[dederick]

Yes, winters can be long feel a lot colder than elsewhere, but I also agree there are some nice advantages. Definitely try skiing or snowboarding. It's not as expensive as you might think. Plenty of used equipment available. And if you can ski on a weekday, you'll have the slopes practically to yourself. By the way, do you like fish? If you are a sashimi or "yaki-zakana" (grilled fish) fan, then you will love winters because you will not get fresher fish anywhere. Drink it with the local "sake", preferably a "ginjo" grade and chilled.