Skiing and snowboarding

Winters in Akita can be long, cold, and boring unless you take part in one of it's three most popular winter sports: skiing, snowboarding, and drinking. Even if you've never tried winter sports in your life, these skiing areas provide a great place to learn. The biggest and most popular resort in Akita is Tazawako. Other places are worth checking out too, though. Also, if you are willing to drive, there are some great ski resorts in neighboring prefectures, such as Zao and Appi. For detailed information on these areas (including snow reports), see Snow Japan Online.

Japanese ski slope ratings compared to the rest of the world

Japan uses a similar model to the rest of the world. However, it might not always be easy to determine how they compare precisely in terms of slope angle as each and every resort around the world grades its own course; below are some diagrams of how Japan generally compares to other parts of the world. Also, in Japan, expert and intermediate courses may be marked blue instead of black and red, respectively, on course maps, depending on the resort.

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Akita

Name	Contact	Runs / Lifts	Information	Night Ski?	Slope Rating % *	Picture
Tazawako Ski-jō (たざわ湖スキー場)	Website Course Map ☎ 0187-46-2011	13 / 6	About a 30-minute bus ride for Nyuto Onsen from JR Tazawako Station Biggest ski field in Akita prefecture	No	Beginner 40% Intermediate 30% Advanced 30%
Ohdai Ski-jō (大台スキー場)	Website ☎ 0187-89-1788	5 / 2	45 Minutes by bus from Omagari Station	Yes	Beginner 50% Intermediate 30% Advanced 20%
Hanawa Ski Area (花輪スキー場)	Website ☎ 0186-23-8000	3 / 3	15 min by bus from Kazuno Hanawa Station	No	Beginner 40% Intermediate 30% Advanced 30%
Akita Hachimantai Ski Area (秋田八幡平スキー場)	Website ☎ 0186-31-2020	2 / 1	60 min by bus from Kazuno Hanawa Station	No
Suishozan Ski Area (水晶山スキー場)	Website ☎ 0186-23-2424	5 / 1	15 min by bus from Kazuno Hanawa Station	Yes	Beginner 60% Intermediate 30% Advanced 10%
Ani Ski Resort (阿仁スキー場)	Website Course Map ☎ 0186-82-3311	5 / 3	30 min by bus from Aniai Station	No	Beginner 60% Intermediate 40% Advanced 0%
Taihei-zan Ski Area Opas (太平山スキー場・オーパス)	Website Course Map ☎ 018-827-2221	6 / 3	40 min by bus from Akita Station Great place for ski and snowboard first-timers and learners of all ages	Yes	Beginner 60% Intermediate 30% Advanced 10%
Chokai Kogen Yashima Ski Area (鳥海高原矢島スキー場)	Website Course Map ☎ 0184-56-2182	6 / 1	20 min by car from Yashima Station	Yes	Beginner 20% Intermediate 50% Advanced 30%
Kyōwa Ski Area (大仙市営協和スキー場)	Website Course Map ☎ 018-893-2050	7 / 2	22 min by bus from Ugosakai Station	Yes	Beginner 50% Intermediate 20% Advanced 30%
Jeunesse Kurikoma Ski Area (ジュネス栗駒スキー場)	Website Course Map ☎ 0182-47-3101	13 / 4	40 min by car from Jumonji Station 2nd largest ski field in Akita prefecture	No	Beginner 25% Intermediate 33% Advanced 32%
Oyasu Onsen Ski Area (小安温泉スキー場)	Website ☎ 0183-47-5241	4 / 2	In Minase Village, 70 min by car from Yuzawa Station	No
Fujisato Choei Ski Area (藤里町営スキー場)	Website ☎ 0185-79-2970	2 / 1	Take the 317 highway towards Fujisato from the 7 highway for 20 minutes Closed for the 2023-2024 season	No
Yakushizan Ski Area (北秋田市営薬師山スキー場)	☎ 0186-67-2034	4 / 2	Take the 7 from the center of Takanosu towards Futatsui (Noshiro)	Yes

(*)Please remember that all grades are determined by the slopes respective resort

Map

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Iwate

Name	Contact	Runs / Lifts	Information	Night Ski?	Slope Rating % *	Picture
Appi Kogen Ski Resort (安比高原スキー場)	Website Course Map ☎ 0195-73-5111	21 / 7	Location of the Appi ski trip through Charity Akita Biggest ski field in Iwate prefecture	No	Beginner 30% Intermediate 40% Advanced 30%
Shizukuishi Ski Resort (雫石スキー場)	website		Located in Shizukuishi, north of Shizukuishi station
Iwate Kogen Snowpark (岩手高原スノーパーク)	website		Located in Shizukuishi, north of Shizukuishi station
Geto Kogen (夏油高原).	website Course Map	14 / 5	Located in Kitakami, directly east of Yokote and on the expressway. The location proximal to the expressway makes this a reasonable day trip.	Yes	Beginner 40% Intermediate 40% Advanced 20%

Yamagata

Name	Contact	Runs / Lifts	Information	Night Ski?	Slope Rating % *	Picture
Zao Onsen Ski Resort (蔵王温泉スキー場)	Website Course map ☎ +81-23-694-9328	25/36	This is quite a drive from Akita, so a multi-day trip is recommended. Some say this mountain is more suited to skiing than snowboarding, for whatever that's worth. The location is quite scenic, and the ski area is famous. Biggest ski field in Yamagata prefecture	Yes	Beginner 40% Intermediate 40% Advanced 20%
Jangle Jungle Snow Park (黒伏高原スノーパークジャングル・ジャングル)	Website	?/3	This ski area has three lifts: a two-person and two quads.

Aomori

Name	Contact	Runs / Lifts	Information	Night Ski?	Slope Rating % *	Picture
Aomori Spring Ski Resort (青森スプリング・スキーリゾート)	Website		Located north-west of Hirosaki, on the far side of Mt. Iwaki; formerly Naqua Shirakami Ski Resort. This sizable ski hill offers a range of different runs. It is a decent drive from Odate, but it is doable as a day-trip for the dedicated skier or boarder. This mountain also boasts a Mos Burger directly on one of the runs!
Owani Ski Area (大鰐スキー場)	Website		Located in Owani, which is on the way to Hirosaki City from Odate. This ski hill is relatively small and lacking in intermediate-level runs. The bottom of the hill has a very relaxed incline, but the top of the hill is very steep. If you ride the lift to the top, you have to take the long, winding, sometimes-uphill, scenic route, or one of the sharp plummets that it offers as advanced runs. Owani ski hill straddles two peaks, and forms a large "bowl"-type run where the mountains join.

Elsewhere in Japan

• Niseko United (ニセコユナイテッド). website The premier ski resort in Hokkaido; one of the most prolific in the country.

See also

• Appi Ski Trip
• Life in Akita
• Ani Ski Resort (a ski resort in Kitaakita City)
• Yakushizan Ski Area (a ski area in Kitaakita City)
• List of Ski Resorts in the Tohoku Region (wikiski)