Uonuma, Niigata Prefecture might be most well-known for its koshihikari rice manufacturing, however that doesn’t imply that it’s solely value visiting within the hotter months. Whereas we beforehand compiled a few of the greatest autumn actions to do in Uonuma, let’s construct on that record by two uncommon festivals that blur the traces between hearth and ice when the temperature drops and the snow begins to pile up in a prefecture recognized for being a part of Japan’s “snow nation” on the Sea of Japan coast.
First, the Yunosato Snow Pageant of 108 Lights has continued for 380 years on the native Oritate Onsen to ensure that individuals to wish for good well being and a big harvest. Held on the primary Sunday of each March, the pageant options 108 straw bonfires (consultant of the 108 earthly sins of Buddhist perception) lit on the snowy mountain’s ridge adopted by a show of fireworks. The sight of the burning flames in opposition to the snow creates an otherworldly environment.
On the identical time, native representatives pound glutinous rice into mochi in a gentle rhythm, finally set to the backdrop of conventional track because the fires start to burn. The particular environment is neatly summarized on this video from 2023’s pageant.
Second, the Snow Flower Water Pageant takes place each February at Yabuue Hachimangu Shrine within the metropolis’s Horinouchi district. The pageant is claimed so far again to the Edo interval (1600-1868) earlier than truly fizzling out, however was then revived by locals in 1988. Recent water drawn on New Yr’s Day is poured over males who have been married within the earlier yr to want for marital concord and household security.
Get a style of the marital magic (struggling?) within the following video.
We suppose that is one pageant you’ll be more than pleased to look at from a distance!
As a bonus, festivals aren’t the one factor to do within the winter in Uonuma, which can also be a snow lover’s paradise. As an illustration, whereas ready for the festivals to start, you would possibly get some daytime train by snowshoeing. Snowshoes assist extra evenly distribute your weight over a bigger space, permitting you to stroll on snow with out sinking, however their weight, mixed with the distinctive actions they require to maneuver round in, lead to a wonderful however low-impact muscular and cardiovascular exercise. The perfect time to go snowshoeing in Uonuma is between January and March. You may take a solo hike in a glowing winter wonderland like this…
…or participate in a bunch hike led by employees from the Uonuma Metropolis Tourism Affiliation, from which you may also hire snowshoes. A half-day tour prices 5,000 yen (US$32) per particular person and requires a minimal of two individuals to run.
In the meantime, households with little ones would possibly get pleasure from watching them zoom round on a Snow Strider, which is an everyday Strider stability bike with a particular ski attachment that makes it straightforward to journey on the snow. You may hire one at Uonuma’s Koide Ski Space, which is about to open on December 26 this yr.
Snow Striders for the children might be a enjoyable, family-friendly various to snowboarding or snowboarding if you wish to hit the slopes.
Lastly, a reasonably distinctive exercise is gathering sap from Echigo Herb Perfume Park Irihirose’s painted maple timber. Sap from these timber is boiled down to supply maple syrup.
The park even presents excursions to indicate how the timber are tapped for sap. Excitingly, this expertise additionally contains sampling a few of the pure sweetener on bread or as natural tea. Given the extra restricted timeframe for sap assortment between late February and early March, please be aware that tour reservations should be made no less than three days prematurely. The payment for adults is 5,000 yen and the payment for elementary school-age youngsters is 3,000 yen.
There are loads extra causes to go to Niigata, not the least of which is that the prefecture was ranked within the high 5 prefectures chosen for scrumptious meals in all of Japan. Completely satisfied winter festival-going, snow-playing, and consuming whilst you’re there!
Associated: Koide Ski Space, Echigo Herb Park Irighirose
Supply, photos: @Press
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