Release lanterns with the locals at the Tsunan Snow Festival

Tsunan receives some of the heaviest snowfall in the world, reaching up to three meters in depth. Tsunan has held a snow festival at the beginning of March every year since 1974 as a way to raise the spirits of the local community who endure these extreme conditions.

Try your hand at outdoor winter activities such as snow biking and snow banana boating, and witness the fire-wielders dressed as tengu deities. The climax is the launching of thousands of sky lanterns into the night.

Watch snowboarders battle it out at Snow Wave, a straight jump competition held on the slopes at New Greenpia. The live music stage showcases local bands and food stalls serve traditional local delicac

How to get there : Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Iiyama Station, then change to the JR Iiyama Line for Tsunan Station. A shuttle bus runs from Tsunan Station during the snow festival, but plan your route back carefully if you are not staying locally, as trains will stop running before the sky lantern event finishes.

Schedule : Held in early March.