Appi Kogen

Appi Kogen is a planned resort on the slopes of Mt.Maemori in northern Iwate, known for some of the longest, most consistently groomed runs in Japan and for a fine, dry snow its marketing once christened 'aspirin snow'. Most trails face north, so the snow stays cold on the broad, uncrowded pistes, and the gentle gradients make it one of the best places in the country for intermediates to rack up mileage. The base is compact — a cluster of hotels with hot-spring baths and ski-in access — and the surrounding highland is quiet farmland and forest rather than a resort strip. An international luxury hotel and an international school opened here in the early 2020s, bringing a new wave of overseas families to the Tohoku snow.