Facebook
Instagram

Access

70 minutes from Tokyo

TrainJR Tokyo Station – Echigo Yuzawa Station1hr 10m (Joetsu Shinkansen)
CarTokyo – Tsukiyono1hr 25m
 Tokyo – Yuzawa (167 km)1hr 50m

Click here for railway information

from Niigata

TrainJR Niigata Station – Echigo Yuzawa Station50m (Joetsu Shinkansen)
CarNiigata – Yuzawa (131 km)1hr 30mins

from Kanazawa

TrainJR Kanazawa Station – Echigo Yuzawa Station2hrs 30mins (Hokuhoku Line)
CarKanazawa – Yuzawa (339 km)4hrs
Area Database
Access map from Tokyo to YUKIGUNI

What you can find on this site

The history of living with snow, the unique local stories of life and culture, especially of food culture, which is the result of snowfall. And proposals for special tours where you can encounter unique local culture and gastronomy.

On this site you will be inspired by the culture behind the Japanese countryside and the different mindset of the people who live there from those of the West. In YUKIGUNI (snow country), the way of life is deeply rooted in the heart of the people, who have lived with the snow for a long time. It is a very special environment and a different culture in Japan.

If you see travel as an opportunity to expand your mind and broaden your horizons, rather than just sightseeing, then this site will give you some Tips. To get an overview, you might like to read this article.

Overview of our region

This is the official website of the Snow Country Tourism Zone, which was accredited by the Japanese Tourism Agency in 2008.

YUKIGUNI featured on this site has a history of over 8,000 years. From as far back as the Jomon period, our ancestors have lived in a world of pure white. Our ancestors have been living in this pure white world since the Jomon period, and the wisdom they have developed here is still alive today.

The location is 37 degrees north latitude. This is the same latitude as San Francisco, Athens and Lisbon. In spite of its relatively mild climate, YUKIGUNI receives an unparalleled amount of snow between December and April.

The secret lies in the warm currents in the Sea of Japan. When the moist air carried by the warm currents hits the first high mountains, such as Mount Naeba and Tanigawa-dake, the air is rapidly cooled and snow falls. As a result, the snow here has a high moisture content and is very sticky, creating a unique snow landscape.

Learn More

What enriches your journey

The source of YUKIGUNI culture is wisdom. Here the winter shuts out almost half the year, the wisdom to overcome this still lives on. 

This wisdom can most prominently be seen in YUKIGUNI food. From early spring to late autumn mountain vegetables are harvested, pickled in salt or dried. The fermented foods culture here is world renowned. This aspect of YUKIGUNI food culture you can have personal experiences in the gastronomy tours.

Furthermore textile culture is prominent in YUKIGUNI. Textile work is well suited for the cold winters, and the humidity characteristic of YUKIGUNI conveniently means the thread doesn’t break so easily. Textile culture started with the Jomon, with the cloth ‘Angin’ and this has been passed down via UNESCO Cultural Heritage ‘Echigo Jofu’ (high quality cloth). Snow workers using snow bleach is another example of YUKIGUNI wisdom.

And accommodation is a very important part of travel. Sometimes you want to stay in something a little more luxurious. At YUKIGUNI, we have a range of accommodation grades that have been certified by Sakura Quality, Japan’s standard accommodation certification system.

Please feel free to contact us to discuss your requirements, from accommodation to experiences, and we will be happy to make suggestions to suit your travel needs.

Contact Us

Things to do

Hot Springs

Hot springs that have been providing warmth and healing for over 1,200 years, along with a stay in a classic or contemporary ryokan.

Art Festival

Japan’ s largest contemporary art festival that connects artifacts from 10,000 years ago with art created in the present day.

Workshops

Cooking workshops with seasonal, local ingredients and using a traditional Japanese wood-burning stove.

Trekking

Trekking through the snow using the traditional handmade snowshoes while a local guide explains the geography, scenery, history, and culture of the region.
Find out more

Weather

Winter (early December – late March)
Breezer, snow, cold, dry, sometimes clear blue sky
Around -3.7 °C – 3.3 °C

Late Winter (early April – late April)
Snow, sometimes rain, dry
Around 3.9 °C – 15.3 °C

Spring (early May- early June)
A lot of cloudy days, rain, some snow, moderately humid
Around 9.8 °C – 21.4 °C

Summer (late June – late September)
Clear blue sky, some shower, humid
Around 19.3 °C – 29.9 °C

Autumn (Early October – late November)
Clear blue sky, some rain, dry, some snow
Around 3.7 °C – 12.6 °C