Appi Kogen is a ski resort situated amid the highlands of northeast Honshu, fringed by the tree-lined ridges of Towada-Hachimantai National Park. Renowned for its meticulously groomed pistes, Appi Kogen Ski Resort is a great ski destination to bring your family or work on your skills. It was developed in the 1980s and features modern facilities and a convenient lift system.
Grab your skis or snowboard and begin exploring Appi Kogen’s exciting slopes. Book private or group lessons with an English-speaking instructor or check out the special slopes designed for skilling up. Beginners can enjoy an extensive green-graded playground and a Family Park around the resort’s main high-speed gondola. Those with a little more experience can catch one of two gondolas to the upper slopes and explore a wide selection of intermediate and advanced-level pistes. Enjoy wide, sweeping slopes, or take one of the trails that weave around forested areas.
Most of Appi Kogen’s ski runs are located on Mount Maemori, with a select few runs on the slightly higher Mount Nishimori. Many of the slopes are groomed and long, making this ski area an ideal place for fine-tuning your technique. If you would like to make the most of Appi Kogen’s light powder snowfall, head to the resort’s selection of ungroomed slopes. Snowboarders and freestyle skiers will love the resort’s terrain park, which is fitted out with jumps and ramps.
Appi Kogen’s compact village area is at the base of Mount Maemori. You can rent high-quality ski and snowboard equipment from the resort’s rental facility, if you haven’t brought your own. Rent snowshoes and explore the powder-snow forests. In the evening, try night skiing under bright lights, or simply relax in one of the resort’s steaming hot onsen baths.
Reach Appi Kogen by train and bus. The nearest airport is located in Hanamaki. Buses bound for Appi Kogen depart from Morioka. The resort has three major hotels and each have a wide selection of dining options, from buffet dining halls to restaurants serving Korean and Chinese cuisine. The ski season runs from December to May and lift passes range from a few hours’ access to 3 days.
