Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 13 hours ago
Tucked away in the mountains of Nagano, Yonako is a valley that in winter becomes almost completely cut off from the outside world. But hidden behind its high walls are two secrets: centuries of mountain worship, and the remnants of a 1500-person mining settlement that once supplied sulfur for wartime Japan. Thanks to an invitation from local guide Narita-san, we strapped on our snowshoes and followed him deep into the valley to see both up close for ourselves!
//LINKS:
Yonako snowshoe experience (becomes available to book from September onwards. Until then, scroll to the bottom to see the tour details):
viator.com/tours/Nagano/Snowshoe-Expedition-to-Yonako-Fudo-Japans-Grand-Icefall/d23523-5612805P1
Yonako official website: yonako.jp/en
Instagram: instagram.com/royandaimee/
//ATTRIBUTION:
Shugendo image: Kenshiro Karayama, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
Waterfall training image: 膀胱眼球胎, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
#japanesecountryside #japantravel #japanvlog #japan
Tucked away in the mountains of Nagano, Yonako is a valley that in winter becomes almost completely cut off from the outside world. But hidden behind its high walls are two secrets: centuries of mountain worship, and the remnants of a 1500-person mining settlement that once supplied sulfur for wartime Japan. Thanks to an invitation from local guide Narita-san, we strapped on our snowshoes and followed him deep into the valley to see both up close for ourselves!
//LINKS:
Yonako snowshoe experience (becomes available to book from September onwards. Until then, scroll to the bottom to see the tour details):
viator.com/tours/Nagano/Snowshoe-Expedition-to-Yonako-Fudo-Japans-Grand-Icefall/d23523-5612805P1
Yonako official website: yonako.jp/en
Instagram: instagram.com/royandaimee/
//ATTRIBUTION:
Shugendo image: Kenshiro Karayama, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
Waterfall training image: 膀胱眼球胎, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
#japanesecountryside #japantravel #japanvlog #japan
