Plans
A Romantic Winter Tour to a Fantastic World of Ice and Amazing Starry Skies
Inabu-Area
1 day
Experience the sight of trees covered in ice and glistening in the sunlight, in the middle of a pure white virgin forest, before making good use of Inabu's cold climate to visit the Inabu Hyōbaku icicles. The icicles make for a particularly spectacular and mysterious sight when they are illuminated at night. Stay overnight at Natsuyake Onsen, and warm yourself up by bathing in the hot springs. During the next day, get a taste of Japanese sake at the Houraisen Ginjo Koubou Brewery, before heading to Asuke. While here, you can enjoy walking around Asuke town and seeing the hina doll decorations displayed outside old houses and shops.
- Mennoki Soft Rime Virgin Forest
- Inabu Ice Cascade
- Stay at Natsuyake Onsen Resort
- Horaisen Ginjo Brewery Tour and Workshop
- Sanshu Asuke Yashiki Museum
- Hina Dolls of Chuma in Asuke-Town
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Day1
Mennoki Soft Rime Virgin Forest
- Mennoki Soft Rime Virgin Forest
- The virgin forest of Mennoki, filled with beech trees over 300 years old, is designated as a Special Protection Area of Tenryu-Okumikawa Quasi-National Park. When weather conditions such as subfreezing temperatures align, soft rime covers the trees' branches making them sparkle beautifully in the early morning sun. The observation deck offers views of Mt. Fuji during the clearer days.
Inabu Ice Cascade
- Inabu Ice Cascade
- Starting in December of each year, columns are set up in a waterfall near Oidaira Park (Rokurogi) and water is poured over them every day to create enormous icicles, creating a frozen waterfall sculpture (hyobaku) that can be seen only in the winter. When illuminated at night, the ice sparkles with a mystical glow.
It is gathering attention as one of the Inabu District's new attractions.
Natsuyake Onsen Resort
- Natsuyake Onsen Resort
- Naguragawa River runs through the center of the this onsen resort area, making the scenery beautiful throughout the year. In summer, you can play in the river. In autumn, see the autumn leaves. The local cuisine uses a lot of seasonal alpine vegetables. Nearby is Oidaira Park famous for fall foliage, Zuiryuji temple famous for weeping cherry blossoms, and Mt. Jogayama noted for skunk cabbage. Enjoy abundant nature everywhere.
Day2
Horaisen Ginjo Brewery Tour and Workshop
- Horaisen Ginjo Brewery Tour and Workshop
- This is the headquarters of Sekiya Brewery, a maker of Sake rice wine and other liquors. The Horaisen sake is a renowned brand and its "Gin", "Sora", and "Bi" variants of Daiginjo are widely popular. A dedicated visiting corridor allows guests to comfortably tour the plant's interior at any moment, but we recommend booking the brewery tour by at least one week in advance in order to get a more detailed tour and even take part in a tasting session. Also available: sake brewing workshop (10,000 yen fee), and tasting course for several brews with lunch. How about taking home as souvenir the sake you brewed by yourself?
Sanshu Asuke Yashiki Museum
- Sanshu Asuke Yashiki Museum | Sightseeing Spots
- This folk culture museum opened in 1980. The former villa of a wealthy farming family has been reproduced here, with the rear house, main house, and bamboo house featuring a thatched-roof, wooden construction. The Asuke Mansion reproduces the handmade aspects that were a part of mountain life in the region, among them charcoal brazier cooking, traditional paper making, Kiji, and weaving. Ten different handicrafts are demonstrated by artisans. These handicrafts include ones you can try for yourself.
Hina Dolls of Chuma in Asuke-Town
- Hina Dolls of Chuma in Asuke-Town
- The homes and shops lining the old streets of Asuke decorate their foyers and interiors with traditional Hina dolls in the days near to Hina Festival, a signature sight of spring that got its start as a way to enliven the streetscape for passersby.