SNOW MONSTER COUNTRY Zao Onsen Ski Resort is one of Japan's vintage snow resorts, famous for its combination of rare scenery, abundant hot springs and amazing powder snow. It was established in 1925, soon after the birth of skiing in Japan, and now covers an area of more than 300 hectares in… Read More
KING OF SNOW Situated in a beautiful highland area of Iwate Prefecture, a little over three hours north of Tokyo, Geto Kogen Ski Resort is known as the 'King of Snow' for good reason: the snow pack here can reach an enormous four metres. Open from early December to early May, the resort has… Read More
Located just 2.5 hours north of Tokyo is Yamagata Prefecture - the powder rich and culturally rich ‘hot spring kingdom’ of the Tohoku area. Yamagata is known to be one of Japan’s heaviest snowfall areas, which attracts many during snow season every year, but it is also known well for the strong pr… Read More
A scenic 'hot spring kingdom' filled with natural and cultural highlights Yamagata Prefecture is one of Japan’s heaviest snowfall areas, making it a naturally blessed snow holiday destination just 2.5 hours north of Tokyo by bullet train. Some 160,000 hectares of the prefecture is na… Read More
Mogami Yamagata’s scenic Mogami region, named for the 224 kilometre-long river which flows through it, is more than three-quarters covered in mountainous forest. Much of the forest is ancient, some of the trees millennium-old giants measuring three metres or more around the base of their trunks. … Read More
Lounging around in a comfy yukata kimono, eating delicious gourmet cuisine, ready to slide into a hot spring at a moment’s notice – there’s nothing quite like the luxury of a hot spring inn, or 'onsen ryokan'. Yamagata Prefecture is rich in historic hot spring inn communities, some hidden away in r… Read More
Steaming mineral-rich pools of health and happiness are found everywhere in Yamagata, from the prefecture's coastline to its mountainous interior. Its hot spring bathing culture dates back over 1,900 years, when a wounded warrior is said to have stumbled upon one of its most legendary spring-he… Read More
Night cruising in the domain of the snow monsters The historic hot spring town of Zao Onsen lies within the Zao mountain range, an impressive cluster of stratovolcanoes 40 minutes from Yamagata City. Legend has it that a wounded warrior stumbled upon the first spring-head in the area after a b… Read More
www.zao-spa.or.jp/english/index.html | Zao Onsen, Yamagata-shi | 2+81-23-694-9328 | Open 8:15-21:00 | Travelling Times to Zao Onsen Ski Resort Tokyo: 3 hrs (train), Osaka: 5 hrs (train) SNOW MONSTER COUNTRY Zao Onsen Ski Resort is one of Japan's vintage snow resorts, fam… Read More
The hotels of the Hachimantai resort area lie at the foot of the rugged Mt Iwate (2,038 m), and are a haven for nature lovers throughout the seasons. This complex volcano is one of Japan's 100 famous mountains, and one of the many in Towada-Hachimantai National Park, which encompasses a vast area o… Read More
Morioka Grand Hotel Annex offers convenient access to and from Appi, as well as the heart of Morioka, an historic castle town. The hotel's sharp Western-style single, twin and double rooms all come with Wi-Fi and LAN connections; their selection of four types of pillows for guests shows that this i… Read More
HOTEL APPI GRAND With ski-in, ski-out access to the slopes, fine-dining restaurants and hot spring baths, Hotel APPI Grand provides its guests with luxury and convenience. The hotel is a creation of pioneering Japanese designer Yusaku Kamekura, and with an eye-catching lemon-coloured exterior, is… Read More
APPI / HACHIMANTAI SKI AREA 2016-17 - Skiing & Snowboarding Version Real Japanese deep powder riding on a vast scale Appi brings a European-style resort ambience to a beautiful natural area of Towada-Hachimantai National Park in Iwate Prefecture.The resort is famous … Read More
HACHIMANTAI-APPI SNOW FESTIVAL Shovel by shovel, scrape by scrape, snow sculptures take shape for the Hachimantai-Appi Snow Festival in mid-February. The festival program features mid-winter fun for all ages with a night-time sculpture light-up, fireworks at both APPI and Hachimantai's Panoram… Read More
APPI / HACHIMANTAI SKI AREA 2016-17 A deep powder experience for riders of all levels Enjoying the exceptional quality powder snow that is a signature of resorts in Iwate, Hachimantai Resort lies between the 2,038-metre Mt Iwate, and the volcanic plateau of Hachimantai. … Read More
SNOWSHOE NATURE TRAIL & WINTER MOUNTAIN TREKKING The snowshoe nature trail allows participants to step off the fast lane, stop and admire the beauty that surrounds them. The forest behind Hotel APPI Grand is host to all kinds of flora, fauna and fluffy snow to play with. Explore yourself o… Read More
APPI, SKI RESORT, JAPAN - 2016-17 Winter Version Essential resorts, accommodation, food and entertainment VISIT APPI WITH A JR EAST PASS The Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train completes the journey to the north-eastern Japanese castle town of Morioka i… Read More
Enter to WIN a snow holiday with return flights for two to Appi-Hachimantai and Hakkoda! TRAVEL ITINERARY* - International departure flight: Sydney to Tokyo (Haneda Airport) - Domestic air transfer: Haneda Airport to Odate-Noshiro Airport or Aomori Airport - Bus transfer: Odat… Read More
Steaming mineral-rich pools of health and happiness are found everywhere in Yamagata from the coastline to its mountainous interior, and can be enjoyed quickly on a day trip or slowly and decadently on a hot spring holiday. For visitors on a snow holiday, local hot spring (onsen) villages are … Read More
“…unforgettable scenery, hot springs and powder snow…” Zao Hot Springs Ski Resort is one of Japan's vintage snow resorts, famous for its combination of rare, unforgettable scenery, abundant hot springs and powder snow. It was established in 1925 soon the birth of skiing in Japan, and has … Read More
