About Appi Kogen
Born of the 1980’s ski boom, Appi Kogen has been labelled the Aspen of Japan. Its exceptional customer service more akin to Deer Valley or some such resort. The first class technology and facilities are a somewhat unusual find in Japan, and at Appi you’ll find a resort perfect for families, with well groomed trails, dedicated children’s ski areas, snow parks, child care and a plethora of ski school options.
The 282 hectare ski area sits below treeline and boasts some 828m of vertical skiing. More than half of Appi’s 21 trails are also longer than 2km’s, it’s longest a positively leg burning 5.5km (just 400m short of Australia’s longest in Thredbo)
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Appi Kogen: Insider Ski & Snowboard Tips
Appi boasts a particularly long ski season, largely thanks to its north facing slopes which keep the snow in excellent condition. The season impressively runs from December to May – around 160 days, meaning it’s possible to time your trip outside of the peak times and still capture some quality snow.
Appi Kogen: Access
Appi Kogen is located near the northern end of Honshu, Japan’s main island. From Tokyo the easiest way to travel to Appi is via Bullet Train (2 hours) to Morioka Station and then catch the bus directly to Appi resort (40 minutes).
Appi Kogen: Accommodation
Appi Grand Hotel is undoubtedly the flagship accommodation provider at the resort and is entirely self-sufficient when it comes to providing you will meals, an après scene and an array of non-skiing options detailed more below. It’s also just a snowballs throw from the chairlifts.
However, more casual accommodation is also available as is a pension village that’s only one kilometre from the hill.
Appi Kogen: Restaurants & Apres
Appi boasts just a few lodges and hotels at the base of its resort, meaning the restaurant and après scene is fairly concentrated around these. Within the Appi Grand Hotel there’s a range of cuisines on offer: Japanese, French, Chinese, Korean BBQ and even a buffet.
The nightlife leaves a lot to be desired in Appi, which could be a good or a bad thing depending on how you look at it! That said, there are a few bars within the hotels that stay open until midnight. If you’re feeling particularly rowdy, there are even private karaoke rooms available for hire.
Appi Kogen: Non-Skiing Activities
Appi is certainly an attraction thanks to the superb skiing on offer, however should you or the family require a day off the hill, there are a number of activities around to keep you busy. The Appi Family Park is popular with the kids with its play equipment, tubing and tobogganing options. The aforementioned grand hotel also offers an array of physical non-snow based activities such as the swimming pool, climbing wall or squash courts.
After working up a sweat at one of these venues, we recommend relaxing in Appi’s public onsen or taking a trip to nearby Matsukawa Onsen near Mt Iwate.
