By Matt Klampert The opening of Yuzawa After Yasunari Kawabata’s

By Matt Klampert There has long been interest in our

By Matt Klampert Occasionally, people from the Snow Country Tourism

By Matt Klampert The term YUKIGUNI means “Snow Country” in

By Matt Klampert Aside from baseball and sumo, the other

By Matt Klampert In the past we have written about

By Matt Klampert If you have spent any time at

By Matt Klampert Did you know? The YUKIGUNI area of

Ohnishi Osamu / Ohnishi Masako, “Grand march of GERONPA” 　

By Matt Klampert While you are enjoying your time in

By Matt Klampert In the past, before telephones, television, and

By Matt Klampert In our overview of the many “strange

By Matt Klampert The area of YUKIGUNI, particularly around the

By Matt Klampert Art in this region of Japan has

In YUKIGUNI (snow country), the weaving industry has always been

At the heart of the diversity of Japanese culture lies, in fact, a single cultural source. This is the topic of the Jomon culture, which after a long time has once again become an enigmatic and fascinating place.

A culture that has lasted for 10,000 years, unparalleled in world history. Living in harmony with nature. Villages arranged in a circle so that they can see each other, which develops the connections of people. Plenty of time because we are buried in snow in winter. Something that has been left behind in modern times is there. Something fundamental. Jomon asks us “What is richness?”

Let’s close our eyes, sharpen our senses, and contemplate the ancient Jomon culture of Japan.
Through the Jomon culture, which lived in harmony with the forest for 10,000 years, you may find hints for thinking about modern society.

Scattered across YUKIGUNI are fabric production areas. These fabrics have, since ancient times, had a deep connection with the climate, nature and the life of the people of YUKIGUNI. We visited local people involved in the production of these fabrics.

What kind of place is “YUKIGUNI (Snow Country)”, a place that was visited, loved and written about by the famous Japanese writers such as Kawabata Yasunari, Dazai Osamu, Sakaguchi Ango and Suzuki Bokushi? Let us take you on a journey in their footsteps.

Many people who come to the YUKIGUNI (snow country) for skiing or snowboarding probably only remember places like the ski resort or the train station. And that’s a real shame!

Let’s take a trip to this pure white world where white snow lies in thick layers.

“Hyakuhatto, Hyakuhatto, one hundred rice is ittogosho, Jumonshu is 16 cups, 16 cups.”

Let’s go on a journey around the Snow Country through “words”.