NORIKURA TIMES (Enjoyment unique to early winter)

At Norikura Plateau, morning and evening temperatures are now below freezing, and the snow-capped peaks of Mount Norikura are beautiful.
This time, we will introduce the food, clothing and shelter that are unique to Norikura as winter approaches.

At the soba restaurant in Norikura Kogen,New soba season is in full swing。
Native species cultivated in Norikura PlateauBansho SobaThis is a very fragrant soba noodle dish made with ".
Be sure to come to Norikura Highlands to enjoy the fresh soba noodles that can only be enjoyed now.
Enjoying cold soba noodles in a warm restaurant is an absolute luxury.
Also, there are warm "Touji Soba" is also recommended for the coming season.

And, what we would like you to enjoy together with soba noodles during this season is "Soba soup」。
In the Norikura dialect, "to boil" is "uderu" and soba soup is "Arm bath" is called.
When I spoke to Nakanoya Soba Restaurant in Norikura Highlands,
Sobayu is packed with nutrients, such as protein, contained in soba noodles.
The mountainous areas where soba was originally eaten were poor areas,Soba soup was drunk to ensure that no nutrients were left behind.yes.

He also said, "We are particular about the soba soup, so we hope you will enjoy it to the very end by combining it with soba soup."
Nakanoya's soba soup is so elaborate that it takes three months to make the base sauce.
Each soba restaurant in Norikura Highlands has its own unique soup, so it's a good idea to take a leisurely soba tour.

Drinking warm soba soup will gently warm your body and make you feel relaxed, making it perfect for the coming cold season.
Packed with ancient wisdom, soba soup is gentle on both body and mind, so be sure to enjoy it with some fresh soba noodles.

As the temperature in the mornings and evenings finally reaches freezing in Norikura Highlands, households are beginning to prepare for the onset of winter.

Chopping firewood

More and more households are starting to light their wood stoves, and firewood is being steadily chopped.
The trick to splitting firewood is to use your back instead of your arms.
I moved to Matsumoto in 2023, and this is my second winter here, so I still haven't quite got the hang of it... (laughs)
Chopping your own firewood and putting it in the stove, or making a bonfire and sitting around it together are relaxing experiences that are unique to winter.

Christmas wreath making

Commercially available wreaths are lovely, but making your own is also a unique experience in Norikura.
You can use the branches and leaves that come off when you prune your garden trees, or take a walk around your house and pick up things in nature.
It's also an exciting time to combine materials to create your own unique wreath.
It is precisely because of the long, harsh winter that I feel it is so important to have the ingenuity and mindset to enjoy each and every moment.

<Wreaths made by Norikura residents>

A wreath made from natural materials for wild birds that come to peck at nuts.

This is a swag-type wreath, not a round one. It's easy to make as you just need to tie the branches together.

This year's Norikura Kogen ski resortsMt. Norikura Snow Resort is scheduled to open on Saturday, December 21, 2024!
In October 2024, the ski resort management company declared that it would be difficult to continue operating Mt. Norikura Snow Resort, and it was decided that management would be taken over locally and the resort would restart.
We have now decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign to transform the resort into a locally managed ski resort that families and young people can enjoy. (The start date of the crowdfunding campaign is currently being determined.)
Our target amount is 18 million yen, and we plan to provide returns based on the amount of your support.
We appreciate your support so that we can make this a beloved ski resort that is unique to local management.

Also, starting this season, Mt. Norikura Snow ResortFree lift tickets for those under 18!
There is also a kids' park, so be sure to bring the whole family along.

Season tickets are now on sale. For more information, please visit the following website:

▼Season ticket information▼
https://www.brnorikura.jp/news/78/

▼Lift ticket prices and holiday information▼
https://www.brnorikura.jp/news/90/

NORIKURA TIMES is updated every two weeks by the blog team of the Norikura Tourism Association's Public Relations Department. Members who love Norikura take turns writing articles, delivering the latest information on Norikura Highlands recommended by the members. This time, Tomoka Suzuki was in charge.
Please look forward to the next issue!