Question Snow Hunting in March 2023

[ia26]

A pinch of snow is our main goal. Snow hunting is the right term. Where would it be? Stay in Tokyo on March 19-21, 2023. I heard Gunma or Hakuba is the best place, am I right? How can we go there for a day experience? We dont ski. Our main goal is to step on a snow for free, can it be? Anybody could lead us the way? Thanks

 

[mdchachi]

A pinch of snow is our main goal. Snow hunting is the right term. Where would it be? Stay in Tokyo on March 19-21, 2023. I heard Gunma or Hakuba is the best place, am I right? How can we go there for a day experience? We dont ski. Our main goal is to step on a snow for free, can it be? Anybody could lead us the way? Thanks

You can play in the snow for free but it could be expensive getting to it. Will you have a Japan Rail Pass? If so, you could make a run to Gala Yuzawa.
It's a ski resort but they have other activities such as snowmobile tour. Or just go there for the observation deck, restaurant and playing in the snow.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1119245-d2533633-Reviews-Gala_Yuzawa_Snow_Resort-Yuzawa_machi_Minamiuonuma_gun_Niigata_Prefecture_Koshine.html

 

[thomas]

Hakuba is quite far for the short time you'll stay, but they have snow until April.

By Bus:

Highway bus / night bus from Tokyo to Hakuba ｜WILLER TRAVEL

[WILLER Official] This is the list of popular routes of WILLER TRAVEL highway buses / night buses from Tokyo to Hakuba . The routes, operating companies, sales period, and prices are listed. You can narrow down by 3-row seat, charging OK, Wi-Fi, etc. Booking up to 3 months in advance is...

willerexpress.com

Or train (Shinkansen to Nagano, then by bus from Nagano City):

Sightseeing Route & Timetable for Hakuba | The ALPICO GROUP Official Website provides timetables for bus tour and travel routes to Hakuba

Search for the bus routes and timetables to Hakuba. Departing from Japan's major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka by comfortable highway, express and fixed-route buses. You can book your bus tickets to Hakuba on the ALPICO GROUP website.

www.alpico.co.jp

Other options: Hida-Takayama/Norikura or Toyama.

 

[johnnyG]

I think a Shinkansen to Urasa station (toward Niigata), a single straight shot, then get off and look around--one of the snowier places, and you could get there and back from tokyo in a day.

Just over an hour from Omiya: Omiya Ward to Urasa

 

[johnnyG]

Apparently Urasa is not a weather reporting station, but it looks like there's over a meter of snow cover around there.

気象庁｜統合地図ページ

地図コンテンツページです。気象警報、大雨危険度、台風情報、気象情報、天気予報、季節予報、ひまわり、アメダス、ウィンドプロファイラ、海上警報、潮位観測情報、波浪観測情報、津波、地震情報、推計気象分布、震央分布、噴火警報、降灰予報を表示します。

www.jma.go.jp

 

[Lothor]

Why not go to Kawaguchi-ko in Yamanashi prefecture then catch the bus to the 5th station of Mt Fuji, which has an altitude of 2300m?

 

[Majestic]

Or Karuizawa in Nagano. Pretty accessible from Tokyo, but you'd want to check the snow conditions first.

Access and Orientation

How to get to and around Karuizawa.

www.japan-guide.com