Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for its Gassho-style thatched roof houses. Gassho-zukuri is a unique Japanese architectural style that is constructed by placing wooden beams in a mountain shape. This structure is well suited to the natural conditions of Shirakawa-go, which sees a lot of heavy snow. There are still 300-year-old private houses in Shirakawa-go.

Shirakawa-go, one of Japan's leading heavy snowfall areas, is often covered with 2-3 meters of snow, and the scenery is a fantastic snow world. Particularly in January and February, it is worth seeing the townscape as it is illuminated at night – the white-capped roofs seem to float in the darkness of the night. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the whole village covered in snow.

But when you visit, be sure to prepare! As it's quite cold, do wear a winter coat, boots, hat, and gloves that will shield you from the cold and wet snow.

Kenrokuen is one of Ishikawa Prefecture's most popular tourist spots. It is one of the three most famous Japanese gardens in Japan, along with Kairakuen in Ibaraki and Korakuen in Okayama and is renowned as a representative daimyo garden from the Edo period.

Yukitsuri (lit. "snow hanging") is a landscaping technique that takes place before the winter each year, whereby bamboo poles are erected, from which ropes are hung to support tree branches. This sight, which becomes rather trendy on social media each winter, is done so that the trees will not be broken due to the weight of the snow that accumulates. The scenery is stunning and has become a symbol of Kanazawa.

Yukitsuri work begins on November 1st every year and signals the start of winter. It takes about one month to complete (until around December). Five hundred gardeners will apply it to about 800 places according to the type of tree. Yukitsuri are usually removed around March 15th and takes about a week; this process tends to coincide with the start of spring.

The snow-hung trees look like they are holding a Japanese umbrella. When the snow is piled up, it's elegant and beautiful.

Kanazawa Castle, which is located right next to Kenrokuen Garden, is a faithful reproduction of the prized castle. Ishikawa-mon and Sanjuken-nagaya, structures that still exist from the Edo period, are designated as important cultural properties of the country.

The snow-covered white roof and white walls of Kanazawa Castle are powerful and beautiful. The contrast with the stone walls is also fantastic, and it is a magnificent view in winter.

Kanazawa Castle Park centers around Kanazawa Castle and hosts a light-up event in winter. The trees and buildings in Kanazawa Castle and the adjacent Kenrokuen Garden are arranged in a fantastic display.

Kenrokuen and Kanazawa Castle reflect the history and culture of the region. Both have a fair number of slopes, so we recommend that you wear shoes that have good traction and are easy to walk in during the snow season.

In Kanazawa's three geisha districts, you can really feel the history. There are three teahouse areas here that are well worth wandering through: Higashi Chaya District, Nishi Chaya District, and Kazuemachi Chaya District. In these teahouse districts, geisha in Kanazawa practice their art every day. You may also hear the sounds of drums and shamisen, especially in the evening. The scenery is simply spellbinding, and the snowy days make it even more attractive.

Kanazawa's geisha districts are lined with restaurants, machiya cafes, and souvenir shops selling traditional crafts. Be sure to rent a kimono and take a photo with a charming streetscape in the background.

Kanazawa's Nagamachi Samurai District is lined with residences where samurai of the Edo period had lived. They are covered with komokake to protect the earthen walls from freezing snow in winter. Komokake are braided straw mats that prevent meltwater from getting into cracks in the soil, in turn preventing the soil from peeling off. It is a lot of work to apply them, but the resulting appearance is very popular with tourists as a winter tradition of Kanazawa.

Takayama City, which retains the appearance of a castle town during the Edo period, is located in the northern part of Gifu Prefecture. Here, even the highest winter temperatures can still be well under freezing. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery with pure white snow on historic buildings and nature-rich landscape.

The old townscapes of Takayama City have been selected as one of the important preservation areas for traditional Japanese buildings and retains the image of the Edo period. The contrast between the Machiya architecture and the white snow that has accumulated adds to the atmosphere.

The Nakahashi Bridge over the Miyagawa River flowing through the center of Takayama City adds to the scenic air of the old town, making the snow appear as though it's wearing makeup. In winter, it is lit up, and the bridge stands out vividly, allowing you to enjoy the romantic scenery even more.

At the Hida Folk Village, an open-air museum filled with old farmhouses, in Takayama City, you can experience the old-fashioned lifestyle of Hida. Here, you can see traditional thatched roof homes with the peculiar gassho style, which is typical of the Hida district. It's incredible to see the 30 houses that are adorned with snow, appearing like something in a snowglobe.

Light up events are held in winter. While enjoying the snowy scenery of old rural villages, you can thoroughly experience Japanese tradition.

The Shinhotaka Ropeway, which has an altitude of 2156m, is located in the Shinhotaka area. It is Japan's only two-story gondola, and it has a 360-degree view of the northern Alps. Its power and beauty are overwhelming. You'll be amazed at the vast silver world and the mountains of the Northern Alps.

The gondola was renovated in July 2020, and the gondola's glass surface was expanded to provide a clearer view. Also, a multilingual information monitor was installed in the car.

The Iiyama Snow Festival, held in Iiyama City, Nagano Prefecture, is a winter event held every second Saturday and Sunday of February by Iiyama locals and people in the surrounding area.

Iiyama City is located on the prefectural border with Niigata Prefecture in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture. It is one of the densest snowfall areas in Japan. It is held with the concept of having fun playing with snow and experiencing the beauty of snow.

There are more than 100 snow statues in the town, each of which has been created by locals, including elementary school students at their own schools. Some of the streets around town are lined by smaller-scale snow sculptures and snow lanterns, making for very pretty and photogenic scenery. There is also a snow statue contest and a snow statue walk rally to check the snow statues. At night, it is illuminated and is very beautiful.

Your feet may get cold or wet, so we recommend boots or warm, waterproof shoes or boots.

The Chubu region is easily accessible from Tokyo and Nagoya by highway bus and Hokuriku Shinkansen. Come and visit us to see the beautiful snow scenes that can only be found in winter in Japan.

Written by Yoko Okumura, Dali Corporation