Snow Country Literary Walk

The novel Snow Country was set in Yuzawa town and the author, Yasunari Kawabata spent time in the town while he was writing. Influences for the novel are all around if you know where to look, and to help you out there is a handy leaflet to guide you round the main sites of interest.

The leaflet and map can normally be found in the Information Center just outside the West Exit of Echigo-Yuzawa station and there is even the guide map for the walking route located on a billboard just outside. The walk doesn't take too long and there are plenty of points of interest along the way that are carefully explained in the leaflet.

Yuzawa Town History Museum, Takizawa Koen Park, Takahan and Suwa Shrine are all stops on the walk. The leaflet on its own is an interesting read, with bits of history and culture scattered through its pages but for the full experience, the walk is highly recommended, especially if you are reading/have read the book.