Snow Country Stories Japan

Send us a textThis is a short announcement that Outland Japan continues to be on a break. Outland Japan has been running for over two years now, the most recent episode being Episode 50. I very much enjoy making the podcast but it takes quite a bit of time and effort - something I need to balance with work, family and other commitments. Looking forward I can see that that balance is going to be hard to achieve, especially in the next 6 to 12 months. Rather than overburden myself, I have decided to leave the podcast on a break for now as I figure out a way to continue Outland Japan in a manner more aligned and workable with my other commitments.I am hesitant to do that as it takes a lot of effort and time to build up an audience, yet little time at all to lose an audience. For that reason I will endeavour to return with Outland Japan as soon as possible. If you're following or subscribed to the podcast on whichever app your listening on, it would be great if you could not change that so once I know the return date, you'll get that announcement in your feed. Thanks for listening!Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a textWith the podcast on a break between Season 4 and Season 5, I am republishing another of my travel guides – in this case, my guide to Kamikochi. Open to the public from mid-April to mid-November, Kamikochi is an alpine valley located within Japan's highest mountain range, the Hida Mountains or “North Alps”. Bookended by Hotakadake in the north – Japan's third tallest mountain – and Yakedake in the south – an active volcano – the 16km / 10mi valley follows the Azusa River and is known for its outstanding beauty blended with spiritual importance. Access to Kamikochi is controlled and restricted to use of public buses, taxis or chartered vehicles meaning that planning ahead and knowing what to expect is important to getting the most out of your visit. If you're enjoying pod and would like to support me in continuing to make it, please do make sure to subscribe or follow on which pod app you're listening on. I will announce the return date for the podcast as soon as possible. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy.Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a textThe podcast is currently on a break between Season 4 and Season 5. As promised, during this period I'll be uploading two previous episodes starting with my travel guide to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. Open to the public from mid-April until the end of November, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route traverses Japan's highest mountain range – the Hida mountains or North Alps – from Ogizawa Station on the Nagano-side of the range to Tateyama Station on the Toyama-side. Closed to the public through winter due to the extremely heavy snowfall experienced in the mountains, the route has just reopened for 2025 making it a good time to republish this travel guide, which I originally published in April 2024 under the old podcast name of ‘Snow Country Stories Japan'.This episode will be followed by my other travel guide published in July last year, my guide to Kamikochi, which has also just reopened to the public. If you're enjoying pod and would like to support me in continuing to make it, please do make sure to subscribe or follow on which pod app you're listening on. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy.Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a textIn Episode 50 of the podcast I speak with Marcus Consolini, owner and general manager of Daimon Shuzo - a 200 year old sake brewery in Osaka - and board member of the Minka Preservation Society. Marcus has hands on experience in the restoration of multiple historical properties in Japan including the brewery, private residences and other buildings. Given that experience, Marcus is an ideal guest to speak about the process of acquiring and renovating ‘kominka' (traditional houses) and other historical buildings.Marcus breakdowns the process of selecting the right property and determining how you will renovate it, including key questions to ask along the way. He categories the types of owners he has encountered and how principles including passion, thick skin and patience underscore yet also risk the success of every renovation. Marcus goes on to propose a working model based on three key focuses - evaluation, design and build - and the dynamic between the architect, designer and builder it is the carpenter that wins.This episode will be of interest to anyone interested in acquiring a historical / heritage home in Japan or perhaps you are already in the process or have done so yourself. It builds upon Episode 43 and Episode 48,  my interviews with fellow Minka Preservation Society board members, Lauren Scharf and Vincent Ing. For more information, visit the Minka Preservation Society website or Instagram and for further information about the brewery, visit the Daimon Shuzo website or Instagram.A big thank you to Marcus for making time to speak with me and providing the images used in support of this episode. This episode is the last of Season 4. I will announce the return date of the podcast as soon as possible. In the meantime, I will republish popular episodes from Season 3. I hope you enjoy.Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a textEpisode 49 of the podcast takes us to the smallest of Japan's main for islands, Shikoku, and onto the Shikoku Henro. Associated with the life and teachings of legendary Buddhist monk Kūkai - also known as Kōbō Daishi – the Shikoku Henro is an 88 temple, 1200km / 745 mile pilgrimage circuit that circumambulates the island. Long-known by Japanese, “the Henro” is increasingly popular for international visitors with many people traveling to Japan specifically to walk a section or the complete trail. Our guide in exploring the Henro today is guest Kōei Ervin. Kōei is an ordained priest in the Shingon tradition of Japanese Buddhism, Shugendō practitioner, and tour guide with Shikoku Tours including accompanying guests along the Henro. Kōei's depth of knowledge of the Henro and Japanese Buddhism is self-evident, and as a guide, he weaves an engaging and accessible story regarding the history of the trail, why people walk it, what to expect, traditional clothing and basic logistics of accommodation and when to do it.For more information about the Shikoku Henro, visit the Henro.org website, Shikoku Tourism website or Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage website. For guided tours with Kōei, visit the Shikoku Tours website or contact him via his Scattered Blossoms blog or his Instagram. During the interview, Kōei makes several recommendations including the revised Shikoku Japan 88 Route Guide Book, Ohenro San Facebook Group, Shikoku 88 Ohenro Pilgrimage Facebook Group and Sumotoriya Asano supply store.A very big thank you to Kōei for making time to speak with me and for providing the images used in support of the episode. I hope you enjoy.Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a textIn Episode 48 we travel to rural Kyoto Prefecture to speak with Vincent Ng, otherwise known on Instagram as Kyoto Insider. As Kyoto Insider, Vince documents his life in rural Kyoto, and in doing so, explores the interconnection of food chain origins while showing off his lifestyle. He is hands on in that exploration, embracing all aspects of rural life. Fishing, farming and hunting all feature heavily and reflect the realities and opportunities of life in rural Japan and how food is produced, procured and traded within communities, while also reflecting the idyllic beauty of that part of Kyoto Prefecture.Vince is actively involved in the revitalisation of his village, performing many roles and working to attract prospective migrants as a rural tourism and migration consultant. In addition, he is the Managing Director of Ipanshadan Houjin Minka Preservation Society – an organisation dedicated to the conservation of Japan's wonderful heritage and historical homes. As such, Vince is a wonderful advocate for the lifestyle available in rural Japan while also conveying a realistic understanding of what to expect and how to go about transitioning to life in the countryside. Thank you for Vince for making time to speak with me and for sharing the images used in support of this episode. For more information and to follow Vince, make sure to check out his profile as Kyoto Insider on Instagram along with the Minka Preservation Society website. Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a textIn Episode 47 I speak with Reverend Dr. TK Nakagaki. Rev. Dr. Nakagaki is the author of the book 'The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross: Rescuing a Symbol of Peace from the Forces of Hate'. Published in 2017, the book presents a cross-cultural history of the “swastika”, a symbol of peace used by multiple Eastern religions, including Japanese Buddhism, and indigenous peoples but typically regarded as a hate symbol in the West. Known as 'manji' in Japan, the swastika is commonly found on Buddhist temples along with many Shinto shrines. In keeping with its meaning in Buddhist and Hindu traditions, the swastika is a symbol of peace, light and represents the mind and teaching of the Buddha. It is found at temples and shrines throughout the country yet most international visitors depart without ever gaining an understanding of its meaning is the Japanese Buddhist context. I hope this episode goes some way to addressing that. Rev. Dr. Nakagaki is an ordained priest in the Jodoshinshu tradition of Japanese Buddhism and Founder of the Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation of New York. He is a President Emeritus of the Buddhist Council of New York, an Honorary Board Member of the Interfaith Center of New York and a New York City Police Department Clergy Liaison along with a Hiroshima Peace Ambassador, Nagasaki Peace Correspondent and Honorary President of Sanghakaya Foundation of India. He graduated Ryukoku University in Kyoto in 1983 having majored in Buddhist history before undertaking advanced study in Jodoshinshu doctrine to Gyoshin Buddhist Seminary in Osaka from 1983 to 1985. He has an MA in Linguistics from California State University at Fresno in 1994 and a earned a Doctorate of Ministry in Multifaith Studies from the New York Theological Seminary in 2012. Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a textIn Episode 46 of the podcast I speak with outdoor guide, Kouhei Nishida. Kouhei is the founder of Shinano Discovery - an outdoor guiding company - and a key member of the team behind creation of the Amatomi Trail. Opened to the public in 2021, the Amatomi Trail stretches 86km / 54 miles from Nagano City through Myoko Togakushi Renzan National Park to Lake Nojiriko and onto Madarao, on the border of Nagano and Niigata Prefectures. The Amatomi Trail is one of, if not the most accessible, hiking trail in Japan and provides access to mixed natural and cultural landscapes, working alpine villages, and important sites including Zenko-ji – one of Japan's oldest and most important Buddhist temples – and the Shinto shrine complex of Togakushi. As Kouhei explains, the Amatomi Trail combines a number of preexisting trails including the pilgrimage trails of the 'Togakushi Kodo', which lead hikers into the national park where they then traverse the foothills of the ‘Shinetsu Gogaku' or ‘Five Peaks of Shinetsu'. The trail can be walked as a through hike or section hike, with Kouhei recommending 4 to 5 days for a through hike, with the most accessible section from Nagano City to Togakushi taking 2 days. With plenty of accommodation along the trail – ranging from hotels and lodges, ‘ryokan' (traditional guesthouses, ‘shukubo' (temple lodgings), ‘minshuku' and ‘pension' (basic guesthouses), and camping sites – there is no shortage of places to stay, catering to all budgets and tastes.I consider walking to be the best way to experience a country and Japan, to be an outstanding walking travel destination. Trails are numerous and varied, increasingly interconnected, well maintained and safe. I hope this episode plays a role in raising the profile of the Amatomi and hiking or walking as one of the best ways to explore Japan. For more information, visit the Amatomi Trail website or Instagram and to follow or contact Kouhei, visit his Shinano Discovery website, Instagram or Facebook. I hope you enjoy!Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a textEpisode 45 transports us to Tohoku in the north-east of Japan's main island of Honshu. Tohoku is a large region comprised of six prefectures – Fukushima, Yamagata, Akita, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori – known for its open and striking landscapes and distinct local traditions. Leading us on this exploration is photographer Alfonso Calero. With more than 20 years of experience as a professional photographer, Alfonso leads small photography tours to Japan each year, including his 10-day autumn tour in Tohoku.Alfonso's tour focuses on the natural landscapes of Tohoku including the mountains, forests, lakes and rivers of Towada-Hachimantai National Park and rugged rock formations of the Sanriku Coast. The tour balances its focus on landscape with cultural destinations including Towada Art Center and the samurai district of Kakunodate. Full details of the tour can be found on Alfonso's website and you can also follow him on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. I hope that this episode piques your interest in Alfonso's photography and tours and Tohoku as a destination. Easily accessible thanks to Japan's Shinkansen / Bullet Train network, Tohoku is in every other sense a world away from the congestion, neon and hum of Tokyo. Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a textThis is the second half of Episode 44 of the podcast, my cha with Richard Pearce of Sustainable Daisen. Originally from the UK, Richard founded and operates Sustainable Daisen – an NPO dedicated to the protection of the Japanese Giant Salamander and effective conservation of its habitat. Richard and I discussed the salamander, the threats it is facing and the tremendous work of Sustainable Daisen in the first part of the interview. In the second half of our interview Richard speaks about the state of environmental conservation in Japan including this critique of farming practices, animal husbandry, waste management and upcoming projects with Sustainable Daisen. Richard is critical of many policies and practices in Japan and in doing so, positions himself a vocal foreign advocate in a society that discourages people from speaking up. As such I think this part of our chat reveals important realities of Japan that will not be of surprise to anyone living here but may surprise anyone who does not – especially given the often repeated trope the deep connection and respect Japanese have for nature. Toward the end of our chat, Richard reference's the video ‘Bad Boy Monk: A Conservation Documentary' about his work in Tottori along with the article ‘Japan was the Future but it's Stuck in the Past' by Rupert Wingfield-Hayes.I hope that my conversation with Richard sparks your interest in what he and Sustainable Daisen are doing and that he and the salamanders act as ambassadors (of sorts) for Tottori, and entice you to visit. For more information, visit Sustainable Daisen's website and follow them on Instagram and Facebook. You can also learn more about experiences led by Richard on his Bushido Japan website. I hope you enjoy!Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a textIn Episode 44 we travel to the southwest of Japan's main island of Honshu and onto Tottori Prefecture to speak with Richard Pearce of Sustainable Daisen – an NPO dedicated to the conservation of the Japanese Giant Salamander and the habitat it is reliant upon. Originally from the United Kingdom, Richard founded and operates Sustainable with his wife and with the support of others in advocating for, researching and educating the public about the plight of the salamander. One of the largest amphibians in the world and relatively unchanged for 23 million years, the Japanese Giant Salamander is under serious threat due to impact of human action. Sustainable Daisen is endeavouring to address that while there is still time.Richard was an engaging guest with plenty to say about the issues he cares about. In an effort not to edit too much out of our conversation, this episode is split into two parts. In this – the first half of our chat – you'll hear Richard an I discuss the Japanese Giant Salamander and the work he is doing to converse both the animal and its habitat, while increasing public awareness. In the second half of the interview – available in a week's time – Richard and I continue onto a broader discussion about environmental and wildlife advocacy in Japan and the challenges of doing so as a foreign voice. I hope that my conversation with Richard sparks your interest in what he and Sustainable Daisen are doing and that he and the salamanders act as ambassadors (of sorts) for Tottori, and entice you to visit. For more information, visit Sustainable Daisen's website and follow them on Instagram and Facebook. You can also learn more about experiences led by Richard on his Bushido Japan website. I hope you enjoy!Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a textEpisode 43 takes us to the beautiful Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture to speak with guest, Lauren Scharf. Lauren and her husband live in a 117 year old ‘kominka' (farmhouse / folkhouse), a home they have restored themselves and as such, they are part of an enthusiastic community of ‘minka' owners across Japan. In support of that community, Lauren is also on the board of the Minka Preservation Society, an organisation dedicated to the conservation of Japan's wonderful heritage and historic homes, backed by a passionate community of like-minded owners. Extending 100km into the Sea of Japan, Noto Peninsula is known for its rugged coastline, overall beauty, traditional craft, abundant seafood and slower pace of life. In the first part of the interview, Lauren and I discuss life on Noto Peninsula, how she and her husband came to acquire their home and the renovations they have done. Conversation then moves onto the Minka Preservation Society before discussing the major earthquake that struck Noto on New Years Day 2024, and the ongoing impact of that event.If this episode is of interest to you, you might also like to listen to earlier episodes including 2, 22 and 31 in which I also spoke with kominka owners about their experience purchasing, renovating and living in their homes. For more information about the Minka Preservation Society, visit their website and you can also find them on Instagram and Facebook. You can also follow Lauren through her personal Instagram.Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a textEpisode 42 of the podcast takes us in the mountains once again as we explore Japan's mountain religion of Shugendo. My guest leading us in that discussion is Dr Caleb Swift Carter of Kyushu University. Dr Carter specialises in Buddhist Studies and the medieval and early modern religious history of Japan, with a focus on the mountain tradition of Shugendo. As such, he's ideally-suited to guide us in exploration of my I consider to be one of the more interesting aspects of Japanese culture.We intentionally spend a lot of time in and on the mountains of Japan on the podcast. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, approximately three-quarters of Japan is designated mountainous or rugged. This is a country of mountains where many peaks are considered sacred and I believe that an understanding of the religious context of mountains in Japan amplifies the enjoyment we take from time spent in such landscapes.In exploration of Shugendo, we focus on the numinous mountain of Togakushi and surrounding peaks in Nagano. It was the focus of Dr Carter's book ‘A Path Into the Mountains: Shugendo and Mount Togakushi' and listeners of the podcast might remember, also the focus of Episode 12 – my travel to Togakushi. For more information, visit Dr Carter's profile on the Kyushu University website.Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a textIn Episode 41 of the podcast we return to Hokkaido and onto its most famous volcanoes as I chat with Chuck Olbery of Hokkaido Powder Guides. Operating for 20 years, Hokkaido Powder Guides offers backcountry, free and customised tours across Japan's northern island including touring of its most prominent volcanoes – including Mount Yotei, Mount Tokachi, Mount Asahidake and Mount Rishiri.Straddling the Pacific Ring of Fire, - the 40,000 km / 25,000 mi long tectonic belt rings the Pacific Ocean – Japan is the world's most seismically-active country while also home to many active volcanoes. Volcanoes have long played an important role in Japan's history and cultural fabric, and for that reason, I see real value in experiences that take us into those living landscapes. Chuck advocates wonderfully that experience.For more information, visit the Hokkaido Powder Guides website and you can follow them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube - you'll find images and videos across those platforms including some very nice videos featuring Chuck on the HPG YouTube channel. You might also be interested in previous episodes related to Hokkaido including: EP40. Iwanai, Hokkaido: Japan's Best Cat Skiing & Snowboarding Mountain, EP25. Daisetsuzan: Japan's Largest National Park and EP23. The God Bears of Northern Japan. I hope you enjoy.Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a textEpisode 40 takes us to Japan's northern island of Japan to speak with John Greiner, founder of Iwanai Resort. Blessed with Hokkaido's legendary powder and without the crowds of nearby Niseko, Iwanai is regarded as Japan's best cat skiing and snowboarding mountain. While the lower resort is open to the public, it is Iwanai's cat operation which has put it on the map as Japan's best. Mount Iwanai stands 1086 metres / 3562 feet above sea level and offers a diverse range of terrain including open bowls, old growth trees and retired courses of a consistent pitch of 20° to 40°. The cat operation is limited to 24 seats per day with the option of renting out a cat for private use. Delivering guests an average of around 4700 metres vertical of untracked powder each day, their goal is to give skiers and boarders the best day of their lives. John and I discuss the resort and cat operation in detail along with why Hokkaido's powder is rated so highly in the first half of the interview, before discussing the village and accommodation, reasons to visit Iwanai in green season and more in the second half of our chat. For more information, visit Iwanai's website or follow them on Instagram and Facebook.Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a textIn Episode 39 of the podcast we travel to the deep snow country of Minami-Uonuma to speak with Kuwakino Keiko. Keiko is the head chef of Sanaburi, the Michelin-starred restaurant within the renowned hotel, Satoyama Jujo. Awarded that Michelin-star in 2020, Keiko has since gone on to receive a Terroir Award and a score of 15.5 by Gault Millau in 2022 while also nominated as one of Japan's 100 Best Chefs. Keiko's acclaimed cuisine draws on the traditional plants and methods local to the Minami-Uonuma area, with ‘sansai' (mountain / wild vegetables) and ‘tsukemono' (pickled / preserved vegetables) being fundamental to the seaonsal menus she serves to guests.In the first half of our chat we explore Keiko's own story and her journey to becoming head chef at Satoyama Jujo before delving more fully into the principles and methods which underpin her cooking and the cuisine she serves in the second half of our chat. In telling Keiko's story and exploring the principles which underpin her cooking, I hope to promote the fact that some of Japan's best gastronomic experiences lies outside the cities. Minami-Uonuma has long been renowned rice and sake – indeed, we have already travelled here on the podcast in Episode 24, Hakkaisan Brewery: Snow-Aged Sake & Beer from Powder Mountain – along with its heavy snow and abundant natural landscape. For more information, follow Keiko via her Instagram or visit the official Satoyama Jujo website. I hope you enjoy.Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a textIn Episode 38 of the podcast we travel just outside of Nagano City to speak with Osaka Gaku, the owner of Solashima. Solashima is a vintage and antique store selling furniture and other items. As Gaku explains during the interview, the furniture and other pieces he acquires and sells range in age, design and condition. In collecting items for the store, Gaku seeks out pieces that are beautiful, unique and bear witness to the struggle of craftsperson that created it. The process of acquiring and valuing that stock takes him in to peoples' homes and unoccupied houses, and in doing so, into the stories of life and the memory many of these items carry with them. The availability of such items, often beautiful yet unwanted timber furniture, ceramics, glassware and more, reflects the reality of regional Japan which is suffering from an ageing and decreasing population. There is often no one to pass these items onto with many unoccupied or soon to be abandoned or demolished homes, full of unwanted furnishings and items that would in almost any other circumstances be coveted and highly priced. I hope my chat with Gaku sparks your interest in the vintage furniture and craft of Japan's recent past – which is at risk of being tossed out before it's properly appreciated – and visiting the wonderful, Solashima. Should you need to furnish a home or perhaps clear a home of furniture and items, Gaku is the ideal person to speak with.Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a textEpisode 37 of the podcast takes us to Minakami in Gunma Prefecture to speak with Zack Berman of Momi-no-Ki Lodge. Originally from the United States, Zack and his wife Amanda own and operate the large self-contained lodge in the heart of Minakami – a hot spring town now well-established as one of Japan's best outdoor destinations. We discuss the skiing and snowboarding available at the multiple resorts in the area – including the celebrated backcountry of Tanigawadake Tenjindaira and more – along with the fantastic rafting and canyoning, hiking and hot springs all within easy reach of the lodge. Minakami remains somewhat off the radar for international visitors but it shouldn't and I doubt it will for long.You can get in touch with Zack and Amanda via the lodge website, their listing on AirBnb or Momi-no-Ki's Instagram or Facebook. As Zack mentions toward the end of our chat, when booking via the official website, enter the code POWDER for a discount. This is the first episode of the podcast under the new name 'Outland Japan'. Under the new name, I'll be expanding the focus of the podcast from just the ‘yukiguni' or snow country to all of rural, regional and the wilds of Japan. I will continue to focus on the snow country, as I'm based here and want others to discover it, while also exploring those rural, regional and wild areas across the country as we travel outside the big cities to discover a different side of Japan. Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a textI am pleased to announce that the podcast will be returning with the first episode of Season 4 on Tuesday 22nd October, under the new name of 'Outland Japan'. The podcast has now been running around a year-and-a-half, and during that time, I've discovered more and more stories I'd like to bring you, that lie outside of the snow country, in other areas of regional and rural Japan. Under the new name of 'Outland Japan', I'll start to do just that as I extend the focus of the pod to all of rural, regional and the wilds of Japan. But based in the snow country myself, exploring Japan's legendary 'yukiguni' will remain a large part of my focus as we head into winter 2024-25.With that change, I won't continue updating the Snow Country Stories Japan website. It will remain online for the time being but from Season 4 onward, you can find the podcast at the new website - outlandjapan.com. You'll also find the pod on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube by searching 'Outland Japan'. I look forward to exploring more of the snow country and beyond as we head deeper in the Japanese outlands in the season to come!Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

The podcast remains on a break between seasons but as promised, here's another shorter, edited version of one of the most popular episodes to date - Finding, Fixing & Furnishing a Home in the Snow Country with Gianpaolo Camplese. This was Episode 22 of the podcast, in which I speak with woodworker and musician Gianpaolo Camplese about living in the snow country and his acquisition and refurbishment of an old ‘kominka' – a traditional farmhouse – into his family home. Important to note that this is an edited version of the longer original episode, in which Gianpaolo and I went into more detailed discussion about how he came to be living in the snow country, finding and purchasing a house, restoring it and his career as a woodworker and musician. You will hear short clips of his music during our chat. If you haven't already, make sure to listen to the full episode. This edit provides a taste of the longer conversation I had with Gianpaolo, but I think it interesting in its own right while it might also prompt you to go back and listen to the longer, original version. Finally, I'll be making an important announcement soon about the podcast including a change of name and changes to the website. Basically, the scope and name of the podcast will be expanding to all of regional Japan rather than just the snow country. The focus of the podcast will remain largely on this region but we'll start exploring some other curious corners of rural and regional Japan that lie elsewhere. I'll make a full announcement soon. Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

The podcast is currently on a break between Season 3 and Season 4. As promised, during this period I'll be uploading previous episode or two, beginning with this edit of what was the Episode 13 of the podcast, and the first of Season 2 – Shiga Kogen Ski Resort: Japan's Largest Ski Resort. In this episode I spoke with two-time Olympian Robel Zemichael about Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort, which lays claim to being both Japan's largest and highest ski resort. Robel is the manager of Shiga International Ski School and based in Shiga Kogen all year round, so there's no better person to speak with and he advocates for Shiga wonderfully.Important to note that this is an edited version of the longer original episode, in which Robel and I went into more detailed discussion about all aspects of the resort, services provide by Shiga International Ski School, accommodation and more. If you haven't already, make sure to listen to the full episode. This edit provides a taste of the longer conversation I had with my guest Robel, but I think it interesting in its own right while it might also prompt you to go back and listen to the longer, original version. I hope you enjoy!Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

In Episode 36 of the podcast we head into the North Alps – Japan's highest mountain range – and onto Norikura. Standing 3026 metres / 9927 feet above sea level, Mount Norikura or Norikuradake is one of the highest peaks in North Alps, a volcanic mountain which straddles the border of Nagano and Gifu Prefectures. It is here, in the village below the mountain, that we travel to meet Ogawa Yui, Community Manager of Norikura Zero Labo – a program pushing Norikura toward being Japan's first carbon neutral park. Yui's own story is an interesting one. We discuss how she came to live in Norikura Kogen, her academic and professional background that led her into current role, the environmental challenges facing Japan and Norikura and the actions being taken in Norikura in response to the climate crisis.I hope this episode inspires you to consider traveling to Norikura while also attesting to opportunities that exist in the regional areas of Japan, such as the snow country, for crafting a better life and making a real difference to communities that need more people in order to thrive. Yui and Norikura Zero Labo are striving to make a real difference, as a model for what's possible for communities everywhere, as we face the reality of the changing crisis.For more information, please visit the Norikura Zero Labo website (Japanese only)  and their Instagram, and for information about visiting, please see the Norikura Kogen website. You can also follow Yui via her personal Instagram. Images used in support of this episode were provided by Seth McAllister and cannot be used without his information. You can find his images and more information on the episode page of the Snow Country Stories Japan website. Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Episode 35 of the podcast takes us to Shiga Kogen Highlands in Nagano Prefecture. Declared a UNESCO Biopshere Reserve in 1980, Shiga Kogen is an alpine landscape which includes major peaks such as Mount Shiga and Mount Kusatsu-Shirane – one of Japan's most active volcanoes – renowned for its biodiversity, wetlands and distinct seasonal beauty. In this episode I speak with Yokota Shinji – a talented landscape and nature photographer who regularly accompanies guests into the alpine landscape of Shiga Kogen. He provides nature tours, photography tours and workshops for both Japanese and English-speaking guests and as such is an ideal person to accompany us to Shiga in this episode. Shiga Kogen Highlands sit within Joshinetsu Kogen National Park and will of course be familiar to many listeners as the ski resort of that name – Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort – is the largest ski resort in Japan – something we covered in Episode 13 of the pod while nearby Shiga Kogen Brewery – something we covered in Episode 6 of the pod - takes its name for this area of the mountains. Today's chat is however all about the Biosphere Reserve. Shiga Kogen Highlands is one of ten UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Japan, a global system of reserves awarded that status in recognition of their biological diversity and as models of mutual beneficial relationships between people and nature.  For more information and to view Shinji's beautiful photography, please visit his website and follow him on Instagram and his YouTube channel. You can also find more information, including how to get there, at the official Shiga Kogen Highlands website along with Shinji's images on the episode page of the Snow Country Stories Japan website. Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

This is the second half of Episode 34 of the podcast, my chat with Dan Solo of Snowball Japan. Originally from Australia, Dan and his wife Andy first travelled to Japan more than 20 years ago and fell in love with life in the snow country. They set themselves to one day run their own ski lodge, a dream that came to fruition when they opened Snowball Chalet in Madarao, followed soon after by Snowman Apartments. Since that time, Dan and Andy have taken on more properties in Madarao, the connected resort of Tangram Ski Circus, and nearby Shiga Kogen – Japan's largest ski resort.In the second half of our chat we discussed Dan's other properties including the self-contained chalet of Shiki at Tangram – on the Tangram-side of Madarao – and Yukimi Sano, Dan and Andy's beautiful conversion of a 160-year old home nearby Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort and the famous snow-bathing monkeys of Jigokudani. We also discuss the many resorts accessible from his properties and Dan's suggestions of what to look for, including the pros and cons of refurbishing an existing properties versus a new build, if you're interested in following suit and setting up your own lodge or ski business in Japan. If you haven't yet listened to the first half of the interview, make sure to go back to do so before listening to this. In that chat, we discuss how Dan and Andy discovered Japan's snow country and set about and achieved their dream of opening their own ski lodge here. For more information, visit the Snowball Japan website and you can also find them on Instagram and Facebook by searching Snowball Chalet at Madarao Mountain. The episode page of the Snow Country Stories Japan website has images, links and a map showing you where in the snow country we are. Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

In Episode 34 of the podcast we head to Madarao Mountain Resort in Nagano to speak with Dan Solo of Snowball Japan. Originally from Australia, Dan and his wife Andy first travelled to Japan more than 20 years ago and fell in love with life in the snow country. They set themselves to one day run their own ski lodge, a dream that came to fruition when they opened Snowball Chalet in Madarao, followed soon after by Snowman Apartments. Since that time, Dan and Andy have taken on more properties in Madarao, the connected resort of Tangram Ski Circus, and nearby Shiga Kogen – Japan's largest ski resort. Dan and I discuss just how he turned his dream into reality, the concept and design behind each of his properties, Madarao and other ski resorts accessible from the properties along with his suggestions of what to look for if you're looking for a ski resort to start your own business in Japan. Our chat is wide-ranging and longer than usual, so to avoid editing and cutting out some really engaging parts of the conversation, this episode is split into two. The second half of the interview will be available for download in a week's time. For more information, visit the Snowball Japan website and you can also find them on Instagram and Facebook by searching Snowball Chalet at Madarao Mountain. The episode page of the Snow Country Stories Japan website has images, links and a map showing you where in the snow country we are. Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Episode of 33 of the podcast takes us into Japan's highest mountain range and into the beautiful alpine valley of Kamikochi. Part of the wider Chubu Sangaku National Park, Kamikochi is a 16 kilometre / 10 mile valley which follows the beautiful Azusa River and bookended by two famous mountains – Mount Hotaka and Yakedake. With an average elevation of around 1400 metres / 4593 feet, the valley is known for its outstanding beauty, pristine ecosystem and multiple mountain peaks. Open to the public from mid-April until mid-November each year, access is restricted in order to preserve that natural beauty and ecosystem, and as such, a little planning goes a long way when heading there. This episode of the podcast is my travel guide to Kamikochi.In this episode I delve into the history of Kamikochi, what to expect, its highlights and hiking options, when to visit, where to stay and how to get there. Kamikochi is a special protected zone within the national park and as I explained, private cars are not allowed to enter. Visitors to Kamikochi must use public bus services, a taxi or a chartered vehicle, meaning that understanding how to get there is essential to making the most of your time there. I provide that information during this episode along with everything else you need to know.Complete information – including accommodation and transport - can be found on the official Kamikochi website and you can follow them on Instagram. As always, more information, photographs, links and a map showing you where Kamikochi is can be found on the episode page of the Snow Country Stories Japan website.Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Episode 32 of the podcast takes us to the north of Japan, into the snow country of Akita Prefecture and onto Oga Peninsula. Jutting out from the Japanese main island and into the Sea of Japan, Oga Peninsula is wild and beautiful, a place of rustic villages and lurking wonders; and it is here, in Oga that we encounter the fearsome ‘Namahage' – mythical ogre-like creatures that emerge from the forested mountains every New Year, to raid village homes and terrorise the children inside. The Namahage are, in a very real sense, coming for the children…In this episode I speak with Dr Michael Dylan Foster, Professor or Japanese at University California Davis. Dr Foster has 30 years researching folklore, literature and popular culture in Japan including long-term ethnographic study of rituals, festivals and tourism in Japan including the Namahage of Oga Peninsula. Dr Foster is an authority on ‘Yokai' – a generalist Japanese term for all-manner of supernatural beings, monsters, ghosts, demons, ogres and more – having published multiple books on the topic and produced TV series with Japan's national broadcaster NHK.We discuss all of this and more including the Namahage Sedo Festival held each February and Namahage-kan Museum, in Oga, which is open all year round. Dr Foster's profile is available through the UC Davis website, while his books are available on Amazon – and other book suppliers – and TV series on NHK World Japan. You can as always find more information on the episode page of the Snow Country Stories Japan website. Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

In Episode 31 of the podcast we head to Akakura Onsen in Myoko Kogen to speak with design maker Liam Mugavin. Originally for Australia, Liam is the cofounder of A.I.R. Myoko – a ski in, ski out chalet which combines design, gastronomy and other artisanal influences to offer a different type of experience when it comes to ski accommodation in Japan. Liam's background and continued work as a designer maker underpin the concept of chalet he operates, along with his business partner and other members of the team. Extending the ‘artist in residence' concept he undertook with Australia House – part of the Echigo Tsumari Art Field festival held in Niigata – and similar programs around the world, Liam and the team at AIR invite artists and upcoming chefs to reside at the chalet each winter. We discuss of that in the first half of the interview before moving onto Liam's current project, the relocation and restoration of a 170 year old ‘kominka' (traditional farmhouse) in the second half of our chat. With restoration nearing completion, the building will act as Liam's design workshop - an extension of the artist residence concept. Checkout the A.I.R. Myoko website for bookings and to get in touch with Liam, and if you have not already, make sure to also check out Episode 17 of the podcast, in which I spoke with snowboarder Billy Halloran about the ski resorts of Myoko Kogen and his lodge, The Greenhouse Myoko. You can also find images and a map showing you where we are in the snow country on the episode page of the Snow Country Stories Japan website.Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

In Episode 30 of the podcast I speak with outdoor guide Iida Taka about Oze National Park. Straddling four prefectures of the snow country – Gunma, Niigata, Fukushima and Tochigi – Oze National Park is relatively small at 373 squared kilometres however its smaller size is in fact one of its attractions. Known for its lakes, wetlands, moors and marshes, the park is ringed by mountains ascending over 2000 metres with areas of dense forest. As such, visitors to Oze can enjoy varied environments including unique flora and fauna within a confined area. Taka is an experienced outdoor covering many destinations in Central Japan including Oze National Park. Originally from Izu, Taka's journey to becoming an outdoor guide involves stints in Australia, New Zealand and Canada before pursuing certification in Oze – a park she is very familiar with and keen to introduce to international visitors. Based in Nagano, Taka operates Nozawa Onsen Tours in the popular ski resort and hot spring town of the same name. Offering tours that reveal the long history and culture of the village, along with the surrounding environment, Taka reveals a side of Nozawa that many if not most international visitors miss.We discuss the national park in the first half of the interview before moving onto the tours Taka offers at Oze and Nozawa Onsen in the second half of our chat. For more information, visit the Nozawa Onsen Tours website or Instagram - links are above - and of course you can find information, images and a map showing you where the national park is on the episode page of the Snow Country Stories Japan website. Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

In Episode 29 of the podcast we return to Niigata Prefecture and onto Niigata City to speak with Jenya Yuss. Jenya works for Edge of Niigata, a travel company based in Niigata City and operating tours and experiences in the city and wider prefecture. As such she's an ideal person to introduce to the story and the reasons to visit Niigata.When Japanese think about the snow country, Niigata is one of the first prefectures to spring to mind. Subject to very heavy snowfall, Niigata is synonymous with that snow along with its rice, sake and seafood. Situated on the coast of the Sea of Japan and at confluence of two rivers, Niigata City has long been an important trade and port city that connected Japan to the outside world. A place through which people passed along with traded goods. A mix of the traditional, industrial and grittier elements you'd expect of a port city.Jenya and I discuss the city and its history, her own story, travel experiences offered by Edge of Niigata along with tips of onward journeys further into the snow country by train and ferry. You can find more information on the Edge of Niigata website or follow them on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. More information including links to everything we discuss in the episode, images and a map showing you where in the snow country we are, are on the episode page of the Snow Country Stories Japan website. Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

In Episode 28 of the podcast I speak with Mark Davis, a Tokyo-based landscape photographer whose work focuses on the natural environments of Japan. Mark's photography takes him into many areas of regional Japan with a particular interest in the snow country and its varied seasons. As such, his photography tells a more complete story of the snow country, and Japan in general, in revealing the transient of beauty of spring, summer and autumn in addition to its celebrated winter.Originally from the United States, Mark's own story and account of how he ended up in Japan, is an interesting one. As he states, his background influences his photography and the subjects, in the form of natural environments, he is most drawn to.  Mark leads photography tours in Nagano each autumn, in conjunction with two other photographers – Sho Hoshino and David Thompson. The tour is designed to take guests into the autumn landscapes of Central Japan, away from the crowds and well-known destinations - something we discuss in the second half of the interview.For more information about this photography and tours, visit Mark's website and always, you can find more information on the episode page of the Snow Country Stories Japan website. Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Episode 27 of the podcast takes us back to Yamagata Prefecture and onto Tsuruoka, a city known for its diverse and rich traditional food culture. In 2014 Tsuruoka was designated a UNESCO ‘Creative City of Gastronomy' in recognition of that food culture including continued agricultural practices and use heirloom crops and wild plants foraged in the forests and mountains, along with creative use and contemporisation of those gastronomic practices. It was the first city in Japan to be awarded the status yet it remains relatively unknown (including for many Japanese).In exploration of Tsuruoka's food culture, in this episode I speak with Alexis Crump, Coordinator for International Relations of the Gastronomy Department in Tsuruoka. As Alexis and I discuss, the gastronomy of the region is reflective of its varied topography, with different food cultures and distinct areas existing within the UNESCO designation awarded to Tsuruoka. Six distinct areas including Tsuruoka, Atsumi, Asahi, Kushibiki, Haguro and Fujishima account for the area generally referred to as Tsuruoka City, and each have their own food culture. Tsuruoka's mixed landscape coastline, plains, forest and mountains is reflected in its varied gastronomy which takes advantage of the food available in each environment. As we discuss in the interview, Tsuruoka offers visitors many reasons to visit in addition to its celebrated food culture. To learn more about what's on offer, visit the official Tsuruoka City website for information about the region's many attractions, festivals, hot springs and accommodation.  You can also find images, a map of where Tsuruoka is and links to everything we discuss on the episode page of the Snow Country Stories Japan website.Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Episode 26 of the podcast transports us along one of the snow country's most popular destinations – the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. Located in Chubu Sangaku National Park, the Alpine Route is a popular sightseeing route that transports visitors across Japan's highest mountain range – the Kita Alps or North Alps. It takes a series of mountain transports to do so that operate between different stations, eventually ascending to Murodo Station at 2450 metres / 8038 feet above sea level, from where you are within reach of the summit of Mount Tate or Tateyama – at 3003 metres / 9852 feet.The Alpine Route is closed to the public through winter due to heavy snow in the mountains, reopening on April 15th every year and operating until the end of November. It is extremely popular with both Japanese and international visitors, who upon opening, head up the Alpine Route to witness its most famous sight – the 'Snow Walls of Tateyama'.  As the weather warms in late-spring and into summer, walking trails beneath the snow will begin to emerge providing easier access to leisurely walks around the alpine plateau and more advanced overnight and multi-day hikes to the surrounding peaks including deep into the national park. For more information, visit the episode page on the Snow Country Stories Japan website. 00:00  Prelude04:25  Episode Introduction07:04  History of the Alpine Route14:16  How it Works & What to Expect21:16  When to Visit the Alpine Route24:35  Using the Transports & How to Get There28:26  Where to Stay30:37  My Guiding Services31:45  Episode CloseSnow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Today's episode - Episode 25 of the podcast - kicks off Season 3 as we make our way north to Hokkaido and onto Japan's largest national park, Daisetsuzan. Established in 1934, Daisetsuzan National Park is known for its alpine landscapes, abundant flora and fauna, and seasonal beauty including its deep snow of winter. For many, Daisetsuzan is the crown jewel of Japan's 34 national parks and without any doubt, is one of the snow country's most rewarding destinations.In this episode I speak with Richard Smith, an experienced guide who leads multi-day hiking tours in Daisetsuzan with Adventure Hokkaido. Adventure Hokkaido is a Hokkaido-based tour company offering small group hiking, cycling and nature tours to many of the islands most rewarding destinations including, but not limited to, Daisetsuzan. Originally from the United Kingdom but now based in Hokkaido, Richard knows Daisetsuzan very well and as such, offers great insight into the park while discussing the tours he leads and how to can yourself there, should you wish to.00:00  Episode Introduction03:06  (A Little Bit of) Richard's Story06:23  Daisetsuzan: An Overview of the Park11:11  Hiking in Daisetsuzan: What to Expect15:27  The Flora & Fauna of Daisetsuzan20:16  The Volcanic Character of the Park22:25  Adventure Hokkaido's 6 Day Hiking Tour29:22  Other Tours Offered by Adventure Hokkaido32:13  Tips When Planning Your Own Hike in Daisetsuzan36:17  How to Book a Tour with Adventure Hokkaido38:49  Episode Close inc. How to Get to DaisetsuzanFor more information, use the links above to click through to the websites for the national park and Adventure Hokkaido, and make sure to head to the episode page on the Snow Country Stories Japan website for yet more information, images and a map showing you where the park is. Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Season 3 of Snow Country Stories Japan begins on Tuesday 2nd April 2024. In the coming season we'll be exploring the snow country in spring and summer before heading into the beauty of autumn, starting with Japan's largest national park, Daisetsuzan. Considered by many as the most impressive of Japan's 34 national parks, Daisetsuzan occupies a vast area dominated by volcanic ranges and many peaks of over 2000 metres / 6600 feet, with an abundant alpine flora and fauna and striking beauty from season to season including its deep snow of winter.Exploration of Daisetsuzan will kick of Season 3 of the pod and I look forward to bringing you more episodes from the snow country as we move further into 2024 and toward the next snow season. Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Snow Country Stories Japan is currently on a break between seasons. I'll announce the return date as soon as possible. In the meantime, this bonus episode features a clip of my recently published interview on the Lost Without Japan podcast.Lost Without Japan is a bi-weekly podcast focused on listeners planning their first trip to Japan or for those who are returning, introducing new destinations and experiences to get them off the beaten track. The host of the podcast Mike covers a broad range of topics and talks to people throughout Japan and was kind enough to invite me on to discuss spring in snow country and ask for my recommendations of the best places to enjoy the snow as the weather warms up. During the interview we discussed the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route and Kamikochi – both of which open to the public on April 15 – along with Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort – Japan's largest and highest ski resort which is also blessed with some of the country's best spring skiing and snowboarding.Lost Without Japan is available on all popular podcast apps and you can follow the show on Instagram and Facebook. My chat with Mike is Episode 15 of Season 3 of his podcast and very generously titled 'Talking Snow Country Stories Japan w. Peter Tour Guide Extraordinarire'. I hope you enjoy!Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

In Episode 24 of the podcast I speak with Shoko Baba, a member of the international sales team, of one of the snow country's most celebrated sake breweries, Hakkaisan. Located in the heavy snow area of Minami-Uonuma, Hakkaisan Brewery produces high quality sake that reflects the pristine surrounding environment and traditions of this beautiful area of Niigata. Shoko and I discuss the heritage and pedigree of Hakkaisan including their celebrated snow-aged ‘Yukimuro' sake, while also delving into the importance of sake in the culture of Niigata and more broadly, in Japan. We discuss Hakkaisan's fantastic Rydeen Beer and their wonderful facility Uonuma-no-Sato, along with exciting enterprises including Niseko Distillery in Hokkaido and Brooklyn Kura in New York. The brewery takes its name from nearby Mount Hakkai or in Japanese, Hakkaisan. Standing 1778 metres / 5834 feet in height, Hakkaisan is home to the little-known but fantastic Muikamachi Hakkaisan Ski Resort. The location of the mountain and ski resort subject it to heavy snowfall each winter making it an ideal destination for skiers and snowboarders wanting to dive into some deep stuff without the crowds. I provide information about Muikamachi Hakkaisan – one of my favourite ski resorts – following my chat with Shoko. Make sure to check out the episode page on the Snow Country Stories Japan website for more information, images, videos and a map showing you where in the snow country we are today.This episode is the last of Season 2 of the Snow Country Stories Japan podcast. A big thank you to everyone who is listening. I'll be taking a short break and returning with Season 3 in late March / early April. I will announce the return date as soon as possible and in the meantime, I will upload some bonus episodes. I hope you enjoy!Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

In Episode 23 of the podcast I speak with David Laichtman - a doctoral candidate at Sophia University in Tokyo - about the historical and contemporary practice of bear worship in Japan by cultures including the Matagi in Tohoku and Ainu in Hokkaido. In doing so, this episode draws attention to the often-overlooked fact that Japan is home culturally and ethnically distinct people, many of whom are most identifiable in the snow country. This episode includes discussion regarding traditional practices which result in the physical death of bears. We discuss how that occurs including ritualistic aspects of the death and the consumption of the bear. Given the nature of our conversation, this episode may not be suitable for all audiences and for that reason, I ask for your discretion as to whether you want to listen to it. David and I discuss peoples including the Matagi and Ainu cultures. Neither of us are Matagi or Ainu and we do not speak on their behalf. My questions are asked from a place of true interest and it is my sincere intention that all questions are appropriate and engaging, while David's answers are based on his own research and observations. Should you be interested to learn more, Mataginoyu and Matagi Museum, both in Akita Prefecture, profile the culture of the Matagi. Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park in Hokkaido is the largest public facility dedicated to the promotion of Ainu culture. As David suggests, it might be best to visit Upopoy in conjunction with or prioritise a visit to Nibutani Ainu Culture Museum, along with the Kayano Shigeru Nibutani Ainu Museum. David will be a guest speaker at the event ‘New and Critical Perspectives on Global Studies', presented by the Graduate School of Global Studies (GSGS) Sophia University on February 16th 2024.  Make sure to checkout the episode page on the Snow Country Stories Japan website for more information, images and links.  00:00  Episode Introduction 03:09  A Little of David's Story 05:01  Arctolatry: A (Very) Brief History 07:30  Bear Worship in Japan: Where & By Whom Is It Practiced? 09:49  The Matagi & The Ainu 14:08  Matagi ‘Kuma Matsuri' & Ainu Bear ‘Iomante' / Part 1 22:41  Matagi ‘Kuma Matsuri' & Ainu Bear ‘Iomante' / Part 2 26:23  The Story of Japan: One People, One Culture? 28:45  Matagi & Ainu Museums in Northern Japan 35:02  Recommended Reading & Where to Follow David 38:46  Episode CloseSnow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

In Episode 22 of the podcast we head north to the small rural village of Nukui in Nagano Prefecture. It is here that we find craftsman and musician Gianpaolo Camplese. Originally from Italy, Gianpaolo moved to the snow country in search for a home for his family, eventually discovering a rundown ‘kominka' (traditional farmhouse) in the picturesque Nukui. In this episode we speak about Gianpaolo's journey to the snow country of Japan, why he loves it, where and how he found his home, and the process of buying and fixing it Gianpaolo is a woodworker who makes beautiful timber furniture under the name of Nereto Woodwork. As we discuss in our interview, he fills commissions for clients in the area including the many guesthouses and lodges of the surrounding ski resorts along with private residences. We discuss Gianpaolo's work as a furniture-maker in the second half of the interview along with his wonderful music. A drummer and composer, Gianpaolo spent many years working in Berlin as a musician. You can listen to his wonderfully atmospheric music on both his personal website and Soundcloud. The interview was recorded in Gianpaolo's home. I want to say a very big thank you to him for welcoming me in and I hope our chat inspires you to consider a life lived better out here in the snow country! For more information including images and a map of where in the snow country we are today, make sure to the check out the episode page on the Snow Country Stories Japan website.00:00  Episode Introduction03:31  Setting the Scene: Life in Nukui, Nagano10:20  Gianpaolo's Journey to the Snow Country14:55  Finding & Buying a 'Kominka'20:26  The (Ongoing) Renovation 26:31  Tips for Buying  a House in the Snow Country29:09  Nereto Woodwork: Gianpaolo's Wonderful Furniture38:31  The Music of Gianpaolo Camplese46:13  Episode CloseSnow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Episode 21 of the Snow County Stories Japan podcast brings us to Nagano City, the capital of the large, landlocked and mountainous Nagano Prefecture. Host of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games, Nagano is blessed with heavy snow and home to fantastic ski resorts, many of Japan's highest mountains and multiple national parks. As the largest city in the region, Nagano City is the primary transit point for visitors heading to those ski resorts, mountains and national parks with many if not most people passing through enroute to a nearby destination. In this episode of the we'll head into to Nagano City to explore what's on offer including its highlights, the best time of visit, recommended day trips, dining, accommodation, dining and nightlife, how to get there, and my services as a tour guide. As always there is more information and links to everything we discuss on the episode page of the Snow Country Stories Japan website. Based in Nagano, it goes without saying that I guide in Nagano City starting with my 'On the Trail of Japan's 7 Lucky Gods & Zenkoji Private Tour'. Available all year round I designed this walking tour to take you in search of Japan's ‘Shichifukujin' or '7 Lucky Gods', on a route that leads through Nagano City, to sub-temples and other spots of interest and onto one of Japan's most important Buddhist temples, Zenko-ji. Along the way I introduce you to each of Japan's 7 Lucky Gods and in doing so, touch on surprising aspects of Japanese culture. Once at the temple, we explore its history and significance  including why Zenko-ji has more swastikas than any temple in Japan. While we walk, I also introduce you to favourite eateries and cafes while sampling Nagano's food culture and should you wish to, making sure we have plenty of time for lunch, a little shopping and a guided sake tasting. Nagano City is a stop on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line running from Tokyo to Kanazawa. All services departing Tokyo stop at Nagano – an 80 to 110 minute journey depending on which service you choose. There are plenty of services throughout the day. From Kanazawa – the northern terminus of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line - services take between 60 to 90 minutes and are just as frequent. Limited express services operating on the scenic Shinano line connect Nagano to the castle town of Matsumoto – approximately 50 minutes – and Nagoya – in around 3 hours. Express and overnight bus services also connect Nagano to major cities across Japan. A good option for travelers on a budget. However you choose to journey here, I hope this audio guide is of assistance in planning your visit.00:00  Prelude03:45  Episode Introduction06:57  Nagano's Olympic Heritage08:50  Zenko-ji & The Hidden Buddha14:00  Togakushi: Forest Shrines, Mystics & Mountain Ninja17:39  Matsushiro: Samurai & An Open Secret Beneath22:17  My Tours & Services as a Guide23:56  Best Times of Year to Visit Nagano City25:06  Ski Resorts, National Parks & Recommended Day-trips28:55  Dining & Nightlife33:01  Accommodation & Hot Springs35:04  How to Get to Nagano CitySnow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Episode 20 of the Snow Country Stories Japan takes us back to Aizu in Fukushima Prefecture and Japan's newest ski resort, Hoshino Resorts Nekoma Mountain. In this episode I speak with Ishiuchi Kei, an accomplished snowboarder with a lot of experience working in the ski industry and genuine enthusiasm for Nekoma and the Aizu region. A true snow guru, Kei speaks about Nekoma Mountain with genuine enthusiasm.Nekoma Mountain consists of two older resorts – Alts Bandai and Nekoma Snow Park - that have now been connected, making it one of the largest ski resorts in Japan. The resort offers 189 ha / 39 km of on-piste terrain comprised of 33 runs serviced by 13 lifts. There is a huge extend of side and back country on offer – which when factored in, brings the resort to an impressive 993 ha of terrain.The resort is operated by Hoshino Resorts, one of Japan's largest hotel management companies. The resort is serviced by the large Hoshino Resorts Bandaisan Onsen Hotel, offering a range of rooms including suites, menus designed to show off Aizu's proud food culture and sake, hot springs and a range of services including free shuttle bus from nearby train stations.Make sure to check out the episode page on the Snow Country Stories Japan website for more information, photos, videos and a map showing you where the resort is located. The resort website has complete information while you can also follow Kei on Instagram. I hope you enjoy!Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Episode 19 of the podcast takes us into the deep snow country of Tokamachi in Niigata, where we venture into the beautiful, heavily forested hills and minor mountains of that area, and onto the secluded Mithila Museum to speak with its director Hasegawa Tokio. An avant-garde musician and artist, Hasegawa-san founded Mithila Museum in 1982, and today, the museum houses one the world's major collection of Mithila or Madhubani art while Hasegawa-san remains an active, innovative and legendary musician. We discuss his story, how the museum came to be, his music and of course, his love for life in the snow country in today's interview.Originating in the Madhubani district of Bihar – a northeastern state of India – Madhubani art is created by local women and defined by its geometrical and contrasting patterns, bold lines and colours and broad themes ranging from cosmological and ritual practices to the images of everyday life. The museum houses one of the world's largest collections of Madhubani art, along with Warli and Gond art. Hasegawa-san was a founding member of the avant-garde music group ‘The Taj Mahal Travellers' during the 1970s and to this day, is an active and innovative musician. Released in 2019, ‘Stone Music' includes recordings of performances in Japan, India and Taiwan. Blending Japanese drums, flutes, keyboards, electronic sounds, Indian instruments and captivating vocals, the music is both real and tangible while also evoking the cosmological and metaphysical terms Hasegawa-san so often speaks in. Chapter markers are at:00:00  Episode Introduction04:10  Who is Hasegawa Tokio?09:31  The Three Worlds of Hasegawa Tokio16:43  Himalayan Moon: Choosing Life in the Deep Snow20:16  Mithila Museum: Founding & Purpose22:59  The Importance of Mithila / Madhubani Art28:59  The 'Stone Music' of Hasegawa Tokio34:54  Mithila Museum: Opening Days & Times36:31  The Value of Life in the Snow Country41:15  Episode CloseYou can find more information on the episode page of the Snow Country Stories Japan website or via the Mithila Museum website or YouTube Channel. Hasegawa-san's 'Stone Music' album can be purchase via the Bandcamp website while you can also watch the recent live performance on YouTube.Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Episode 18 of the podcast takes us once again to Niigata Prefecture and the snow country area of Matsunoyama. Famous for its very heavy snowfall, Matsunoyama is a place in many ways defined by that snow. In this episode I speak with Kamimura Shotaro, a regional revitalisation coordinator based in Matsunoyama. Shotaro's work tasks him with revitalisation of the community and as such, we discuss the multiple challenges being faced by the people of Matsunoyama while also exploring the opportunities of life in the deep snow. This episode highlights the reality for many communities in the snow country and across Japan. Communities that are struggling to sustain themselves in the face of depopulation and an ageing population, changing economies and lifestyles, and climate change. But there is also cause for optimism, something Shotaro and I discuss in the second half of the interview including reasons to visit Matsunoyama including Matsunoyama Onsen – considered one of Japan's three great medicinal hot spring towns – along with Echigo-Tsumari Art Field and the big snow of the small resort, Matsunoyama Onsen Ski Area.  We recorded the interview on a very wet day in a charismatic roadside tea house named Matsunoyama Chakra.Shotaro's website ‘Snow Notes' documents and educates about life in both Matsunoyama and wider snow country. He publishes some pages in English but obviously, most pages are in Japanese. I recommend the online translator DeepL for Japanese to English translations. You can also find links everything discussed in this episode and more information including a map of where Matsunoyama is located on the episode page on the Snow Country Stories Japan website. 00:00  Episode Introduction 03:49  Matsunoyama, Niigata: Where It Is & Life in the Deep Snow10:55  Shotaro's Story12:26  Challenges Impacting Matsunoyama17:56  The ‘Satoyama' Concept 23:10  Local Identity & Climate Change 27:34  Looking Forward: Three Possible Futures30:18  Matsunoyama Onsen33:24  Echigo-Tsumari Art Field35:48  Matsunoyama Onsen Ski Area38:17  Episode CloseSnow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Episode 17 of the podcast takes us to Niigata Prefecture and the deep snow of Myoko Kogen. Located on the flanks of Mount Myoko, Myoko Kogen is a collective named used to refer to five ski resorts, renowned for their very heavy snowfall and some of Japan's best powder riding. In this episode I speak with Billy Halloran, a talented snowboarder and operator of The Greenhouse Myoko, a self-contained lodge tucked away in picturesque village near the base of Myoko  Suginohara Ski Resort. Originally from New Zealand, Billy found his way to Japan and fell in love with the snow country lifestyle and culture that comes with it. Billy and I discuss all five of the resorts - - Akakura Onsen, Akakura Kanko, Ikenotaira, Suginohara and Seki Onsen – and the nearby resort of Lotte Arai – not officially part of Myoko Kogen but worth considering if you're headed to the area to ski and snowboard. We also chat about backcountry and tree-riding, what's on offer at The Greenhouse and more.Billy's snowboarding and enthusiasm for life here is best attested to by through the beautifully shot film ‘As Above, So Below', produced by film maker Gordy Duff. The film captures the essence of life in the snow country and Billy speaks well about the importance of prioritising what you love and the value of community. I encourage everyone to take the time to watch it, as it shows of Billy's talent as a boarder and the beauty of Myoko Kogen. If you're interested in staying at The Greenhouse, you can get in touch with Billy via their Instagram - using the link above - or via the Tanoshi Corp Instagram or Tanoshii Tours website. You can discover more - including images, videos and a map - on today's episode page of the Snow Country Stories Japan website.00:00 Episode Introduction03:31 Myoko Kogen: Where It Is & Why It's Special  06:39 Billy's Story09:22 Akakura Onsen Ski Area12:32 Akakura Kanko Resort14:48 Ikenotaira Onsen Ski Resort18:42 Myoko Suginohara Ski Resort23:07 Seki Onsen Ski Resort28:31 Lotte Arai Resort31:55 ‘As Above, So Below': A Film by Billy & Film-maker Gordy Duff34:03 Backcountry & Tree-riding in Myoko Kogen36:03 The Greenhouse Myoko: Accommodation & Tours40:00 The Value of Life in the Snow Country45:34 Episode CloseSnow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Episode 16 of the podcast brings us back to Nagano Prefecture and one of the snow country's most popular destinations, Jigokudani Yaen Koen – more commonly referred to as the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. Located in the enclave of Yamanouchi – 50 to 60 minutes from Nagano City – the park is home to a curious troop of Japanese macaques known for the love of bathing in hot springs. This episode has everything you need to know to plan your visit to the monkey park including just why the monkeys are there and why they are so famous, what to expect, the best times of year to visit, other destinations to visit while there, where to stay, how to get there and my services as a tour guide.Open all year round, the monkeys come to the park in winter, spring, summer and autumn with each season offering its own reasons to visit. The monkeys are wild meaning they come and go as they please; and while they are almost certain to be at the park on the day of your visit, the fact that they are wild means their presence is not guaranteed. For that reason I recommend combining your visit to the monkeys with other destinations in the area including the famous hot spring towns of Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka Onsen or exploration of Joshinetsu Kogen National Park including Shiga Kogen Highlands UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and of course, Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort – Japan's largest ski resort.For more information about the park, visit our episode page and for more information about my services, see the 'Tours' section of the Snow Country Stories Japan website.00:00 Power of Monkey02:30 Episode Introduction06:09 History of the Snow Monkey Park11:00 What to Expect When You Visit15:13 Best Times of Year to Visit20:18 Hot Spring Towns of Kanbayashi, Shibu & Yudanaka Onsen24:21 Shiga Kogen Ski Resort / Joshinetsu Kogen National Park26:13 Where to Stay28:28 How to Get There30:37 My Guided Tours at the Park32:48 Episode CloseSnow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Episode 15 of the podcast takes us to the north of Honshu and the prefecture of Akita. Known for its natural beauty and wild landscapes, Akita is a place that my guest Eli Sooker spends much of his time. Eli is a conservationist, writer, wildlife photographer and eco tour guide based in Japan whose current research focuses on bear conservation and specifically, bear attacks. His research is the launching point for our conversation about wildlife conservation and the potential of wildlife tourism in Japan. Chances are that when you think of the many reasons to visit Japan, wildlife isn't the first thing to spring to mind. Yet Japan is home to 34 national parks and many more quasi-national parks, nature reserves and UNESCO Biosphere Reserves or Geoparks. Most of these are home to abundant wildlife including large mammals such as black and brown bears, serow, deer, monkeys and more. Japan also boasts a huge number of bird species and even more wildlife in its waters. With this in mind, we discuss the potential of wildlife tourism in Japan including Eli's recommendation of the best wildlife experiences in the snow country - for links and further information about each experience, visit the episode page on the Snow Country Stories Japan website.You can follow Eli's work via his website 'The Traveling Conservationist' or follow him on Instagram and Facebook. 00:00   Episode Introduction03:28   Eli Sooker: The Traveling Conservationist08:15   Wildlife Conservation Japan: Factors & Challenges12:52   Potential of Wildlife Tourism in Japan15:09   Bears & Japan: A Complicated Relationship20:02   Picchio Wildlife Research Center Bear & Wildlife Tours / Karuizawa, Nagano23:16   Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park / Yamanouchi, Nagano27:34   Shiretoko National Park Wildlife Cruises / Shiretoko, Hokkaido32:11   Red-Crowned Cranes / Kushiro, Hokkaido36:37   Episode CloseSnow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Episode 14 of the podcast takes us once again to Nagano Prefecture and Son of the Smith Hard Cider brewery. Opened in 2020, Son of the Smith Hard Cider are in many ways forging a new era for cider in Japan – a country that doesn't have a strong cider tradition. In this episode, I speak with head brewer Ikeuchi Takuro about the brewery's founding vision and the cider they are now producing – work that is redefining what is possible when it comes to cider. As Ikeuchi-san explains, his background in organic chemistry underpins brewing techniques that respond to the variation in apples from season-to-season. Such methods allow Son of the Smith to utilise apple varieties typically considered unsuitable for good cider while also adapting methods used in the United Kingdom, United States – including production of hop cider - and Europe to pioneer a new Japanese tradition.Make sure to check out the episode page on the Snow Country Stories Japan website for further information, relevant links and a map showing where the brewery is located. Given the size of Japan's snow country and often unfamiliar place names, understanding where each episode is talking about can be confusing. For that reason, each episode has a page on website including links and maps to help you get your bearings and learn more about the people and places discussed. You can also follow Son of the Smith on Instagram.For more information about the podcast and your host, visit our website: www.snowcountrystories.com. Make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. 00:00   Episode Introduction04:31   The Beginnings of Son of the Smith08:13   How Ikeuchi-san Became a Cider Brewer10:57   What is Hard Cider?12:59   Son of the Smith's Brewing Techniques18:29   We Eat an Apple21:56   The Importance of Yeast25:43   Son of the Smith's Design Influences28:49   Where You Can Get It30:30   Episode Close30:47   A Final Word from Ikeuchi-sanSnow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Episode 13 of the podcast – and the first of Season 2 – brings us back to Nagano and Japan's largest ski resort, Shiga Kogen. A host venue in the 1998 Winter Olympic Games, Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort is Japan's largest and highest ski resort and enjoys the longest season of any resort in Nagano or Central Japan. Despite this the resort remains relatively unknown to international visitors…In this episode I speak with Robel Zemichael, manager of Shiga International Ski School. Robel is a two-time Olympian who represented his birth country of Ethiopia at the 2006 Games in Torino and 2010 Games in Vancouver. He is long-term resident of Japan who has called Nagano his home for some time now, and as we wait the beginning of the ski school's ninth season, I was fortunate enough to sit down with Robel for a chat about the ski resort and why he rates it so highly.Make sure to check out the episode page on the Snow Country Stories Japan website for further information, relevant links and a map showing where Shiga Kogen is located. Given the size of Japan's snow country and often unfamiliar place names, understanding where each episode is talking about can be confusing. For that reason, each episode has a page on website including links and maps to help you get your bearings and learn more about the people and places discussed.For more information about the podcast and your host, visit our website: www.snowcountrystories.com. Make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. 00:00  Episode Introduction 03:30  Robel's Story 08:01  Shiga Kogen Size & Ski Areas 14:11  Recommended Length of Stay 16:08  Altitude & Topography 17:35  Season Length & Best Time to Visit 20:13  Snow Quality & Where to Find the Best Powder 24:32  Shiga International Ski School: Group & Private Lessons 26:41  Shiga International Ski School: Tours & Backcountry31:37  Where to Stay 37:29  Ski & Snowboard Rental 42:33  Episode Close Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

I am happy to announce that Season 2 of ‘Snow Country Stories Japan' begins on Tuesday 19th September 2023. And I'm just as happy to say, there's a lot to look forward to in the coming season! As we head toward and into another winter, Season 2 of the podcast will take us deeper into Japan's snow country including episodes covering some of Japan's best ski resorts and the fantastic skiing, snowboarding and backcountry on offer here. Of course that's just part of the snow country story and in Season 2 we'll continue to explore all aspects of life here including the traditions and festivals, music and food, breweries and distilleries, wildlife and life in general among the heavy snow of Japan. It's my hope that this podcast inspires you to visit or better yet, come to live in the snow country. For more information about the podcast and your host, visit our website: www.snowcountrystories.com. Make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Snow Country Stories Japan remains on a break between Season 1 and Season 2. This is the second upload of two previous episodes  - an edit of what was Episode 04 / Nakano of 100 Empty Houses: In Search of Solutions to Japan's Akiya Problem. The original episode was around 1 hour in length whereas this edit is just over 20 minutes. Another of my most rewarding chats from Season 1, in this episode I speak with Murai Shota about his work in Nakano - a small town outside of Nagano City - and his work in finding solutions for the estimated 1000 empty homes. It's reflective of the situation across Japan in which a huge number of homes are unoccupied or abandoned. The topic is especially relevant to the snow country which is experiencing ageing and depopulation. As a result, homes can be exceptionally cheap to buy, if you can just get them listed for sale... I hope you enjoy!You can follow Shota's work on Instagram and for more information about the podcast and your host, visit our website: www.snowcountrystories.com. Make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Snow Country Stories Japan is currently on a break between Season 1 and Season 2. As promised, during this period I'll be uploading a couple of previous episodes, beginning with this edit of what was Episode 2 of the podcast. The original episode was the longest to date at over 1 hour whereas this edit is just over 20 minutes. I consider this chat to be one of the best I've had to date. The original episode was however squeezed between the first and third episodes, which were published on three consecutive days to launch the pod, therefore it didn't have top billing for long. This edit provides a taste of the longer conversation I had with my guest Rich Morgan, but I think it interesting in its own right while it might also prompt you to go back and listen to the longer, original version. I hope you enjoy!For more information about the podcast and your host, visit our website: www.snowcountrystories.com. Make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.