Yukiguni
In winter, Siberian winds cross the Sea of Japan and blanket the steep hills in deep drifts, giving rise to the nickname Yukiguni: Snow Country.
Winter temperatures hover around freezing, and the cycles of thawing and snowing give rise to geologic formations
The road crews don't just plow, they carve with industrial-strength snowblowers
Skiing the slopes above Lake Tazawa
What to do in winter? Pound rice cakes while the sun shines!
Just when you catch up on shoveling, it snows again...
Beech trees leafing out on the slopes of Mt. Chokai
Shrinking snowpack atop Mt. Chokai
Even in May the snow is still melting!
Sakura in full bloom on a north-facing slope
