This paper analysed health problems and illness behavior using health diaries of 38 villagers aged 50 and over in a sparsely depopulated mountain village with a heavy snow fall in Niigata prefecture. they kept a health diary for a month starting in winter, spring, summer, and autumn, respectively. 203 problem episodes(5.3 per person) were recorded with 22.2 percent of the episodes receiving modern medical care. Musculo-skeletal problems and headaches were the most common. No form of medical action was taken in the case of 47.8 percent of problem episodes. It was suggested that most occurrences of health problems were explained by factors of a unique lifestyle and a natural environment in each season in the area.
