High up in the mountains of northern Japan, a rare mix of climate, altitude, and icy Siberian winds transforms Mount Zao into a forest of snow monsters; living Maries’ fir trees encased in layers of supercooled snow and sculpted by the wind. Niwaki Will and photographer Soeda travelled from Tokyo to see them up close, swapping chairlifts for skis to get a closer, quieter view. The trees survive thanks to a winning combination of flexible branches and wax-coated needles, which withstand the weight, cold, and relentless winter winds.

We rather enjoy this collection of Will’s photos, featuring the town’s famous geothermal hot springs and thick layers of powdery snow – but if you’d like to see the snow monsters through Soeda’s lens, and discover the spooky folklore that surrounds them, you’ll need to pick up a copy of Niwaki Field Report No. 2.