Yokoze Town, Saitama Prefecture
A Visit to the Ashigakubo Icicles Glowing ice in the night forest and tea from Yokoze
The Ashigakubo Icicles in Yokoze Town are a winter spectacle 30 m high and 200 m wide. I went to see them on a late-January night in a navy winter coat, with a flask of Yokoze tea I'd prepared earlier.
Here's the story of my late-January visit to see the ice lit up. I'll tell you about the Yokoze tea I brought and the time I spent admiring the formations.
WinterLate January, on an evening when the ice was illuminated
Holding my cup of tea in both hands as I watch the ice glow
As I walked along the viewing path, the light made the ice on the slope glow between the trees. I'd always pictured icicles as thin points hanging down, but here ice covered the tree trunks and even the uneven ground. There was so much to take in; after looking up, I kept turning my gaze farther along the slope.
I pulled the front of my thick navy coat closed and stopped on the viewing platform. Underneath, I wore a lavender knit dress and long white socks. Cute clothes are my usual choice, but tonight I was especially glad to have my coat. The cold air brushed my cheeks, and The cold air on my cheeks made me realize I was out on a winter night.
I poured the Yokoze tea I'd prepared earlier that day from my insulated flask into a cup. As I wrapped both hands around it, warmth returned to my fingertips. After a sip, I turned back to the ice and found I could take my time looking at it. Warm hands, ice right in front of me. The contrast made me laugh, cup still in hand.
Looking past the stairs, I could see the light fall differently across the ice from one spot to another. Some ridges glowed; other patches looked dark among the trees. I'd come expecting colorful ice, but the lights brought out the fine shapes too. I'd planned to take a photo, but before I even set down my cup, I wanted another look.
I'd heard the display stretched 30 m high and 200 m across, but knowing those numbers was nothing like standing there on the slope. From the ice formations in front of me to the trees farther back, it just kept going. Every time I thought I'd seen it all, another shape caught my eye. I stood there so absorbed that I barely noticed how much of the tea I'd drunk.
After my last sip, I put the cup away and finally felt ready to head up the next flight of stairs. When I get home, I want to tell people about more than the beautiful colors: the intricate shapes in the ice and the warmth of the tea in my hands. That moment in the night forest became one of the memories I'd carry home from the trip. Next time I make tea, I'm sure this icy scene will come back to me.
The story sections are fiction inspired by this location. For accurate information, please consult official tourism and information websites.
Food and drink to enjoy on the trip
Black tea from Yokoze Town
The ice display is also a lovely place to enjoy tea from Yokoze Town during the day. For my evening trip, I brought along tea I'd prepared earlier in an insulated flask. As I watched the ice glow, I wrapped both hands around my cup and savored the warmth too.
Highlights
Ice coating the slope and trees
The ice forms a winter spectacle 30 m high and 200 m wide. I followed it with my eyes, from the formations close by all the way back to the trees, and felt just how vast it was.
Ice illuminated at night
On weekend nights, the ice is lit in a range of colors. When the lights brought out the fine shapes in the ice, I couldn't bring myself to move on to the next flight of stairs, cup still in hand.
Road information
Walking route from Ashigakubo Station to the ice display
Walk from the station toward the ice. From the viewing platform, I took in the nearby formations and the ice stretching back toward the trees.
Even after parking, there's still a walk to enjoy on this winter trip. I won't forget how the ice seemed to stretch into the distance from the venue's stairs.
More Spot Guides
If you enjoyed this story, you might like these places too. I've gone back to each of them in different seasons, again and again.
