平湯大滝結氷まつり Hirayu Waterfalls Winter Festival

On Sunday Night, we went to the Winter Festival of Hirayu Waterfalls.

Hirayu is an onsen (hot spring) place located at the northern foot of Mount Norikura.
The place is about 1250 m above sea level and there are many
ryokans (Japanese style inns) and hot spring facilities.

After enjoying the greatest onsen, we went to a festival held at Hirayu Waterfalls.

During winter, not all, but the waterfall freezes partially, and they're lighting up
the waterfalls during this festival.

The paths that lead to the waterfalls were darker than we had imagined.
And they were so icy and slippery that many people including our son
were slipping and falling down everywhere : )

At an open space near the waterfalls,
free amazake (sweet Japanese drink made from fermented rice),
zenzai (sweet red bean soup with rice cake), and beef tendon soup were given.
The temperature was about -6 degrees Celcius at that time,
so cold but these warm drinks kept us alive!!

By the time we arrived to the waterfalls,
we were no longer cold both because we had to walk up the slope
and also because of the warm drinks!!

The waterfalls were lighted and appeared beautifully in the darkness of the night.

The festival ended for the night with some beautiful fireworks that bloomed 

in the dark chilly sky!!

It was such a heartwarming event
that took place in a cold and freezing night.

日曜の夜、「平湯大滝結氷まつり」へ行ってきました。

平湯は、乗鞍岳の北麓、標高1250mに位置する温泉郷で、
たくさんの旅館や温泉施設があります。

大好きな温泉に入った後、平湯大滝結氷祭を覗いてきました。

冬季は滝が部分的に結氷します。
まつりの期間中はこの滝がライトアップされています。

滝へ続く道は、想像していた以上に真っ暗で
しかもツルツル、、、。回りでたくさんの人が転んでいました、、、笑。
もちろん、うちの息子も。

滝の少し手前の広場では、
甘酒、ぜんざい、牛すじスープが無料でふるまわれ
－6℃で凍りつつあった体を温めてくれました。

滝へ着いた時には、
坂を転ばないように必死に登り
温かい飲み物を頂いたお陰で
そこまで寒さを感じることなく楽しむことができました。

結氷した滝は、ライトアップされ、
夜の暗闇に美しく浮かび上がっていました。

まつりの最後にはなんと、
ピンと空気の澄んだ、冬の空に打ち上げられた
花火まで満喫してきましたよ。

寒い場所ならではの楽しいイベントでした。