This week we travel around Japan during winter in search of rare snow views. We will enjoy excellent natural sights, try out unique activities and get a taste of delicious local delicacies along the way.

For the first trip, start by taking the Tobu Railway from Asakusa to Aizu Tajima Station in Fukushima. The train journey takes about 3.5 hours. From the station, take a one-man train heading to Aizu Wakamatsu Station, and enjoy the view of the snow and mountains during the ride. Make a stopover at Yunokami Onsen Station, which has a thatched roof. Take a 20-minute taxi ride to a sightseeing site, Ouchijuku. There is a nice spot here where you can get a panoramic view of Ouchijuku, the snow and several thatched roof houses dating from the Edo period. After exploring Ouchijuku, resume your journey on the Aizu Line and alight at Aizu Wakamatsu Station, from where you change to the Tadami Line. There are many scenic spots along the 135.2km line, which links up Fukushima and Niigata. Do note that the line only has three trains per day, so it’s best to find out the timings in advance. As you head to Aizu Miyashita Station along the Tadami Line, you can admire the view of Mt. Bandai from the train window. Aizu Miyashita is said to be the most scenic spot along the Tadami Line. If you’re unfamiliar with the place, you can get a guide to take you around. From Michi no Eki, climb up a trail for five minutes, before reaching a spot which offers panoramic views. You will be able to see the grandeur of the Tadami River. If you’re lucky, you will also be able to catch a train crossing the Tadami-gawa Bridge No.1. Keep your camera handy to capture this beautiful moment.

Next, head to an inn called Furusato-so, which is located in Miyashita Onsen. This quiet and nostalgic inn is known for its homely atmosphere and scenic views of Tadami River and the snow. Before dinner, visit the Tewassa no Sato, which has no entrance fee. Seventeen local shops have opened workshops and galleries here. Crafts and photos are exhibited and give you a glimpse into the life of people in Oku-aizu. Food and other goods are also sold here. Next, go to a cosy spa which uses fresh spring water. Do be careful, though, as the source of this spa is 55 degrees, so it is hotter than other spas. After this refreshing spa, tuck into a 13-dish dinner which includes vegetables, chicken breast salad, Aizu chicken pot, liver, and grilled red salmon caught from Lake Numazawa.

The next morning, take the early train from Aizu Miyashita Station and head to Aizu Kawaguchi Station. The inn can prepare some breakfast - such as some warm and delicious rice balls - for you to munch on during your journey. Once the train reaches Aizu Kawaguchi, you may want to alight. The train stops at this station for eight minutes, so you can explore the station, snap some pictures and hop on the train again. Enjoy the natural snow scenery as the train continues its journey along Tadami River. Get off at Tadami Station and take a 10-minute taxi ride to the scenic Tadami Dam, which is surrounded by mountains and beautiful snow views. Relax and take your time to savour the peaceful and beautiful scenery. Return to Tadami Station and you can have lunch at a restaurant here. Its speciality is wappameshi, and you can order either grilled or steamed sweetfish wappameshi with lightly-seasoned rice; or crab wappameshi. After lunch, if you have some time to spare, drop by a hotel – Toki no Sato, Utara – which also has day spa facilities. Its spacious indoor bath and open-air bath are cosy and you can enjoy beautiful snow views while you bathe. However, do keep track of the time and make sure you don’t miss the last train. End your trip along the Tadami Line by taking the train to the terminal, Koide.

Our next adventure takes us Hokkaido. Visit the town of drift ice, Monbetsu, along the Sea of Okhotsk, and then enjoy the snow views of Shiretoko, which has been designated as a world heritage site. First take a bus to see drift ice at Monbetsu. Once the bus reaches the port, you can join a drift ice sightseeing tour of the Sea of Okhotsk. However if the weather is bad, you can opt to cruise around the Monbetsu Port instead. After this tour, head to downtown Monbetsu for lunch. There is a popular seafood shop here will sells kanboshi (dried fish). Due to drift ice, sometimes boats can’t go out to sea for fishing, so fish caught during autumn is dried by cold air and served during winter. You can buy a variety of dried fish such as salmon, saury, slime flounder and herring, and eat what you’ve chosen at a restaurant beside the seafood shop. A meal of a variety of dried fish costs 800 yen (S$12.42).

After lunch, make your way to Shiretoko, where you can experience an icy world and see drift ice on the Sea of Okhotsk.  First, go to Abashiri by bus. After an hour, you will be able to see the frozen Lake Saroma – the largest lake in Hokkaido - as the bus travels along the shore. The frozen lake is a popular tourist attraction during winter. You will arrive at Abashiri after 2.5 hours. Take the Senmo Main Line from Abashiri Station to Shiretoko Shari Station, the gateway of Shiretoko. Enjoy the view of Shiretoko Renzan during the 50-minute train ride. From Shiretoko Shari Station, hop onboard a route bus to Utoro Onsen. If you’re lucky, you may be able to see some drift ice floating on the sea during the scenic one-hour ride along the Sea of Okhotsk. Once you reach Utoro, head to an inn where you can stay the night. Somebody from the hotel you choose may be able to pick you up from the station if you wish. There is a 12-year-old hotel located near the Sea of Okhotsk, and it offers beautiful sea views from its lobby and rooms. The cosy inn has a fireplace to warm you up, and a spa where you can relax. Dinner is served in a hall. The hotel’s speciality is oil fondue. Indulge in the exquisite taste of freshly fried food such as Hokkaido’s white cheese and extravagant local red king crab. Other items to choose from include sashimi, autumn salmon grilled with butter; and scallop hamayaki.

The next morning, try out an interesting activity – walking on drift ice. Arrange for a guide to pick you up from the hotel, and head to the seashore. Do be careful as you look out for drift ice on the sea. You will also need to wear a dry suit as a safety precaution. If there is no drift ice covering the sea, you could just walk along the shore and enjoy the icy cold atmosphere. And who knows, you may even get to see a mink – a rare sight - as you explore the area. After this, go on a hot-air balloon ride to enjoy a panoramic snow view of Shiretoko from 1,500 metres high. As you float up like a bird flying in the sky, you will be able to see the snowy summit of Shiretoko Renzan, and yes, maybe even some drift ice covering the sea, creating a beautiful white continent!