Tazawako Ski Resort
The Tazawako Ski Resort in the Akita Prefecture is mostly a locals’ ski area that barely registers on the Japan ski tourism radar. It’s slowly gaining recognition as a spot for powder hounds, so easy-access fresh powder isn’t as prolific as it used to be, but Tazawako is still a spot where you can get cultural immersion as well as powder submersion.
Lake Tazawa Ski Resort overlooks the beautiful blue Lake Tazawa, which is the deepest lake in Japan so it doesn’t freeze during winter. You can either enjoy the scenery and look at the mirror lake or just focus on being in the powder room of Tazawako without a mirror!
Even though the Tazawako ski area is the largest in Akita, it’s a reasonably small resort, so it’s best visited as part of a road trip of the northern Tohoku area. It’s also an easy day trip from
Morioka or
Shizukuishi.
Pros and Cons of Tazawako Japan
Pros
- Tazawako is mostly an uncrowded ski resort, especially on weekdays.
- It has very good intermediate terrain, with wide open groomers that include a couple of moderately pitchy runs.
- Tazawako has good off-piste trees that are easily accessed and navigated.
- The views across Lake Tazawa and up to Mt Komagatake are pretty special; that’s of course if the weather is fine enough to see them.
- Everything is rather inexpensive.
- There are some great onsen experiences nearby including historic onsen and mixed gender baths.
Cons
- A few of the lifts operate in slow motion.
- The little “town” of Tazawako, most of the accommodation, the lake, the onsen, and the ski resort are not within walking distance of each other.
Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective
- Fresh powder in the sidecountry areas lasts much longer than the easy-access off-piste trees, yet you’ll require a guide or very well honed backcountry skills.
- Tazawako is situated in “gosetsu chitai” (heavy snow area). “Inclement” would be an understatement to describe the frequent weather during winter, but you don’t get big dumps of snow from fine weather!
- It’s a bit difficult to get there via public transport and really difficult to get around without a car, but this helps to keep the crowds away.
- This place provides an unadulterated Japan ski or snowboard experience. Don’t expect westernised concepts such as après ski or deluxe apartments or much spoken English.
Tazawako Ski and Snowboard Terrain
Tazawako has 100 hectares of piste terrain with 13 courses and 608 metres of vertical (578-1,186m). The 6 lifts are mostly slow, and in addition to 4 pair chair lifts, there are 2 covered quad chairs that are a saviour on foul weather days.
The piste terrain has an even split for ability levels, although a couple of the black runs are groomed and not that steep so they’re ideal for strong intermediate riders. There are a couple of ungroomed black runs that are somewhat steep, but this is Japan after all so don’t get too excited about finding Jackson-Hole-esque steeps.
Advanced and expert riders will want to spend most of their time off-piste, and there is enough terrain variety for a couple of days. Tazawako has a small official tree run along with other off-piste trees where riding is usually well tolerated by the fun police (ski patrol). There are open tree areas as well as some rather tight tree areas that will test your manoeuvrability skills so Tazawako is not a good place to cut your teeth with tree skiing. The sidecountry (lift-accessed backcountry) includes some very challenging slopes and route finding so a guide is highly beneficial. Mt Komagatake and surrounding peaks provide some nice backcountry touring for those wanting to skin or snowshoe up on fine days.
See the
Tazawako ski area terrain for more detail on the skiing and snowboarding.
Tazawako Snow & Weather
It snows a mighty lot at Tazawako, although not even Puki Yuki the snow goddess knows how much snow falls. In addition to the “lake effect” snow that comes from the Sea of Japan, it’s possible that Lake Tazawa also produces some lake effect snow from storms with less north in them.
Like some other ski areas in the region, there can be big winds and the weather can get rather disgusting. You might need to keep your itinerary a little flexible.
The elevation is high enough to maintain good quality, and the aspect is mostly west facing so the snow quality varies in the trees when the sun comes out.
Where is Tazawa-ko?
The Lake Tazawa Ski Resort is at Mizusawa Onsen, 11km northeast of Semboku (sometimes spelled Senboku), and 44km west of
Morioka. Tazawako is in the far eastern part of the
Akita Prefecture, not far from the
Iwate Prefecture.
Access to Tazawako and getting around Tazawako is easiest if you have a car or are on a multi-resort tour (see below).
Accommodation
The Tazawako accommodation options are all really spread out. There is no village at the base of the ski area, although there are a few accommodation options just down the road. There are also hotels near Lake Tazawa and ryokans at a few onsen villages in the nearby hills. See the
Tazawako hotel page for more information.
Or Tazawako is easy enough to visit for a day trip from Morioka where there are lots of well priced
Morioka hotels. You could also base yourself at
Shizukuishi Resort (47km away) or other Iwate accommodation areas nearby.
Ski Resort Facilities
Tazawako has pretty good amenities for a small ski resort, and a reasonably modern base building. There is a big cafeteria that serves up an amazing variety of food that’s pretty special and good value for money. It’s not just your average Japanese ski resort cafeteria fare. There is also a modern lounge where you can order a beer or sake.
Tazawako Ski Resort also has a couple of mid-mountain eateries, although they tend to only be open on weekends. Ginrei is lovely for light meals and great lake views when the windows aren’t fogged up.
Other facilities and services include ski school (Japanese only) and equipment rentals. The Goldwin shop sells a mish mash of outwear and ski and snowboard accessories, and there is also a souvenir shop.
Near the base is a kids’ play area.