The Ultimate Tohoku Adventure: Powder, Onsens and Hidden Gems

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Mountainwatch | Travel

If you are someone who’s looking to go off the beaten path and discover some of Japan’s lesser-known but powder-filled treasures the region of Tohoku in northern Honshu is one place you need to set your sights on.

Forget the crowded resorts of Honshu and Hokkaido for a second, and picture this: massive snow dumps, minimal lift lines, and world-class powder — all while soaking in 100% natural hot springs and enjoying down some of Japan’s best seafood. This is where Tohoku comes in, and Mountainwatch Travel is your golden ticket to all of it. Let’s dive into what makes this region the ultimate getaway for any adventure-hungry skier.

Getting There: No Need for a Long Haul

Aomori is roughly a 70-minute flight from Tokyo, a flight that takes you above the snow-capped peaks of Northern Japan, before landing in Aomori. As you approach Aomori the view from the window is stunning, the city surrounded by snow, and views of the ocean.

Aomori might just be the snowiest city in Japan and receives up to 8-10 metres of snow annually. Talk about a winter wonderland!

Aomori: A City for Skiers and Foodies Alike

Aomori City is the gateway to Tohoku ski resorts with resorts like Aomori Spring Resort, Mt Hakkoda, and Furukawa all just a short drive away. While the motivation to visit Aomori City may be to ski or snowboard it is worth taking a couple of days to explore the city itself!

It is fair to say that Aomori City has it all: delicious seafood (we’re talking fresh urchins, scallops, and crab), apples (yes, Fuji Apples actually hail from here), and, if you’re there in summer, the legendary Aomori Nebuta Matsuri festival in August.

This festival is one of the key points on the Aomori’s calendar features large, beautifully illuminated floats, often depicting historical or mythical figures. For those who are not able to see the festival in summer, the Nebuta Museum WA RASSE in Aomori city provides a closer look at these intricate floats and their craftsmanship. It is definitely worth a visit and gives you an understanding of the cultural significance behind the festival.

We mentioned the food and thanks to Aomori’s heritage as a fishing port you’ll experience some of the freshest and best seafood in Japan. A visit to Furukawa Fish market where you can sample the best catches of the day is highly recommended.

Hakkoda: The Powder Dreamland

Now, if you’re a powder enthusiast (and who isn’t?) Hakkoda is calling your name. Located just 80 minutes from Aomori station, Hakkoda is a powder-focused resort. The backcountry terrain consists of open bowls and evenly space tree runs and is easily accessed from the top of the tram. Hiring a local guide is the way to go, to ensure you’ll find the best snow and terrain.

For those who don’t want to venture into the backcountry the resort has a lower lift that accesses beginner to some advanced runs. We rode some fun terrain, including tree skiing that was knee-deep in 30cms of fresh snow.

In addition to the hotel at the resort, there are three hotels in Hakkoda that provide a shuttles service to the lifts each day and each has an onsen, just what you need to relax those tired muscles after skiing. The onsens are fed with 100% natural onsen water, the most famous being Sennin Buro – the thousand-person onsen at Sukayu Onsen Ryokan.

It’s a hot spring so vast that it can accommodate many people (hence the name) offering bathers stunning views of the surrounding natural landscape.

APPI Resort: A Ski Resort That Has It All From Hakkoda, we ventured to APPI Resort, which, if you haven’t been, you need to — stat. This resort is a gem, one of the biggest in Japan with 18 lifts, soft perfectly-groomed on-piste runs and quality light snow. Like all resorts in Tohoku a powder day in APPI Resort is something you won’t forget, the snow that falls in this part of Honshu is as good as it gets. The place is practically empty midweek, so you can literally ski to your heart’s content without the annoying crowds.

APPI Resort offers a great variety of slopes for every ski level. With its wide and long slopes, accessible side-country, and a fantastic terrain park, APPI Resort has a great variety of mountain activities for every preference. Its lifts are modern with a number of express quad and double chairlifts and a fast bottom to top gondola. APPI Resort prides itself on its pristine groomers and the often-cited comparison to the best grooming you’ll see in North America is more than fair.

APPI Resort has three official tree zones, that offer some playful open trees while there is also gated side-country access where we rode some steeper terrain in untracked snow. For those looking for a little more adventure there is a cat skiing option that takes you into some higher terrain. We had a couple of runs through untouched, super-dry powder. It was like our own personal playground. You can even go backcountry with a guide if you’re keen for a little more action.

Outside of the incredible skiing, APPI Resort is a great destination for adventure and fun in the snow! Beyond the super dry powder and immaculate slopes, a wide range of activities are provided that provides fun for some downtime – including snow bike, snow banana boat and snow shoeing.

But there’s more! APPI Resort offers everything you could need — from sushi restaurants to teppanyaki, a wellness centre, a games arcade, karaoke and even a lap pool. And after a long day of slashing powder the Shirakaba-no-Yu, APPI Resort onsen is the perfect place to relax. It’s an outdoor onsen with multiple baths, all fed by 100% natural onsen water. And trust me when I say, there’s no better way to relax before dinner than soaking in this outdoor dreamland!

APPI Resort is a resort that we highly recommend, and one that should be added to any Tohoku trip! Tohoku is one of Japan’s best snow destinations

For more information on Tohoku and 2025/26 packages, head to www.mountainwatch.travel