Urasa "Naked Man" Festival - March 3rd

Occasionally Japan throws up those moments that are completely out there and the Naked Man Festival is certainly one of those.

Walking up from the station you would be forgiven for thinking that this is just another town winter matsuri, with food stalls lining the roads. But the closer you get to the Bishamon Temple, the stranger things get. The chanting gets louder, there are processions of men wearing little more than loincloths ( there is snow on the ground!) being escorted by similarly dressed men with giant candles and everyone seems to be drunk.

The loincloth-clad celebrants jump into a pool of icy water for purification, then dash into the main hall of the temple to join the throng of other half naked men to try to force their way into a small opening in the inner temple to obtain a blessing. The mob in the main hall are a steaming pile of bodies and it is quite a sight.

It is pretty out there as a festival and is a great night out. There is a real festival atmosphere and there is lots going on in and around the temple. Even if you don't fully know what is going on, you can't help but be blown away by this celebration that has an incredibly long history. The temple itself is a pretty amazing building and definitely worth a visit at another time.

Snow Country Literary Walk

The novel Snow Country was set in Yuzawa town and the author, Yasunari Kawabata spent time in the town while he was writing. Influences for the novel are all around if you know where to look, and to help you out there is a handy leaflet to guide you round the main sites of interest.

The leaflet and map can normally be found in the Information Center just outside the West Exit of Echigo-Yuzawa station and there is even the guide map for the walking route located on a billboard just outside. The walk doesn't take too long and there are plenty of points of interest along the way that are carefully explained in the leaflet.

Yuzawa Town History Museum, Takizawa Koen Park, Takahan and Suwa Shrine are all stops on the walk. The leaflet on its own is an interesting read, with bits of history and culture scattered through its pages but for the full experience, the walk is highly recommended, especially if you are reading/have read the book.

Yukiguni Kan

Right in the middle of the main onsen street of Yuzawa is Yukiguni Kan, a small museum that gives an insight into the life and history of Snow Country.

It doesn't take long to tour around the three sections but it is well worth a visit. The top floor covers the ancient history of the town with a selection of the archaeological finds that have been dug up nearby. There are also displays of the seasonal items which made life in Snow Country possible - old skis, local fauna and traditional rice harvesting implements.
 The middle floor (where you enter) has a mock up of a room in a Snow Country dwelling as well as the day to day items and how they were used. There is also a display of old photographs of the town and it is amazing to see the early skiers. It really makes you realize the challenges of living in such a snowy region without our modern comforts.

The lower floor is devoted to the novel Snow Country and features a recreation of a room from the novel, some belongings of the writer and art inspired by the novel.

You'll definitely leave here with an appreciation for the hardiness Yuzawa's early residents had to develop to survive and prosper.