Snow Country Ski Resort

One of the joys of living in Snow Country is that you have a huge range of options when it comes to snow sports. But as with everything, too much choice can lead to difficulty with making decisions. Fear not though, there is a hand Ski Resort Guide to the rescue.

It has a couple of helpful features that will aid you in figuring out where is the best place to spend you days of fun on the slopes. You can search Snow Country resorts by activity - if your thing is nordic skiing or snow biking this guide will tell where to head. Or if great facilities for kids are top of your list, look no further.

Have a play with the guide or comparison chart and you are well on your way to winter happiness. Of course, checking them all out over the course of the winter would also be a pretty good option.

Bring on the snow!

Another JR poster...

Another poster from the good folks at JR. This time it is pushing Niigata prefecture as a destination and both the images they have chosen come from within Snow Country.

Head to Yairo just north of Urasa and you will find yourself driving through field after field of watermelons ripening in the warm summer sun. Shops and supermarkets are full of these famous watermelon at the moment and chilled watermelon is a summer staple in Japan. Yairo watermelon are famous throughout Japan.

Over the hill in Tsunan they have a summer sunflower park with acres of giant sunflowers as far as the eye can see. Unfortunately it has finished for the 2012 season (it closed August 21 this year) but it is a stunning sight and well worth heading over to see.

Minami Uonuma Koshihikari Trail Run - Nov 3rd

Here's an event we're already looking forward to as it involves two of our favorite things - food and the outdoors. It's the first ever Minami Uonuma Koshihikari Trail Run and hopefully this will become an annual event.

The autumn colors will be on full display and it is also harvest time for the area's famous koshihikari rice. Negotiate you way around the course at your own pace enjoying the great views and waiting for you at the end will be a delicious meal of local delicacies and some freshly harvested new rice.

The course takes you through some local forests and up into Ishiuchi Ski Resort which has some stunning views back down into the valley.

You can book you place now either in the team relay, individual or walking categories.

Snow Country on Prime Time TV

Snow Country made a brief appearance on popular TV show ナニコレ珍百景, a program that showcases the weird and wonderful all over Japan.

Snow Country encompasses towns in 3 prefectures: Gunma, Niigata and Nagano. On the border of Nagano and Niigata prefecture a yearly tug of war match would take place between the middle school students of the towns either side. With prefectural pride at stake both teams were keen to win, and adding a bit of spice to the mix the location right on the border is not actually flat with one team standing on a slight slope (decided by a game of paper/scissors/rock.) Unfortunately, due to one school having now closed this interesting little battle is no longer a yearly event ending years of tradition.

Destination Gunma

JR are pushing Gunma as their destination of choice at the moment with posters up in stations across Japan. One of the aspects they have focused on is the outdoor sports that have made the town of Minakami famous.

Canyoning is one of the most popular summer sports and in the heat of summer jumping in a cooling river is absolute bliss. Canyoning is heaps of fun and with the abundance of river in Minakami there are lots of courses, so you are sure to find one that fits your required thrill level. Kids especially get a real kick out of it.

Top 5 Reasons to Ski in Japan

It's baking hot here in Japan with temperatures creeping up into the mid-30s most days at the moment. Perfect time to be thinking about the soft, fluffy snow of winter; after all it is called Snow Country for a reason.

Just to get you in the mood check out this article from the Sydney Morning Herald who give their top reasons to ski in Japan. Powder, onsen and food all make the list.

Gala Summer Park - up and running

We mentioned GALA Yuzawa's plethora of summer activities last year a couple of times, and they are back in action again this summer too. It is open on weekends and holidays and there is masses to do.

The big air bag jump, summer skiing, hiking, swimming & onsen, crafts and outdoor activities.

Far too much for us to explain in full details so thankfully GALA have knocked together a bit of a video so you get the idea. (Or you can have a look at their Japanese Summer Park site too.)

Enjoy!

Minakami Happiness Campaign

The Minakami marketing machine has gone into overdrive this summer showcasing the many attractions of their town under the banner of the Minakami Happiness Campaign. They have put together a bit of a teaser video to tempt you into a visit. Check it out below.

The outdoor sports are famous with bungy jumping, canyoning, rafting, paragliding, canoeing and mountain biking all on offer, and snow sports also well represented.

It is also well-known for its stunning natural beauty with some great shots in the promo video.

Check out the video. (.wmv download)

Tempted?

Fujiwara Matsuri & Marathon - Aug 24 & 25

More summer fun on the way at the end of August with a festival and firework display at Fujiwara in Minakami, followed the next day by a road race for those impervious to the summer heat.

The Fujiwara Fireworks are always one of the best display of the summer. Lying back on the grass, staring into the night sky, the fireworks seem super-close as if they are bursting just above you. It is well worth getting up there as it is a really intimate spectacle much beloved by the locals.

The next day there is a road race around the lake. Just thinking about it makes me tired but it is a well attended race with some big name athletes in the field. It is the 55th Fujiwara Lake Marathon and it always draws a dedicated crowd of supporters

Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale 2012

It is summer in Snow Country which mean time for art in the outdoors with the Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale.

This is an amazing project that is just get bigger and bigger. It is pretty difficult to describe everything that is involved, so it makes much more sense for you to just come up and check it out for yourself. Based in an around Tsunan and Tokamachi, there are projects and artwork from artists from all over the world.

The art itself is in different locations with different settings: abandoned buildings, fields, parks, great halls... You could spend days here and still not cover everything but you are guaranteed some amazing spectacles at every turn.

Their website is really comprehensive with some recommended itineraries to help you get the best of your time there, links to the best places to eat and of course a sneak peak at all the artworks (though they are all much more impressive in real life.)

It is a must see and a very unique art event. It runs until mid-September so you can come back again and again.

Sarugakyo Fireworks - Aug 25th

Fireworks festivals are a big part of summer in Japan. Sitting back and watching the fireworks with a cool drink and some snacks is a great way to spend a warm evening. Most areas have their summer festival complete with fireworks and Saturday August 25th it is the turn of Sarugakyo, the little township on the way from Minakami to Naeba.  It is a beautiful area if you have never been - heavily wooded hills and a large lake..

There is a full schedule of events with live music and performance from mid-afternoon, culminating with the fireworks at 2000 and then the traditional Bon dancing.

Sarugakyo Fireworks

Cooling off in Snow Country

It's the height of summer and although Snow Country is cooler than the cities it can still feel pretty hot and humid. Never fear though, there are always ways to escape the heat.

1. Grab some great summer food
Shaved ice with fruit syrup is a summer favorite, especially at festivals. Cold soba noodles or watermelon are also great ways to cool off. Or a few glasses of ice cold sake can work wonders.

2. Jump in the water
Easily one of the most fun ways to chill out in summer is find some water, be it pool, water park or river activities. Or even just a stretch of river to laze in works.

3. Head up high
There is some great hiking or plenty of easy way to access the cooler temperatures at the top of the mountains - even a bit of summer skiing if you are interested.

4. Alternatively head deep underground!

5. Have an onsen
It sound counter-intuitive but a nice hot bath will leave you feeling cool and refreshed. Snow Country is blessed with lots of great onsen of all kinds.


Whatever you do, escape the city and head to the mountains.

Frisbee Golf at Maiko

If you don't know what disc golf (or frisbee golf, depending where in the world you come from) is, then you are definitely missing out on one of the most fun activities around. Instead of a disobedient little golf ball and an unwieldy club your tool of choice is a humble frisbee. Send that flying the length of the course and sailing into the metal basket at the end and you are one hole down in a full course of nine. It is super-enjoyable, easy to learn and great for the whole family.

Disc golf has now landed in Snow Country and it is a great addition to the outdoor activities already available. It is at Maiko-kogen which is an awesome location for the course.

There is loads more going on there for the family with ground golf, pitch and putt and a driving range, as well as BBQ facilities.

Get out there for a round of disc golf and we can guarantee you will be hooked. No longer is golf a good walk ruined. You'll soon be one of the pros with a bag full of frisbees so you always have the right disc for each shot.

Facelift for Echigo Yuzawa Station

It's may well have escaped your notice but the far end of Echigo Yuzawa Station has been closed for a month or so while it gets a bit of a refurbishment. The far end contained the sake tasting hall, sake onsen and shopping hall.

It reopened a couple of weeks ago and is all shiny and new. Ponshukan is back but now at the front of the area so easier to find. The onsen is still there and the shopping area has had a bit of a face lift. The big change is down one side where are few new restaurants have appeared: an Italian, a soba shop, a ramen shop and a cake shop. Restaurant owners in the town are a bit worried people won't leave the station now but with some many good options out there I am sure they will survive. Early reports are good for the new restaurants so might be worth checking out if you need to grab a bite before you catch your train.

The new entrance complete with drunk.

More drunks at the entrance to Ponshukan, the sake tasting hall.

The new restaurants down the side.

And the cake shop.

There is also a new entrance to the car park under the station. If you come by car you get a generous amount of time for free parking in the underground station car park which can be handy if you are just passing through for a bite to eat or a bit of shopping in town.

Snow Country Festival in Tokyo

Snow Country is hitting the road. Tired of telling you how great the local sake is and how awesome the local gourmet tastes, we're heading down to Tokyo so you can get in on the action.

Get yourself along to Nihonbashi in Tokyo and find out what all the fuss is about; the best rice you will ever eat and the smoothest sake.

This opportunity is around for just eight days from Monday August 27th to  Monday 3rd September so get down there to titillate your tastebuds. You'll definitely want to head up to Snow Country once you know what is on offer.

Yuzawa Summer Matsuri - August 15th/16th

It's the Obon holidays which means traffic jams, hot weather and summer festivals. But get to your destination, kick back and relax. Think shaved ice, chilled beers and festival food in the streets. August 15th and 16th is the Yuzawa Summer Matsuri which is one of the top celebrations of the year in the town.

There is masses going on for both days so it is a good idea to have a look at the schedule or pop into the Information Center to make sure you don't miss out. There will be loads to do for the kids with balloon modelling and other activities and the adults are well catered for with a beer garden, plenty of food and lots of performances.

The evening is the main event with fireworks and the portable shrine making its way around the town which is always a boisterous affair.

There is plenty going on on other days too but 15th/16th are the main event.

There was the Yukata Matsuri on August 6th which had a record turnout so this summer is expected to be one of the best matsuris in Yuzawa yet.

These festivals are real taste of summer in Japan so are not to be missed.