Only in a snowy country! The charm of Mt. Moriyoshi in Akita in winter

NEFT Editorial Department
2017.03.02
Last updated: 2022.01.25

table of contents

1 Akita is hot even when it's cold
2 Flower Forest Yoshiyama
3 White Monster/Ice Monster
4 How to meet the Ice Monster

Akita is hot even when it's cold

Winter in Akita Prefecture, facing the Sea of Japan. Cold, raging north winds and endless piles of snow. Winter in the snowy country of Akita is harsh, as always. However, it is the harshness of winter that has made Akita what it is today. And it is this winter that defines Akita's true character. Although the temperature may be cold, we will introduce you to the unique charms of Akita's winter, which will warm your heart

Flower Forest Yoshiyama

Mount Moriyoshi towers over northern Akita Prefecture, rising 1,454 meters above sea level. This ancient volcano has been selected as one of Japan's "100 Famous Flower Mountains" due to the abundance of alpine plants, including Abies mariesii.
Home to the Ani Ski Resort, it's a popular spot for skiers and snowboarders, thanks to its abundant snowfall and 3.5km long course. However, you should be careful: a terrifying monster appears near the peak of this mountain only during the winter.

By Rande (Own work) [ CC BY-SA 3.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons

White Monster/Ice Monster

The largest are 10m long, and groups of hideous monsters covered entirely in white snow have often been seen heading off in groups. The true identity of these monsters is "frost-covered trees." These are beautiful natural formations that grow when ice adheres to trees.
At around 1200m on Mount Moriyoshi, there are large numbers of Aomoritodomatsu trees, which keep their leaves even in winter. Whenever supercooled water droplets below -5°C, known as cloud particles in snow clouds, hit these trees, they freeze and form the monster-like shapes. Their appearance is truly that of an "ice monster."

Watching them march across the silvery white plains as far as the eye can see, in their hundreds, towards the leeward, it almost feels as though they could really start moving at any moment. If you walk along the walking course and get an even closer look, you will be overwhelmed by their size and power.
You are guaranteed to experience an extraordinary feeling, as if you have wandered into a fantasy world.
Since frost-covered trees require certain conditions to form, there are only a limited number of places nationwide where you can view them. The
best time to see the frost-covered trees on Mt. Moriyoshi is from early January to early March.
Experience the overwhelming presence of these precious ice monsters with your own eyes and skin.

How to meet the Ice Monster

Mount Moriyoshi Ani Ski Resort is about a 20-minute drive from Aniai Station on the Akita Nairiku Line.
You can take a large gondola from Ani Ski Resort to Juhyo-daira, where you can see the frost-covered trees. If the weather is good, you can enjoy a magnificent view from the gondola, including a carpet of sparkling silvery white trees and a panoramic view of the Oga Peninsula in the distance.
Then, when you reach the summit and disembark the gondola, you will be greeted by a myriad of ice monsters.

In addition, a "Nighttime Ice Viewing Event" is regularly held, where
visitors can take a snowmobile to enjoy the ice monsters floating in the dark night under the starry sky shining in the clear winter mountain sky.