Shimiwatari しみわたり

Shimiwatari describes an activity involving walking on the hard crust that forms on the surface of the snow overnight after warmer temperatures during the day.

The crust is so strong that people can walk on top of the snow without snowshoes or skis and not sink in.  The hard crust occurs on cold nights before very fine days from the end of February to early March in snowy areas in mountainside regions such as in Niigata, Nagano, Tohoku or Hokkaido because the temperatures can be very low at that time.

Walking on the snow between bushes and tree in the mild spring sunlight in the early morning is great fun! You can enjoy beautiful snowy view and peaceful silence, and appreciate the arrival of spring!

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