Asia January Travel Guide Map

Sapporo

Snow festival city with ramen and beer

7.7

Planners laid out this city on a grid in the 1870s. Odori Park began as a firebreak. Crews start building giant snow sculptures in the park in late January for the February Snow Festival. Miso ramen was created here in the 1950s. Winter brings about 5 meters of snow.

Highlights:

⏰ Visit the historic Sapporo Clock Tower landmark
🌳 Stroll through Odori Park, Sapporo’s central green space
🌄 Enjoy panoramic city views from Mount Moiwa Observatory

Sri Lanka

Ancient cities, tea hills and surf beaches

7.3

Salt air and the scent of cinnamon drift along the southern coast, where January is dry and sunny. Blue whales feed off Mirissa from November to April. King Kashyapa built a palace on top of Sigiriya, a rock about 200 meters high, in the 5th century. Trains wind through tea hills between Kandy and Ella.

Highlights:

🚂 Take a scenic train ride through the tea plantations to Ella
🐘 Spot elephants on safari in Minneriya National Park
🪨 Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress and admire its ancient frescoes

Hokkaido

Volcanoes, powder snow and fresh seafood

9.3

Bathers soak in outdoor hot springs, called onsen, while snow falls around them. Niseko is known for light powder snow and ski runs open at night. Drift ice arrives along the Okhotsk coast from late January. Highs stay below freezing, so warm layers matter. Soup curry is a local dish that warms cold evenings.

Highlights:

🚤 Explore historic Otaru Canal and its shops
🏂 Ski or snowboard in world-famous Niseko resorts
💧 Visit the spectacular Shirogane Blue Pond

Hakuba

Alpine ski valley beneath the Japan Alps

7.9

The valley sits in the Northern Japan Alps of Nagano Prefecture and gets deep snow every winter. Happo One hosted Olympic downhill races in 1998. Several ski areas share one valley lift pass. January is cold and the powder is dry. Outdoor hot springs wait after the ski day.

Highlights:

🏟️ Visit Hakuba Olympic Ski Jumping Stadium and museum
♨️ Relax in natural hot springs after outdoor adventures
🎿 Ski or snowboard on world-class Hakuba slopes

Maldives

Coral atolls, lagoons and overwater villas

9.2

January falls in the dry season with sunny days and calm seas. About 1,190 coral islands form 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean. Water stays near 28 degrees Celsius. Snorkelers find reef sharks, turtles and bright fish close to resort beaches. Many resorts sit on islands reached by boat or seaplane.

Highlights:

🌌 Watch a glowing beach at night on Vaadhoo Island
🦈 Snorkel with reef sharks and manta rays at Hanifaru Bay
🏝️ Stay in an overwater villa surrounded by turquoise lagoon

Cambodia

Angkor temples, riverside cities and quiet coast

7.1

Angkor Wat, built in the early 1100s, has five towers that glow at sunrise. Ta Prohm nearby is wrapped in huge tree roots. Banteay Srei has pink sandstone carvings. January is cool and dry with highs near 30 degrees Celsius. That makes long days of temple walking easier.

Highlights:

🚤 Cruise along Tonlé Sap Lake and visit floating villages
🌿 Explore the jungle-covered ruins of Ta Prohm Temple
🌅 Watch sunrise over the ancient temples of Angkor Wat

India

Palaces, temples, backwaters and Himalayan peaks

7.5

The Taj Mahal, finished around 1653, glows soft white in the winter sun and is closed on Fridays. Morning fog can hide it in January, so late morning visits work well. Goa and Kerala are dry and warm. Jaipur Literature Festival draws writers in late January.

Highlights:

🛶 Sail on the serene backwaters of Kerala
🛺 Take a colorful rickshaw ride through Old Delhi’s lanes
🌅 Watch sunrise over the majestic Taj Mahal

Best destinations to visit in January in Asia