Take a bus from Shin-Aomori Station to the Hakkoda Ropeway in the late morning, then find somewhere for lunch in the area. In the afternoon, you'll go on a thrilling backcountry skiing tour of the Hakkoda Mountains where beautiful Maries’ fir trees abound. The Hakkoda area receives one of the heaviest snowfalls in the world, and February and March are prime for skiing.

After skiing, take a bus to Sukayu Onsen and check in for the evening. This hot-spring hotel has a history of 300 years and has baths and dining to nourish your body and soul after a day out in the cold.

Get an early start to the day and take a car from Sukayu Onsen to the Goshogake area. Your morning will be occupied with a three-hour snowshoe tour of Goshogake and Oyunuma, where you'll explore the Daideikazan Mud Volcano with a guide and get an up-close look at active fumaroles that spout sulfur into the air. This experience lets you explore parts of the park that are usually closed to visitors.

Stop by a restaurant in the area for lunch. Next, travel to Nyuto Onsen, a hot-springs area located deep in the mountains and surrounded by a forest of beech. Your overnight stay at a traditional Japanese ryokan will give you a chance to immerse yourself in not only the hot springs, but the healthy regional cuisine of Akita Prefecture and the serenity of nature. You'll get a refreshing night's sleep after trying it out for yourself.

Head out from your ryokan in the morning for a snowshoe tour of the surrounding forest. This guided experience continues with a break at either the baths of Tsuru-no-Yu or a craft workshop where you can make a wooden horse known as an itaya-uma. For lunch, you'll enjoy a special hot pot made with Japanese yams.

Wind down your time in Towada-Hachimantai in the afternoon and travel by bus back to Tazawako Station.