Nestled high in the Japan Alps of Gifu Prefecture's northern Okuhida region is the woodsy and mountainous Nabedaira Kogen. This highland area is located within Chubu-Sangaku National Park, an expansive preserve that encompasses parts of the prefectures of Gifu, Toyama, Nagano, and Niigata. Inside the park are some of Japan’s tallest and most rugged mountains and the region is also one of the nation’s most popular destinations for highland and mountain hiking. And in addition to hiking, trekking, and mountain-climbing, there are also special guided snowshoe tours.

On the map, Nabedaira might look remote, but getting there is easy! We started out from Nagoya Station, taking a direct highway bus from the Meitetsu Bus Center there to Takayama. From there we transferred to a Nouhi Bus that soon put us right at Shinhotaka Onsen Station – the lowermost station of the Shinhotaka Ropeway aerial tramway.

A five-minute tram ride later, we were at Nabedaira Station, and right next door to there is the Shinhotaka Visitor Center, where the snowshoe tour starts.

Because this region is part of a national park, during warmer times of the year, to protect the natural undergrowth of this forest, freely roaming around in areas off established paths and roadways is not permitted. In the winter, though, when the ground is covered and protected by snow, it’s possible to take guided tours that let you explore the woods on snowshoes.

I had no previous experience with snowshoes and wasn’t sure what to expect, but my concerns were quickly dispelled. Putting them on is simple – our guide showed us how – and it also turns out that walking in snowshoes is pretty easy – nothing like having to learn how to ski or skate.

This rank beginner had it down in seconds.

Our experienced guide led us over the fields and through the woods at an easy pace, with frequent stops where she would tell us about the trees and other plants we were walking among, and also point out evidence of animal life, like these claw marks from a bear…

...and these clumpy high-up tree branches, broken by bears trying to get at the acorns and other nuts on them.

This is a gumi, or silverberry – a kind of wild olive.

Our course occasionally took us directly under the tramway.

We also crossed over a roadway that’s closed in the winter – for obvious reasons!

All in all, making a big loop, we covered about two kilometers – a mile and a quarter – in a little over two hours, over terrain that was mostly gently sloping. Snowshoeing turned out to require surprisingly little more physical effort than hiking over snow-free ground in ordinary footgear, and thanks to our friendly and knowledgeable guide, I also learned a bit about Japan’s alpine environment and ecology.

This experience tour is available for groups of as few as two people. It runs through mid-March, depending on snow conditions, and is offered twice a day, starting at 9:30 am and again at 1:00 pm. The snowshoe tour itself is priced at 4,000 yen for adults and 2,900 yen for upper-grade elementary-school-age children (preteens). That includes not just rental snowshoes and boots as well as a guide, but also a full set of other cold-weather rental gear, including an overcoat, ski pants, and gloves. If you don't need the cold-weather gear – just the snowshoes and boots – then the charge is 3,500 yen for adults and 2,400 yen for preteens. And if you have your own snowshoe set and don't need any rental gear at all, the charge drops to 2,000 yen for adults and 1,400 yen for preteens. Day-trip package tours departing from Nagoya are also available.

Since I’d come all the way to Shinhotaka, of course I also took the opportunity to take the tramway all the way to the top of the mountain and to explore more of the area and sample the local specialties and other tasty treats – but that’s the subject of another article!