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...

Yuzawa Harvest Festival - Oct 21

It is almost time for one of the best festivals of the year - the Yuzawa Autumn Harvest Festival.

It takes place in the Yuzawa Chuo Park by the Culture Center on Sunday 21st October which is a great location, next to a small lake and surrounded by a selection of trees showing their autumn colors.

There are loads of stalls and activities with plenty to do for the whole family. But best of all there is food and lots of it.

All the local favorites are available, showcasing the very best of the region. It is harvest time and the star of the show will be the freshly harvested rice. If you have never had new season Koshihikari Rice, you do not know what you are missing.

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

Nakazato Harvest Festival - October 6

It is a great time of year in Snow Country. The new rice is just around the corner - it is already starting to change color in the fields - and that means the round of harvest festivals will shortly follow. Harvest festivals involve food so are some of our favorite places to be. New rice, cooked in the traditional way, is something that everyone should taste, and having it cooked by the proud farmers who produced it is one of the best ways to sample it.

The Nakazato Harverst Festival is on Saturday October 6th. There'll be the ubiquitous freshly cooked rice and mushroom soup on offer, as well as other entertainment. There is also the chance to get out in the field, scythe in hand and learn how to harvest rice in the traditional manner. This is an amazing way to experience traditional Japan. There are only a limited number of spaces so you need to register in advance.

Yairo Matsuri - October 9th

Yairo is famous for its watermelons but it also produces plenty of other foods that are equally tasty and on October 9th they have a festival celebrating the autumn harvest.

The festival itself is held at Yairo No Mori Park, which is worth a visit at any time (and is just around the corner from the Echigo Winery and the amazing Yummy Ice Cream Shop.) This park is a fantastic place for children with lots of climbing apparatus, giant bouncy balls and loads of space for the kids to charge about. The adults can supervise from the relative peace of the public BBQ areas.

The Festival is free to attend and like many autumn festivals, the food is the star with local specialities and freshly harvested produce in abundance. There are also games for the children, entertainment on the large stage, dancing and other activities for the whole family such as hot-air ballooning. These festivals are a great way to get close to small town Japan, make new friends and interact with the local population.

Sakae Village Autumn Harvest Festival

With all the talk of autumn produce in Snow Country, it is time for a reminder about the Sakae Village Autumn Harvest Festival. It takes place on the third Sunday in October every year, which is the 16th this year and is always a huge hit for individuals and families alike.

Sakemura, or Sakae Village is proud of its agricultural heritage and has a thriving community of locals who work the land. The Autumn Harvest Festival gives them a chance to showcase their wares. Many people's favorite part of this festival is the chance to sample the incredibly fresh, recently harvested fruit, vegetables, mushrooms and rice. There are stalls offering all kinds of local specialties and delicious seasonal dishes. The great flavors and country life are sure to inspire you to keep fresh, local ingredients as an integral part of your diet.

Don't forget - Sunday 16th October
Sakae Village in Nagano Prefecture.