Hachimantai Shimokura is worthwhile for powder hounds to hit up for a day of fresh powder lines, as an adjunct to visiting the various other
Hachimantai and Iwate ski resorts. Hachimantai Resort is made up of two ski areas of which Shimokura is one, and it shares a common lift ticket with the other ski area,
Panorama. The two Hachimantai ski resorts are not interconnected via the slopes, but are linked via a 10-minute free shuttle bus service.
Pros and Cons of Hachimantai Japan
Pros
- The Hachimantai Shimokura snow quality is often divine, in part due to the slopes having a favourable aspect.
- This Hachimantai ski resort is well and truly off the beaten path of Japanese ski resorts that foreigners usually visit, so cultural experiences are high on the agenda, and there are only trifling gaijin to steal your fresh powder.
- The Shimokura ski resort is often uninhabited, especially on weekdays, and the few locals and army dudes aren’t likely to head into the trees.
- Hachimantai Shimokura is close to various other Iwate ski resorts that have plentiful offerings for powder hounds.
- When the westerly storms blow big time and close the lifts at nearby ski resorts such as Appi, Shimokura is the place to be due to the easterly orientation of the lifts.
- The region has lots of great onsen for a soak after a big day of pow.
- You can go snowcat skiing with nearby Hachimantai Cat Skiing.
- The Hachimantai ski resorts are on the Indy Pass.
Cons
- The terrain size is small and with the exception of beginner terrain, it’s really only good for a one hour visit if you stay on-piste or one day if you head off-piste.
- Hachimantai doesn’t cater well for your average English-speaking beginner.
Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective
- There are no ski-in ski-out accommodation options, day spas, or shops selling bling bling gear (if that’s your thing!).
- You’ll want to have a set of wheels to visit Shimokura and other nearby ski resorts, either a rental car or private transport as part of a multi-day guided tour.
- The Hachimantai Resort is starting to come around to the notion of tree skiing and has opened up a few kosher tree areas, but they’re still very conservative regarding whether the runs are officially open.
Hachimantai Ski Resort - Shimokura
The Hachimantai Shimokura Ski Resort is rather small with only 6 courses (marked trails), 550 metres of vertical, and 3 lifts; 1 triple chair and 2 double chairs.
Despite the trail stats being 30% beginner, 40% intermediate and 30% advanced, intermediate and advanced riders mostly frequent the Shimokura ski resort. A few small tree run areas have been designated, and off-piste riding is permitted with a self-responsibility clause and submission of climbing registration, so long as the runs are deemed “open”.
On weekdays you might only have to share the ski resort with a handful of army dudes, and generally you don’t have to share the off-piste with many folks except for your powder buddies.
Where is Hachimantai Ski Resort?
The Hachimantai Resort Shimokura sits on the flanks of the imposing Mt Iwate (which shows off on fine days), and is 15km west of the town of
Hachimantai in the
Iwate Prefecture and only 3km from the
Hachimantai Panorama Ski Resort.
Hachimantai Hotels
There is no on-mountain accommodation at Shimokura but there are various Hachimantai hotels nearby such as the
Hachimantai Mountain Hotel at the base of the Panorama Ski Resort. Alternatively you can stay at
Appi accommodation, a
Morioka hotel, or other
Iwate ski accommodation options.
Hachimantai Hotel Listings
Ski Resort Facilities
The Shimokura ski resort has one building at the base that houses the amenities for skiers and snowboarders. These include basic ski and snowboard rentals and a few fat skis, a simple retail shop, lockers, and a little café that sells Canadian style cinnamon buns – the aroma lures you in!
Upstairs is a spacious cafeteria that serves up pretty typical Japanese ski resort fare at reasonable prices.
Hachimantai Onsen
The region has plenty of great onsen to choose from for an après ski soak. As a starting point, the Hachimantai Mountain Hotel has a decent onsen with indoor and outdoor baths.
The little village of Matsukawa Onsen is about 6km from Hachimantai Shimokura Resort. It has a small collection of ryokan with onsen that non-guests can utilise for a small fee. The onsen waters are renowned for the cloudy blue appearance and a few of the onsen are quite traditional with outdoor konyoku onsen (mixed gender bathing).