A Pow Seeker’s Guide to the Slopes

I consider myself an outdoorsy adventurous kind of person. Wherever I find myself, I try to mix in some action and adventure in my life, whether it be in the company of others or by myself. One of the things I do every winter is to hit up the different ski resorts in Japan. While most ALTs head home for winter vacation or travel to warmer places, I grab my snowboard and skis and seek out fresh powder. I have been to ones in Gunma, Niigata, Nagano, Hokkaido, Iwate, and, of course, Akita. Out of all the prefectures I have been to on my ski trips, Hokkaido is hands down my favorite place, not just during winter but any season. Japan is indeed a premium snow country; the powder here is so fresh and soft. Although this winter has been a bit sluggish, a great time to go would be from late January to mid-February. If you have any inkling of trying out a winter sport, this country is a great place to do it. The following are some of my personal favorite ski resorts in Japan that I would like to share with you.

Ani Ski Resort, Akita

Ani Ski Resort is on Mt. Moriyoshi, one of the places in Japan famous for these snow-covered trees known as snow monsters. Ani is not a very big ski resort nor does it have much variety in terms of runs. Some on-piste skiers might even find it rather boring. However, off-piste skiers might find this resort to their liking. At the top of the mountain (after a gondola ride and a short hike), there is a trail leading off to the side that requires you to wear snowshoes or backcountry skis to traverse. This trail provides offpiste skiers with untouched powder snow to play with. If this sounds amazing to you, I recommend you check this place out. I find this resort to be a nice change from Tazawako that everyone seems to go to. It is not as crowded and the powder is

light and fluffy. The first time I was there, I went up to the top of the mountain and found myself alone with the snow monsters. It was so peaceful. I snapped some pictures of the snow monsters and the view from atop the mountain with my iPhone but as I looked at the shots I took, I felt the pictures did not do it any justice. It was then I unstrapped my snowboard bindings and simply enjoyed the moment. At the bottom where you purchased

the lift ticket, you will find the resident Akita Inu, Hokuto. He lies in a room surrounded by windows near the entrance. He sometimes can be seen out on walks, but most of the time he just lies about. You can try to interact with him but he pays you little attention in return. He is still quite adorable though and I stop by to greet and pet him whenever I’m there.

Appi Kogen Ski Resort, Iwate

Appi is located in Iwate Prefecture, just about a three-hours drive from Akita city. I think this resort is great for beginners and experienced skiers and boarders alike. There are rails, boxes,

and half-pipes for freestyle riding. Additionally, the resort offers wide open piste, off piste, steep drops, mogul runs, and long runs. The longest run is a green one (access via gondola). It is about 5.5

kilometers long (3.4 miles) and it is quite fun trying to bomb down it and/or doing tricks off the side banks. There are also a couple of restricted courses that only allow skiers. I have come to this resort every winter season for the past five years. The first four have been great but the last season was terrible. There was mostly ice on the slopes and it started raining on the second day. Hopefully the powder next THE AKITAN year will improve for those staying another year and the new incoming ALTs. A great first-time experience of Appi would be on the annual Appi ski trip held by Charity Akita. I try not to miss it and recommend it to everyone. The place where we usually stay, Appi Kogen Mutti, is great. Dinner and breakfast are also terrific. You have a 5-course meal for dinner and a western style breakfast the following day.

Hakuba Valley Ski Resorts, Nagano

Hakuba is not just one resort; it incorporates 10 ski resorts, which are Happo-One, Hakuba 47, Goryu, Cortina, Norikura, Iwatake, Tsugaike Kogen, Jigatake, Kashimayari, and Sanosaka. I recommend you purchase the multi-day

Valley Lift Pass, as it grants you access to all 10 resorts at a very reasonable price. The chart below will give you an idea of the pricing:

Ticket 1 day ticket

2 day ticket

3 day ticket

4 day ticket Adult ¥6,101 ¥11,000 ¥16,300 ¥21,700

Child ¥3,500 ¥6,101 ¥9,200 ¥12,101

Valid Period Valid on day of purchase

Valid for 3 days from first use Valid for 5 days from first use Valid for 7 days from first use

Keep in mind that the price listed above reflects the cost of a lift pass during the main season. It could be different during the beginning and end of the season, as snow quality is not as good. While I have only been to three out of the 10 (Hakuba 47, Goryu, and Happo-One), I still recommend this united ski resort. I really enjoyed Hakuba 47 and Goryu. The two resorts are interconnected and can be done in one day. Happo-One is the largest one but I personally do not like it. I find the Sakka side of the resort enjoyable but the Nakiyama side has too

many artificially constructed moguls. One of the intermediate runs has moguls most of the way down. They cannot be avoided because they take up the entire stretch of the slope. The Sakka side is definitely more suitable for beginners and the Nakiyama side for experienced skiers and boarders. Holders of the Valley Lift Pass can use the inter-resort shuttle bus, which takes them to the different resorts in Hakuba. If you ever end up somewhere else too far on the mountain than when you started, you can take the shuttle bus back.

103 Similar to Hakuba, Niseko is not just one resort; it is comprised of four resorts on one mountain – Hanazono, Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village, and Annupuri. You can purchase a resort-specific lift pass but I highly recommend you purchase the All-Mountain Pass, which gives you access to all of the resorts. If you purchase it online at niseko.ne.jp, you can get a 1-day All Mountain Pass for 7,500 instead of 8,000 (you save about 7%). The resorts are interconnected, so you can very well start at one and end up at another. There is just so much variety here. They have rails and ramps, off-piste skiing, steep drops, and mellow slopes. It is impossible to do it all in one day, or even two. There are also a lot of international visitors in Niseko, so much so that it does not feel like Japan. The place is English friendly and has a ton of ski and snowboard instructors from different countries. I highly recommend this resort. That being said, I do not recommend you dine at any of the restaurants on the mountain; they are overpriced. Unless you are a big spender looking to dine on your meal with a view, I suggest you visit restaurants elsewhere near the resort. A notable mention is Mt. Yotei, the nearby active volcano known as the Fuji of

Hokkaido. Backcountry skiers have hiked to the top and skied down the crater. Do take caution, though, if you are interested in undertaking Mt. Yotei, as it requires skiers to be in tip-top condition, be able to ski any terrain, and be prepared for sudden change in weather condition.

Rusutsu is about a forty-minute drive from Niseko, so if you want to try a different resort but remain in Niseko village, I highly recommend this one. I think this resort is great for beginners and experienced skiers and snowboarders. Some of the slopes are quite mellow but they are not boring by any extent. Both Niseko and Rusutsu are great for off-piste skiing. Niseko may have a larger terrain and vertical, but Rusutsu is not as crowded, giving you ample space to practice your wide turns without worrying about crashing into someone, or having to wait in a long queue for the lift. One thing of note is that there is an amusement park situated next to the slopes. It is not in operation during the winter season, so you are able to ski and snowboard right by it. Both are a powder paradise and you cannot lose with either one. Overall, Rusutsu is a fantastic resort for skiers and boarders of all levels.

**Photos courtesy of Kei Lam, Bryce Fowler, and Irene Cao