Japanese culture is known for subtlety, refinement, attention to detail, contemplation, timelessness. One wonders to what extent a culture is shaped by its landscape. The Hida Mountains, or Japanese Alps on Honshu represent all of the delicacy and ferocity of the Japanese tradition. I’ve had the pleasure of a number of trips to the Hakuba region and find endless inspiration in a winter landscape unique on the planet. As is so often the case, the trees become a focal point and a beautiful microcosm of the greater landscape.
