Travel to Appi Kogen with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Located to the north of Tokyo in the Tohoku region, Appi Kogen ski resort is reported to be one of the best ski areas in Japan, while also not being very expensive. Appi Kogen has outstanding skiing and facilities for your money including long, well-groomed pistes, skiing and snowboarding suitable for all levels, night skiing, snowmaking facilities, mogul terrain and deep powder, as well as quality hotels and restaurants.

Appi Kogen ski resort is situated at 1,640 feet above sea level and features a well-equipped base lodge and an excellent ski school, with support and instruction for all levels ranging from beginners to expert sliders. In addition, there are well-stocked rental shops with skis, snowboards and skiwear, while toddlers have a fun playground in the snow that is loaded with goodies.

Twenty-one runs traverse a 2,717-foot vertical at Appi Kogen; the longest is three miles, while the total skiable area is nearly 700 acres. In addition, there is a terrain park with a 328-foot half pipe, kickers and rails, while 18 ski lifts provide slope access and include eight-person gondolas, quads and double lifts.

At Appi Kogen you will find three top quality ski-in/ski-out hotels that have comprehensive wellness facilities and some excellent international restaurants. For the budget-conscious, considerable savings can be made by staying at one of the villas here, which also have convenient slope access. There are 15 restaurants in Appi Kogen including a 950-seat eatery and several bars at the hotels.

If you fancy a change from the slopes of Appi Kogen ski resort, try nearby Hachimantai ski resort, which is known for its steeps, deeps and amazing off-piste terrain. Alternatively, the nearby hot springs complex has a huge hot spring bath, private spa, whirlpool and massive 50-seat sauna, one of Japan’s largest.

Appi Kogen ski resort has its ski season from early December to early May and the best snow conditions here are in February and March; discounts are available for seniors and children under 18 years old. The most convenient means for getting to Appi Kogen is to take the train to Appi Kogen via Morioka, from where a bus runs to the resort.

Skiing in Appi Kogen

Appi Kogen ski resort is one of Japan’s favourites and is a good place for beginner, intermediate and expert skiers, with its 21 runs that start from the top of the mountain. This is an inexpensive resort and facilities and access are good, while there is also a snowboard park with a half pipe.

Appi Kogen ski resort’s 21 slopes are divided into 30 per cent suitable for beginners, 40 per cent for intermediates and 30 per cent for those of advanced or expert level. The total length of the pistes is just over 35 miles and the most challenging runs start from the top of the mountain, while the longest run is over three miles. Eighteen ski lifts provide access to the slopes.

Alternative winter activities and facilities at Appi Kogen ski resort include snowmobiling, snowshoeing, snow vehicle tours and back-country trekking through beech forests and nearby towns. Among the wellness facilities available here are swimming pools, gyms, a hot spring bath and squash courts, while more than a dozen restaurants and bars provide après-ski.

Three high quality hotels have a substantial bed base in Appi Kogen ski resort and there are also beds available in the nearby town. A comprehensive ski school and a well-equipped rental shop are located at the base along with the base lodge and a children’s playground in the snow.

The ski season at Appi Kogen ski resort offers the best snow conditions in February of the December to April season and cheaper rates on weekdays. Taking the bullet train from Tokyo to Morioka Station and then another service to Appi Kogen, from where a bus goes to the resort, is the easiest way to get here.

Transportation to Appi Kogen

Appi Kogen ski resort is located in western Iwate, about 400 miles north of Tokyo, and is directly accessible by road only, with the nearest railway station situated only 10 minutes away by bus. You can drive here from Tokyo via fast expressways or fly and drive via Hanamaki, but the most practical option is to take a train/bus combination via Morioka.

If you are travelling to Appi Kogen ski resort by car from Tokyo, travel north on the efficient Tohoku expressway all the way to Morioka, from where highway 282 runs to Appi Kogen, a total journey time of about 7 hours total.

By train, the high-speed Tohoku Shinkansen Super Express (bullet train) runs to Morioka Station from Tokyo in 2 hours, 20 minutes, from where another service connects to Appi Kogen along the Hanawa Line. Appi Kogen ski resort is a further 10 minutes by bus from Appi Kogen Station.

If you fly into Japan via Osaka, there is a service from here to Hanamaki Airport, which is the closest airport to Appi Kogen ski resort, a 1 hour, 20-minute flight. Flights also arrive in Hanamaki from Fukuoka, Nagoya and Sapporo. Buses run from Hanamaki Airport to Morioka, from where trains run onto Appi Kogen Station and the ski resort.

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