Shirakawa-Go Activity Center o8
Snow Dive after Sauna

Dive into fluffy snow
and enjoy the ultimate sauna
in a winter wonderland!

Shirakawa-go’s snowy landscape and illuminated gassho-zukuri village are endlessly charming in winter, but there is one particular experience unique to this silvery season. Together with a local guide, we trekked in snowshoes to arrive at a silent forest where a private totonoü sauna tent awaited us. Amidst the sub-zero mid-winter wonderland, we enjoyed a moment of complete relaxation not found anywhere else.

Once we changed into sauna wear and entered the tent, the temperature had already risen to almost 100°C and gently warmed us. And since it was winter, we later plunged right into the snow instead of a cold bath! I hesitated at first, but after a few dives my heart and mind felt liberated. The löyly which uses snowmelt water from Mt. Hakusan made the sauna feel even hotter; I couldn’t stop sweating!

I felt like a kid again as I enjoyed the wintry sauna and played out in the snow. This experience left me truly refreshed me in a way like no other.