Spring in Hakuba with exchange students
With the start of the 2025 academic year, the University of Nagano welcomed new incoming exchange students. Currently, we are hosting seven exchange students from partner universities in China, Taiwan, Italy, and the Czech Republic, all of whom are living in Zozan Dormitory. On April 26, four of our buddy students organized a field trip to Hakuba for the exchange students to experience the spring coming to the mountainous area of Nagano.
Passing through the Mima Tunnel, they were breathless as the snow-capped peaks came into view. They first stopped at Matsukawa River Park, where they could gaze at the majestic Hakuba Mountains. Some students put their hands in the clean river and felt the melting snow water and said, "Tsumetai! (It's cold!)"
The green season had just begun at Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort, where they took the gondola to the top of the mountain. At the top of the mountain, it was "Yoo-Hoo! SWING" that everyone was excited to try. The scenery of the still snow-covered northern Alps was mesmerizing, and everyone swung vigorously as if they were about to be thrown into nature. During the swing experience, the theme song from the classic anime, familiar to Japanese of all ages but unfamiliar to the international students, was played as background music. When the buddy students explained the song, the international students remarked, "Is the anime set in Switzerland? Then it should be 'Heidi.'" That's how the Japanese students learned the original name of the character.
At the photo spot, Japanese tourists approached for a little chat and then asked one of the exchange students to take pictures of them with the beautiful natural scenery. As the couple posed for the photos, our student told them how to pose, saying, "You are a couple, why are you posing to form a circle? It should be a heart, right?" They seemed to enjoy the casual meetings and interactions.
After lunch, the group went to Hakuba Glass Studio GAKU to try their hand at making tonbo dama (glass beads). Each student chose his or her favorite design, pattern, and color, and was guided by the studio staff one by one.
They held the glass rod over the burner and concentrated on working with the different movements of the left and right hands. When they could see the glass rod gradually changing its shape into the desired bead, they gave a sign of relief with a smile.
While waiting for the beads to cool, they took a walk in nearby Oide Park. It was a perfect day for a walk, with the contrast of the snow-covered valley of the Northern Alps, the Himekawa River, the cherry blossoms, and the blue sky.
After returning to the glass studio, they put the finishing touches on the decorations according to their own tastes.
This fieldwork was to experience the slightly late spring in the majestic mountains of Nagano. We hope that each student's accessory will become a "souvenir of Nagano" that will bring back happy memories of the experience for years to come.
