Did you know that the north of the main island of Honshu is the region with the largest amount of snow per year in the world?

as a result, it snows more on average than anywhere else in the world

Cold air from Siberia meets moisture over the Sea of Japan, as a result it snows more on average than anywhere else in the world. Even Hokkaido doesn’t get nearly as much snow.

40-50 cm of fresh snow per day is not uncommon, and the locals have always organized themselves with the masses of snow. Everyday life usually starts with ‘yuki-gaki’, shoveling snow, and sometimes ends the same way.

To take a break from the labor-intensive life in Tohoku from time to time, a number of festivals are also celebrated in winter.

Probably the best known in the region is the Namahage Sedo Matsuri, during which the Namahage, regarded as divine creatures, descend from the mountains in February and remind people in their own unique way to be hard-working and energetic. You can find out more about the Namahage here.

the interplay of sparks in the snow

At another small, almost hidden festival, straw mats are lit on a rope and swung around the body. This festival was already admired by Japanese poets, who wrote about the interplay of sparks in the snow in old texts and found metaphors for the popular cherry blossom.

After this festival fell into oblivion over the years, a citizens’ initiative brought the festival back to life on the basis of these texts and has held it in a small village every year since then.

The straw mats were once filled with dry leaves. The resulting flying sparks around the body are said to drive away evil spirits at the beginning of the new year.

Warm amazake, a sweetish drink made from fermented rice, is usually drunk during the winter festivities.

After a long, exciting day in winter, don’t miss out on the feeling of coziness of ending the day in a hot spring!