Interested in an unforgettable green season trip? Let’s learn all about two great one-of-a-kind nature tours in hidden Japan: the Oze Adventure Tour and the Snow Country Arts and Crafts Tour! These two excursions are a great way to introduce you to just how much there is to see and do in Snow Country before the snow even comes! All of this expansive nature and culture is yours to enjoy- in luxury, and with a private car to boot. Let the adventure begin!
Where you can go
So, where is the best place for outdoor adventure in YUKIGUNI? How about Oze? With an area of over 37,000 hectares, Oze National Park is thought to be the most extensive mountain wetlands in all of Japan! Go on a hike through gentle slopes and flat plains while admiring vibrant wildlife all around you as you ascend to Ozegahara Plateau, the highest marshlands in all of Honshu. This pristine wetland is full of undisturbed fields of endless beautiful flowers, including Sandwort, Edelweiss, Daylily, Bog asphodel, and Japonolirion. In addition, there are currently 42 species of plants known to have been first discovered within Oze, and 19 of these are confirmed to only grow here.
In addition to Oze, you can also visit Joshin’etsu-kogen National Park, the location of Kiyotsu Gorge and the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale. The latter is the oldest rural arts festival in Japan, where you can enjoy giant installations from all over the world spread out between the twin towns of Tokamachi and Tsunan. The objective of many of the works of art in the festival is to blend nature with unique creative interpretation, such as the Tunnel of Light at Kiyotsu Gorge. The works of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale encompass both installations and permanent galleries, such as those in the MonET museum, a permanent exhibition designed by the famous architect Hiroshi Hara, which houses over 200 exhibits throughout the year.
Nearby are the towns of Tsubame and Sanjo, which have long been famous for their metalworking, especially for the manufacture of tableware. You will be able to tour centuries old factories and museums, as well as participate in metalworking workshops for yourself, and create interesting and useful souvenirs to bring home with you!
What you can eat
The Snow Country region, being relatively isolated from the rest of the country for so long, has developed its own unique cuisine. On this tour you can sample everything from hearty home cooking to Michelin star meals during your travels.
Eel Restaurant Honda was first founded in 1904, and has become famous locally as the best place for eel cuisine. First the fresh eel is steamed, then grilled over charcoal and topped with Honda’s own original sauce to make fantastic traditional “kabayaki.” The two floor establishment also has private dining rooms available.
Tokamachi’s Yuge features multiple course farm to table “kaiseki” meals where you can converse with the chef and watch as she cooks. The menu features plenty of fresh mountain vegetables as well as grilled and simmered fresh caught fish dishes. The menu changes seasonally, so every visit is sure to be a treat!
Ryu Sushi in Minamiuonuma was featured in the Michelin Niigata 2020 guide, and aims to innovate with new and creative sushi techniques. Enjoy sushi with a local flair, like fatty tuna combined with black maitake mushroom, or sea bream with chrysanthemum. They use local koshihikari rice, and pair it with delicious and crisp local sake.
Speaking of sake, other tour destinations include everything from famous old sake breweries to pickle factories, where knowledge has been handed down from generation to generation for centuries. Enjoy a delicious bite of history!
Where to stay
Throughout your trip in YUKIGUNI, you will be treated to premium stays at one or more of Snow Country’s many luxurious eco-lodges. Some of them, like Hoshi Onsen Chojukan, are noted architectural marvels that have been declared Registered Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan. Others are quite exclusive, such as Tamakiya, an 8 room boutique hotel in the center of the famous Matsunoyama Onsen Village. Or perhaps you’d like to truly be away from it all, such as at Oze Jujo in Ginzandaira- where you can see the stars at night, cloud waterfalls at the crack of dawn, and enjoy sumptuous farm to table meals in the evening.
I want to do something else!
Do you have any other places you’d like to visit on this tour, any dietary restrictions, or would you simply like to mix and match the best of two or more tours? No problem! These tour itineraries can be easily customized to your liking. Feel free to browse this site to see if there is anything else in the 7 towns and cities of YUKIGUNI that might better meet your expectations.
Meet our experts
We have a dedicated team of locals, deeply rooted in YUKIGUNI culture, who are responsible for creating and planning these bespoke journeys. With our trusted local connections, you can be assured of the best possible experience in safety and comfort.
Now, let’s meet our tour director, Mr. Mitsuhiro Sugiyama. He can be found at the Snow Country Information Center most days, but also loves to join in these tours himself!
Q: Please tell us about yourself
A: I was born in Niigata, and attended university in Tokyo. I stayed in Tokyo for work for a time, but then moved to Yuzawa, where I have lived now for 33 years.
As a hobby, at least once a month I like to go up into the local mountains like Mt. Tairappyo. It’s a good way to relax and also test my physical limitations (especially as I’ve recently turned 60!). If I have time I also like going around on e-bikes, partly for work but also as a hobby.
Q: Tell us about the charms of rural Japan
A: I spent time as a student in Tokyo, and still often go there on business. Tokyo is a lot of fun, but I prefer my life in Yuzawa. It’s a relaxing place, very unlike a modern urban concrete jungle. Here you can really feel like you are living with nature. For example, it will be winter here soon, and the feeling of seeing fresh snow piled up in the sunny morning is really refreshing.
Q: What is it like to stay at a Snow Country Eco-lodge?
A: Your room is right near the mountains and streams so there is abundant nature, and also great onsen. For example at Oze Jujo you are right near Lake Okutadami, and in the spring when the snow melts you can experience nature “waking up,” and see the clear and beautiful changes in the seasons.
Q: What are some “must try” foods when staying in YUKIGUNI?
A: Of course, guests must try sansai! The mushrooms here are delicious as well, though it’s sometimes difficult to know which ones are the best to pick. And of course our famous koshihikari rice. I’d also personally recommend people try ayu here. Ayu, or sweetfish is fragrant and has great flavor. It is best to try these local foods at the source, right after they come out of the water or the earth, when they are most delicious.
Q: Restaurants you’d recommend as a local
A: Definitely try Yuge in Tokamachi! They use extremely fresh ingredients to create dishes which are both delicious and easy to eat for newcomers. For guests who would like to try their hand at making our cuisine themselves, I’d also recommend heading over to Daigenta Studio for one of our cooking workshops!
Q: As a guide yourself, what in particular do you like about this tour?
A: So far, our guests on this tour have been very impressed with the food, and also realizing the beauty of our mountains and nature. This is true both in summer and fall; you can experience a beautiful and peaceful journey in all seasons!
Q: What have you learned from overseas tourists lately?
A: Although it is true that most people come to Japan on the Golden Route (Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka), people these days are also concerned with over-tourism, so they spend less time at certain crowded destinations in order to enjoy some time here.
Q: What most surprises guests the most during the tours?
A: People were shocked by the variety of food! Also the beautiful nature at Oze.
Q: What is “YUKIGUNI Culture” really? What is life here like?
A: When we say “Snow Country Culture,” we are talking about the knowledge passed down for hundreds of years for how to live in harsh conditions in peace with the natural world.
Throughout history, people were able to live here without modern conveniences. In Tokyo, for example, it would be unthinkable to live without electricity and gas, whereas here we use things like yukimuro for refrigeration. In the evening we can enjoy the night sky as it is naturally without worrying about things such as light pollution.
Q: How can we preserve Snow Country for the future?
A: To be honest, this is something everyone can help with- just by being aware of your surroundings and not leaving trash, for example. As locals, we can also teach our children about the good points of our region and culture, and pass down this knowledge so that people living here will value their roots.
Contact us now for a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Step 1: Get in Touch
Wondering where to stay or what unique tours to try? Just drop us a message! We’re here to answer any questions and help you feel at ease.
Step 2: Let’s Plan Together
We’ll chat about your style, budget, and travel dates to create a personalized itinerary that’s perfect for you.
Step 3: Confirm & Explore
Once you love the plan, we’ll finalize the details. Then, all that’s left is to set off on an unforgettable Snow Country adventure customized just for you!
