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...

Yuzawa Area Bus Tours

Yuzawa is incredibly convenient to get to by train being just over an hour from Tokyo by shinkansen. Once you are here though there is so much more to see if you can get out and about. You could always hire a bike or a car, but there is another option if you are looking for a way to see some of the best sights in the area - the town bus tour.

The guides are locals and will show you around the area that they know so well. There are several different tours to choose from with usually a couple of different ones going out each day, AM (0930 departure) and PM (1330 departure). Shrines, museums, temples, beauty spots and view points are all on the different itineraries.

The tours run daily through the Golden Week holidays starting at the end of April, and then Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from mid-May until mid-July. It is a great way to spend part of your day and you will discover some amazing places. Pop into the Information Center outside the West Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station for more details.

Minakami Cherry Blossom Viewing

Being the other side of the mountains to the rest of the Snow Country Region, Minakami is often the first to have cherry blossoms in bloom as they make their way up the country. Minakami is dotted with great places to stretch out a blanket (or blue sheet if you are a local) and enjoy a picnic as you admire the flowers. A great option is Kenshin no Sakasa Zakura.

The ancient cherry trees are not the only attraction in the area. Located just off the old trade route there are some amazing old inns around, each with onsen that will delight even the most picky onsen purist. There is a large lake nearby with some great walking trails and also some points of historical interest.

Check out this link for more information and a guide to some of the reccommended hotels and activities within striking distance of these cherry blossoms - more than enough to fill a relaxing spring break in the country.

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.

Bird Eye Exhibition at Tomioka White Art Museum

We've mentioned the Tomioka White Art Museum before and it is highly recommended for a relaxing side trip to take in some minimalist art inspired by the local snowscapes.

There is a new exhibition running from March 16th to June 24th called Bird Eye. Souichiro Tomioka employs his distinctive style on the snowy vistas he has seen but this time it is looking down on his subjects from the dizzying heights of a helicopter.

The works takes in views of mountains, ice floes, rivers and lakes seen from the sky and using only the bare essential colors. As always the art is beautiful. Head here on a warm spring day as you can almost feel the cold emanating from the pictures.

Yuzawa Kogen Downhill Race - Mar 31

For any budding racers out there looking for a fun day on the slopes, the 52nd Yuzawa Kogen Downhill Race is slated for the Sunday March 31st.

It is a fun race that is open to everyone which takes place on a gentle slope at the top of the resort. It is over 2 kms long and is run against the clock. If you have never taken part in a race before this could be a great chance for your debut. Don your bib and feel the excitement as you wait for the beeps in the starting gate.

Yuzawa Kogen has some of the best views of the valley in the whole area so if we get good spring weather on that Sunday it will be a fantastic day out.

Minakami Ski Trekking Festival - Mar 20

Do you have plans for the public holiday for the Spring Equinox (Wednesday 20th March)? If not head out into the mountains of Snow Country for the 13th Minakami Ski Trekking Festival.

It is being held at Minakami Kogen Resort, which boasts a cross country ski circuit that loops around the summer golf courses. It is a great day out and if the weather cooperates it is an amazing place to spend a spring day. The blue of the skies with the forests and the mountain backdrop make for a great change to the grey of the city.

It is a very beginner friendly event and there are also activities for the kids.

Yuzawa Snowmobile Land

If you haven't tried snowmobiling before you should definitely give it a go. Goodbye peace and tranquility, hello revving engines and the sound of the wind rushing past. Yuzawa Snowmobile Land is a great location for your first snowmobile excursion, or if you have done it before, has plenty of terrain to let you open up the throttle.

If you've driven to Iwappara from the center of Yuzawa you may well have driven past it. They are located just by the Aurora Water Slide pool. The large carpark serves as the base where you learn the basics of snowmobile operation, and once you have mastered that, they have several other areas for you to explore. Ungroomed areas with deep snow, trails and terrain courses will all keep things interesting.

It is a great activity for all ages and will certainly give you something to boast about when you get home.

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.

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.

Igloos and Candle Night in Minakami - Mar 9/10

There is something about fire and snow that go together really well. Most winter festivals seem to incorporate  fire in one form and another, and Candle Night in Minakami on the weekend of March 9 & 10 is no exception.

The night is lit up by hundreds of eco-friendly home-made candles and you can take a break in one of the many igloos that have been constructed for the occasion. There will also be fireworks to add to the light and noise.

The Candle Night will be held up at Houdaigi Ski Resort and if you would like to have a ringside seat for the festival, why not book yourself a weekend in some ski-in, ski-out accommodation right on the slopes of the resort?

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.

Nakazato Snow Carnival - Mar 9

March is a great time to enjoy yourself in the mountains in Japan. There is still good snow but the weather is getting more springlike and there area always plenty of off-snow events and festivals to participate in.

The evening of Saturday March 9th is the Nakazato Snow Carnival.

There will be mochi making, warming winter soups and drinks, fireworks, a torch light descent and plenty of other spectacles to enjoy.

If you have never been to Nakazato before you should definitely check it out. Good skiing, loads of accommodation close by and a very family friendly atmosphere. It is not one of the best known resorts in the area but people that go there often return.

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

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.

February Long Weekend - 9-11 Feb 2013

It's National Foundation day on February 11th. That is definitely a cause for celebration as it means a three day weekend for people in Japan. It is mid-winter and there is plenty of snow falling so an escape to the mountains would be the perfect choice for some quality R&R.

There is masses going on all over Snow Country for the long weekend.

The Minami Uonuma Snow Festival is on the Saturday and Sunday

The Koide International Snow Ball Fight is on the Sunday

Or if you like watching other people suffer, head up to Uonuma on Monday to watch recently married men get doused with ice cold water...

Maiko 500 yen Night Ski

So for those of you that can't get enough time on the slopes Maiko have a pretty amazing deal on. 4 hours of night skiing for just 500 yen. That has to make it some of the cheapest skiing around.

The usual price is 1,500 yen for an adult so that is quite a nice saving.

Night skiing at Maiko runs every night until Sunday 3rd March (and for one more night on 9th March). The night ski ticket is valid from 4 - 8pm so you can get a decent session in. Night skiing is a great experience as you shoot down the runs under flood lights. It is fantastic if you get to do it in the snow too.

Maiko One Coin Nighta

Naked Man Festival, Urasa - March 3rd

Another one for the diary - the Naked Man Festival in Urasa is on March 3rd and is definitely one you don't want to miss if you like unique winter festivals.

Giant candles, men clad in loincloths in a heaving, steaming mass trying to push their way into a temple - all the things you want from a winter celebration. The location itself is a beautiful temple and there is plenty going on in and around it. The streets leading up the temple from Urasa station are lined with food stalls hawking tasty treats so there is plenty to do once you have had your fill of the main event.

If you get a bit cold standing around in the winter snow then get yourself a nice warm cup of sake....complete with dried fish for flavor!

Day Return Packages to Yuzawa Nakazato

The beauty of skiing in Snow Country is that it is so easy to get to and is therefore possible to do as a day trip from Tokyo. A day on the slopes can easily fit into the busiest itinerary and needs no special accommodation arrangements. Kagura and GALA are the well-known options for day return skiing but there are plenty of other resorts that offer the same package and have their own benefits. One great option that is off the radar is the day trip to Yuzawa Nakazato.

If you have ever driven in this area you will have seen this resort on your right as you approach the Yuzawa IC after the long tunnel. It also has its own JR line station right next to the resort. The slopes range across the slopes of the local mountains and there is plenty to explore with a good mix of terrain. There is lots of space for kids to play in the snow and some old train carriages make a novel place to take a breather. It is one of those resorts that people have heard of but never tried. Those that have given it a go often keep coming back.

The package makes everything as easy as possible for you.
Bullet train tickets, pick up from Echigo Yuzawa station, rental equipment, and lift passes.
For full details and prices by date, hit up the link.