A SNOW COUNTRY WITH TWO DIFFERENT FACES
The difference between summer and winter in Yukiguni is astounding. It is not just the contrast between green and white that changes but also the selection of different experiences from which to choose. The best activities vary by season but all of them have their roots in this unique environment, and the winter snows are never far from mind.
DECEMBER - APRIL
BLANKETED IN SNOW
A land blanketed in snow offers stunningly beautiful scenery in every direction. The amount of snow that can fall in winter can startle even a seasoned winter lover. It is not unknown for a meter of snow to fall overnight. People have been living here among the heavy snows for over eight thousand years, and knowledge of how to survive and thrive in this environment has been passed down through the ages. Cultural activities during this season bring you into contact with some of this wisdom and the way of life here. There are also opportunities to get out into the snow and enjoy it. The purity of winter also lets you refresh both your body and soul on the retreat program.
APRIL - NOVEMBER
VITALITY IN THE FOREST
After the white winter, spring sees the colors return to Yukiguni. The snow gradually melts, revitalizing the land with its abundant waters. It is thanks to that pure water that rice cultivation and sake making thrive, with this area producing the most sought after rice in the whole of Japan. As the forests coating the mountains recover the rich greenery of their leaves, the patchwork of rice fields on the valley floor offers another range of colors as the rice moves through its growing cycle. Meander through the rice fields on a bicycle, enjoying the sights and sound of this peaceful, rural countryside, or enjoy the full body relaxation of the retreat program as your mind too finds the peace it seeks.
