News Japan Winter Weak Yen

Japan Travel Boom: Weak Yen Makes Winter Trips Exceptional Value

With the yen down sharply against major currencies, winter in Japan offers rare value on hotels, food, transport, and skiing. A rare currency tailwind for travellers.

Why This Northern Winter Is a Great Time to Visit Japan

This northern winter is shaping up as one of the best-value times in years to visit Japan — and the foreign exchange maths is a big part of the story.

The Japanese yen remains historically weak, meaning travellers are getting significantly more yen for their home currency than they did a year ago. One-year moves in key yen crosses highlight just how favourable the shift has been:

• EUR/JPY: +13%

• AUD/JPY: +6.5%

• GBP/JPY: +7.2%

• SGD/JPY: +5.3%

• CAD/JPY: +4.7%

• SEK/JPY: +16%

• MXN/JPY: +10%

• TWD/JPY: +4%

• PLN/JPY: +12%

For travellers, this translates directly into cheaper accommodation, meals, lift passes, transport, and shopping — without Japan needing to discount anything at all.

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What a weaker yen means on the ground

Japan already delivers exceptional quality for the price. A weaker yen simply amplifies that advantage.

Travellers are reporting:

• Four- and five-star hotels at prices that would barely cover mid-range rooms elsewhere

• Restaurant meals — including high-quality sushi, ramen, and izakaya dining — at remarkably low prices in foreign currency terms

• Domestic rail travel and regional flights that feel heavily discounted compared with pre-pandemic norms

For visitors from Australia, Europe, and parts of Asia, Japan currently feels closer to Southeast Asia pricing — but with first-world infrastructure and service.

World-class skiing at bargain FX rates

Winter travellers have an extra reason to pay attention: Japan’s ski season.

Resorts such as Niseko and Hakuba are famous for deep, consistent powder, reliable snowfall, and excellent facilities. This season, the weak yen is making Japan one of the best-value ski destinations globally.

FX benefits show up across:

• Lift passes

• Ski school and guiding

• Equipment hire

• On-mountain food and après-ski

Compared with North America or Europe, total ski trip costs — once currency is factored in — can be dramatically lower, even before considering flight deals.

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Beyond the slopes: winter Japan at its best

Skiing may be the headline, but winter is also one of Japan’s most atmospheric travel seasons.

Highlights include:

• Snow-covered temples and shrines

• Hot springs (onsen) at their absolute best

• Winter festivals, illuminations, and seasonal food

• Crisp, dry weather in cities like Tokyo and Kyoto

With fewer crowds than cherry blossom season and lower prices than peak summer, winter offers a calmer, more authentic experience — now boosted by favourable exchange rates.

A great trip for US travellers — even without big FX moves

While USD/JPY has only edged about 0.5% higher against the yen over the past year, Japan still stands out as a compelling winter destination for American travellers. Prices on the ground in Japan remain structurally low by US standards, particularly for food, local transport, and accommodation quality. Add in reliable winter snowfall, world-class ski resorts, exceptional safety, and some of the best food value of any developed country, and Japan offers experiences that are often cheaper — and markedly better — than comparable trips within the US. For many Americans, the appeal is less about currency gains and more about getting premium travel experiences at prices that feel refreshingly reasonable.

The FX angle: why value may not last forever

Currency cycles don’t stay extreme indefinitely. While the yen remains weak today, any shift in Japanese or global interest-rate expectations could eventually stabilise or reverse the move.

For travellers, that creates a clear window:

• Short-term: Japan is unusually cheap in foreign currency terms

• Medium-term: FX conditions may normalise, lifting costs without prices changing locally

Those locking in accommodation, ski packages, or prepaid expenses now are effectively “hedging” against future currency moves.

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Bottom line

This northern winter ticks a rare combination of boxes for Japan:

• Peak seasonal experiences

• World-class skiing

• Fewer crowds

• And one of the weakest yen environments in decades

For travellers from Australia, Europe, and much of Asia, Japan currently offers outstanding value — and winter may be the perfect time to take advantage before the currency cycle turns again.