Winter in Misawa, Japan

We are no strangers to winter, being from Utah, but I did not really miss the snow while we were in Las Vegas for two years.  The kids were excited though.  The first snow fall was in November and luckily,our snow pants had arrived from Amazon a week before. On the gear went and out to the snow.

Sledding with friends in Misawa

We are not skiiers or snowboarders, a fact that shocked the Misawa community because that is all everyone does here. We have really specific goals for our travel and our money and skiing is not in the equation. I do see why it is important to find things to do here in the winter because it is cold, windy, and dark. With Misawa ITT and Outdoor Rec, we had plenty to pick from even though we don't ski (gasp!)  We took a tour to the Hakkoda Snow Monsters with ITT.  We took the ski lift to the top of the mountain where the tree tops were covered in snow, hence the term snow monster.  It was a world of ice up there.

We love the traditional Japanese restaurants that ITT takes us after our adventures

I was able to participate in a Winter Cultural Event, the Chinese New Year.  I am a part of the Misawa Officer Spouses Club and we partner with a group called O'Misawa Wives of Japanese ladies.  We take turns hosting each other for events.  They invited us to a hotel in Misawa and we had lots of food, drink, and entertainment together to ring in the new year.  I got to participate in a regional song played with a spoon and a shovel.  This song is performed all over Aomori Prefecture.

With friends Melissa and Nina

We decided to try our luck with snowshoeing with a guided Outdoor Recreation Tour.  We went at the end of March when most of the snow in Misawa had already melted. In town, people are thinking of the coming spring and Cherry Blossom Festivals. It is still full winter in the Hakkoda Mountain Range.

Bub and Pants did not enjoy the way up the mountain but they had a great time walking through the cushion of powder on the way down.  I think we did winter pretty well!!!