Hot Air Balloon at Joetsu Kokusai - May 3-6

We're all about getting a new perspective on things, and this Golden Week Joetsu Kokusai are giving you the opportunity to see the surrounding area in a way you probably haven't before. They have a hot air balloon and can send you up into the clouds to get a great view of the valley and surrounding mountains.

It's an awesome experience and the views are stunning - check out the video for a bit of a taster.

There is plenty more to keep the whole family amused. As well as the great facilities of the hotel there, the Joetsu Kokusai Playland will also be open, and if you are yearning for the snow they also have a snow play area with sledging and snowmobiles to enjoy.

Echigo Yuzawa Universal Walk - 26/27 May

Now spring is officially here there is no excuse to stay indoors. Warm temperatures, beautiful scenery and fun activities should all be encouraging you to head into the great outdoors.

Coming up on the weekend of the 26th & 27th May is the 3rd Echigo Yuzawa Universal Walk. Encouraging active lifestyles, nordic walking and open to people of all ages and abilities this two day event takes in some of the best parts of Yuzawa. Meeting each morning at 10am at the Chuo Koen there are different routes for each day and a choice of courses depending on how fit you are feeling. The short course is 7kms and the longer courses are 17 & 15km.

It's a great way to meet the locals, get some exercise and see some of the best sights of Yuzawa, both cultural and natural.

Tokamachi Kimono Matsuri - May 3

Here is one festival that you do not want to miss out on. And as it falls during Golden Week you have no excuses. The Tokamachi Kimono Festival is one of the highlights of the year in Snow Country and one of the most colorful festivals you are likely to visit.

The whole town gets involved and everywhere you look there are locals dressed in kimono. There are rental kimono available if you would like to join the fun.

Back in the day, the towns in Snow Country were all but cut off by the heavy snow and to pass away the long hours of a dark winter many an idle hand was turned to weaving. The kimono material of Tokamachi has long been famous and was much prized by the city folk. When spring came and the roads were finally passable the merchants would rush up to this region to purchase the handiwork of the housebound winter months. This festival at the beginning of spring captures the spirit of those times and celebrates Tokamachi's kimono heritage.

The kimono's on display around town and being worn out in the street are breathtaking. Everywhere you turn you are greeted with colorful designs and there are plenty of other attractions going on during the day as well.

More details and some more photos can be found on the Tokamachi Tourism page (Japanese).

Kayaking in Yuzawa

It's getting warm in Snow Country. The snow is melting and the cherry blossoms aren't too far away. With spring here everybody wants to head outside to enjoy the weather. All over the region there is a wealth of activities to keep you occupied in the coming months that let you enjoy the beauty of the surrounding nature.

We've mentioned Minakami before as a great location to enjoy adventure sports, but Yuzawa too has its fair share of outdoor activities and kayaking is a great choice. It is easy to learn, lots of fun and great exercise. You'll go somewhere you don't normally go and see the landscape from a different perspective. It is also a great activity for the family to enjoy together.

Over at Daigenta Lake you can take part in a great day of kayaking with professional instruction, safety gear and a stunning lunch from the Italian restaurant, Taverna Vicini. There is plenty more to do over that way too so it is easy to spend a few days there. For the full nature experience you can take advantage of the camp ground and sleep underneath the stars.

Gunma Welcome Card

As part of the Visit Gunma campaign there is a coupon book available which also acts as a handy guide to the hot spots of the prefecture. It aims to enhance your experience of travelling in Gunma and is not only packed with the sights you should see but other useful information such as handy phrases, useful contact numbers and transportation information. There is also a great guide map inside the back cover that helps you get your bearings.

The main sections are broken up by region and then by Experience, Gourmet, Souvenir and Stay with most places offering a special or free gift to bearers of the coupon book. For those coming to Snow Country there are plenty of offers in the Minakami and Sarugakyo areas. If you are heading up this way you should really slip one of these into your pocket and reap the benefits.

For more info you can email the Visit Gunma office.

Yuzawa Flower Festival - April 29th

The end of the month is a long weekend here so no excuses not to get away and do something. Sunday 29th April is the Yuzawa Flower Festival and provides the perfect venue for those looking for a great day out. The weather is getting warmer around here and the cherry blossom trees are starting to bud. That weekend should be prime cherry blossom viewing time in this area. The Flower Festival takes place in Chuo Park in Yuzawa which has an abundance of trees that will hopefully be in bloom.

As well as enjoying the beauty of the cherry blossoms this is a chance to meet with the locals and celebrate the coming of spring. After a particularly heavy winter everyone in Snow Country is happy to see the flowers coming back and the weather getting warmer. There will be games on offer at the festival, presents for the children, food and drink, plenty of flowers of various types, dance performances and plenty of other attractions.

The opening ceremony kicks off at 10.30am, and as long as the weather cooperates it promises to be a fantastic day.

Norn Flower Garden

Spring sees the return of color to Snow Country. It doesn't take long for the plants and flowers to recover after several months under meters of snow. As soon as it melts everything quickly starts to grow again. There are several places in Snow Country that have amazing spring blooms and one of the best is the Norn Flower Garden.

The garden is open from April 28th to May 20th and during that time there are hundreds of thousands of daffodils in bloom. It is quite an impressive site and one of the top three of its kind in the whole of Eastern Japan. You can stroll through them at your leisure or get an aerial view by riding the lift up. For those of you of an artistic leaning there is also a photo contest running - and with so many flowers around you will be spoiled for choice. An while you are there you should really try the daffodil ice cream that is on sale too.

Fuji Rock Festival 2012 - July 27 - 29

It is a few months away yet but it is never too early to get excited about the Fuji Rock Festival

Tickets are on sale and the line up is being updated regularly, with plenty of big names announcing their intention to perform this year. Keep an eye on the page to keep up-to-date with the latest news

It is a busy time of year up here so if you are booking accommodation it is a good idea to get organised early, or for those going for the full festival experience then camping is the only way to go.

Minakami Vibes @ Tenjinaira - April 14 & 15

All day today and tomorrow up at Tenjindaira with the after party at Canyons Alpine Lodge tonight. It was a great weekend last year with some specially constructed park features and promises to be a good couple of days this year too.

Classic cars in Snow Country - June 8th/9th 2012

The classic car rally is passing through Snow Country again this year as they make their up from Ikaho. They drew the crowds last year as their roared through the quiet mountain towns and are set for a repeat performance in June, which is sure to get the vintage car aficionados excited.

They'll be in Tokamachi on Friday 8th June and then spending that night at the NASPA New Otani in Yuzawa. Saturday 9th June they start in Yuzawa and head down to Gunma where there will be plenty of chances to see them at different places including the Cycle Sports Center and Takuminosato.

For more details - http://splendore-ikaho.jp/newpage24.html

Spring in Snow Country

Spring is traditionally a time of celebration in Snow Country - another long, hard winter survived and everything starts to renew. The snow melts and as soon as the fields are clear the next rice crop can go in. The green starts to return to return to the valleys after months of white.

There is still some skiing around. With a snow base of several meters it takes a while for it to all melt and the higher resorts will aim to stay open until the Golden Week holidays in early May - GALA Yuzawa, Kagura and Tenjindaira all intend to make the most of the snow and stay open for a while yet.

If you are looking for a break from the snow the outdoor adventure companies are all gearing up for a long summer of thrills and spills with Minakami being one of the best place in Japan for a dose of adrenalin with rafting, canyoning, bungy jumping, canoeing, mountain biking and paragliding all on offer from late April. If you are looking for a fun Golden Week then there are days of activities to be had.

Also as the snow melts mountain vegetables start to pop up and these are highly regarded as a seasonal delicacy. Local ryokan and restaurants will have these on the menu and should definitely be tried if you are here during spring.

Other things too come to light after months under several meters of snow...

New Snow Country Region Brochure

Hot off the press is the latest promo brochure for the Snow Country Region

It is an awesome overview of the region with a great introduction to all the major happenings in the area under the titles of Festival, Winter, Summer, Hot Spring, Food and Culture.

There are masses of gorgeous photos that really capture the spirit of the region.

The back pages also act as a hotel guide that offer a selection of accommodations for all budgets.

If you would like a copy, get in touch...