Outland Japan

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Episode 20 of the Snow Country Stories Japan takes us back to Aizu in Fukushima Prefecture and Japan’s newest ski resort, Hoshino Resorts Nekoma Mountain. In this episode I speak with Ishiuchi Kei, an accomplished snowboarder with a lot of experience working in the ski industry and genuine enthusiasm for Nekoma and the Aizu region. A true snow guru, Kei speaks about Nekoma Mountain with genuine enthusiasm.

Nekoma Mountain consists of two older resorts – Alts Bandai and Nekoma Snow Park - that have now been connected, making it one of the largest ski resorts in Japan. The resort offers 189 ha / 39 km of on-piste terrain comprised of 33 runs serviced by 13 lifts. There is a huge extend of side and back country on offer – which when factored in, brings the resort to an impressive 993 ha of terrain.

The resort is operated by Hoshino Resorts, one of Japan’s largest hotel management companies. The resort is serviced by the large Hoshino Resorts Bandaisan Onsen Hotel, offering a range of rooms including suites, menus designed to show off Aizu’s proud food culture and sake, hot springs and a range of services including free shuttle bus from nearby train stations.

Make sure to check out the episode page on the Snow Country Stories Japan website for more information, photos, videos and a map showing you where the resort is located. The resort website has complete information while you can also follow Kei on Instagram. I hope you enjoy!

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

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Episode 19 of the podcast takes us into the deep snow country of Tokamachi in Niigata, where we venture into the beautiful, heavily forested hills and minor mountains of that area, and onto the secluded Mithila Museum to speak with its director Hasegawa Tokio. An avant-garde musician and artist, Hasegawa-san founded Mithila Museum in 1982, and today, the museum houses one the world’s major collection of Mithila or Madhubani art while Hasegawa-san remains an active, innovative and legendary musician. We discuss his story, how the museum came to be, his music and of course, his love for life in the snow country in today’s interview.

Originating in the Madhubani district of Bihar – a northeastern state of India – Madhubani art is created by local women and defined by its geometrical and contrasting patterns, bold lines and colours and broad themes ranging from cosmological and ritual practices to the images of everyday life. The museum houses one of the world’s largest collections of Madhubani art, along with Warli and Gond art. 

Hasegawa-san was a founding member of the avant-garde music group ‘The Taj Mahal Travellers’ during the 1970s and to this day, is an active and innovative musician. Released in 2019, ‘Stone Music’ includes recordings of performances in Japan, India and Taiwan. Blending Japanese drums, flutes, keyboards, electronic sounds, Indian instruments and captivating vocals, the music is both real and tangible while also evoking the cosmological and metaphysical terms Hasegawa-san so often speaks in.

You can find more information on the episode page of the Snow Country Stories Japan website or via the Mithila Museum website or YouTube Channel. Hasegawa-san's 'Stone Music' album can be purchase via the Bandcamp website while you can also watch the recent live performance on YouTube.

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

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Episode 18 of the podcast takes us once again to Niigata Prefecture and the snow country area of Matsunoyama. Famous for its very heavy snowfall, Matsunoyama is a place in many ways defined by that snow. In this episode I speak with Kamimura Shotaro, a regional revitalisation coordinator based in Matsunoyama. Shotaro’s work tasks him with revitalisation of the community and as such, we discuss the multiple challenges being faced by the people of Matsunoyama while also exploring the opportunities of life in the deep snow.

This episode highlights the reality for many communities in the snow country and across Japan. Communities that are struggling to sustain themselves in the face of depopulation and an ageing population, changing economies and lifestyles, and climate change. But there is also cause for optimism, something Shotaro and I discuss in the second half of the interview including reasons to visit Matsunoyama including Matsunoyama Onsen – considered one of Japan’s three great medicinal hot spring towns – along with Echigo-Tsumari Art Field and the big snow of the small resort, Matsunoyama Onsen Ski Area.  We recorded the interview on a very wet day in a charismatic roadside tea house named Matsunoyama Chakra.

Shotaro’s website ‘Snow Notes’ documents and educates about life in both Matsunoyama and wider snow country. He publishes some pages in English but obviously, most pages are in Japanese. I recommend the online translator DeepL for Japanese to English translations. You can also find links everything discussed in this episode and more information including a map of where Matsunoyama is located on the episode page on the Snow Country Stories Japan website. 

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

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Episode 17 of the podcast takes us to Niigata Prefecture and the deep snow of Myoko Kogen. Located on the flanks of Mount Myoko, Myoko Kogen is a collective named used to refer to five ski resorts, renowned for their very heavy snowfall and some of Japan’s best powder riding. 

In this episode I speak with Billy Halloran, a talented snowboarder and operator of The Greenhouse Myoko, a self-contained lodge tucked away in picturesque village near the base of Myoko  Suginohara Ski Resort. Originally from New Zealand, Billy found his way to Japan and fell in love with the snow country lifestyle and culture that comes with it. Billy and I discuss all five of the resorts - - Akakura Onsen, Akakura Kanko, Ikenotaira, Suginohara and Seki Onsen – and the nearby resort of Lotte Arai – not officially part of Myoko Kogen but worth considering if you’re headed to the area to ski and snowboard. We also chat about backcountry and tree-riding, what's on offer at The Greenhouse and more.

Billy’s snowboarding and enthusiasm for life here is best attested to by through the beautifully shot film ‘As Above, So Below’, produced by film maker Gordy Duff. The film captures the essence of life in the snow country and Billy speaks well about the importance of prioritising what you love and the value of community. I encourage everyone to take the time to watch it, as it shows of Billy’s talent as a boarder and the beauty of Myoko Kogen. If you're interested in staying at The Greenhouse, you can get in touch with Billy via their Instagram - using the link above - or via the Tanoshi Corp Instagram or Tanoshii Tours website. You can discover more - including images, videos and a map - on today's episode page of the Snow Country Stories Japan website.

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

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Episode 16 of the podcast brings us back to Nagano Prefecture and one of the snow country’s most popular destinations, Jigokudani Yaen Koen – more commonly referred to as the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. Located in the enclave of Yamanouchi – 50 to 60 minutes from Nagano City – the park is home to a curious troop of Japanese macaques known for the love of bathing in hot springs. This episode has everything you need to know to plan your visit to the monkey park including just why the monkeys are there and why they are so famous, what to expect, the best times of year to visit, other destinations to visit while there, where to stay, how to get there and my services as a tour guide.

Open all year round, the monkeys come to the park in winter, spring, summer and autumn with each season offering its own reasons to visit. The monkeys are wild meaning they come and go as they please; and while they are almost certain to be at the park on the day of your visit, the fact that they are wild means their presence is not guaranteed. For that reason I recommend combining your visit to the monkeys with other destinations in the area including the famous hot spring towns of Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka Onsen or exploration of Joshinetsu Kogen National Park including Shiga Kogen Highlands UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and of course, Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort – Japan’s largest ski resort.

For more information about the park, visit our episode page and for more information about my services, see the 'Tours' section of the Snow Country Stories Japan website.

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

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Episode 15 of the podcast takes us to the north of Honshu and the prefecture of Akita. Known for its natural beauty and wild landscapes, Akita is a place that my guest Eli Sooker spends much of his time. Eli is a conservationist, writer, wildlife photographer and eco tour guide based in Japan whose current research focuses on bear conservation and specifically, bear attacks. His research is the launching point for our conversation about wildlife conservation and the potential of wildlife tourism in Japan.

Chances are that when you think of the many reasons to visit Japan, wildlife isn’t the first thing to spring to mind. Yet Japan is home to 34 national parks and many more quasi-national parks, nature reserves and UNESCO Biosphere Reserves or Geoparks. Most of these are home to abundant wildlife including large mammals such as black and brown bears, serow, deer, monkeys and more. Japan also boasts a huge number of bird species and even more wildlife in its waters. With this in mind, we discuss the potential of wildlife tourism in Japan including Eli's recommendation of the best wildlife experiences in the snow country - for links and further information about each experience, visit the episode page on the Snow Country Stories Japan website.

You can follow Eli's work via his website 'The Traveling Conservationist' or follow him on Instagram and Facebook. 

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us Fan Mail

Episode 14 of the podcast takes us once again to Nagano Prefecture and Son of the Smith Hard Cider brewery. Opened in 2020, Son of the Smith Hard Cider are in many ways forging a new era for cider in Japan – a country that doesn’t have a strong cider tradition.

In this episode, I speak with head brewer Ikeuchi Takuro about the brewery’s founding vision and the cider they are now producing – work that is redefining what is possible when it comes to cider. As Ikeuchi-san explains, his background in organic chemistry underpins brewing techniques that respond to the variation in apples from season-to-season. Such methods allow Son of the Smith to utilise apple varieties typically considered unsuitable for good cider while also adapting methods used in the United Kingdom, United States – including production of hop cider - and Europe to pioneer a new Japanese tradition.

Make sure to check out the episode page on the Snow Country Stories Japan website for further information, relevant links and a map showing where the brewery is located. Given the size of Japan’s snow country and often unfamiliar place names, understanding where each episode is talking about can be confusing. For that reason, each episode has a page on website including links and maps to help you get your bearings and learn more about the people and places discussed. You can also follow Son of the Smith on Instagram.

For more information about the podcast and your host, visit our website: www.snowcountrystories.com. Make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. 

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us Fan Mail

Episode 13 of the podcast – and the first of Season 2 – brings us back to Nagano and Japan’s largest ski resort, Shiga Kogen. A host venue in the 1998 Winter Olympic Games, Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort is Japan’s largest and highest ski resort and enjoys the longest season of any resort in Nagano or Central Japan. Despite this the resort remains relatively unknown to international visitors…

In this episode I speak with Robel Zemichael, manager of Shiga International Ski School. Robel is a two-time Olympian who represented his birth country of Ethiopia at the 2006 Games in Torino and 2010 Games in Vancouver. He is long-term resident of Japan who has called Nagano his home for some time now, and as we wait the beginning of the ski school’s ninth season, I was fortunate enough to sit down with Robel for a chat about the ski resort and why he rates it so highly.

Make sure to check out the episode page on the Snow Country Stories Japan website for further information, relevant links and a map showing where Shiga Kogen is located. Given the size of Japan’s snow country and often unfamiliar place names, understanding where each episode is talking about can be confusing. For that reason, each episode has a page on website including links and maps to help you get your bearings and learn more about the people and places discussed.

For more information about the podcast and your host, visit our website: www.snowcountrystories.com. Make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. 

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

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I am happy to announce that Season 2 of ‘Snow Country Stories Japan’ begins on Tuesday 19th September 2023. And I’m just as happy to say, there’s a lot to look forward to in the coming season! As we head toward and into another winter, Season 2 of the podcast will take us deeper into Japan’s snow country including episodes covering some of Japan’s best ski resorts and the fantastic skiing, snowboarding and backcountry on offer here. Of course that’s just part of the snow country story and in Season 2 we’ll continue to explore all aspects of life here including the traditions and festivals, music and food, breweries and distilleries, wildlife and life in general among the heavy snow of Japan. It’s my hope that this podcast inspires you to visit or better yet, come to live in the snow country.

For more information about the podcast and your host, visit our website: www.snowcountrystories.com. Make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. 

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us Fan Mail

Snow Country Stories Japan remains on a break between Season 1 and Season 2. This is the second upload of two previous episodes  - an edit of what was Episode 04 / Nakano of 100 Empty Houses: In Search of Solutions to Japan's Akiya Problem. The original episode was around 1 hour in length whereas this edit is just over 20 minutes.

Another of my most rewarding chats from Season 1, in this episode I speak with Murai Shota about his work in Nakano - a small town outside of Nagano City - and his work in finding solutions for the estimated 1000 empty homes. It's reflective of the situation across Japan in which a huge number of homes are unoccupied or abandoned. The topic is especially relevant to the snow country which is experiencing ageing and depopulation. As a result, homes can be exceptionally cheap to buy, if you can just get them listed for sale... I hope you enjoy!

You can follow Shota's work on Instagram and for more information about the podcast and your host, visit our website. 

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.