Aomori, Japan’s Northern Access Culture and Powder with Ocean Views
The Aomori region
Honshu’s most northern prefecture is surrounded by the sea on three sides and is home to small localised snow resorts. With the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Sea of Japan to the west and Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait to the north, expansive sea views are one aspect of Aomori that makes skiing and snowboarding a little bit different to other areas of Japan. This is a region with lots of natural wonders, beautiful gorges and walks as well as cultural and food delights, Aomori is known for apples, apple pie, cherry blossoms and an ancient archaeological site. Winter festivals often feature ice sculptures, food stalls, and local crafts. It is an area with plentiful geothermal underground springs so you can enjoy soaking in mineral-rich onsens (hot springs) from many locations around Aomori, including from your accommodation.
Aomori Spring Resort
A gem of a snow resort, Aomori Spring’s views from the top of the mountain look out to the ocean and over the township, which is really quite special.
Snow is plentiful here and snow conditions stay in great condition for longer, and courses (groomed runs) don’t get tracked out easily and are long. Aomori Spring has 14 runs or trails, you get advanced skiers and snowboarders but not masses so the powder is not ripped up after an hour like many places. The resort is divided into 50% beginner, 30% intermediate and 20% advanced terrain over 20km of skiable terrain with the gondola delivers you up to 921 metres. The beech trees are well spaced apart and there is great accessible terrain on both sides of the groomers that stay fairly untracked, even if it hasn’t snowed for a few days. The Panorama Course will take you on a fun tree run and the Sunshine Course is fun for night skiing. With a gondola, 3 chairlifts and a half pipe both snowboarders and skiers are well catered for, the terrain park is open between 10am and 2pm and features jumps, boxes, hips and a half pipe.
There is a ski and snowboard school here and lessons run from 10am to 12noon and 1.30pm to 3.30pm, which gives you plenty of time to practice what you’ve learnt in the lesson when regrouping with family or friends. You’ll need to book ahead if you need an English speaking instructor and private lessons are available. Rental equipment is available between 8.30am to 4pm in the gondola building. Across the car park at the base of the resort sits an unassuming Ramen restaurant, it’s a great sunny spot for lunch on a bluebird day, you can sit and enjoy the action out on the slopes.
Enjoy Lift Accessed Terrain or Back Country
Aomori Spring is perfect for a guided tour on skis, snowboard or snowshoes, bookings are essential.
Lift tickets
Lift passes at Aomori Spring are 6600 yen for adults (or 4900 for afternoon), 5500 yen for seniors (or 3900 for an afternoon), and 3900 children (or 2900 for an afternoon). Disabled skiers are 4700 adults (or 3700 for an afternoon), seniors are 3800 (or 2800 for an afternoon) and children are 2800 (and 2400 for an afternoon). Children age 6 and under ski free if accompanied by an adult and children are age 6 to 11. Seniors are 60 and above and photo ID is required. The lift ticket office opens at 8.15am at the base of the gondola.
The Rockwood Hotel & Spa
At the base of the snow resort is the Rockwood Hotel, with views looking out to Mt Iwaki. With 6 separate restaurants or cafes to eat, visitors can choose from Western food, ramen and traditional food from locally sourced seasonal produce. Relax after a day on snow in outdoor hot geothermal baths (onsen) and look out at the Sea of Japan. Onsen use is available free of charge to visitors. This hotel is ski-in ski-out and hotel staff can assist with information about lift passes.
Tsugaruhan Neputa VIllage
For an incredible local cultural experience head to the Tsugaruhan Neputa Village. This location contains many local arts and crafts, including live performances of the local Shamisen (a traditional Japanese instrument with 3 strings, plucked to produce sound). As you walk in, staff will explain the significance of the Neputa festival to you and perform the flute and Taiko (drum) and invite you to take a turn. There is a shopping area where you can buy traditional produce, including Aomori’s famous apples, apple products and apple juice. You can sample hand-baked Senbei (a traditional Japanese rice cracker), baked using generations-old recipes handed down. Entry price to this village is 600 yen for adults, 400 yen Junior and Senior high students, 300 yen Primary school students and 100 yen for children over 3 years old. Contact info@neputamura.com for more information.
Hakkoda
Hakkoda is known to get a LOT of snowfall and it’s a popular spot for backcountry skiing and snowboarding by Westerners. It’s a stunning view from the top of the mountain and if you want to see the best view, choose a clear bluebird day . If you want to ski or snowboard from the top here in the back country, be sure to hire a local guide or tour operator to stay safe and enjoy POW. It’s not a place for beginners to go solo. You can hire a guide from the ski school or join a tour. To access Hakkoda use the Ropeway, it’s open between 9am and 3.40pm and the 10 minute trip up the 101 person ropeway runs every 15-20 minutes. As it’s a place of extreme weather, which is what creates such amazing snow conditions, even when other parts of Japan are lacking snow, the ropeway can be subject to high winds and may not be open so keep your schedule flexible. Ropeway fares are adult: One way 1400 yen, 2-way return 2200 yen. Child (6-12 years old): One way 450 yen, 2-way return 700 yen.
Hakkoda has 7km of skiable terrain, 1324 elevation and just 3 lifts. There is a 2 seater chairlift on the beginner-intermediate courses (groomed runs), you can purchase tickets separately to the ropeway. For the chairlift an adult day pass ticket is 3200 yen, 4 hours 2700 yen or a 10 pass 2700 yen. Children pay 2300 yen for a day pass, 1800 for 4 hours or a 10 pass is 1800 yen for ages 13 and above. A 10 pass is a great idea if you’re happy to ski or ride all morning then head back to warm accommodation for hot lunch and an afternoon of onsen soaking followed by Aomori cultural sightseeing.
Experience the Famous Hakkoda Ice Covered Trees Snowshoe Tour
Walk amongst the ‘snow monsters’ within the safety of a guided snowshoe tour with Empty Handed Snowshoes Tour. The tour starts from the top of the Hakkoda Ropeway, it’s a well-known sightseeing location in Aomori Prefecture for Japanese people. From the top station you can hire snowshoes and fit them securely to your winter walking boots. After a short safety talk, walk out in nature amongst the towering ‘Snow Monster’ windblown trees in a completely white forest of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park. The forest is silent and beautiful and the snow monster trees are ‘wow-factor’. The cost of the tour is 12,000 yen and takes 2 hours and it’s open every day apart from Wednesdays. This tour is suitable for beginner level and above and reservations must be made 2 days prior to the tour. Email northwind.4ride@gmail.com or call +81ｰ17ｰ718ｰ8557 to book your spot. If you don’t have a car you can take the JR bus bound for Hakkoda Ropeway / Sukayu from Aomori station to the ropeway from stand 11 or catch a taxi and you must be dressed suitably for snow conditions.
Hotel Jogakura
It’s all about nature and the outdoors at Hotel Jogakura and this secluded lodge very close to Hakkoda Ropeway is an easy place to base yourself for Hakkoda’s back country and in-bounds skiing and snowboarding and snowshoeing experiences. This Scandinavian-inspired hotel just a few minutes from Hakkoda Ropeway offers Western style beds, timber furniture and locally sourced cuisine served in the restaurant, including wild-caught fish from the Aomori’s ocean for a banquet dinner. The chef hand selects local produce for meals daily, including breakfast and meals feature Aomori grown vegetables. Soak in the outdoor onsen and enjoy the spectacular night stars far away from lights of the city. It’s a peaceful, quiet place and it’s a great place to base yourself for trekking in other seasons. In winter you can ski back to the lodge but sometimes conditions prevent this so check with the lodge before heading out of the day. Hotel Jogakura has a free local shuttle bus with pick ups and drop offs at Aomori station. To reserve a room at Hotel Jogakura, head to the website here.
To get to Aomori from Tokyo
Take the Tohoku Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo Station to
Shin-Aomori Station, this will take approximately 3 hours. Long distance buses also operate between Tokyo and Aomori, which is cheaper but takes longer, around 10 hours. You can fly between Tokyo and Aomori Airport with a flight time of just 1 hour. If you have a rental car it will take about 8 hours to drive on the expressway, weather and traffic depending.
To get to Aomori from Sapporo
From New Chitose Airport to Aomori Airport, it takes about 50 minutes by plane. By land, it takes about 3 and a half hours by JR limited express train to Hakodate, and then about 1 hour to Shin-Aomori Station by Hokkaido Shinkansen.
