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May 21, 2021
2 min

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...

Mar 10, 2021
3 min

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...

Jan 27, 2021
2 min

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 20, 2021
2 min

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 13, 2021
2 min

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....

Dec 23, 2020
2 min

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...

Nov 30, 2020
2 min

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...

Apr 5, 2019
1 min

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...

Oct 5, 2018
1 min

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...

Jan 16, 2018
2 min

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...

Nov 14, 2017
5 min

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...

Sep 16, 2017
2 min

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...

Aug 18, 2017
1 min

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...

Jun 5, 2017
1 min

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...

May 31, 2017
1 min

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 30, 2017
1 min

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, 2017
1 min

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 6, 2017
1 min

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...

Apr 27, 2017
2 min

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...

Mar 24, 2017
1 min

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...