Yairo Children's Snow Festival - Mar 10

Spring is just around the corner and it is a great time to visit the mountains, especially if you have kids. Whether they ski or not, there is always plenty to do to keep them occupied. The warmer weather in March makes it a great time to come and have some fun in the snow, and that is the driving force behind the 7th Yairo Forest Park Children's Snow Festival on Sunday March 10th.

Yairo has one of the best parks in the area for most of the year but most people don't head there in the winter. All that will change for the Snow Festival. There are loads of fun, free activities to play around with. Banana boating on the snow, igloos, snowshoeing, tubing, bamboo skis, mini games, snow sculptures and plenty more. It is always loads of fun, and the little ones will love it. There will be plenty of food as well to keep them full of energy.

Strawberries in Yuzawa

Valentine's Day is just around the corner which means gifts of chocolates and cookies will change hands. (In Japan it is usually the women who buy the goodies on Valentine's Day and then the men return the favor on White Day on March 14th.)

If you are looking for a less sugary but incredibly sweet gift for your loved one, how about some hand-picked strawberries from Yuzawa's very own Pick Your Own.

The strawberries are grown in glass houses and are ready to pick from mid-January. Resident bees keep everything ticking over as it should and even surrounded by snow, you can enjoy juicy, sweet strawberries - it's quite an experience for those of us who think of strawberries as a summer fruit.

It is worth a visit, and for the gluttons among you, the eat-as-much-as-you-can deal is a great challenge. For those with more control, you can pick them and take them away.

It usually runs until sometime in June so plenty of opportunity to get covered in strawberry juice yet.

Ryugon ryokan - traditional luxury

There are some amazing place to stay in Snow Country with many of them boasting centuries of history providing top quality accommodation to weary travellers. The inns on old trade routes are fantastic places to stay and you can often feel the history that surrounds you. Ryugon is one such inn and even if you just see it from the exterior it looks like it belongs in another period. The interior doesn't disappoint either.

The inside of this ryokan has been lovingly restored and is all dark beams and whitewash. There is a definite sense of peace and tranquillity as your footsteps echo down the wooden corridors. Each room is a suite with plenty of space to relax and admire the landscaped gardens outside. The hot spring baths are also famous and have been the location for commercials in the past.

The ryokan sits at the base of Sakado mountain from which the local lords controlled the area, and Ryugon has long links with the surrounding temples being firmly entwined in the rich history of the region. It is a great base if you intend to explore the area, and if you are staying over winter there are ski resorts close by. Even non-skiers can head up the nearby Hakkai-san ropeway to enjoy the stunning views of mountains and valleys.

Ryugon really is a class apart and if you are looking for a truly unique accommodation experience it will never disappoint.

A-Kyu Gourmet

If the amazing snow and unique culture aren't enough to tempt you to visit this area then maybe the food might just be the thing to tip the balance. This area has a strong agricultural and culinary tradition and it is still very much evident in the dishes on offer in accommodations and restaurants.

Organic ingredients abound and many places have received special commendation for their traditional methods of preparation. Dining up in this area can be an absolute treat. Should you need some inspiration, have a look at some of the images on this website (Japanese) that have been going around assessing the local food.

Most places have some kind of food or ingredient of which they are deservedly proud, so if you are up here, it is always a good idea to find out what it is and have a taste. Gourmet tourism is a delicious way to explore.

Snow Camping at Maiko

We are big advocates of the outdoor life and open to new experiences so were pretty excited when we got wind of camping on the snow.

This weekend at Maiko they are offering the chance to get a taste of the winter with some snow camping and cooking in the open air. This may not be everyone's cup of tea, but with the right preparations and equipment you will be amazed by how cosy it is. Also with a day of activity in the great outdoors the food that you prepare and cook slowly in your Dutch Oven will be some of the best you have ever tasted.

You get to learn how to pitch a tent in the snow, cook with a Dutch Oven and then there is also a snowshoe tour and the chance to play a bit of disc golf. If that is not a great day out on the snow with a difference, we don't know what is...

Maiko Snow Camping and Dutch Oven Workshop in Japanese

Chalet La Neige in Minakami

If you are looking for the complete break this winter you should be considering ski-in, ski-out accommodation on the side of a ski resort. Add in amazing cuisine, friendly English speaking hosts and a log fire and you are guaranteed a great time. One place that ticks all these boxes and many more is Chalet La Neige in Minakami.

It is right on the slopes of Houdaigi Ski Resort which is the biggest and best in that area. Great beginner slopes for the learners and some really challenging courses for the more experienced. Stunning views over the surrounding mountains too.

The chalet is cosy with spacious rooms with real beds. The decor is stylish and you would be forgiven if you forgot you were in Japan for a moment, so much does it resemble the European chalet style.

Time on the slopes is the big draw for a winter break but once you have eaten here you will constantly be counting the hours until the next delicious dinner. It really is that good. European-influenced dishes that  are the perfect end to the perfect day.

Highly recommended and it is easy to see why they have such a loyal customer base who keep coming back for more.

Carrots from under the snow

Food and cuisine are important parts of life and culture in these parts. Many of the foods that are traditional to this area are tied up in the climate and geography of the region - warming dishes for the long winter months and ways of preserving ingredients to last until after the snow melts.

There are plenty of dishes and treats to explore and some of them are pretty unique. One that pops up again and again are carrots that have spent the winter under the snow.

An accidental discovery but one that meant sweeter, tastier carrots. It is now common practice in these parts and if you are staying up this way you are likely to come across them at some point in your travels. You can even buy candy made from them and there are also places that put them in their soba noodle mix!

For more of an explanation, check out this page at snow-country.jp

Snow Country Omiyage

Omiyage is very Japanese - the tradition of buying a small gift from wherever you go to give to your family or workmates. It is fantastic when people come round with a small taste of where they have been and you get to try some really interesting little snacks.

Everywhere you go in Snow Country you will see selections of individually wrapped sweets to take away with you. The rice and sake are also popular gifts to give from this region.

Here's an unusual option that you can get locally, similar to the bamboo-wrapped sticky rice sweet (sasadango) is this bamboo-wrapped sweet - sasaame.

Boiled sweets with an unusual flavor folded into a dried bamboo grass leaf - really tasty and very interesting packaging. They are sure to raise some eyebrows as a gift but everyone we gave them too thought they were delicious too.

If you make it up to Snow Country, don't forget to pick up some kind of souvenir to take away with you

Yuzawa Harvest Festival

Beautiful autumn weather on Sunday made for a really nice day out in Chuo Park in Yuzawa. It clouded over a bit in the afternoon but the morning saw stunning blue skies.

There was plenty of food available - rice balls, BBQ steak, home made blueberry pie, mushroom curry and local stew were all fantastic eats. By far the longest queue of the day was for the mochi which was being pulverized right there in front of the tent.

The local emergency services were there too letting the kids dress up in fireman's garb and clamber inside the ambulance and fire engine.

The hot air balloon was also a big hit but strong gusts of wind interfered with the operation at times.

All in all a great Sunday in the park...

Great turn out for Gourmet Grand Prix

The weather was mostly good for the Gourmet Grand Prix in Bokushi Dori this weekend and the turnout was phenomenal. The street was stuffed with stalls and there were people everywhere - queuing for food, seated anywhere they could to enjoy the delicious treats... A really good day for anyone who made the trip to Shiozawa.

It was a really difficult decision to decide what to eat with so many great options. Luckily the portion sizes were well judged so that you could munch your way through plenty of choices and still have room for more.

We can personally vouch for the goulash, the pork chop burger, red yakisoba, and goat ice cream.

There are lots of festivals coming up this autumn and they all feature food, so plan you trip to coincide with one of these and you are guaranteed a feast on local, seasonal delicacies.

New Rice Season

With the harvest started, there is plenty of excitement in Snow Country about the new rice. Shops, hotels and associations are already selling this famous product from this region. You can have it shipped all over the country and the recipients are overjoyed to get their hands on some of the renowned koshihikari.

There are lots of activities celebrating new season rice with harvest festivals all across the region. But here is another option for you. Have a go at making onigiri - the traditional Japanese rice ball snack, that is delicious and nutritious.

These ones come in three special designs that are famous in the area.

The first one is the mascot for the region who introduced skiing to Japan. The second one is the Japanese crested ibis mascot which is native to Niigata. The third is a rabbit.

If you would like the recipes click the links below
Reruhi-san
Ibis
Rabbit

Snow Country Festival - Oct 6 & 7

Savor the best of Snow Country this weekend in Bokushidori in Shiozawa. New rice, new sake, seasonal fruits - it's going to be a gourmet's paradise.

It's all going on at the Gourmet Grand Prix in Shiozawa. If you are in the area this should be a definite stop on your itinerary. And a chance to get your hand on the very special limited edition sake cup holder.

Yuzawa Kogen in Autumn

Stunning panoramic views back down in Yuzawa this morning from the top of Yuzawa Kogen.

It is a great place for sightseeing and it is about to get a whole lot better as all that green turns in to red, orange and yellow. There is lots to do up there in autumn too. A playground for the kids, a petting zoo with some friendly goats, the Zipline adventure course, go karts, a rock garden and candle making. There is even a foot onsen to bathe your weary feet if you take a stroll along the Panoramic Hiking Course.

Of course there is always the food and as well as the Restaurant Edelweiss there is one of the best pizzas you will ever eat at Ristorante Pizzeria Alpina. Top notch pizza fresh from the wood fired oven.

Gourmet Grand Prix in Shiozawa - Oct 6/7

Autumn has to be a strong contender for our favorite season, mainly because of all the festivals that involve food in one form or another. On the weekend of October 6th and 7th the tasty treats will be on offer in the main street of Shiozawa as they host an International Gourmet Grand Prix.

Bokushidori is the street in Shiozawa that has been given a facelift to resemble a town from back in the day so it is a great location for a day out anyway. It will be closed to traffic on that weekend and buses from the local station will be bringing people in to get involved in the eating. It is also getting plenty of publicity so you can expect a pretty good turn out. If there is food on offer, we'll be there for sure.

Hakkai san River Trek - Oct 21st

It's September already - where as the year gone. It is still pretty warm but with autumn just around the corner it is soon going to be prime hiking season in Snow Country. Stunning autumn colors and beautiful natural vistas abound in this area, and there are always plenty of events to help you get out and about in nature with other like-minded people.

On Sunday October 21st Hakkai san will be hosting the outdoor lovers for some nature hiking. There are three courses on offer depending on how much you want to push yourself. Choose from 22, 15 or 9 kilometer hikes and as always there will be delicious local food waiting for you as you reach your goal.

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.

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.

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.

Cross10 Tokamachi

Cross 10 is a road station just off the main street of Tokamachi. It has just had a refit and is now a great place to have a break or do a bit of shopping. It is right next to Kinare so there is plenty in the area to do if you have a bit of extra time.

There are a few different shops but they all celebrate the best of the area with local sakes, foods, materials and crafts. There are some really interesting souvenirs and you can be safe in the knowledge that they are all made by local craftsmen. The kimono heritage of the area is also prominent with material, accessories and kimonos for sale at a couple of specialist boutiques. Business card cases made out of kimono material are an example of one of the unusual items on sale.

 There is also a record-breaking display of hand-made decorations hanging from the ceiling as well as photographs and information about local events and attractions.

It is worth planning to eat there as there is a fantastic restaurant that specialises in local produce - seasonal and freshly harvested, prepared simply to showcase the fantastic flavors. It is also great value and is a modern take at Japanese fast food where organic local ingredients are the star of the show. Manma and cafe Yukimatsuri is the name of the establishment and it is highly recommended if you would like to savor the taste of Snow Country.