Appi Activities

The number of activities based at Appi Kogen has shrunk over the years, and if you have access to a car, there are a number of other things to do in the broader Hachimantai area.

Appi Backcountry Tours & Cat Skiing

Appi offers guided backcountry skiing options for a half day. You need to provide your own uphill backcountry equipment and avalanche safety gear, but they don’t actually rent it at the resort which might be problematic if you don’t have your own gear.

Appi Resort can also arrange bespoke backcountry tours in the region, but a much better idea would be to book an international qualified guide for some Iwate private guiding of sidecountry and/or backcountry touring in the region. A booking is for a minimum of 4 days and you could include some guiding for Hachimantai cat skiing and/or Shizukuishi Cat Skiing as part of the experience.

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Appi Kogen Onsen

Shirakaba-no-yu at the Appi Kogen Onsen Hotel is open to non hotel guests for a fee. This Appi onsen has large indoor baths and saunas, but the highlight is the lovely outdoor onsen where you’ll find a range of baths of different depths.

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The luxury ANA Intercontinental Hotel has an onsen onsite that is open to guests only.

For guests at the Crowne Plaza, there is an indoor onsen which is usually rather busy.

Matsukawa Hot Springs

Matsukawa Onsen is a small hot spring town near Mt Iwate, where there are a few ryokans that open their onsen to non-guests. The onsen water is renowned for its cloudy blue appearance and its ability to relieve various ailments.

The Shofuso Ryokan is probably the most popular onsen, despite its lobster pot temperature! It has an outdoor mixed onsen (thankfully the water isn’t translucent!), a ladies outdoor bath, and there are also gender segregated indoor baths. The amenities are rather rustic with no showers or fancy toiletries or hairdryers on offer, just buckets for pre-washing.

Matsukawaso is another ryokan in Matsukawa Onsen with a lovely outdoor onsen with mixed bathing (konyoku onsen).

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Other Relaxation Activities

The Crowne Plaza Hotel has a day spa offering a range of treatments and lots of massage options. The hotel also has indoor public baths as well as a private bath that can be booked. 

Guests of the ANA Intercontinental can utilise the luxurious day spa facilities at the hotel.

Kids Activities

There is a small kids park at the base of the slopes for tubing and sledding.

The Crowne Plaza Hotel has a swimming pool.

Other Activities

In addition to what the resort has to offer there are various other sightseeing and activities in the area. Here are a few...

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