Tokamachi City

A rarely explored region only two hours from Tokyo where adventurers can experience a culture that arose from ancient times, and one that is as deep as the snow that covers the region every winter.

Every winter, the area around Tokamachi is covered in deep snow. This, in addition to its location along one of the largest river terraces in Japan, provides a blessing of abundant snowmelt water to its residential areas throughout the year.

Tokamachi’s culture has roots reaching thousands of years back. The natural topography and underlying geological features of the region create ideal conditions for heavy snowfall. Fueled by the Sea of Japan, the snow is high in moisture content and can weigh as much as three times that of powder snow in other regions.

With more than four meters of this heavy snow in some areas - heavy both in weight and in volume, these extreme conditions effectively cut Tokamachi off from other regions during the winter. As a result, external influence was reduced, allowing Tokamachi to develop its own culture, unique from other parts of Japan.

The blessings of deep snow also directly affected the development of many aspects of Tokamachi culture. With a legacy inspired by snow, this unique culture has been continued for more than 5,000 years. Even now, visitors can experience the wisdom of people who have lived with deep snow and the deep culture it brought forth.