Miyanomori Draped in Snow Over the course of a few days, Miyanomori deepened in snow. While helping a wood education program coordinator, I took a short stroll through Miyanomori. I trudged through the snow, my boots sinking as I walked. If I had been alone, I would have kept my eyes on the ground, but when someone spoke to me and I looked up, I found flower buds and leaf buds. They’re putting out buds and patiently waiting for the long winter to pass. There was a hollow opening in a trunk. I wondered whether someone lives there or had lived there. I learned that the cracked bark on the Sakhalin fir is caused by frost cracking. Moisture inside the tree freezes and expands, splitting the trunk. When the trunk cracks, a clear sound is said to ring through the whole forest. I tried walking alongside deer tracks and picked up fallen fruits and flowers from the snow. I also loved the view of the town dusted in snow from a slightly higher vantage point. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #winter #snow #snow-dusted #Miyanomori #wood education #kobushi (Japanese magnolia) #yachidamo (Manchurian ash) #Sakhalin fir #deer

At the "Nayoro Snow Quality No.1 in Japan Festival" (Snow Festival) to be Held in in Nayoro City, Hokkaido in February 2025, we would like to Held in the "Nayoro International Snow Sculpture Competition", where snow sculpture carvers from all over the world compete in skill and artistic level, and liven up the Local Snow Festival and Broadcasting the wonderful snow quality of Nayoro to the world! In Nayoro City, located in the north of Hokkaido, this is the executive committee that Held in the Nayoro Snow Quality No.1 in Japan Festival (hereinafter referred to as "Snow Festival"). Held in the Snow Festival as a Local Snow Festival, this time for three days from February 7 ~ 9, 2025. We have planned various events such as a huge slide, illuminations, a huge maze of snow, and a frigid yakiniku festival where you can enjoy yakiniku in -20 degrees Celsius, and this is a major winter Events that will be celebrating its 73rd year this year! Held in the Nayoro International Snow Sculpture Contest since 2001 as the centerpiece of the Events, in which professional snow sculpture sculptors from around the world compete in the skills and artistry of snow sculptures. However, due to the recent rise in prices, it has been difficult to find the cost of running the Games, and we have a strong desire not to disrupt this unique and wonderful Events, so we Squid planned this project. Outline of the Tournament The Nayoro International Snow Sculpture Contest began in 2001 as the Japan Cup, the World Five Continent Squid Broadcasting s Snow Sculpture Competition, and in 2020 it celebrated its 20th edition, with 19 snow sculptures lined up at the venue, the largest ever. There were some years when the tournament had to be canceled due to the spread of the new coronavirus, but February 2025 will mark the 22nd edition of the historic tournament. For details, search for "Campfire Crowdfunding"! When you open the site, you can see it by searching "Nayoro"! At last Taking advantage of the wonderful snow quality of Nayoro City, the Nayoro International Snow Sculpture Sculpture Contest, which broadcasting the charm of the region to the world, is an important project that will open up the future of the region. Through this Events, we hope to let many people know the charm of Nayoro City and lead to the revitalization of the region. We look forward to your warm support.

Asiri is very excited 🍏🐻 about apples

When I went to the Sapporo Factory, there was a Christmas tree decorated. At 16 o'clock, the ornaments began to shine and it was very beautiful. I feel like I see the Christmas tree every year. Sapporo Factory's tree is colorful and favorite

Friday, December 12th morning at Lake Utonai 🌅 Tomakomai has been experiencing a spell of severe cold recently. This image comes from the Roadside Station Lake Utonai Facebook page. It shows the season’s uniquely beautiful sunrise and the lake’s surface.✨ (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Lake Utonai)

The 'Symbol Street Terrace' illumination, which will brighten the street, begins on Saturday, December 14th. ✨ The opening ceremony, starting at 5:00 PM, will liven up the event with performances, including a set by Tomakomai Tourism Ambassador Shihori Kadota. ✨

Hello 👋😃 Surprisingly, the Kyowa-cho Roadside Station, aiming to open in 2027, was featured in the December issue of "Hokkaido Discovery Magazine JP01" in the special feature "Roadside Station Discovery"! Tomonoba Co., Ltd. is also featured, so please pick up a copy and help more people learn about it 😆

Rock Valley Ski Resort will open on Sunday, December 15th!　 (Please note that due to lack of snow, Use will be limited to some courses for the time being.) ） 【Business hours】 9:30~16:00 (Last Lift Boarding 15:40) 【Skiable Course】 Only part of the family slope *The lodge is open from 9:00~17:00. All the staff are looking forward to your visit. 【Inquiries about Roadside Station and Ski Resort】 Business hours 9:00~18:00 TEL: 0158-42-4536 (common to ski resorts) FAX：0158-42-0132 〒099-0344 150-1 Nogami, Engaru Town, Monbetsu-gun, Hokkaido Roadside Station Engaru Forest Okhotsk

＼Oikamana Lake has frozen over!／ Nearly the entire surface of Oikamana Lake (Ikebana Nae Swamp) along the Pacific coast has frozen. In spots where the ice is thick enough, you can walk on it. You can also hear strange sounds when the ice shifts or cracks. This is a fleeting, otherworldly sight that lasts only until the snow begins to fall. Find Taiki Town tourist information here! ↓ https://visit-taiki.hokkaido.jp//

Preparations for Sairinka are underway! The skeleton of the most important installation in Sairinka has been built. From here, the covering will be added and the installation will be completed. We’re excited to see how the Forest of Light will turn out 😊 Preparatory work for Sairinka is in progress! The framework of the most important piece in Sairinka has already been completed. I can’t wait to see what the Forest of Light will look like 😊

Did you remember how good it looked?

【Request to everyone who visits Ozora Town】 ⚠️ The fields of Meruhen no Oka are off-limits ⚠️ Every year, more and more people enter the fields of the snowy Meruhen no Oka hills. The fields on the Meruhen no Oka are the private property of the farmers. Never enter the field, and depending on the depth of the snow, there is a risk of getting stuck and getting stuck, so please enjoy the scenery [from the place where the snow has been removed] during the snow period.

Popular snow activities in Nayoro City, Hokkaido "Powder Snow Safari" A tour to the summit of Mount Piyasiri, next to the Piyasiri ski resort in the city. Ride a snowmobile through snowy forest roads and snowfields to meet the giant "Snow Monster". From the top of the mountain, if you are lucky, you can also see the "Sun Pillar", which is a Nature tabletop phenomenon, Mt. Rishiri on the northernmost Rishiri Island, and the Sea of Okhotsk. Rest assured that the snowmobile will have a driver. Rental items such as helmets, gloves, and spats are also available, so even beginners can enjoy it. Period: Late December ~ Early March Number of receptionists: 1 person ~ Duration: 2 hours ~ 2 and a half hours Fee: 12,000 yen/person (tax included) For details, search for "Nayoro Sightseeing & Town Planning Association"!!

On the special day of Christmas, Enjoy ⛄ a sumptuous and rewarding lunch with stylish stand sweets and plenty of savouries 🌟 Christmas Lunch Afternoon Tea Set 🌟 [Limited to 5 days] We have prepared a menu that is perfect for a white Christmas, such as "Paris Brest", Christmas Standard "Stollen", and "Young Hokkaido Chicken Ballotine Sweet and Sour Fruit Sauce"! Stylish and delicious, Volume afternoon tea set ♪ Please enjoy it ✨ 🎄menu 【Sweets】 ・Paris Brest ・Cup white chocolate ・Stollen ・Kumquat tart ・Stick ganache ・Canele ・White grass ・Ginger cookies ・Macarons ・Marron Roll ・Croquis [Savory] ・ Gorgeous hole "Xmas"-style wreath salad from the sea and earth ・Seafood Chowder Pie Wrap Baked ・ Young Hokkaido chicken balotine with sweet and sour fruit sauce ・Bread, Butter [Drink] ・Ronnefeldt tea (7 kinds) ・Coffee ・Mocktail (2 types) 🎄fee ¥4,600 per person 🎄 Offer Period December 21~25, 2024 🎄time 11:30~16:00 (Last entry 14:00) *120 minutes 🎄place Rendezvous Lounge Reservations and details 📞011-222-1522 Or visit the 👍 hotel's website

Call for participants for ♪ the "Yamahiko Falls Night Tour" The 28-meter-high Yamabiko Falls freezes in the middle of winter and becomes a huge icicle. Enjoy a Light up and fantastic figure. ◇Held in date and time Saturday, January 18, Saturday, February 1, Saturday, March 1 17:30~18:30 each day ◇ Meeting point Yamabiko Hot Spring Car Parking Lot *Please register at least 15 minutes in advance. ◇ Number of applicants and participation fee First 40 people each day, junior high school students and older: 2,000 yen, elementary school students: 1,000 yen (including guide fee and insurance fee) ◇ How to apply December 16 (Mon) 8:45 a.m. ~ Reservations start Please apply by Phone. ◇Other Please dress appropriately for the cold. There are cancellation in case of bad weather. Application / Inquiries Engaru Town Marusebu General Branch　 Phone: 0158-47-2211

Souvenirs from Taiki Town ~Winter Seafood Souvenirs~ Facing the Pacific Ocean, Taiki Town offers a bounty of delicious seafood. This season is perfect for salmon roe, whelks, and shishamo smelt! You can buy them at Roadside Station Kosumoru Taiki. Also on sale is a frozen product of the “legendary giant clams,” which are caught only once a year when the fishery opens. Be sure to pick some up as souvenirs from Taiki Town!

“Amber Night & Marche” is being held at Garden Spa Tokachigawa Onsen Roadside Station (Michi-no-Eki) until December 25th. The symbol tree takes on different expressions depending on the light. You can also enjoy locally brewed Tokachi sake, soft drinks, and a daily market featuring different vendors each day. We hope you’ll come and visit! [Event period] November 1, 2024 to December 25, 2024 [Reception hours] 19:30–21:00 [Closing time] 21:30 [Admission] Adults (junior high school students and older) ¥1,000; Elementary school students ¥500; Preschool children free. #AmberNight #Marche #GardenSpaTokachigawaOnsen #MichiNoEki #TokachigawaOnsen #PeatOnsen #HokkaidoHeritage #OnsenLovers #Otofuke #Tokachi #Hokkaido #HokkaidoTrip #BeautyHotSpring #HokkaidoSightseeing

I saw this scenery after returning to Hokkaido from Kanto for the first time in a yellowtail. I was reminded of the beauty of the snow on the trees. The shooting location is Route 452 in central Hokkaido.

"Hold on! Play! ｣

[HOTEL NUPKA] At HOTEL NUPKA in Obihiro City, the CAFE & BAR serves Tokachi drinks, starting with the “Journey-Beginning Beer” crafted for visiting guests. Here are some Tokachi drinks you can enjoy at the CAFE & BAR. ● Hard cider made from apples grown in Ashoro Served by the bottle!! ↓ ● Aizawa Winery’s “Ryunosuke” (rosé) and “Sachirera” (red) ● Tokachi Regalo’s “Sanenkoro” (red and rosé sparkling) You’ll also find various Tokachi snacks—edamame, peanuts, cheese, sausages, popcorn—so please enjoy them with your drinks. NUPKA’s special “NUPKA Gyoza” comes in two types: pork gyoza made with Tokachi pork and vegetables, and chicken gyoza made with Tokachi mushrooms and cheese. Be sure to try both and compare!!

On the shore of Lake Utonai, the samaras of the karakogi maple sparkle in the sunlight ✨ You can also see whooper swans 🦢 (Image provided by the Lake Utonai Wildlife Protection Center)

This is the scene at Onneto this morning, Friday, December 6. The temperature is relatively mild, and many hot-water pits toward the back of the lake have prevented the ice from forming there. The ice seems to be repeatedly freezing and thawing, making it extremely dangerous, so please exercise great caution when approaching the lake surface. Also, as I have reported several times recently, the Onneto Line road from Nonaka Onsen to the lake is closed today and is now closed to vehicles for the winter. If you walk to the lake, be sure to take proper snow and cold-weather precautions and avoid accidents. Onneto is now heading into full winter❄️

The Marugoto Kita-Tokachi Fair (North Tokachi Expo) will be held at Michi-no-Eki Otofuke "Natsuzora no Furusato" from December 9th to 15th! This event is packed with the charms of the four North Tokachi towns—Shikaoi, Shihoro, Kamishihoro, and Otofuke—including booths selling local specialty products and opportunities to take photos with characters. We hope to see you there! 😊 Roadside Station Otofuke "North Tokachi Expo" will take place from December 9th to 15th! It's an event full of the charms of the four North Tokachi towns—please stop by! 😊

Asiri Rui: "Hooray! ｣ It is full of energy even in the snow!

【Notice】 Japanese smelt fishing on ice is one month away! The Japanese smelt fishing venue on the Memanbetsu Lakeside is used by many customers every year because it is about 10 minutes by car from the airport and has very good access. Japanese smelt fishing equipment can be purchased and rented at the venue, making it easy for beginners to get started! If you are a first-timer, there is only one thing you need to prepare. Please dress warmly! Because you will be fishing on the ice for a long time, you will get cold from your feet. Therefore, it is even better if you have a sock warmer to put on the soles of your feet! We look forward to seeing you there! ［INFOMATION］ Venue: Ozora Town Memanbetsu Lake Abashiri Memanbetsu Lakeside Campground Behind Period: 2025 (Reiwa 7) January 5 (Sun) ~ Mid-March Time: 8 a.m. ~ 4 p.m. Fee: Adult 900 yen, Elementary school student 450 yen Other: Implementation of sales and rental *If you fish for Japanese smelt outside of the above hours, it is poaching. * The start and end dates vary depending on the ice conditions and weather, so please check the social media or website of the Ozora Town Tourist Association or contact the secretariat.

December 4, 2024 — Taiki Town Snow began falling this morning, and the urban area looks set to see its first accumulation of the season. Real winter has arrived!

The Resurrected Sound of the Drums Sunday, December 1 We performed the Wenshiri Taiko from Nishiokoppe Village at the Okoppe Town Charity Variety Show. We played a single short six-minute piece. It depicted Mt. Wenshiri awakening as snow melts, from winter into spring. We were very glad to receive so many warm rounds of applause and words of encouragement. Since we had the chance, here is a brief story of how Nishiokoppe Village’s taiko practice was revived. Taiko performance in Nishiokoppe Village began in the 1980s. Back then the drummers were the local youth association. Their powerful rhythms energized festivals and other events. The piece played since that time was Wenshiri Taiko. A teacher from the elementary school composed the piece, and it was handed down through performances until around 2000. Afterward, following the disbanding of the youth association and other changes, the drummers disappeared and the drums lay silent for a long time. There was a period when a volunteer taiko circle was active, but the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to invite instructors, and the drums fell completely quiet. Things started moving again in August of this year. As the variety show was returning, former drummers and villagers with strong musical insight teamed up to revive Wenshiri Taiko and learn the piece. Although we were amateurs, seven passionate members brought the Wenshiri Taiko back to life with resounding sound. After that performance, a few villagers who heard us at the variety show joined as new members, and we continue our activities today. We were fortunate to be invited to perform at the Okoppe Town Charity Variety Show. Though our group formed only recently, getting calls from inside and outside the village has energized our practice. This has become a bit long. Restarting something that had stopped and keeping it going takes a great deal of energy. We hope the members can keep enjoying their activities and that this joy reaches those who listen. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #drums #Wenshiri Taiko #Okoppe Town #Town Charity Variety Show #December 1 #youth association #taiko #I was the filming team

Ski season is here!! Sahoro Resort Ski Area opened on Monday, December 2nd. As of today, the Central Street course is open with the No. 6 pair lift running, and the snow depth is 30 cm. Through this Friday the 6th, a special opening day ticket is available (Adults 4,000 yen / Children and Seniors 3,200 yen), so you can fully enjoy your first ski of the season. Temperatures are expected to drop toward the weekend, so make your season debut at Sahoro Resort Ski Area!!

This is the state of Lake Onneto as of Monday, December 2. Parts of the lake’s surface are frozen, but the ice remains thin in many areas. In recent years, more visitors have come to see the ice bubbles, but places where natural gas escapes have very weak ice strength, and some spots may never freeze solid even in full winter. For that reason, walking on the lake is extremely dangerous and is not recommended by the local tourism association. As previously announced, Road 949 leading to Onneto (the gate in front of the hot spring) is scheduled to close on December 6. When you visit, please take thorough snow and cold-weather precautions, and enjoy Onneto in winter safely.

It was snowing and we were having fun!