More than half of November has passed, and this year’s snow has arrived in Noboribetsu Onsen. On November 15, a steady snowfall occurred in our part of Hokkaido, and we will share photos of the winter wonderland around Dai-ichi Takimotokan.

We will start with Shin Noboribetsu Ohashi. In late October, the colors of the hillside were deep orange and gold. However, today snow thickly outlines the branches of the trees.

Next is Momijidani, a place famous for its stunning autumn colors. Last month, it was deep red, but since November 15th, it is pale white with snow.

It’s a winter scene here in the courtyard of Dai-ichi Takimotokan. Like the Momijidani Valley, snow blooms on the branches and all around our hotel. When the courtyard is lit at night, the atmosphere is even more festive than it is during the day.

The brilliant autumn leaves seem like just a memory now, but we hope you will enjoy gazing at the snow as it blooms and grows on these early winter days.

The snow as it rests on the conifer and the branches of the deciduous tree is striking.

It is one of the great joys of winter to notice new details in the garden.

This photo of Jigokudani was taken on the morning of November 17th. As we looked out from the observatory, we could see steam rising from the bottom even as one side of the gentle slope was covered with snow.

As we walked into the valley, a thick cloud of steam suddenly rose. Cooled by the outside air, the cloud of steam rolled toward us as we walked. It is a unique vista during the winter months.

Cold weather, though, makes it a bit icy and slippery, so please wear winter shoes with grips. If you don’t have winter shoes, please don’t worry. You can buy simple non-slip attachments for your shoes at a nearby convenience store. You can also find them at Yunomachi, our souvenir shop, but please walk carefully.

Finally, this photo taken from the outdoor bath at Dai-ichi Takimotokan shows the perfect way to finish a stroll on a snowy day. Warm your body and enjoy something special to drink, such as Yukimi Zake, while looking out on this freshly silvered world.

We hope you enjoyed this tour of the snowy world tour. The snow melted on a rainy day that came a little bit later, but we look forward to its return and sharing the fun of it with you!