On the opposite side of the resort from the Koridani Trail, the Yazawagawa Snowshoeing Trail shadows the Yazawa River through the woods. As you make your way through the trees, keep an eye out for rabbit tracks zigzagging across the snow, and pygmy and great spotted woodpeckers poking their heads from cozy cavity nests in old trees.
Look out for the large konara oak near the bend in the river. The claw mark–like scars in the tree’s bark hint of another forest dweller, the bears who roam these woods while no humans are around. But do not worry, they do not venture out in winter.
Keep an eye out for bunches of leaves in the treetops above you as well. These are mistletoe, a plant that grows among the branches of—and receives nourishment from—its host, the Mongolian oak. Further along, natural ice formations decorate the trailside beneath tall Japanese alder and oak, and the delicate dried flowers of the deutzia shrub peek through the snow along the trail’s edges.
A quick note on safety: snow slides are a possibility along the Yazawagawa Trail, so even as you bask in the beauty of the forest, please remain vigilant.
Length: Three kilometers (round trip)
Time: Approximately two hours