Introduction to Mt. Hakkoda: A Sacred Place of Deep Powder Snow

Aomori is located in the northeast region of Japan and is the northernmost prefecture on main island, Honshu. Aomori is well known as the largest producer of apples, the tastiest Tuna, the World Heritage Site, “Shirakami Mountain Range”, and Mt. Hakkoda, which is famous as one of the best places for deep powder snow. In fact, many enthusiastic skiers and snowboarders from all over Japan visit Mt. Hakkoda for a chance to ride down its beautiful powder slopes. This February, Sukayu Hot Spring, located at the foot of Mt.Hakkoda, recorded 566cm of snowfall, breaking its previous record. The news surprised people across Japan, and it is still fresh in our memory.

Mt.Hakkoda has several slopes which amount to 7km of sliding distance, originating from a ropeway mountaintop station. The large snow covered trees in Japan, as shown in the picture to the right, are called “Snow Monsters”, and the best time to see them is from January to February. You can enjoy skiing and snowboarding while looking at the magnificent scenery of the snow covered trees.

We recommend you join the backcountry tour to Mt.Hakkoda. Weather permitting, a guide leads you through the backcountry area which differs from the ski slopes. The tour offers a better chance of encountering fresh deep snow.

After you have fun skiing and snowboarding, please enjoy our variety of revitalising hot springs and have a taste of Aomori’s fresh seafood from the nearby sea.

Access to Mt.Hakkoda is about one hour by bus from Aomori airport and Aomori station. The location is one of the most accessible ski-resorts with deep powder snow in Japan. Since the opening of all lines of the Tohoku Shinkansen in 2010, many skiers and snowboarders have been visiting from Tokyo.

The Snow & Travel Expo 2013 is in Sydney on 26 May, and Mt.Hakkoda will be introduced there at a Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization booth. Please visit us at the booth.

The Hakkoda Ropeway (English): http://www.hakkoda-ropeway.jp/lang/en.html

Aomori Prefectural Tourism Information HP (English): http://en.aptinet.jp/