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Yuzawa Hyakuban-Kannon Hiking Course
With so much nature around, Yuzawa has no shortage of great hiking courses. Few have as interesting a backstory as the Hyakuban-Kannon...
May 21, 20212 min read


The Old People Hate the Snow!
As you travel around Yukiguni and interact with the locals at the ryokans that are part of Timeless Yukiguni, an often heard refrain is...
Mar 10, 20213 min read


Traditional or Modern Style Ryokan...?
One of the joys of the selection of the ryokan featured on Timeless Yukiguni is the sheer variety. Each establishment has its own...
Jan 27, 20212 min read


The Unique Climate of Yukiguni
Yukiguni, which translates as Snow Country, is a place where the climate and environment play a very large role, and has shaped the...
Jan 20, 20212 min read


An Unusual Childhood in Matsunoyama Onsen
Matsunoyama Onsen is a small town deep in the mountains of Niigata, and even in the last fifty years it has witnessed some big changes....
Jan 13, 20212 min read


A Brief Verbal History of Hatagos
Hatago Isen in Yuzawa identifies with the tradition of hatagos in Japan. The history of this style of accommodation offers an interesting...
Dec 23, 20202 min read


Welcome to Timeless Yukiguni
Yukiguni is a region of Japan made up of several neighbouring areas united by the heavy snows they receive each winter. It is known that...
Nov 30, 20202 min read

Winter Tours in Snow Country
The Snow Country Region attracts thousands of skiers and snowboarders each winter who come to enjoy the great snow in the many ski...
Apr 5, 20191 min read

Traditional Kimono Weaving in Shiozawa
A beautiful video about the labor of love which is traditional kimono material weaving. It is an incredibly involved process that has the...
Oct 5, 20181 min read


Bridegroom Throwing in Matsunoyama Onsen
Someone once told me that the best festivals in Japan are the ones that are on a fixed date every year. These are the ones with long...
Jan 16, 20182 min read


N37 Snow Country Culture Workshop
We’ve spent the last couple of days on the fascinating Snow Country Culture Workshop Autumn Edition, during which time we have learned...
Nov 14, 20175 min read


Katakai Fireworks Festival
Katakai is a small village in Ojiya City in Niigata that hosts an amazing fireworks display on the the 9th and 10th of September each...
Sep 16, 20172 min read


Hollyhocks and the changing seasons.
The distinct four seasons are one of the interesting aspects of life in Japan, and the people of Snow Country still have the affinity to...
Aug 18, 20171 min read


Suzuki Bokushi Memorial Museum
Just off Bokushi Dori in Shiozawa, behind a park which is a big hit with the little ones, is the Suzuki Bokushi Memorial Museum. The...
Jun 5, 20171 min read

Rural Experiences in Akiyamago
Bokushi Suzuki visited the Akiyama region in 1818 and was charmed by this mountainous region. He wrote about his travels there in...
May 31, 20171 min read

Echigo Jofu on “Made In Japan”
Made in Japan is an absolutely amazing website which aims to be “a showcase of Japanese crafts and traditions and the untold stories...
May 30, 20171 min read


Tokamachi Stone Sculptures
There are many good reasons to visit Tokamachi – great soba, interesting museums, its long textile heritage, and fun festivals. No matter...
May 30, 20171 min read

Matagi / Hunters
One of the fascinating things about life in Snow Country is that there are traditional ways of life still carrying on today. Foraging for...
May 6, 20171 min read


Cherry Blossoms in Snow Country
The arrival of the cherry blossom season is a big event in the whole of Japan as it heralds the arrival of spring, and symbolises the...
Apr 27, 20172 min read


Meguro-tei
Meguro-tei is an impressive residence dating back to 1797, that is located right beside the more modern Suhara Ski Area. It is believed...
Mar 24, 20171 min read
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