Signs of spring in snow country are different than elsewhere!

While some of you lucky ducks are already getting to enjoy flowers and blossoms, it's not quite that timeframe just yet out here in snow country. However, there are signs that spring is on the way here, but they just look different than most parts of Japan!

One sign that makes me know that spring is coming is that you can actually SEE the base of the yellow and red snow poles! The snow is in fact melting away, even though there's quite a bit of it left. 

If you live in a region like mine, are there any less-typical signs of spring being on the way that folks in other parts of Japan might not experience?