Aoni hamlet

ANDRE GARDELLA, on January 7, 2007, said:

Aoni: un minuscule hameau de 23 âmes, caché au fin fond de la préfecture de Nagano. Toutes les maisons ont un toit de chaume recouvert de tôle afin de mieux faire face aux rigueurs de l'hiver particulièrement rude et enneigé dans cette région. En 2002, ce hameau a été déclaré, par le Ministère de l'Éducation nationale, Site protégé d'Architecture traditionnelle.

Aoni: a tiny hamlet of 23 souls, hidden at the far end of Nagano prefecture. All the houses have a thachted roof covered by sheet metal in order to resist better the particulary harsh and snowy winter of this region. In 2002, this hamlet has been declared, by the National Education Ministry, a Traditional Architecture protected Site.

julymoon, on July 1, 2008, said:

I plan go to japan on november . And your beautiful picture give inspiration to me. Could you please give the information about Aoni hamlet . How to go there? Thank you very much.

ANDRE GARDELLA, on July 1, 2008, said:

Thank you for your interest julymoon. Aoni is a very small hamlet located near the Hakuba village, Nagano prefecture. No shops, no restaurant, no vending machines and no place to stay. So you will have to spend the night in Hakuba village.

From the Shinjuku station in Tokyo city, you will have to take the SUPER AZUSA train to Matsumoto city ( 2 h 30mn); change to the Itoigawa Line and take any train going go to Hakuba (1 h 30). From Hakuba station, the only way to get there is by taxi (20 mn). You should take food and drinks (there is a public toilet). Try to be there in the early morning (around 7:am) and around 15:00 if the weather is clear. But be ready because it will be really cold in November (around 0 degree).

Good wishes from the Land of the Rising Sun.