Snow Canyoning, Snow Huts & Rafting - All-in-One Snow Play Trip in Minakami (Gunma) (2027)

Minakami in Gunma Prefecture is a snowy mountain area, just a Shinkansen ride from Tokyo. On this three-day journey, students stay together at one lodge base and enjoy experiences that are only possible in winter: snow canyoning, building snow huts, snowball fights, sledding and, for those who wish, snow rafting. On Day 1, the group takes the Shinkansen to Jōmō-Kōgen and starts with snow play: building a kamakura (traditional snow hut), snowball fights, sledding, oshiruko (sweet red bean soup) by the fire, and a BBQ and campfire in the evening. On Day 2, students take on snow canyoning with experienced guides. They snowshoe up into the snowy forest, then slide and jump their way back down — an adventure that is only possible in winter. On Day 3, each student chooses one of two options: snow rafting through a snow-covered valley, or indigo dyeing. Then it is back to Tokyo. Three days of snow adventure and nature: a journey for students who want to play hard in the snow and fully enjoy snow experiences that are different from skiing. New for 2027: this journey joins Exploration Week for the first time this year. Be one of the first ASIJ students to take it on! Photo credit (CC BY 2.0): snowball fight by Yoshikazu TAKADA via Flickr.