This week, we embark on a journey to enjoy various snow views around Japan. Besides admiring gorgeous snow scenes, we will also stay at comfortable inns and savour local delicacies.
For the first adventure, travel by JR Agatsuma Line to Kusatsu. Before boarding the train, you may wish to buy a daruma bento (lunch box) from Takasaki Station. You can enjoy the ekiben packed with delicious ingredients from Gunma during your journey from Takasaki to Kusatsu. The train runs along Agatsuma River and passes through Agatsuma Valley before reaching Naganohara Kusatsuguchi Station, the gateway to Kusatsu. From the station, take a bus heading to Kusatsu Onsen, which is located 1,200m above sea level. Once you have reached Kusatsu Onsen Terminal, hop on a free shuttle bus to Kusatsu International Ski Resort. You can engage a guide to take you around Kusatsu. One of the places worth visiting is Mt. Shirane, where you can enjoy beautiful snow views from its peak. However, do note that if there is a severe snowstorm you won’t be able to climb up Mt. Shirane, due to poor visibility. But fear not, you can always explore Kusatsu spa town as an alternative. Drop by a shop founded in the Meiji period, called Hakukotei. Try the soba with fried hen of the woods, a speciality of Kusatsu. Freshly-ground buckwheat flour is used, and the 5th generation owner uses the flour to roll the noodles by hand. The soba is aromatic and chewy and draws huge crowds during lunch time. This warm dish is best eaten during winter.
After lunch, visit Yubatake, Kusatsu’s famous hot spring. Along the fence around Yubatake, you will see the names of famous people who have come here. Examples are Yamato Takeru no Mikoto (a legendary prince), Minamoto no Yoritomo (the first shogun who ruled from 1192 to1199), and Japanese actors Yujiro Ishihara and Kiyoshi Atsumi. Head to a popular inn, where you can stay the night. Founded in 1877, Naraya is close to Yubatake and features an ambience which combines nostalgia and a modern style. The comfortable wooden Japanese-style rooms feature a kotatsu and a nice view of the snow and Yubatake. It is said that the spring water here is from a source discovered by Minamoto no Yoritomo. Before dinner, indulge in the cosy spa which will ease your tired muscles. Dinner, comprising colourful and tasty dishes, is a feast for the senses. You will be served Joshu's speciality, a hot pot called Joshu yumeguri nabe. All the ingredients like chicken and vegetables are from Gunma. You can also order Joshu beef, which is grilled by hot stone. After dinner, soak in the romantic atmosphere of Yubatake, which is lit up at night.
The next morning, if you can’t go to Mt. Shirane due to heavy snow, you can opt to trek through a golf course – accompanied by a guide - instead. The trip takes two hours and requires you to don snow shoes. Look out for interesting sights along the way. For example, you can see some beautiful dry flowers, such as deutzia which normally blooms in May and June.
The next snow trip takes us to Echigo. Start from Niigata Station, from where you take the Shinetsu Main Line to Niitsu. From the station, take a 15-minute bus ride to the Northern Culture Museum, known for its nostalgic atmosphere. It used to be called Ito Mansion, a house of a famous and rich farmer's family. This Japanese-style house sits on premises spanning 1,200 tsubos and boasts 65 rooms, including a 100-mat Japanese-style hall. From the hall, you can see the beautiful garden built by a gardener from Kyoto. The sight of the snowy garden, which took five years to build, is a sight to behold.
Return to Niitsu Station and travel on the Uetsu Main Line to Suibara Station. Visit the gorgeous Lake Hyo, which is famous for its swans and ducks. You can even feed the swans during the feeding times of 9am, 11am or 3pm, and take some pictures. From here, take a bus to Gozu Onsengo, Murasugi Onsen. You can stay the night at Kadoya Ryokan, an 180-year-old inn with nostalgic furniture and a warm atmosphere. The rooms even have a hearth, allowing you to appreciate the rustic atmosphere of Niigata. Before dinner, take a cosy bath while enjoying the beautiful snow view. Soaking in the soothing and soft spring water is pure bliss. The luxurious meal comprises fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan and local vegetables. Dishes include gomabachime - a kind of rockfish which is served raw - satoyuki nabe and koshihikari rice.
The next morning, after a healthy breakfast of vegetables, go to Yakushi no ashiyu (foot bath) to warm your feet. Then, travel by Uetsu Main Line to Niitsu Station, and transfer to the Banetsu West Line, which runs along the Agano River. Alight at Higashi Gejo Station and go to the dock at Agano Sato - which is five minutes away - from where you can take a snow viewing boat. The boat travels along the Agano River before returning to the dock. Agano River runs through Niigata to the Sea of Japan from Fukushima. Admire the surrounding scenery and stunning snow view. The view of Mt. Sugana covered in snow creates a picturesque scene.
We next travel to Hokkaido, which is another popular place to visit during winter. Start your journey from Kushiro Station. But first, drop by a shop at the station which sells ekiben lunch boxes. You may want to buy the popular tarabazushi (crab with rice) for your train journey. Then, take the Senmo Main Line heading to Kushiro Shitsugen (wetland). A pleasant surprise awaits you at the train platform, as you will be travelling on a steam locomotive (SL). Have your camera handy to capture this nostalgic moment. SL Fuyu no Shitsugen Go runs along the Senmo Main Line during winter. Unlike ordinary trains, the SL train travels at a slow speed, allowing you to enjoy the atmosphere and the scenery to the fullest. As the train runs through the centre of the moor to Shibecha, admire the sepia colour savanna view of Kushiro Shitsugen. It spans 20,000 hectares, and is inhabited by many wild animals. You will also get to see the frozen Kushiro River as the train travels along the river through the moor.
Alight at Toro Station. If you have engaged the services of a local guide, he will pick you up from the station. Visit a horse farm, which is 10 minutes away by car from the station. You can try horse-riding or join other activities. For example, there are horse-drawn sleigh rides, and after travelling for about 800m, you will reach an erman's birch forest, where there is a snowy moor. You can see a natural field here, where many deer roam. Go to Lake Toro beside the farm, and try walking on the frozen lake. In summer, greenery surrounds the lake, while in winter, it becomes a hot fishing spot. You will even notice some ice tables, which have been cut out from the frozen lake. Next, go to the Nihonmatsu observation point. It is 10 minutes away from Lake Toro. As the sun sets, you will be overwhelmed by the surrounding natural beauty and phenomenal panoramic view of Kushiro Shitsugen and even the deer!
