January: Where to Go in Asia
January — best bets
All countries ↓The coolest, driest month on the mainland. Japan is cold, snowy and quiet.
Country by country
| Where | Weather | Crowds | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | Coldest month, sunny in Tokyo · ~10°C; deep snow north | Low (after 4 Jan) | $ cities · $$$ ski | Powder snow, onsen, Fuji views, Zao snow monsters from late Jan · Japan in winter |
| Thailand | Cool & dry · ~33°C | High | $$$ | Andaman beaches, Bangkok, Chiang Mai; Gulf islands drying out |
| Vietnam · north | Cold & grey, drizzle · ~19°C Hanoi; Sa Pa can freeze | Mid | $$ (rising before Tết) | Street food in Hanoi; misty Ha Long Bay |
| Vietnam · centre | Drying out, cool · ~25°C | Low | $ | Quiet Hoi An and Hue — some rain |
| Vietnam · south | Dry & sunny · ~32°C | High | $$ | Phu Quoc & Con Dao, Mui Ne, Mekong Delta, Da Lat |
| Cambodia | Cool & dry · ~32°C | High | $$$ | Angkor at dawn, Battambang, Kampot & Kep |
| Malaysia · west coast | Driest stretch · ~32°C | Mid | $$ | Langkawi, Penang, Malacca |
| Malaysia · east-coast islands | Monsoon — island resorts closed | — | — | Go to the west coast instead |
| Bali & Indonesia | Wettest months · ~30°C | Low (after New Year) | $ | Hotel deals in green Bali |
| Philippines | Dry & breezy · ~30°C | Mid – high | $$ | Palawan, Cebu & Bohol, Siargao, Boracay |
| Taiwan | Coolest · grey north, sunny south · ~19°C | Low | $ | Beitou hot springs, Tainan, Kenting |
Temperatures are typical daytime highs. Price: $ low · $$ normal · $$$ peak, for that place.
Dates to know
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 1–3 Jan | New Year holidays in Japan — trains packed on 2–4 Jan. |
| 9–11 Jan | Three-day weekend in Japan (Coming of Age Day, Mon 11 Jan). |
| Late Jan – Feb | Zao snow monsters at their best. |
| From late Jan | Lunar New Year travel rush begins (New Year: Sat 6 Feb). |
From LAX: Often one of the cheaper times to fly to Asia — between New Year and the Lunar New Year rush in late January. Live departures →
January in short
January is the coolest and driest month across mainland Southeast Asia and the Philippines — and the busiest, so book beaches and Angkor hotels ahead. Northern Vietnam is the exception: grey, damp and chilly.
Japan is cold and quiet after the New Year week, with deep snow in Hokkaido and the Alps and low hotel prices in the cities. Bali is in the middle of its wet season.
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