Located in Iwate Prefecture, Appi Kogen Ski Resort, is one of the country’s top ski destinations, often compared to resorts in Hokkaido due to its high-quality, dry powder snow. It features 21 runs with a good mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced slopes, as well as long runs up to 5.5 km. Pros: • Excellent Snow Quality – Light and dry powder similar to Hokkaido. • Long, Well-Groomed Runs – Great for cruising and ideal for intermediate skiers. • Fewer Crowds – Compared to popular resorts like Niseko or Hakuba. • Modern Facilities – Good accommodation options, onsen, and dining. Cons: • Limited Après-Ski Scene – Quiet nightlife, more family-friendly. • Weather Can Be Harsh – Occasionally strong winds and cold temperatures. • Less Off-Piste Terrain – Not the best for extreme backcountry riders. Overall Verdict: We had a great time and the resort is a fantastic choice for those who prioritise high-quality snow, well-maintained slopes, and a quieter, more relaxed ski experience. Best suited for those looking for a less commercial resort compared to Niseko.

Despite early suspension of gondola and chair lifts up the hill top due to 4-5m/s strong wind on our last day of skiing, APPI is one of the best ski resorts in Tohoku region for intermediate and advanced skiers; especially, on sunny day, ones can enjoy those miles long non-stop scenic runs from hill top to bottom. However, catering wasn’t ideal comparing to resorts like Zao Onsen.

APPI Kogen Ski Resort is great, but the slopes are a bit too challenging. I nearly gave myself a heart attack — felt like I was racing to the bottom of the mountain!

Awesome resort! I rented my gear through appi and it was quick efficient and not too expensive. Pass is slightly more expensive than other ski spots nearby but this resort is awesome! There is a beginners area that’s a great place to learn and the gondola is really nice. Employees are nice. Food is good. They have decent gift shops and a spot to buy snowboards and skis and accessories.

The BIGGEST ski resort in north east region of Japan, how good is that? The only downside is that their lifts go pretty slow, with people falling when they get off you usually spend more time on the chairlifts than going downhill 😭some slopes are too flat in certain areas so you might stop in the middle.

It’s April and powder keeps coming. Tree run has powder up to my waist. I had so much fun riding here. The hotel is dated, somewhat clean. i ask to change room because mine smells like old carpet. But they are very hard to talk to and not willing to do anything about it. Instead, they brought in room refresher. :( What a miss opportunity. It could be a Top notch resort with such amazing snow and good views from each room. If they can only update the furnish a little bit. I am more than happy to offer them free design services to exchange family ski vacation. I have 20 years of architecture/ interior design practice in New York. Transform this place is so easy and inexpensive because the bone is good. Bar is in wrong location, no wonder there is no one there. Another miss opportunity to create business and provide social place. Restaurants are decent. Although they listed many options, lots of food are coming from the same place. So variety is not so great. Outdoor onsen is really nice and beautiful. You will have view of mountain in front of you. Water is good with no smell. Ski runs are supper nice. I love the black diamond that stretch to red and green in one straight shot-3km. You can go so fast, so fun. Tree runs are good, but trees are not so big like other resort. However, powder is so good that beats anything. Free shuttle from airport is also amazing. I can’t believe they sent a 20 person shuttle bus just for me. So overall, it’s excellent and I definitely coming back.

This review will include the slopes and the restaurants. Appi ski resort is the only one I know. For that it is hard for me to compare it with other ski resorts. I like it here. From what I have gathered the resort is smaller compared to European ones. But everyone I heard really thinks the snow there is some of the best they have tried. I would recommend to come after New Years Eve for a couple of reasons. During that time the slopes get quite busy, and you will have to wait to get in the lifts. Also at that time there are still many slopes closed. We are now in the third week of January and all of them are open. Including the snow park. This one is fun, with jumps and boxes, it is located at the bottom. During weekdays (at the moment), there is almost nobody on the slopes. Which gives you a lot of space to practice safely. You will find groomed slopes and a couple of ungroomed and tree runs. If you stay there for a longtime you might grow bored of the slopes. There are quite some possibilities for off-piste. There is a patrol which will actually take your pass away if caught. So it is probably better if you are using a day pass. That being said, my friend last year did a lot of off piste for weeks and never was bothered. Food wise there are 5 restaurants. Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Italian and Korean. All of them are Japanese style though. It doesn’t taste authentic. Italian one have edible pizza, but very tiny. Indian one was nothing special and rather expensive. Not much to say about the others beside the Japanese one selling ramen. That is probably the cheapest option. Taste good and the staff is nice. If you head out of the restaurant to get into the central area, you will find more food. Last year it was possible to get kebab, rather good. This year you will find Indian food. Proper Indian food. For 750Y you get a curry and a naan. Very tasty. This is the food you will also find in their restaurant located in Appikogen. Around this area you will also find stores that sell various products, food, gear,... I will attach some photos, bad quality but should give a wide sample of what you will find. The view from up there is not the prettiest I have ever seen but still, on a clear day, it’s beautiful. Enjoy and stay safe!

Beautiful and special, Dragon eye only can be seen during late May to mid Jun when snow jusy melt

This Spring is warmer than usual but May 5th seemed to be earlier to see the perfect dragon eye. The latter of May may be good timing this year, too.

I went to Kagami-numa in Hachimantai. The ice and snow covers of the pond begin to melt, forming an open ring of water around the edges, leaving a white disk in the center. Next, a puddle gathers in the center of the white disk, making the pond look like a giant eye. It is called "Dragon Eye". It is located on the prefectural border between Akita and Iwate prefectures.

The dragon eye is a famous tourist destination even advertised in Tokyo. The way in which the snow melts and the couler blue makes it look like a dragons eye. Would recommend it, but don't be fooled it's fairly cold up there because of its high elevation.

Great experience, fun drive up the mountain, definitely something you must see! Cute gift shops as well. Hurry and check it out!

Nice view. Dragon eye view every early June.

Not bad, but not great. Don't just come here to see the dragon eye. Make sure.you got some comfy shoes and a wind breaker jacket and walk the hiking path for some nature. The food and drink here is expensive and it can get pretty busy. Bring your own lunch or wait until you go back down the mountain to eat.

A good place to start exploring Hachimantai. You can find a lot of information about what to do in Hachimantai and points of interest. They have a gift shop and coffee from Lamp Restaurant

(Translated by Google) I was able to get a good deal on my purchases during the PayPay campaign. It was great that at the visitor center you could watch short videos for free. The parking lot was spacious and easy to use. (Original) ペイペイキャンペーン中でお得に買い物できました。 ビジターセンターでは、短時間プログラムで無料で映像が見れるのは良かったです。 駐車場広く利用しやすい。

(Translated by Google) (August 8, 2025) This is a rest stop before heading to the summit of Hachimantai by car. Its facilities are comparable to a roadside station. The restrooms don't open until 8:30, so be careful if you're stopping by early in the morning. It consists of two buildings: a specialty goods store and an information center introducing the area, allowing you to learn about the geography and nature of the Hachimantai area. Looking at the map, I noticed that some of the hot springs, such as Akagawa Onsen and Sumikawa Onsen, are still there, so it seems like updates aren't keeping up... but you should still be able to enjoy shopping and dining. (Original) (2025/08/08) 車で八幡平頂上に向かう手前の休憩ポイントで、施設としては道の駅と同等です。お手洗いは8:30にならないと開かないようなので朝早く立ち寄る場合は注意が必要です。特産品売り場とこのエリアの紹介をする建物の二つで構成されていて、八幡平エリアの地理や自然を知ることができます。地図見たら赤川温泉や澄川温泉といったなくなったところも残っていたので更新が追いついてなさそうですが…　買い物や食事などは普通に楽しめるかと思います。

(Translated by Google) After completing a ride along the Hachimantai Aspite Line, a road every rider dreams of, I stopped off for a break. The visitor center and local product center are located nearby. The visitor center hosts a variety of events, including information on Hachimantai's nature, the latest information, and trekking. You can see the various natural features and scenery of Hachimantai that you've just ridden through. (It's even more fun if you know about them beforehand.) The local product center next door houses a direct sales store and restaurant. I had some siphon-brewed coffee in front of the center. The high-quality water really brings out the flavor of the coffee. It was delicious. The staff were kind, and it was a wonderful time. (Original) ライダー憧れの八幡平アスピーテラインを走り終え、休憩と思い立ち寄りました。 ビジターセンターと物産館が併設されています。 ビジターセンターでは八幡平の自然、最新情報の紹介、トレッキング等の各種イベントが開催されています。今走って来た八幡平の様々な自然、風景を確認できます。（先に知っておけば、さらに楽しいでしょうね。） 隣の物産館には直売所、レストランが入っていています。 物産館前でサイフォンで淹れてくれるコーヒーをいただきました。お水が良いから、コーヒーの味がより際立ちますね。美味しかった。お店の方も優しく、良いひとときとなりました。

(Translated by Google) There are staff on hand to provide tourist information. However, even though we were heading to Hachimantai, they didn't tell us about road closures on the Jukai Line. They only told us they would find out about it when we got there, so it might be best not to get your hopes up too high. 😅 I wish they'd put more effort into providing accurate information and being more considerate to users. (Original) 無人ではなく職員が居るので観光案内もしてもらえます。ただ、八幡平に行くと言うのに樹海ラインの通行止め情報などは教えてくれず、現地に行って知ったなど「聞かれた事には答える」と言ったスタンスで、余り過度な期待はしない方なイイかも😅 もう少し利用者に寄り添って的確な情報発信に努めてほしいと感じた。

(Translated by Google) It's free to see, and I recommend going here before touring Hachimantai. (Original) 無料で見れます 八幡平回る前にここに行った方が良いと思います

(Translated by Google) A very good center where you can learn about nature and buy simple drinks. (Original) 自然の説明を見て教えて下さる とても良いセンター、簡単な飲み物販売あり

Tickets still at full price even though just 1 Lift is operating! Lots of beginner's piste. The management should create some park and a few jumps in case the lifts not operating. Very small snow resort but charging large resort prices. Rentals available but mostly old and basic gears.

Very good resort and the resort also provide Nanataki Ice fall tour from end of Jan to end of Feb. A great tour you have to experience. Sky lift, snowshoeing, and snowboat experience. Really one of the kind experience you can do..

Although we got a great deal when we visited (JPY1,500 per adult all day pass, plus free biscuit with grape-flavoured filling), that was because it was limited to only 2 runs with just enough snow to ski but not enough to avoid all the grass shoots growing through the snow covering and looking to trip you up as you turn. Still, the 2 runs were a decent length (2.6Km) and it was almost all to ourselves. The Shimokura runs were shut that day due to lack of snow, otherwise the ticket would have covered both. Disappointed with the food hall, only a limited number of choices available from the menu and ramen was average. Only 35mins from Hotel Appi Grand so well worth a visit to add some variety, and ski hire is cheaper here, so feasibly you could hire here for multiday ski at Appi Kogan when driving from Morioka and then return on the way back to Morioka.

Hachimantai Panorama us a nice ski resort. It's for beginners to intermediate level. They have 3 lifts and a sliding area for kids. They also have snowmobiles with banana boats to ride. A good family place. You can enjoy their onsen after a day on the slopes.

Great place for beginners and intermediate riders. Visited on Christmas Eve and Day 2023 and had nice powder on the sides. Absolutely no lines at the lifts.

I found this to be great ski resprt. As a tourist I prefer to see fewer other tourists while skiing. This resort is still a hidden gem from other spots and thats what I enjoyed most. The staff here are also very friendly. The runs were more of a family/beginner to intermediate level.

The only one ski resort to ski on Iwate Mountain. This ski resort is beginner/family friendly with wide and easy-slope runs. I do recommend to stay at Mountain Hotel, the Hachimantai-ski-resort's hotel, to get around this area Hachimantai. Busses runs around the downtown close by. You'll be able to enjoy nightlife as well.

Nice place to catch a great view of mt iwate and the surrounding harden lava trail. There is a 30+ parking lots available. The walking path is pathed i think using small loose lava rocks so please wear proper shoes when walking. After you reach the viewing platform simply follow the path back to the main road, turn left and walk about 15min back to the carpark.

Interesting place with a whole sea of black rocks which were lava erupted from Mt Iwate about 270 years ago.

Nice walk on very uneven surface, but worth it! Amazing views of Mt Iwate.

Visited late October but I think I arrived a bit too early for the fall colours. But nonetheless it was a very interesting scenery from what other attractions. The path could get quite rough at times so would recommend decent shoes.

Beautiful and fun to walk. Just a bit slippery. There’s a view point at the end of the trail. Best to walk around sunset time.

If you want to get experience a real volcano 🌋 and a massive field of hardened lava in Japan, this is the best place for it. The view of the Iwate San (Iwate Mountain) is fabulous.

An andesite black rock bands that flow from the northeast slope of Mt. Iwate are a spectacular observation route that allows us to walk through the panoramic landscape. It erupted in the 1700s and still there over 300 years, leaving little tree and traces of eruptions of the time. When we walked along the stone path It seems that we have gone to another world. In addition, the view of Mt. iwate makes it even more beautiful.

The mountain scenery seen from the train station and the rural village is lovely.

My Japanese sister brought me and my colleagues to see the remains of the Lava Flow from Mount Iwate. For the first time my colleagues and I see stretch of formation of solids lavas and you can see small pines trees growing from the solidy Lava... an amazing sight with the snow starting to melt at this time late April 2019...

Very pretty

Good chop

Iwate san is one of the most popular hiking areas in Tohoku. It is steep and quite challenging. Good hiking shoes and walking sticks are highly recommended as it gets very slippery because of the small rocks. There are 7 different trails. I used Yanagisawa trail which starts at Umagaeshi camp ground. There are three big parking lots where you can park hour car and get ready. There is cold tasty water fountain and bathrooms here. Yanagisawa is the most popular trail among the others. Approx. 5.5 km in total and 4hrs 25 min suggested ascending time. Descending is also very challenging and suggested time is 3hrs 15 min. I made it less then 6 hrs including the Ohachi meguri round walk at the top. Umagaeshi is 633 m high and the peak is 2038 m. So the altitude change is about 1400 m. The steepness start right away and continues all the way up. There are lots of places you can enjoy the view if the weather is nice. On the 8th station there is a big hut and natural water fountain. Very relaxing place and best place for taking break. It is around 2000 yen per night including sheets etc. The guy was very friendly. After a short break I decided to make the peak first and come back here for a longer break. From the point it is not very challenging except a short distance to climb the hill. Use the right to climb the hill and left to round the loop at the top. This will be easier. After the 2.5 station the route is split into two. The right one is the new road which is a bit longer but goes through the forest. It is more shady. The old road is open, there is not much trees and very rocky. You can enjoy the view but I found this one more challenging since it was slippery. I went up from the new road and down from the old one. There were beautiful flowers on the way. I posted here. It was totally fun and great hiking. Hope this comment is helpful.

The crown jewel in the long string of magnificent mountain experiences available in Iwate! On a nice day the views are simply epic!

Picturesque views all around the mountains and volcanoes, well worth a visit if it's a sunny day.

(Translated by Google) Speaking of home centers 😎 I went there to buy screws. Is it because there are fewer employees? Is the store too large? I couldn't find what I wanted 🤣 It's good that there's a wide variety of products. (Original) ホームセンターといえば😎 ネジ購入のため行きました 店員さんが少数だからなのか 店舗が広すぎるのか なかなかほしいものみつからなかった🤣品揃えが多いのはいいことですけどね

(Translated by Google) I feel like there are things that aren't sold elsewhere. (Original) 他では売っていない物でもありそうな気がして行きます。

(Translated by Google) It's next to Aeon. It was easy to shop with rattles ☺️ (Original) イオンの横にあります。 ガラガラで買い物しやすかった☺️

(Translated by Google) It's a national chain home center, but this one also has a direct-from-farm store. It's a little different. I bought locally produced rice because it was cheap. (Original) 全国チェーンのホームセンターすが、ここは産直が併設されてます。ちょっと変わったところですね。地産のお米が安かったので購入しました。

(Translated by Google) The Homac Maezawa store has Aeon, McDonald's, Sukiya, Petras with good gas prices on Sundays, and Dynam, so it's in a great location and the staff are very helpful. There is a wide selection of products, and flower seedlings will soon be available. It's always easy to use and fun. There are plenty of parking lots, so it's easy to get to. DCM that was good to have Come to Homac and let's connect. (Original) ホーマック前沢店は、イオンとマクドナルドそして、すき家、日曜日はガソリンがお得なペトラス、ダイナムが、併設していて、立地条件がとても良く、スタッフさんの対応がとても良いです。 商品も品揃えが多く、これから花の苗が出てきます。いつも気軽に利用しやすく、楽しいです。 駐車場も、沢山有るので、行きやすい所なのです。 有ってて良かったDCM ホーマックに来て、繋がりましょう。

(Translated by Google) There are many different items available, which is convenient for DIY. You will lose track of time while browsing the various products. (Original) 色んなものが揃っておりDIYには便利です。各種製品を見ている時間の経つのを忘れるほどです。

(Translated by Google) The store is spacious and open. Rather than being crammed into a small area, the products are spread out, improving the selection. I was able to shop with peace of mind in the spacious store. The parking lot is not very spacious, as it is shared with Aeon. Except for the occasional event, you can easily park your car in front of the store. (Original) 店内が広く解放感がある。狭いエリアにピッシリ詰め込まれた品揃えしたよりある程度空間を空かした品揃えであり、選択が向上。 広々とした店内で安心して買いものができました。駐車場は、イオンと共同なので広々でず。たまに、イベントがある以外は、余裕で車が店内の前に駐車か可能です。

Very good food. Although there was not enough staff (notice said), service was OK. I did not get the ramen I wanted due to limited serving. The tuna rice as replacement did not disappoint me. Highly recommend.

Long time, well known stop for bikers and people out and about in Hachimantai. Food is good and portions are generous. It’s close to both the onsen area and the aspite, panorama and rainbow lines so it’s easy to find after a ride though the mountain side. Great place to take a break and fill your belly.

Wonderful little place for meal. Reasonably priced. Yummy steak and super yummy cheese cake. Very friendly!

Good food, accommodating, fast service, clean, English menu. Had 3 dinners here. 👍🏼

Our family had a delicious and relaxing dinner here! No kids menu, but they split a yummy pizza and ramen. My husband and I had the Angus steak and a fantastic wasabi chicken for an appetizer. They offered us an English menu that had good descriptions. Highly recommend if you're staying at Hachimantai resort to ski!

The menu is pretty much all Japanese and some items are limited to certain days, but there are pictures at least. Prices are a little high, but the food is great. It's a trendy place with cute staff and a chill atmosphere.

Delicious. The waitress was very kind to speak simple japanese for me to understand

The Red House at Appi Kogen ski area, on snow good place to replenish whilst on the mountain, I had Ramen, delicious.

Not the best food, many rooms for improvement. However, limited choices of eateries on ski slope.

The Red House is actually purple in color. It’s located in the middle level of the mountain, making it a very convenient place to catch lunch or serve as a meeting point.

Nice Ramen central location

I lost my snowboard while eating my lunch here with a bunch of friends. The ladies who worked at the redhouse found the board (thru ski patrol) and got the board back to me within 60 minutes. Thank you so much

Great snow great rooms we all loved how cheep it was

Great food, especially considering it in the middle of the ski mountain

A small farm with a market selling plants, seeds and flowers. Beside that, a cafe selling pasta, pastries and cakes for one to take five... most enjoyable is feeding the rabbit and alpaka at a cost of 100yen per pack.

A wonderful little place to bring your children! There are three main areas that are open year round; a petting zoo with alpaca, rabbits, and goats, a green house where you can buy plants, seeds, and garden accessories, and a cafe with souvenirs, ice cream, and some food. There are more areas on the opposite side of the road but they are closed in winter. There are changing tables for small children in the women's bathroom and in the handicap bathroom and there is also an extremely clean and relaxing nursing room. One thing that disappointed me was I was kind of hoping with a name like "Salad Farm" that the cafe would have a variety of salads or vegetable/vegetarian dishes but that was not the case.

Love to feed the rabbits Onsentamago is cheap and delicious

A great family place, they have a great restaurant, good ice cream, pastas and Japanese food. Best of all, they have a petting zoo with alpacas.

Wonderful place with great many selections

Petting zoo is my favourite activity here!

(Translated by Google) Winter illuminations and the season of fresh greenery From November 20th, an illumination event will be held only on weekends and holidays. Even in November, the temperature is only about 2 degrees, so we recommend going in winter gear. The entrance fee is 300 yen, but it is not expensive as it includes a drink. The only four types of drinks are coffee, tea, cocoa, and orange juice. However, be careful as the cocoa sells out quickly. There are some areas where the ground gets muddy, so it may be a good idea to wear non-slip shoes. In the season of fresh greenery in May, the weather becomes warm and it is a pleasant place to take a leisurely stroll in the clear weather. Adults pay 500 yen at the entrance. The main attraction is alpacas, but you will also be greeted by cats, aquariums with goldfish, rabbits, goats, ponies, and more. There is also strawberry picking, but be careful as it is fully booked until May. If you come here, we recommend buying seasoned eggs. They cost 450 yen for 10 eggs, but they are the most popular item. (Original) 冬のイルミネーションと新緑の季節 11月20日から土日祝限定でイルミネーションのイベントをやっています。11月でも気温は２度くらいしかなく真冬の装備で行く事をオススメ。入場料300円かかりますがドリンク付きなので高くはないです。コーヒー、紅茶、ココア、オレンジジュースの四種類しかないのはご愛敬。ただしココアはすぐに売り切れますので要注意。 一部に足元がぬかるむ場所が有るので滑りにくい靴で行くのがいいかも。 ５月の新緑の季節は暖かい気候になり晴天の中でノンビリ散策するには気持ちの良い場所です。入口で大人500円支払います。メインはアルパカですが猫、金魚などのアクアリウム、ウサギ、やぎ、ポニーなどが出迎えてくれます。イチゴ狩りもありますが５月までの完全予約なので要注意。ここに来たら味玉を買うのがオススメ。10個450円ですが一番の人気商品です。