Hachimantai Japan
Far away from the overly popular areas of Niseko and Nagano is Hachimantai, an untapped region in northern Tohoku. It may be reasonably unknown to many international skiers and snowboarders, yet this is part of the appeal of this little mountainous patch of the Iwate Prefecture. In addition to backcountry touring and cat skiing, Hachimantai is home to three main ski resorts:
Appi;
Panorama; and
Shimokura.
The Hachimantai region receives abundant snowfalls of dry powder snow, and with few foreigners chasing the powder you can find freshies reasonably easily. The secret of Hachimantai has been slowly getting out there amongst powder hounds looking to get away from crowds, yet Hachimantai isn't just a destination for those seeking deep untouched powder. For piste skiers and snowboarders and/or adventurous families who are happy to rent a car to explore the area, it has great Japanese cultural offerings, lovely cuisine, and unique onsen experiences. It's delightfully different from the high profile ski resorts of Japan.
Where is Hachimantai Japan?
Hachimantai is officially considered a city, yet this may be a misnomer. It formed due to the aggregation of a few small towns and hot spring villages, so think of Hachimantai mostly as a municipality. There is a quasi “downtown” area in Nishine but Hachimantai doesn’t have a major main street or high rise buildings or flashing neon signs that you’d expect of a city. Instead, it’s a lovely rural area spread across 862 square kilometres that only has a population of 25,000.
Hachimantai is in the far northwest of
Iwate Prefecture, about 40km northwest of the city of
Morioka, in the northern part of the main island of Honshu. The municipality includes the area north of Mount Iwate and the zone to the east and northeast of Mount Hachimantai (both mountains are good for backcountry touring pursuits). Hachimantai City is bordered by
Akita Prefecture to the west and
Aomori Prefecture to the north.
Hachimantai Ski Resorts
The most economical way to ski the three main Hachimantai resorts is by purchasing a 3, 5 or 7 day common lift pass. Or if you have an Indy Pass, Panorama and Shimokura are on this pass (so you would need to purchase lift tickets separately for Appi).
Appi
Appi is the largest ski area in Hachimantai and offers fabulous skiing & snowboarding for all levels from beginners to advanced. Appi scores plentiful amounts of dry powder and due to a lack of foreign visitors chasing the powder, there are plenty of opportunities for fresh untracked runs in the trees within the resort and in the sidecountry. The resort has well developed lift infrastructure, facilities and ski-in/ski-out accommodation options as well as a nearby pension village where you will find more budget oriented lodging options.
See more information about Appi Resort here>>
Panorama
Panorama is a family and beginner friendly ski area with gentle slopes. This is not a place for powder hunters, but if you are looking for a ski-in/ski-out family holiday staying in a very nice hotel with a lovely onsen then this could be a place of interest. There are also various kids' activities aside from skiing here.
See more information about Panorama resort here>>
Shimokura
Shimokura is a powder haven that's not overly visited by foreigners. It is not a large ski area, yet it boasts various powder stashes for powder hounds. The resort facilities are simple yet adequate considering the size of the resort. There is no on-mountain lodging here, however it is just 10 minutes drive (or free bus trip) from the
Hachimantai Mountain Hotel and several other ryokans, lodges and hotels. For people staying at Appi you will need to rent a vehicle or get a taxi to Shimokura.
See more information about Shimokura resort here>>
Hachimantai also has the small low-elevation
Tayama Ski Area which has 2 lifts and 2 courses.
NB The
Akita Hachimantai Ski Resort is not located in Hachimantai City but rather in the Akita Prefecture on the northwest flank of Mt Hachimantai.
Things To Do
The most obvious things to do in Hachimantai during winter revolve around snowsports. In addition to resort skiing, Hachimantai has a snowcat skiing operation and there are several ski guides in the area who offer guided backcountry tours.
There are also snowshoe tours, 4x4 and snowmobile tours, ice waterfalls to visit, sake and beer breweries and more.
Hachimantai is also famous for its hot springs and a few of the onsens are unique and offer the traditional experience of mixed bathing (konyoku onsen) along with a female-only bath.
See a list of Hachimantai activities here>>
Food
The Hachimantai region is a foodies delight with delicious Japanese cuisine incorporating fresh local ingredients, offering a rich culinary experience. Local vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and wild mountain vegetables are often incorporated into various dishes, including hot pots, stir-fries, and side dishes.
The region is also known for its high-quality beef including its famous Wagyu beef which can be prepared in different ways, such as sukiyaki, shabu-shabu, or grilled. Wanko Soba (buckwheat noodles) is a popular dish in the region as is Jajamen consisting of wheat noodles topped with a rich and savoury sauce made from soybean paste, ground meat, and vegetables.
The region is also home to several sake breweries producing a wide variety of sake each with its own unique flavour. Sake connoisseurs will love visiting and tasting sake from the various breweries in the region.
See details of restaurants here>>