYSTAN

In summer and spring, Kyrgyzstan has been called the “Switzerland of Asia” – with admittedly fewer cuckoo clocks. In winter, this Central Asian highland takes on a more severe personality, but it’s no less photogenic, especially during skiing season from December to March.

When it comes to offthe-beaten-track, you can’t get much less beaten than Kyrgyzstan; that said, most will land in Bishkek and make a beeline for Karakol. There are, however, a few more ski spots worth a stop. Most importantly, visitors will want to stop off at Chon- Kemin Valley. At 6,500 feet to 11,000 feet above sea level, the area is filled with stunning slopes and conifer forests.

On the long drive to Karakol, travelers will no doubt be keen for a look at Issyk Kul Lake. It might be a bit icy for hiking, but the right guide will get you to some of the best views in the country along the northern reaches of Issyk Kul Lake. Despite the severe cold, this lake does not freeze over in winter and maintains a pleasant blue for that postcard-perfect Instagram.

The skiing in Karakol is not oversold. It’s isolated with plenty of off-piste options and unbeatable scenery, and the powder is, put simply, perfect. Travelers come from all over the world for the isolation of Karakol, but there are a few things nearby worth seeing, including the Tian Shan mountains at Ala-kul Lake and the hot springs of Altyn- Arashan.

In the summer, visitors here can either ride horses into the Ala-Too Terskey mountains, or else walk, using the horses as pack animals. In winter, intrepid skiers from Austria, Switzerland, and France have slowly been making their way here, enticed by the country’s first “freeride” skiing program, where horses take skiers and their gear up into the mountains, and then leave them to plunge downhill on their own.

— Travel writer Dave Stamboulis

WHERE TO STAY

The thing that makes Kyrgyzstan such an off-the-beaten-track destination is the same thing that contributes to its lack of travel infrastructure. And while it is improving every year, outside of Bishkek, travelers may have to rough it – sort of. It may not be the Ritz, but the Green Yard in Karakol is an excellent place to relax before and after the slopes. Similar options abound throughout the country, but the more adventurous traveler to somewhere like At Bashy may opt for a private yurt despite the cold; after all, getting a little rustic with a nice warm kumis in your hand is what Kyrgyzstan is all about.

LADAKH

Just because Ladakh gets cold is no reason to have it on a “top picks” list for a cold winter journey. In fact, much of Ladakh is snowed-in, impassable, and unpleasant during the winter months. But there is one very special reason to head to Ladakh when everyone else leaves: the snow leopard.

This location during winter is for serious travelers. What the journey lacks in amenities and comfort, it more than makes up for with exclusivity. The snow leopard is the most elusive of the big cats: quiet, careful, and extremely rare. A Remote Lands journey to the Himalayas of Ladakh is the single best chance anyone could have of seeing a snow leopard in the wild.

However, before heading off into the wild for a chance at snow leopards, travelers are encouraged to take some time to acclimate to the 11,400 feet in Leh. It’s cold, but worth it, as travelers can take in sights like the Thiksey Monastery.

Ullay will be the main base for snow leopard watching, and it can be done in comfort, considering the harsh weather outside. Ullay has seven houses and the prime area for snow leopard watching. Also, travelers should be warned to keep an eye out for the other wildlife that frequents this area of ladakh, including the ibex, bharal, and the adorable pallas cat.

“Quiet is vital, especially if we think [a snow leopard] is close by. You need a lot of patience, as we might stay for two to four hours in one place. [...] Even without a [snow leopard] sighting, guests still come back happy after seeing the other animals. [The guides] have been out on that terrain since childhood, seeing it all […], they know where and how to look; sometimes we are still gazing at a distant rock and they have already spotted a leopard. It’s because they’ve lived on that land.”

— Rahul Sharma of RVentures Holidays

WHERE TO STAY

In Leh, travelers will be spoiled for choice, but the most luxurious option is likely the Stok Heritage Palace. In the warmer months, travelers can make their home with The Ultimate Travelling Camps of Thiskey and Duskit, but those keen to lay eyes on the shyest big cat in the animal kingdom will want the Snow Leopard Lodge; originally the personal homestay of Tchewang Norbu, this surprisingly comfortable lodge was repurposed for tourism as a conservation tool, putting money directly into the local community.

SEOUL

Get to Gangnam and cuddle up with some K-Pop in Korea’s capital of Seoul for an East Asia adventure in an oft-overlooked big-city destination. Seoul is a special mix of culture, class, and good taste (both literally and figuratively) with plenty of natural beauty.

Seoul has a dining scene second to none. Pop over to Ryunique south of the Han River for imaginative, hybrid cuisine or get into molecular gastronomy with Chef Jungsik Yim at Jungsik Dang. For something a little more traditional, don’t forget to try out Chef Kwon’s Kwon Sook Soo restaurant for a taste of two Michelin stars.

However, what makes Seoul especially good destination in winter is the city’s proximity and easy access to some excellent skiing, namely at Yongpyong. You may have heard of Yongpyong due to a little shindig they put on a few years ago called the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. For those of us a little further down the skill level than an olympic athlete, Yongpyong caters to a wide array of talents and has amenities to boot.

For families, too, South Korea is a hotbed of fun activities during the cold East Asia winter, from K-Pop classes to art galleries.

“Seoul is unique in that it has not one, or even two palaces, but five former royal complexes, all located in the city center. It is also unique in that it has a cutting edge central business district that stops dead right where these palaces start, with the nearby Bukhansan National Park towering above both. Five palaces, five adventures.”

— Writer Ronan O’Connell

WHERE TO STAY

The list of luxury hotels in Seoul is long, but there are a few that stand out. The Conrad Seoul, boasting an impressive indoor pool with a view for those cold winter nights, is a Remote Lands favorite for its reliable class and sophistication. For something a little more scenic, Banyan Tree Club and Spa is found at the base of Mount Namsan and still manages to be convenient to most Seoul sights. The Four Seasons is a middle ground between nature and city chic, and the Le Meridien will be a treat for design fans. The (relative) new kid on the block is the Shilla Seoul, a promising hotel that recently garnered the Forbes 5-star list distinction. In Yongpyong, the choice is simple: Yongpyong Resort.