How about a luxurious summer adventure in the Snow Country? With our new Oze Adventure tour, you can experience a guided excursion through the highlands of Oze and Joshin’etsu Kogen, two vast national parks containing all manner of flora, fauna, and majestic alpine scenery. Learn about our history and culture from local experts, or watch the wild macaques run around and bathe in the hot springs of the famous Jigokudani Monkey Park. For that matter, you too can experience relaxing onsen, as this tour allows you to visit two of the top three medicinal hot springs in all of Japan!
The start of your journey
Even upon your arrival in Tokyo, you are closer to us than you think: in just a 70-minute bullet train ride you will reach the town of Minakami. Take in the rare rural beauty of this mountain town while enjoying warm hospitality and a relaxing dip in the onsen. While on this tour, you will be led from town to town, mountain to mountain, by a combination of private car and local guides, ensuring both a personal one-of-a-kind experience, as well as peace of mind.
On your first night in YUKIGUNI, you will have the opportunity to stay at one of Minakami’s many premier eco-lodges. Tatsumikan is located conveniently close to Mt. Tanigawa, known as the symbol of Minakami. An onsen-lover’s paradise, Tatsumikan has not one, but six different hot springs on the inn grounds for guests to experience. Probably their best known is the Haniwa Furo, which contains artwork from the prestigious artist Kiyoshi Yamashita. At Tatsumikan, every group of diners have their own irori- a traditional charcoal hearth commonly seen around Snow Country- where they can enjoy a variety of meaty nabe and yakishabu hot pot dishes, and traditional steamed dishes like seiro mushi.
There are also famous “hidden onsen” in Minakami, such as Hoshi Onsen Chojukan. This inn is located deep within Joshinetsu Kogen National Park, in a place known for hot springs for over 400 years! The current building is from the 19th century and its owners (now in their seventh generation) have been careful to preserve its architectural splendor and old-world charm, which led to the inn being declared a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan in 2006.
The current Chojukan building is perhaps the closest an accommodation can come to feeling as if you are vacationing in a museum. Some of the original rooms still remain, albeit in a renovated form where they can be enjoyed in comfort. Many of these rooms were used by various actors, writers, and even Prime Ministers. The roof, in particular, is known for its careful construction, made using strips of cedar bark, and in the spring you can see moss and even flowers grow from it. Typically, Japanese buildings are rebuilt after a certain number of years, for example, to make them more resistant to natural disasters, so to see this sort of construction is exceedingly rare today.
When it comes to showcasing the height of luxurious rural stays, Bettei Senjuan can’t be beat. This spacious inn consists of only 18 rooms, each with their own unique style, large sleeping quarters, and even private onsen-style baths.
A more recent addition to Minakami hospitality, Senjuan was nevertheless built to blend in with and enhance the local scenery. This eco-lodge was constructed partly from local wood and clay by local craftsmen. The shoji panels were done by Niigata artists and the washi is also hand-crafted. The wide-open floorplan utilizes giant glass windows that are perfect for looking at the beautiful Japanese gardens on the grounds during the day, or watching the stars at night. As recognition for their unique and beautiful eco-lodge, Bettei Senjuan has been given numerous design awards, as well as the prestigious Green Key Award for their efforts to conserve water and electricity. Bettei Senjuan has become the sort of natural retreat where people can revitalize themselves while surrounded by nature in quiet comfort.
Into the wilderness of Oze
Enjoy a scenic drive into the mountains, and then prepare for your trek! Oze National Park encompasses an area of over 37,000 hectares, and is thought to be the most extensive mountain wetlands in all of Japan! This region was formed over 10,000 years ago due to volcanic activity in the surrounding mountains, which has resulted in the unique geography and mineral composition of these highlands, which has in turn become a refuge for unique plants and wildlife.
There are a variety of courses through the mountains, most of which take between 5 to 7 hours through mostly gentle slopes and flat plains, with the option of stopping partway to grab lunch at one of the highland lodges, or even staying the night. After a brisk uphill trek on a carefully constructed wooden path (suitable for most hiking levels), you will arrive at the famous Ozegahara Plateau, the highest marshlands on the main island of Honshu. Enjoy a pristine wetland 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.
The endless primeval beech forests, gentle ridgelines, and scenic ponds are also home to plenty of wildlife, including birds like Latham’s snipe, Japanese bush warbler, and the chestnut eared bunting. While on your journey, you may be able to see kamoshika (Japanese serow), deer, stoats, and insects including 17 different species of dragonfly. Oze is considered one of the most important conservation areas in Japan, and is a must see if you are interested in the ultimate undisturbed nature walk!
After your journey down, you will rendezvous with your private river boat enroute to an elegant mountain lodge! Oze Jujo is a brand new luxurious accommodation deep in the mountains of Ginzandaira, which sees upwards of 6 meters of snow each winter. Their concept is to “Redefine Sustainability,” and resembles more of an impromptu community of travelers than a simple hotel, with a circle of 6 multi-story villas (including a pet-friendly suite) and a common area to make new friends while roasting marshmallows and watching the stars, or bathing in the onsen while communing with the nature all around you.
An adventure to Japan’s past
Travel by car to the town of Tsunan and the Naeba Sanroku Geopark, a 442 kilometer nature preserve. There you will see Ryugakubo: where a serene forest trail opens up into a beautiful clear pond. The spring is said to be protected by the spirit of a dragon, who you can see in decorations covering the area. There are also multiple shrines along the trail where you can pray to the dragon for your own protection.
Next you will attend a tour of the brand new Umorea History Museum to learn about the Jomon, the first societies in Japan! The Jomon were famous for living in peace and prosperity for centuries, and co-existing in harmony with nature. Learn from an expert guide all about the ancient history of this area, and how we may learn from our past to continue to preserve Japan’s natural beauty.
That night, you’ll stay at Tamakiya, a boutique ryokan in the middle of Matsunoyama Onsen Village, known for pairing local sake with their unique French-inspired cuisine. The head chef of this Michelin star kitchen has worked in top class restaurants in Tokyo, and the owner himself is an expert sommelier who can recommend you the perfect glass of wine or sake for your meal!
Spending a day with the monkeys
From Matsunoyama Onsen, you will cross into Nagano Prefecture. The highlight of the day is a visit to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, where wild macaques freely walk around you and soak in natural hot springs — a once-in-a-lifetime sight found only in Japan’s Snow Country! Due of the very steep cliffs and the hot steam shooting out from the ground, this region came to be called Jigokudani, or “Hell Valley.” However, this valley has become a paradise for monkeys to live in, and a joy to behold. Though there are no fences in the park, do take normal precautions as these are still wild animals.
The surrounding accommodation include Senjukaku- a stylish mix of both East and West. Senjukaku’s hot springs (both indoor and outdoor) have the largest natural source of spring water in all of Nagano. Meanwhile, Hotel Grand Phenix is a warm and nostalgic Western style mountain lodge with spacious guest rooms, and a choice of Japanese, Chinese, or Italian dining options. Other amenities include a heated indoor pool and public bath, and their café and sauna are often frequented by day-travelers returning from the slopes.
Highland views and Kusatsu Onsen
Before the conclusion of your tour, you’ll explore more of the Shiga Kogen highlands by foot, car, and dune buggy! Then enjoy a light lunch at Japan’s highest-altitude bakery, where freshly baked bread is enjoyed alongside sweeping mountain views. In the afternoon, you will arrive at Kusatsu Onsen. Located about 200 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, Kusatsu’s world-famous onsen welcomes over three million tourists every year. Kusatsu has 19 public bathhouses to choose from, as well as private onsen in its many famous ryokan inns known for their refined hospitality.
TOUR INFORMATION
YUKIGUNI ＆ Oze Adventure
July – October
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!
