The annual "Hirayu Otaki Ice Festival" is held in Okuhida Onsen Town-Amazake behavior and fireworks in the snow every night

The Okuhida Onsen Tourism Association will hold the 35th "Hirayu Otaki Ice Festival" from February 15 (Sat) ~ February 25 (Tue), 2025 in the vicinity of the famous Hirayu Otaki "Hirayu Otaki".

　100 Best Waterfalls in Japan The 64-meter-high, 6-meter-wide Hirayu Waterfall is known for its freezing of the waterfall water that flows down into giant icicles in late December, when the winter cold deepens.

At night, the area around the waterfall is lit up and you can enjoy its mysterious appearance. The surrounding suspension bridges are also illuminated, creating an attractive landscape. The contrast between the pale icicles and the snow in the daytime makes you feel the beauty of nature.

Every day during the period, between 19:00 ~ 21:00, the observation plaza in front of Hirayu Otaki will offer free zenzai, amazake, and barrel sake. In addition, every day from around 20:30 for about 5~10 minutes, fireworks will color the night sky under the clear winter sky at Hirayu Onsen Ski Resort.

Access to the venue is between the "Hirayu Onsen Bus Terminal" and the "Ankiya-mae / Ice Festival Venue (entrance)", and a free shuttle bus will be operated from time to time. The bus departs from Hirayu Onsen Bus Terminal (first bus at 18:50, last bus at 20:15) and Ankiya Mae bus departure (last at 21:15), and it takes about 25 minutes on foot from the entrance of the venue to Hirayu Otaki.

The Okuhida Onsen Tourism Association said, "In recent years, the freezing has been small due to the warm winter, but this year the cold days continued, and the freezing gradually increased as of January 24.