Best Snow Boots & Ice Grips in Japan 2026: 7 Picks

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Winter in Sapporo, Otaru, Niseko or Shirakawa-go means packed snow, slush and, worst of all, つるつる路面, shiny icy pavement.

In Sapporo, the ウインターライフ推進協議会, Winter Life Promotion Council, reports figures from the 札幌市消防局, Sapporo City Fire Bureau: in the winter of 2024 to 2025, 1,813 people were taken to hospital by ambulance after falling on winter roads between December and March. That was the highest number on record. People in their 70s were the largest group.

This guide is only about footwear for snow, ice. It explains the three types, what to check, then 7 products sold in Japan with prices on 11 November 2026. There is no ranking, and we did not test them. For clothes and packing, see our Japan winter survival guide. For warm feet, see our Japanese socks guide, plus our kairo hand warmer guide. Going skiing? Ski boots are a different topic: see our skiing in Japan guide.

Boots, winter shoes, strap-on grips

There are three main ways to walk on snow, ice in Japan. Sapporo’s winter road council says clearly that no shoe grips on every surface, あらゆる路面に対応できる、滑らない靴はありません. It also says ordinary sneakers and leather soles are not suitable for snowy roads.

※ Based on the shoe advice of ウインターライフ推進協議会, tsurutsuru.jp.

Which sole works on ice?

The same council lists four kinds of winter soles:

Soles wear down, so check them every winter.

Check before you buy

Japanese shoe sizes in centimetres

Size 24.5 means a shoe for about a 24.5 cm foot. Measure your foot from heel to longest toe before you travel, then compare it with each maker’s size table.

5 boots, winter shoes

Two snow boots from a Hokkaido maker, a tall boot from an outdoor brand, then two winter shoes. Facts come from the makers’ own pages.

1. ミツウマ スノーブーツ SB-603 (Mitsuuma Snow Boots)

Mitsuuma is a boot maker based in Otaru, Hokkaido. The SB-603 is a new model that follows the popular SB-857. The maker’s shop says it has a セラミック底, a ceramic sole, that is hard to slip on. Inside is soft boa lining. You can fold down the top to wear it as a short boot. Its own shop page suggests one size up from your usual sneaker size.

2. ミツウマ スノーブーツ SB-601 (Mitsuuma Snow Boots)

Another new Mitsuuma boot, this time with a glass fibre plus rubber sole, ガラス繊維底, which the maker says is hard to slip on. It has a padded 中綿 lining for warmth and comes with a storage bag. The shop page says to choose the same size as your sneakers, so the fit is different from SB-603.

3. コロンビア イエローテイル アイスマジック ウォータープルーフ (Columbia Yellowtail Ice-Magic WP)

A tall winter boot from Columbia’s Japanese online shop, model YU1393. Its outsole is called オムニグリップアイス, Omni-Grip Ice. Columbia says it is a synthetic-fibre compound that grips on snow plus frozen roads. It uses a waterproof fabric with a waterproof film, a gold reflective lining called オムニヒートインフィニティ, Omni-Heat Infinity, and an inside zip.

4. ムーンスター SUPPLIST SPLT FGM108 (Moonstar winter shoe, men’s)

Moonstar is an old Japanese shoe maker. Its SUPPLIST winter shoes look like casual sneakers. The sole is called ファンクショングリップ, Function Grip, with rubber containing glass particles, fibres. Moonstar says you can walk comfortably even on ice, wet marble, a useful point for shiny station floors. It is a wide 4E fit. No warmth rating is given.

5. ムーンスター SUPPLIST SPLT FGL105 (Moonstar winter shoe, women’s)

The women’s version, in オールブラック, all black, with the same ファンクショングリップ sole with glass in the rubber, the same 4 cm, 4 hour waterproof claim, and a wide 4E fit. At about 300 g per shoe it is the lightest footwear in this guide.

2 strap-on ice grips, all 7 compared

Strap-on grips, 靴用滑り止め or 簡易スパイク, fit over shoes you already have. Sapporo’s winter road council explains that most are held on by rubber bands, Velcro, either over the toe, つま先型, or over the whole sole, 全面型, with metal pins or without.

6. モンベル チェーンスパイク (montbell Chain Spike)

A chain-type grip from montbell, the Japanese outdoor brand. A stretchy elastomer band holds a stainless steel chain with spikes under the whole sole. The maker says it follows the shoe as it bends. montbell says the spikes, 爪, must point outwards, and that it is a simple crampon, 簡易アイゼン, not for real snow mountain climbing. It comes with a stuff bag. Some shoe shapes may not fit, even inside the size range.

7. コロンブス ハンディユキダス タウン (Columbus Handy Yukidasu Town)

A light, metal-free grip for town walking from Columbus, a Japanese shoe-care company. Rubber bands hook over the toe, the heel; the tread pattern underneath grips snow, ice. One free size fits 22 to 28 cm shoes. Columbus says to use it only on snow, icy roads, because it can slip on hard surfaces, and that long use on bare pavement harms the grip. Take it off before you take off your shoes.

All 7 at a glance

※ Prices at the makers’ own online shops, Mitsuuma via its Rakuten shop, shipping not included. Features as stated by the makers.

Walking on ice, tax-free

How to walk on ice

Good shoes help, but how you walk matters too. These tips come from the Sapporo winter road site of ウインターライフ推進協議会:

The same site notes that people with bags in both hands need to be extra careful, so a backpack that keeps your hands free can help.

Where it is most slippery

The council lists these danger spots: pedestrian crossings, where the white lines get a thin film of ice; the edges of heated pavement, ロードヒーティング; exits from subway stations, underground malls; pavements where cars drive in, like parking lots; bus stops, taxi stands; plus tiled entrances of shops, malls, where melted snow makes tiles very slick.

Sand boxes 砂箱

In Sapporo you will see 砂箱, sand boxes, at large intersections, crossings. The council says anyone may use the sand: scatter it on a slippery spot, then put the empty bag in the bin at the box.

Can I buy boots tax-free?

Since 1 November 2026, Japan uses a refund method. According to the Japan Tourism Agency, 観光庁, you pay the full price with tax, and the tax comes back after customs confirms the goods when you leave Japan. You need to spend at least ¥5,000 before tax in one shop on one day, show your passport, then do the customs check before you check in your bags. If one item on a receipt cannot be confirmed, nothing on that receipt is refunded.

Boots you plan to wear in Japan may not fit these rules; we could not confirm how worn items are treated, so ask the shop first. Read more in our Japan tax-free shopping guide.

Frequently asked questions

Are strap-on grips enough, or do I need snow boots?

Grips are cheap and fit over your own shoes, but add no warmth and must come off indoors. Snow boots add warmth, a taller shaft, built-in grip. Sapporo’s winter road council says no shoe grips on every surface, so walk carefully either way.

How do Japanese shoe sizes work?

Sizes are in centimetres, based on foot length, such as 24.5 cm. Some boots use S to XL. Mitsuuma’s shop suggests one size up for SB-603, your usual size for SB-601. Try shoes on with thick socks.

Are these boots fully waterproof?

Most Japanese makers here state 4 cm for 4 hours: water up to 4 cm deep, in a test. Columbia’s boot uses a waterproof fabric with a film.

Can I wear spikes in the subway, in shops?

Take them off first. Sapporo’s winter road council says metal-pin grips become slippery indoors, also on tiles. We found no official rule for trains, but removing them is the safe choice.

Can I use chain spikes for hiking?

montbell says its チェーンスパイク is a simple crampon, 簡易アイゼン, not for real snow mountain climbing.

The short version

Do not walk on Japanese ice in city sneakers. For long days in snow, a snow boot with an anti-slip sole such as ミツウマ SB-603, SB-601, plus Columbia’s イエローテイル アイスマジック keeps you warm with grip built in. For city walking, Moonstar’s SUPPLIST winter shoes have glass in the rubber. For a cheap fix over your own shoes, there are strap-on grips like montbell’s チェーンスパイク or the metal-free ハンディユキダス タウン; take them off before going indoors. Sizes are in cm, so try them on with thick socks. Then walk with small steps, flat feet, eyes on the ground.

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