Snow Country is full of great places to see the beautiful colors of a Japanese fall. If you have transport and you are up for a lovely drive, the Uonuma Sky Line is a fantastic choice. If you are going from the Minami Uonuma valley to the Tokamachi side of the hill you have to head up and over the mountains. When you get up to the pass there is a road that runs along the ridge and gives you some amazing views of the tree-covered mountain slopes and the valley far below. It is

Food is one of the main things that visitors look forward to when they come to Japan. Each area of Japan has a rich food culture, and local produce of which they are very proud. Snow Country is no exception. Most people think of rice and sake when it comes to food and drink in this region but there is much more to experience than that. The food culture here goes back a long time and was born of necessity. The harsh winter conditions meant that everything was blanketed in mete

As well as the main Snow Country Tourist Information Office, each of the seven areas of the Snow Country Tourism Zone have their own Tourist Association (contacts for each of there here). All of these are working hard to ensure that visitors get to the see the best of the region. We’ve been lucky enough to get a sneak preview of a 5-star tour that they are trying to put together to highlight the unique way of life in the Snow Country Region. It is in the planning stage at the

August has ended and as we move into September it feels like summer is drawing to a close. People’s thoughts turn to the approaching winter, but before the deep snow comes we have fall, which is one of the best times to be in Snow Country. The rice is turning yellow in the fields in the bottom of the valley and it is almost time for harvesting. There will be festivals all over the region once the harvest is finished to give thanks for the new rice. The valley turning from dee

Suwa Shrine is the original shrine in Yuzawa, and although the exact date it was founded is unknown, it is thought to date back to the 1200s. The first written account of the temple is that is was rebuilt in 1402. The current temple was renovated in 1943, but the location was moved slightly when the shinkansen line was erected in 1974. As well as being one of the important historical landmarks in Yuzawa, Suwa Shrine also made an appearance in Kawabata’s Snow Country novel. Th

One of the best things about Japan is the marked difference between each season. That difference means that the scenery is constantly changing and every few months you are treated to a new look to the same view. Winter has the beauty of the snow covered mountains, spring sees green gradually make a reappearance, and summer is verdant and lush. Many people choose fall/autumn as their favorite though as the changing of the colors is sensational in this region. It is a great tim

Over 900 years ago a traveler searching in a mountain valley for ingredients from which to make medicine, stumbled across a hot spring source flowing out of the ground. He set up a hot spring spa which later became a mountain ryokan which his ancestors are still running today. This is the hot spring that feeds the onsen at Takahan. It qualifies as a true onsen as the water comes from source without any kind of interference such as reheating, storing, or circulating. The same

The Daigenta Canyon area of Yuzawa is well known for its beautiful natural scenery which makes it the ideal location for a scenic stroll through the snow. The Snow Country Tourism Information Center have chosen this as the route for their snowshoe experience tour. The tour meets at the Daigenta Koubou which also happens to be the lunch restaurant once you have finished. Issued with your snowshoes and poles (provided by the guide) it is a short walk to the start point where yo

Take a drone, a high quality camera, and a clear winter evening, mix them all together and you get some stunning shots of Yuzawa spread out below and the mountains ringing the town. Very interesting to get a different perspective on familiar sights! #yuzawa

Snow Japan is the leading resource for information about all things snow in Japan. There are daily snow reports, travel guides and hundreds of pages of information about ski resorts and the like. The Snow Country region is well represented with each of its many ski resorts having its own pages. There is also now a page featuring the other tours available in Snow Country. As we have mentioned before the Snow Country Region is a great place to come if you are looking to experie