麓から楽しむ乗鞍岳。雪形を探してみよう。｜のりくら観光協会公式サイト

Yukigata are names given to the shapes of the remaining snow on the mountainside and the rock surfaces peeking out from it, which resemble people, animals, and other shapes. They can be seen on mountains all over the country, but you can also enjoy a number of snow shapes on Mount Norikura, which you can look up at from Norikura Plateau. They appear at roughly the same time every year, and disappear as the seasons progress... Many people are fascinated by the snow shapes, feeling a sense of romance when they see them, or feeling a sense of peace when they discover their simple appearance. Why not head out to Norikura Plateau in the spring to look for snow shapes?

Enjoy Norikura-dake from the foot of the mountain. Let's look for the snow shape.

❶ Types of snowflakes: negative and positive

In Nagano Prefecture, you can enjoy snow formations on many mountains, such as "Chogatake," where a butterfly-shaped snow formation appears, which is the origin of the mountain's name, and "Hakuba-dake," where a puddle horse appears.Positive typeとNegative typeThere is.
A positive shape is a shape made from the snow (the white parts of the snow) that remains on the mountainside.
The negative shape is the shape that appears when the snow melts and the mountain surface stands out in black.

Positive type

Positive rabbits appear in the white snow at Takamagahara

Negative type

Kengamine, where a negative-shaped rock ptarmigan appears on the black rock surface

❷ Snow formations seen on Mount Norikura

Here we introduce some of the most representative snow shapes that can be seen on Mt. Norikura. The appearance changes slightly depending on the season and the place you look up from, so observing these changing shapes is one of the joys of snow shape watching. It would also be fun to search for original snow shapes other than those introduced here. Look at Mt. Norikura from various places on the plateau and try to find your favorite snow shape.

Rock ptarmigan

It appears in early spring and can be seen clearly from a wide area of the plateau, making it the most popular snow form among locals (negative type).

・Mountains where snow shapes appear: Kengamine to Mount Asahi
・The season when snow shapes can be seen: Around March to around May

Snow Rabbit

A snow rabbit with heart-shaped ears appears, facing left. It can be seen clearly from Ichinose and Ushidome Pond. (Positive type)

・Mountains where snow shapes appear: Takamagahara
・The season when snow shapes can be seen: Mid-May to mid-June

Batter

Yukigata, the batter wearing a baseball cap, can be seen from a wide area of the plateau. Depending on the time of year, the shading on his face can also be realistic. (Negative version)

・Mountains where snow shapes appear: Lower part of Kengamine
・The season when snow shapes can be seen: Early June to late June

鯉

It can be seen from a wide area of the plateau, but is particularly visible from Norikura Base. The head is on the left, and the tail fin stretches along Mt. Marishiten on the right. (Positive type)

・Mountains where snow shapes appear: Mount Asahi to Mount Marishiten
・The season when snow shapes can be seen:Late June

Panoramic view of snow formations on Mt. Norikura

3. What Yukigata teaches us

The shape of snow is one of the seasonal features that heralds the arrival of spring. In some areas of Nagano Prefecture, it has been popular as an agricultural and natural calendar that signals the rice planting season. In the Northern Alps, in addition to Mount Chogatake (Butterfly) and Mount Hakuba (Pudding Horse), there are many mountains whose names are derived from the shape of snow, such as Mount Jigatake (Grandpa Sower) and Mount Jonen (Jonenbo).The snow-capped mountain seen from the foot of the mountain has been associated with agricultural life.This tells us about the deep connection between the mountains and daily life.

The snow formations on Mt. Norikura are not a sign of farm work or any other special connection, but when they appear,"Maybe I should take a walk around there." "Maybe it's around the time those flowers bloom."It's a good idea to let your imagination run wild as you plan your trip. Use the snow shapes as your spring calendar and enjoy a stroll through the Norikura Plateau... What a wonderful way to spend time in Norikura! As the snow melts and buds begin to appear, the vibrant spring of Norikura awaits you, along with the snow shapes.

If you want to experience spring at Norikura Highlands
"5 trekking routes with fresh greenery to walk from spring to early summer"