Spring/Summer Activities in Snow Country

The Snow Country Region is famed for its snow and winter sports/activities but is is very much a 4 Seasons destination.

It is spring at the moment and the snow is melting (though the skiing continues well into May at the higher resorts.) This melt water makes its way down into the rice fields to make some of Japan's most famous and delicious rice, but another consequence is that it flows down the rivers making for some world class white water rafting.

That is just one of the activities available for those that love the outdoors in Snow Country - others that might tempt you include paragliding, canyoning, lake sailing, bungy jumping, canoeing, mountain biking, high ropes courses, hiking.... the list goes on.

Even if activities aren't up your street there are plenty more things to keep you occupied with onsen, museum, art galleries and exhibitions, flower parks, traditional craft centers and areas of outstanding natural beauty. Not to mention the food.

So much to do, so little time...
If you need a bit of help, drop us a line for some recommendations...

Cherry Blossoms and Snow

Cherry blossom season is a big deal here in Japan, and is already underway for this spring. It is a few weeks away here in Snow Country but there are some amazing places to enjoy the beauty of the blossoms. One of the most famous is The Cherry Blossoms of Nakago which draws crowds of admirers and photographers keen for some picturesque shots.

Most cherry blossoms are dotted in a park or by a stream but the ones here have a stunning mountainous backdrop, are reflected in the lake and have native cedars to offer some contrast. Often when they are in full bloom there is snow on the ground too, which makes for some truly stunning photographs.

Spring is a beautiful time to be out in the nature of Snow Country and sights like this just make it even more worthwhile.

Early Start to Cherry Blossom Season

Good news for lovers of spring as the recent warmer temperatures have brought the cherry blossoms out earlier than usual.

It is still a little early for Snow Country to sit under the cherry blossoms and admire their beauty with a drink in hand. The ski resorts are still all open here and the higher resorts will be open into the first week of May. This opens up the possibility of a half day on the slopes (think "skiing in a T-shirt and taking lunch on a deck chair in the sun") and then heading down to one of the cherry blossom viewing points for an afternoon of drinks and snacks with the other revelers.

The cherry blossoms blooming make their way up the country and it is an eagerly awaited time of year across Japan. It even has its own spot on the news with the weather forecasters letting you know when the blossoms are likely to be fully open in each area - currently Snow Country seems to be scheduled for mid-/end of April - so we hope to see you for some ski/hanami action next month.

Soaking in the onsen is good for you!

As if you ever needed an excuse to soak in an onsen!

An article in the Daily Yomiuri Online has some great news for onsen lovers. Traditionally onsen were seen as a way to prevent and treat illness and injuries, and some recent research is backing this claim. So you owe it to yourself and your well-being to jump in an onsen and enjoy a good soak.

Snow Country is blessed with an abundance of onsen of many different kinds so head on up here for some medicinal R&R.

Full Article

Sakae Kids Festival - March 16

One of the joys of skiing in Japan is the amazing amount of different resorts to explore. From the big, inter-connected, well-known areas to the little family run slopes - there really is something for everybody. It is definitely worth heading out to some of the places off the beaten track and you will always be met with fantastic hospitality wherever you go. What makes it even more tempting is when there is a festival or event on at one of the resorts.

For a great day out for the whole family, and to tick another resort off the list, head over to Sakae Village in Nagano on Saturday March 16th for their Kids Festival.

Food stalls selling tasty local dishes, plenty of action on the stage and an open-air footbath brought in specially for the occasion. There will even be fireworks to finish off the day. Spend the day on the slopes and then come down to the festival.

Tokamachi Snow Festival starts tonight.

It is a big weekend for snow lovers with one of the biggest Snow Festivals in Japan starting tonight in Tokamachi. The Japanese do Snow Festivals in a big way and if you haven't been to one, you are missing out. Incredible snow sculptures are the main attraction but there are loads of things going on in and around the town too. Food, fireworks, a carnival, a beauty pageant, and it looks like it is going to snow most of the time too - just what a Snow Festival needs.

There is masses to see and do and some of it is spread around, so if some of you are enjoying the slops, while some have free time, this would be a great way to spend a day or two.

The Tokamachi Snow Festival runs through from 6pm tonight until 4pm on Sunday.

Snowwave 2013 - Mar 2nd

Calling all snowboarders - Snow Wave 2013 is just around the corner and they are looking for competitors. If you like the idea of throwing yourself off a giant jump in the name of a good time, you might want to make plans to be in Tsunan on Saturday March 2nd.

It runs hand in hand with the Tusnan Snow Festival so you can make a weekend of it. Being full of hip young kids there is a bit of a party afterwards too so as well as seeing the famous floating lanterns at the Snow Festival you can let your hair down.

Even if you don't fancy taking part, it is fantastic to watch to get on over there.
Check out their Facebook page for details

Where to ski....?

It can be a really tough question with so many good options in Snow Country. If you have the time it is worth giving them all a go but as that is not always an options we have prepared a handy guide for you.

The Ski Resort Guide has all the information for the resorts in the area and the ability to filter them by location, activity or facility, so now it is easy to find the one that will tick the boxes for all of your requirements.

If you need a bit more information or like a quick video introduction to an area then don't forget to have a look at our YouTube Channel which has a selection of resorts featured.

Of course, if you still need further information on anything, or a bit of local knowledge to really make your day, we are always happy to answer any questions you may have. Just drop us a line.

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.

Tsunan Snow Festival 2013 - March 2

We seem to be on a bit of a roll with snow festival dates at the moment so just to make sure nowhere gets left out, here's the save the date for the Tsunan Snow Festival - March 2nd

Live music, treasure hunts, food and drink, igloos, snowmobiles and other winter-themed goodies. The really cool thing at the Tsunan Festival is the sky lanterns. These clever contraptions lift themselves up with their own hot air and hundreds of them illuminate the night sky. It is an amazing sight and one that you will not forget in a hurry.

Tsunan is constantly up there as one of the snowiest places in Japan so a trip here can be an eye-opening experience.

Tokamachi Snow Festival 2013 - 15-17 Feb

Another "Save the Date" post so you don't miss out on the best of Snow Country this winter. One of Japan's most impressive snow festivals takes place in Tokamachi every year and it is certainly worth seeing.

There is masses going on all weekend so you'll want to check out the event schedule a little closer to the time to make sure you are in the right place. There are snow carvings, a carnival, fireworks and loads of other events in and around the town.

There are some amazing sights and you really need to see some of the creations in person to fully appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into them. Check out some of these images to whet your appetite.

Tokamachi Snow Festival

A Snowy Start to 2013

One of the favorite pastimes of snow-lovers is making predictions about what each winter will bring. There are many methods of forecasting but a wait-and-see approach is our one of choice.

So far it has been a good season for skiers and boarders and conditions right now are fantastic. We had early snow in December which allowed the resorts to put down a good base and open on schedule, and since then there have been regular top-ups of snow. Most of these have been followed by a few days of blue skies and some pink, sunburned faces have been spotted around town.

We are just coming to the end of a 3 day storm that has dumped masses of snow on Snow Country with over a meter falling in the past few days. Some of the off-piste runs have been almost too deep to ski. According to the forecast we have a couple of days to clear away the built up snow before another big snowfall is expected to arrive mid-week.

It is a great time to hit the slopes. The New Year holiday crowds have thinned and conditions right now are first rate. Time to enjoy the snow in Snow Country and see why it has earned that name.

Bridegroom Tossing - Jan 15th

Winter has a whole host of festivals and the first ones to come to mind are the snow festivals that dot the calendar here in Snow Country. However there are plenty more around and many of them are a little more obscure. It might have something to do with being cooped up in your home trying to deal with mountains of snow.

Matsunoyama Onsen certainly has one of the more "out there" winter celebrations. Any male resident of the village who was married in the previous year is thrown down a snow bank!

As if marriage wasn't tough enough already...

This takes place at about 2pm. Straight after that people get the ash from the bonfire, mix it with a little snow, and go around painting each other faces with it, chanting "Congratulation".

It is quite a sight, and a great time is had by all. Head up there for a very interesting day.

10 Great Reasons to Go Skiing in Japan

We've mentioned JapanTourist before - articles and photo stories about life and places in Japan, written by people who live here. For those of you who are weighing up a winter trip to Japan, here are 10 reasons to stop delaying and get over here.

You don't just have to take our word for it. Snow, onsen, backcountry and food all get a mention, and also friendliness/customer service. It is just a great all-round experience, and no matter what you are looking for, there is bound to be an area or resort that caters to your wishes as there are so many of them.

Full article. And there are plenty of other pieces related to Snow Country if you are interested.

Snow Marathon in Tokamachi

Looking for a New Year's challenge? How about a Snow Marathon for a bracing way to welcome in 2013. If this sounds like your idea of fun you need to be in Tokamachi tomorrow for their New Snow Marathon.

There are a whole bunch of distances on offer from the half marathon down to a 3km so there is something from everyone, even the kids. With some heavy snow falling at the end of December there are sure to be some great views of Snow Country and once you finish you will be greeted back at base with a steaming bowl of pork soup and some freshly made mochi. That alone is almost enough to get me to don my running gear.

Snow is a Treasure

Interesting article  (The New York Times) from the big winter back in 2006 when record amounts of snow fell, on the struggle to keep on top of the snow clearing.

It is a task that takes massive amounts of manpower, even in this day and age, but must have been a huge endeavor before road sprinklers and snow clearing machines.

The article is written about Tsunan which is consistently up there as one of the snowy places in Japan.

Some great recollections from the older residents, and although they admit that it is a constant battle against the winter snow, it is still seen as a treasure.

Snow Country Freak magazine

The bizarrely titled Snow Country Freak magazine have just brought out their winter issue. It is a free guide to everything that is going on in Snow Country over winter. Unfortunately it is only in Japanese but it is a wealth of useful information if you can get someone to help you decipher it.

Contents -

"500 yen off" voucher for day passes at Yuzawa Nakazato, Maiko or Muikamachi Ski Resorts
Maps of the area
Event lists by month
Ski Resort Events
The best meals on the slopes
A voucher for the one day upgrade pack at GALA (lift ticket, 500 yen voucher, and discounts off rental and lessons.)
Activity guide
Onsen guide
Gift guide

You should be able to see this free magazine online too

Winter Preparations

It is cold in Snow Country at the moment. The leaves are falling and there have already been some snow showers down low. Higher resorts are already starting to get their lifts fired up for the season.

There is a bit of siege atmosphere in Snow Country at this time of year. The snows are not far off and there is plenty of preparation to get done first.

As you walk around you will see trees and bushes covered in planks of wood. The sheer weight of the snow can easily damage these plants so proud owners go to great lengths to protect them.

Another key element to battling the snow is the water that is pumped out of the middle of the roads. Without this driving around would be a nightmare, and just looking at some of the old photos you can see what happens if you don't stay on top of the snow clearing. At this time of year the water systems are turned on again to clean out the accumulated dirt of the warmer months. Local residents get together and make sure their area of town is ready to go.

If you are coming to Snow Country in winter it is a good idea to pack some decent footwear. With heavy snow and lots of water about the footwear of choice for locals is the trusty gumboot. It may not be fashionable but dry feet are worth any sacrifice. Blend in with the locals with a cheap pair of rubber boots from the local hardware store. Your feet will thank you.

Own a place in Snow Country

Interesting article today on NewsOnJapan originally from BloombergBusinessWeek about traditional homes in the Japanese countryside being renovated and sold/rented.

This is something that has been happening in Snow Country too. There are plenty of properties out there that have fallen into disrepair as youngsters flee the countryside for a life in the city. Determined not to let these fantastic houses disappear some people have been stepping in to preserve them.

The Echigo-Tsumari Art Field has been turning some beautiful old buildings into works of art or using then as the settings for installation pieces.

You can even get involved if you are interested in having a place in the country of your own. Head along to some of the buildings that have already been renovated and you will be inspired. Preserving these fantastic timber framed buildings that are works of great craftsmanship themselves is a great project to be involved in.

2012-13 Winter Snow Levels???

The autumn colors are bright and vibrant in Snow Country at the moment with lots of reds, oranges and yellows, The leaves are starting to fall and that means many minds turn to the upcoming winter. The first resort is due to open in just 10 days time (with a bit of luck), though there is not much white stuff covering the peaks right now.

The long range forecast seems to be for a slightly warmer than average winter which will be a relief for those that struggled under last year's monster snowfalls, though disappointing to snow sports enthusiasts.

A further worrying sign for snow lovers was spotted over the weekend...

That white ball in the middle of the photo attached to the little bush is a praying mantis egg case. Local knowledge has it that the mantis knows how much snow is coming and places the eggs at a suitable height to avoid getting buried in snow. Last year the egg cases were up high and there were near-record levels of snowfall. This year there are plenty to be found closer to the ground.

Old wives' tale or a nature's snow prediction....? We'll have to wait to see.