Yonago Winter Trip Prep: Kaike Onsen and Mt. Daisen

The short answer: stay at Kaike Onsen and check mountain info ahead

A winter trip to Yonago centres on Kaike Onsen, a seaside hot spring town, and Matsuba crab, caught from early November to March. Kaike Onsen is about 5 km from Yonago Station, about 20 min by local bus, and Mt. Daisen, the highest peak in the Chugoku region, rises beyond its white-sand, pine-lined beach.

Three things to prepare: warm clothes for December–February temperatures, mountain conditions and bus services checked in official information before you go if you plan to visit Daisen, and places that close over the New Year. The standard Yonago itinerary and airport transfers are covered in the posts linked in the last section.

• Full Yonago travel guide →
• Incheon → Yonago flights →

How cold is it? December–February averages

Japan Meteorological Agency normals for Yonago station (1991–2020), rounded, give average highs and lows of about 11°C and 4°C in December, 8°C and 1°C in January, and 9°C and 1°C in February. January's average high of about 8°C is the lowest of the year, and the average low of about 1°C in January and February is also the lowest of the year.

Monthly precipitation is about 146 mm in December, 152 mm in January and 118 mm in February. With daytime highs around 10°C, pack a heavy coat and layers, and a scarf or gloves help you stay warm after a hot spring bath.

These figures are from the city station. Weather in a seaside hot spring town like Kaike Onsen or on a mountain like Daisen can differ, so check the local forecast and official information separately on the day you head into the mountains.

• December: high about 11°C / low about 4°C / precipitation about 146 mm
• January: high about 8°C / low about 1°C / precipitation about 152 mm
• February: high about 9°C / low about 1°C / precipitation about 118 mm

Kaike Onsen: getting there and what to know

Kaike Onsen is a seaside hot spring town about 5 km from Yonago Station: about 20 min by local bus or 15 min by taxi. On local buses only JPY 1,000 notes can be changed, so carry plenty of coins.

You can also go straight from the airport. Airport buses timed to some international flights go via Kaike Onsen (JPY 500) to Yonago Station (JPY 640). They run on set days and periods, so check the official timetable, and remember that if a flight is suspended or cancelled, the bus may not run either.

The spring was found in 1900 when fishermen saw bubbles rising from the sea. The water is a sodium-calcium chloride spring with source temperatures of 63–83°C. Day-bathing fees vary by facility. Check each facility's official information for hours and tattoo rules before you go.

• Yonago Station → Kaike Onsen: about 20 min by local bus, about 15 min by taxi (about 5 km)
• Airport → Kaike Onsen: airport bus timed to some international flights, JPY 500 (check the official timetable for days and periods)
• Room rates change by date, so compare prices on booking sites

Mt. Daisen in winter: views and visits

Mt. Daisen is the highest mountain in the Chugoku region; seen from Yonago, its gentle slopes resemble Mt. Fuji, earning it the name "Hoki Fuji." You don't have to climb it to enjoy it: you can see Daisen from Kaike Onsen's beach or from the Yonago Castle ruins. The castle ruins are about 20 min on foot from JR Yonago Station, and Daisen lies to the east from the keep site at about 90 m.

Daisen-ji Temple is about 50 min by bus from Yonago Station; get off at the Daisen-ji stop. Entry is JPY 300 for adults and JPY 200 for children, including the Reihokaku treasure hall, but Reihokaku is open only from 1 April to 30 November and closed December–March. An approach of natural stone paving about 700 m long leads up to Ogamiyama Shrine Okumiya. Check official information for winter bus services and the condition of the approach before you go.

Plan any hike with extra care. A round trip to Misen (1,709 m) takes about 3–5 hours, and the highest peak, Kengamine (1,729 m), is off limits because it has been at risk of collapse since an earthquake in 2000. Always check official information for winter mountain conditions and the latest trail updates, and keep in mind that the weather on the mountain can differ from the city.

What to eat in winter: Matsuba crab and red snow crab

Matsuba crab, the adult male snow crab, is caught in the Sea of Japan from early November to March and is Tottori's signature winter food. Tottori Prefecture lands more crab than any other in Japan, and boiling is the most popular way to eat it. The female, seko-gani, is smaller and cheaper.

Sakaiminato lands more red snow crab (beni-zuwai crab) than any other port in Japan, and it comes in from September to July. Sakaiminato is about 45 min from Yonago Station on the JR Sakai Line; taxis are scarce there at night, so book ahead if you plan to travel late.

New Year closures and winter hours

If you travel over the New Year, note that the International Tourist Information Center on the 1st floor of JR Yonago Station (9:00–17:30) is closed on 31 December and 1 January. It handles luggage storage and bike rental, so plan another option for those two days.

Matsue Castle and the Mizuki Shigeru Museum are listed as open every day. Matsue Castle's hours from October to March are 8:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30), so it closes earlier in winter than from April to September. The Mizuki Shigeru Museum is open 9:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30). For New Year hours at other facilities and restaurants, check official information before you go.

• Tourist information center: closed 31 December and 1 January
• Reihokaku treasure hall at Daisen-ji: closed December–March
• Airport buses: may not run if a flight is suspended or cancelled
• Airport taxis: book ahead (bookings may not be possible at busy times or early in the morning)
• Entry to Japan: check the Japanese government's official information before you travel

Winter budget and further reading

Hot spring accommodation is the biggest part of a winter Yonago budget, so compare prices by date on booking sites. Transport costs include JPY 640 for the airport bus to Yonago Station and JPY 150 per Dandan Bus ride; if you'll take many buses, look at the Tottori-han Norihodai Tegata, which covers local buses in Tottori Prefecture, the Yonago Station–airport bus and the Dandan Bus, among others, for JPY 1,800 over 3 days (JR trains are not included).

According to a Japan Tourism Agency survey (2025), foreign leisure travellers visiting Tottori Prefecture spent an average of about JPY 43,000 per person per visit (excluding travel between prefectures). This is the average for all of Tottori Prefecture, not just this city. Actual costs vary widely with itinerary and accommodation.

The posts below cover the standard Yonago itinerary, airport transfers, a castles-and-shrines route, winter onsen in other cities and year-end trip planning.

• How Many Days in Yonago? A 3-Day Route and Transport →
• Yonago Kitaro Airport (YGJ) to the City →
• Castles and Shrines from Yonago: Matsue and Daisen →
• Yonago vs Okayama: Which for a First Trip? →
• Where Should You Go for a Winter Onsen Trip in Japan? →
• Planning a year-end or winter-break trip — where to go and what to do first →

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