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Winter Snow, Sauna and Sights of Nishikawa

Enjoy snow country sights, perfect for travelers from countries like Taiwan.

This is a two-day tour set to be held in the winter season of Nishikawa town in Yamagata Prefecture, one of Japan’s heaviest snowfall areas. You can have an exclusive tour at a local noodle-making factory (which normally does not do tours), create your own Japanese Gassan washi paper, play in the winter snow at Gassan Snowland and tour a sake brewery. Additionally, you can enjoy dining at a specialty restaurant which uses locally grown wild sansai mountain vegetables, as well as enjoy meals at your accommodations in Shizu Onsen, which is said to have the heaviest snowfall in Japan. Also, you can relax in the hot springs and a newly built sauna!

Tour at a glance

Inclusions

What this private tour includes

  • Accommodation at ryokan in Shizu Onsen
  • Breakfast on day 2
  • Lunch on days 1, 2
  • Dinner on day 1
  • Exclusive noodle factory tour
  • Japanese washi paper making experience
  • Snow activities at Gassan Snowland
  • Sake brewery tour
  • On-trip support via email or Whatsapp
  • Transaction and arrangement fees

Exclusions

  • Transportation
  • Mizusawa Onsen Hot springs and Sauna admission fees
  • Personal purchases during trip
  • Travel insurance (highly recommended)
  • Any extra à la carte orders during meals
  • Optional extensions or customizations to trip

Cost

From ¥36,000 per person (with a minimum of two participants)

Minimum number of participants

2 people
Solo applicants may be accepted on a case-by-case basis for an additional fee.

Tour Length

2 Days, 1 Night

Tour availability

Saturdays and Sundays during the period of December 2023 to February 2024
Unavailable March 2024 to November 2024

Meeting Location

This private tour starts at Sagae Station.

Important notes

It is recommended you make a reservation request 1 week in advance of your desired tour date. Experience availability may vary. Reserve to confirm availability.
Customization of this tour is available on request.

This tour does not include transportation during the trip, an optional reservation of a private charter vehicle for 2 days: additional 40,000 yen per person (for two people) can be made on request.

Reserve your private tour here

Day 1: Noodle factory, Sansai, Snow and Shizu Onsen

 

Start your tour at Sagae Station, accessible from Yamagata Station. Take part in an exclusive tour at a local noodle-making factory, which normally does not do tours,  with the opportunity to buy their uniquely shaped pasta. This noodle factory produces wonderful noodle-based products including snowflake-shaped pasta, which won the Good Design Award, an award sponsored by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion.

After, move to dining at a specialty restaurant which uses locally grown wild sansai mountain vegetables.

Following lunch, enjoy snow activities at Gassan Snowland.

Check in and relax at your lodgings in Shizu Onsen, which is said to have the largest snowfall in Japan. Enjoy their wild mountain vegetable dishes and hot spring baths.

Day 2: Washi paper, Sake and Sauna

Have breakfast and check out of your Shizu Onsen accommodations to head to experience creating your own Gassan Japanese washi paper with the talented local artisans of the Nishikawa area.  Following this, head to a sake brewery to take part in a factory tour with tasting. This sake brewing company sells its representative sake ‘Ginrei-Gassan’ as well as ‘Issei’, ‘Toyoryu’, and ‘Shirakiku’ – some of Yamagata’s best locally brewed sake. Visitors can tour the brewery, enjoy sake tasting, and visit the museum. There is also a sake brewery museum to view after your tour.

Head to lunch, where we suggest a local beer restaurant at Nishikawa Roadside Station. You have the opportunity to purchase souvenirs here.

Relax in the hot springs and warm up in a newly built sauna at Mizusawa Onsen, which is right near the roadside station.

Tour ends at Sagae Station.

Reservations

You can send a booking inquiry for your Winter Snow, Sauna and Sights of Nishikawa tour below. After we receive your inquiry, we will confirm if we can accommodate your group and tour dates and contact you from there. 

Cancelation Policy

Our cancellation policy for this tour is below. Cancellation fees may vary according to exceptional circumstances. 

21 days or more before date of tour

No penalty

20 days to 8 days before date of tour

20% of total price

7 days to 2 days before date of tour​

30% of total price

1 day before date of tour

40% of total price

Day of the tour

50% of total price

After start of tour or no-show

100% of total price

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