Big Winter Limited Adventure with Heartwarming Encounters in the Cold Winter!
– The Beginning of a winter that will never forget! –
Well, it is winter season in Japan and the much awaited snow season is here for those who enjoy winter sports.
Of course, Niseko (Hokkaido) and Hakuba (Niigata) are the most famous spots, but we are here to introduce you to some hidden spots that are not yet well known to travelers from overseas.
We will not only introduce you to winter sports, but also to the deep and genuine charm of Japan, including cultural experiences, local cuisine, and interaction with the local people.
Let’s create winter memories that will stay in your heart forever by experiencing winter sports and Japanese culture!
New adventures and experiences beyond the standard are waiting for you.
Introduce Hidden and Attractive Ski Resort Areas – Heartland Japan Presents –
In winter in Japan, there are many undiscovered areas to enjoy outside of the standard spots. With little waiting time for the lifts, one can fully enjoy skiing and snowboarding at one’s own pace.
Shiga Kogen Area
(Nagano Prefecture)
Skiing/Snowboarding/Cross Country/Snowshoeing/Tree Ice/Snow Monkey
Shiga Kogen is one of the largest snow resorts in Japan, located in an area of rich nature designated as a UNESCO Eco Park. It is a sacred place where the Olympics and the World Cup have been held. 18 ski resorts of various sizes are gathered in this area at an altitude of 2307 meters, and all the ski resorts can be visited, offering a wide variety of courses that cannot be skied even if you had a whole week.
Within the area of Shiga Kogen UNESCO Eco Park, which was accepted as Japan’s first UNESCO Eco Park in 1980, is the Joshinetsu Kogen National Park, a spectacular natural environment. It is here that through sustainable SDGs activities, they aim to achieve sustainable development of the local community by practicing ” Coexistence of Nature and Human Society”.
Yudanaka-Shibu Onsenkyo
Yudanaka-Shibu Onsenkyo, consisting of nine hot spring resorts, is located at the foot of the Shiga Kogen Plateau and has a long history of familiarity with its 1,350 year-old hot springs.
With its numerous spring qualities, abundant hot spring water, and hot spring water that is free-flowing at the source, the area has long been popular as a hot spring healing spot, and is gaining popularity as the best hot spring resort in Shinshu.
The streets, with their cobblestone pathways and traditional wooden guesthouses, are full of history and elegance, and one feels as if experiencing a time travel to the past.
Snow Monkey
The Jigokudani Yaen-koen is home to wild Japanese macaques that coexist freely in the natural environment, and is a rare place in the world where you can closely observe wild macaques bathing in hot springs and their actions. Through the monkeys’ life in a protected natural environment, it raises awareness of nature conservation and ecosystem protection, and provides a valuable experience of interacting with nature and animals.
Our YouTube channel mainly features adventure tours in underdeveloped areas where hidden Japanese traditional culture and traditional crafts are still alive and well.
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Off the Beaten Track YouTube videos will be available in the future!
Myoko Area
(Niigata Prefecture)
Skiing/Snowboarding/Cross Country/Snowshoeing
Belonging to the Myoko Togakurenzan National Park, newly created in 2015, Mt. Myoko is one of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan, with hot spring resorts spread out at its foot.
There are 9 ski resorts in the city, rich in individuality and suitable for both beginners and advanced skiers, where there is the best powder snow in Myoko’s heavy snowfall.
Around Myoko are Lake Nojiri, where fossils of Naumann elephants have been discovered, and Madarao Plateau, where powder snow can be enjoyed with its abundant snowfall, providing an area where both nature and the great outdoors can be enjoyed fully.
The Welsh writer and environmentalist C・W Nicol was also attracted to Lake Nojiri, where he spent almost 40 years
Myoko Kogen Onsen-kyo
Myoko Kogen Onsen-kyo consists of seven hot springs located at the foot of Mt. Myoko, where five different spring qualities and three different colors of water can be enjoyed. Such a hot spring village with different spring qualities dotted throughout the area is rare in Japan, and the hot springs will refresh your body and soul after snow activities.
Lake Nojiriko
Founded by Japanese outdoor legend Goh Yoshihara, LAMP, a popular lodging facility in Japan is located here at Lake Nojiriko! Around it, the great nature of Mt. Kurohime, Mt. Myoko, and Mt. Ikarao Kogen spreads out, and at night, enjoy the stars in the sky and a homemade sauna while having a luxurious time.
＊If you would like to contact “LAMP“, it will be easier to book if you mention that you saw HJ’s newsletter. Or, please contact Heartland Japan.
Norikura Area(Straddling Nagano Prefecture and Gifu Prefecture)
Skiing/Snowboarding/Cross Country/Snowshoeing/Tree Ice/Ice Waterfall
Chubu-Sangaku National Park, one of the first national parks, was founded in 1934 and is the birthplace of mountaineering culture, and the entire area of Mt. Norikura belongs to Chubu-Sangaku National Park.
Matsumoto City is overflowing with spring water from the Northern Alps flowing from Norikura-dake (Mt. Norikura) and Kamikochi ( Mt. Kamikochi), and the local people take advantage of this blessing in their daily lives and are known for their delicious soba (buckwheat noodles). The moat of Matsumoto Castle, designated as a national treasure, is also fed by spring water. Although Norikura Kogen is a national park, it is also a land where people live, where the mountains are protected and nature is a part of their lives, and precious time is spread out here.
Norikura is located in a great location, close to the natural attractions of Hida Takayama and Kamikochi.
The Myoko area is a huge ski area with 10 ski resorts, 129 diverse runs, and 61 lifts. The ski resorts in the Myoko area boast abundant snowfall of about 16 m a year, which consistently ranks high in the snowfall rankings of Japanese ski resorts. This amount of snowfall is rare even from a global perspective, and although the area is sometimes affected by weather conditions, it is an attractive area to encounter powder snow in a relatively stable environment.
Making Temari Ame (Candy)
Ame (Candy) is so well established in daily life in Matsumoto City that every January the city holds the “National Ame Exposition and Sale” called “Ame-ichi,” where famous and rare ame from all over Japan are displayed and sold.
In Matsumoto City, there is a long-established ame (candy) shop that was founded in 1672, which is 346 years ago.
In the dry climate of Matsumoto, Shinshu, they started making candy using pure spring water and rice as raw materials. 346 years later, they still carry on their predecessors’ intentions and offer more than 20 types of candy made from rice candy, an ancient Japanese sweetener that is popular among all ages and genders.
Experience a unique and precious “candy-making experience” from the artisans who have inherited the intentions of their predecessors, only available here.
Norikura San-Taki Waterfalls
Norikura is famous for three representative waterfalls called Norikura San-taki Falls, including Sanbon-taki Falls, which was selected as one of the 100 best waterfalls in Japan.
Put on snowshoes and experience the fantastic, powerful, and breathtaking view of the Zengoro Falls as they transform into an icefall at the end of a path lined with beautiful coniferous trees.
Hida Takayama
A place full of old-world charm with historic buildings, traditional streets, and culture that has remained since the Edo period and is still alive and well respected for its traditional handicrafts. Enjoy a stroll through the historic streets and get a full taste of the local food and culture.
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For more information about this sample itinerary, We will coordinate with local suppliers on dates, prices, and details of the program. We will coordinate with local suppliers on dates, prices, and details of the program and provide the program to you.
Please contact us for more information. We look forward to providing you with a unique and immersive experience in the region.
Heartlandjapan Achievement Report
Heartland Japan is working to connect Japan’s regions with the rest of the world through cross-cultural innovation with the goal of improving local well-being. started in 2017 as a travel business specializing in inbound travel, but missed the opportunity to grow with the 2020-2022 Corona disaster, It remained at a standstill. However, in the first half of 2023, post-Corona, the number of inbound travelers reached 98,400, 26.8% of which visited the regions (as of July 2023). We will continue to focus on local revitalization through attracting travelers to rural areas to further promote our mission.
Currently, Japan as a whole is affected by overtourism, making it difficult to find accommodations. As a result, efforts to find places of Japan not generally known to the public are gaining momentum.
Our theme is ” Hidden Japan,” and we are offering our clients a fascinating experience that is different from the usual travel experience.
If you are looking for ” Hidden Japan”, please contact us, our “Hidden Japan” specialists, and we will be happy to help you.
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We have been having many requests from agents overseas, mentioning that they are trying to expand their destinations in/to Japan or they have already but need help creating the itineraries for their clients to keep up with the demand.Heartland Japan has increased the number of staff to accommodate these requests. If you are hand-full and need some advice, we are here to help.