Satoyama Snowshoeing in Hida

This tour combines the best of both worlds, allowing us to experience nature close up while never far from human habitation in a village setting. We visit snow-covered fields, where you can look out for animal footprints, as well as an apple orchard, showcasing  both nature and the way local people live closely in harmony with it.

Winter in Hida is a wonderland of abundant snow, encounters with nature and spectacular mountain vistas. This gentle and easy-paced snowshoe tour showcases all of this, while also offering insight into the lives and challenges of the local people and wildlife in this frozen environment. Set in a village location only a short hop from Hida Furukawa, the terrain is home to a myriad of wildlife, including the Japanese serow and raccoon, foxes and hares. You will certainly see their paw prints on the snow and it is not uncommon to see the animals themselves. Overhead, listen for the cry of the black kites as they go about their hunting business. Our tour also takes you into an apple orchard run by the local  community, where  the sheer quantity of snowfall in this mountain  village requires regular clearing of snow from the overburdened trees. We may see this protective work going on during our exploration.

Suitable for beginners, this snowshoe tour is all about local nature  and life, while exhibiting fine views of the local mountains and, on a clear day, stunning glimpses of the more distant Japanese Alps.