Walking in Endless Snow-Covered Fields in Nagano Pref.’s Utsukushigahara

By Akiko Inoue / Japan News Staff Writer

14:17 JST, March 23, 2026

UTSUKUSHIGAHARA, Nagano — The name Utsukushigahara translates literally as “beautiful field,” and this area in central Nagano Prefecture is on a plateau formed from lava at an altitude of about 2,000 meters.

The area is approximately 600 hectares in size, with a few gentle slopes and small peaks, and forests dotting the landscape.

During the summer, most of Utsukushigahara is a lush green grassland, with tracts of land set aside for cows and horses to graze. The plateau is a popular destination, drawing tourists, hikers and camera enthusiasts hoping to capture a picturesque moment in this stunning location.

However, the true beauty of Ustukushigahara can be experienced in winter, when snow covers the fields, turning swathes of the area into an open expanse of endless white.

Its relative flatness provides a stunning contrast with the Northern Japanese Alps in the distance, or the glorious morning views of Mt. Fuji and the Yatsugatake mountain range, and the canopy of a starry night above. In the right weather conditions, lucky visitors can also view a “sea of clouds” floating just below the plateau.

Around 5:30 a.m., at the edge of a still-dark field, the temperature was minus 15 C. Bundled up and with a balaclava covering my face, I started walking. Since there are no major ascents, crampons are not required. I enjoyed the feeling of stepping on the crunchy, frozen surface together with the creaky sound of my shoes pressing into the snow. Before long, the moisture on my eyelashes and in my hair froze.

After walking for about an hour, the eastern sky started to brighten in shades of pink and orange, and the gentle slope of the land gradually became visible. When the sun’s first rays reached the plateau, the snow took on a pinkish hue, and my freezing body could feel the subtle warmth.

The extremely cold temperature made the snow sparkle, as if diamonds were scattered on its surface. In the air, sparkling particles of ice became visible in the sunlight, a phenomenon called “diamond dust.” After passing Ogato, the highest peak at 2034 meters with a hotel and radio towers, a 20-minute walk leads to Ogahana, the western edge of the plateau.

From this vantage point, Matsumoto can be seen far below, and beyond the city, the Northern Japanese Alps tower in the distance.

There are some stone statues at Ogahana, apparently built as a form of mountain worship.

On the way back, with the sun high in a clear sky, I was walking in a world of white and blue.

Tricky access in winter

The name Utsukushigahara first appeared in a document written in the Edo period (1603-1867), according to the Utsukushigahara tourism association. Its beauty must have impressed the people even at that time.

From spring to autumn, various attractions are open including The Utsukushigahara Open-Air Museum and a Michi-no-Eki roadside rest area.

Getting to Utsukushigahara in the winter is a bit tricky. There is no train station nearby and the main roads, which are normally open from spring to autumn, are closed with a few exceptions. Checking which roads are open is strongly recommended when going by car. There are a few lodgings available throughout the year.