Morioka

With Mt Iwate in the background, the city of Morioka barely registers on the radar of most tourists to Japan. For skiers and snowboarders however Morioka is a hidden gem. A short drive gives you access to the Hachimantai ranges where you can ski the famous Aspirin pow, the lightest and driest powder snow in Japan. On deep days it can feel like free falling as your skis and board struggle to find a base. Further west, Tazawako is a still undiscovered powder paradise in Akita. In the South, on the border with Niigata lies Geto Kogen the King of Powder and a mecca for tree skiing. Morioka is well connected to the rest of Japan as it is on the Tohoku Shinkansen line which runs from Tokyo to Aomori in Northernmost Tohoku.

Skiing in Morioka

The largest resort in the area is Appi Kogen where people locals and internationals come to savour the “Appi Pow”. There are good facilities for skiers of all levels and lately Appi Kogen has been opening up tree run areas for advance skiers. The resort is attracting more international tour groups with new ski in ski out hotels, English and Chinese ski schools. 
Shizukuishi is run by Prince resorts and now includes Shimokura. The 2 areas are quite distinct with the Shizukuishi side suited for families and cruisers while Shimokura is for intermediate and experts with ungroomed trails and tree run areas to make the most of the powder snow. 
Iwate Kogen is a smaller resort and one of the closest to Morioka city. A short 40 min drive or you can get the free shuttle from the station. The longest gondola in the area keeps you comfortable in between powder runs.
Geto the King of Pow is a resort that has been spreading the tao of tree skiing. It is leading the way in making skiing off piste safer for everyone. They have the most tree run areas of any resort with each run ranked by difficulty. An off piste mapping initiative makes it easy to locate out of bounders in case something goes wrong.
Tazawako in Semboku is slightly harder to get to and off the beaten track for ski tourists, but it gets its fair share of powder days and chances are you will not have to share much of it. 
Further North near Iwate town is Okunakayama Kogen, while not as well known still gets that magical North Tohoku powder without the crowds.

Morioka Ski & Snowboard Shops

There are a couple of ski & snowboard shops in Morioka city where you should be able to find any gear you need. If you want to rent it would be easiest to od it at the ski resorts.

Getting around Morioka

Driving will give you the most flexibility when it comes to deciding which resort to hit. Using public transport is also viable. There are shuttle buses from town to Appi Kogen, Shizukuishi, Hachimantai Panorama and Geto operates a shuttle bus from Kitakami which is a short train ride from Morioka.

Within the city, there is a convenient and cheap loop bus service called Denden Mushi - the snail bus which takes you to several points of interest.

What to Eat in Morioka

The famous 3 Great Noodles of Morioka - Wanko Soba, Jya jya men and Reimen should be on every travelers list of food to try.

Where to Eat in Morioka 

Things to do in Morioka

Get into the laid back vibe. Just wander and enjoy the Japanese way of life outside of the mega city. 

Where to stay in Morioka

Morioka is one of Tohoku's main transport hubs and has a good range of accommodation. There are affordable business hotels near the train station. where there are various eateries and izakayas. Another option is to stay near Odori, the main shopping street. This is where you will find the most restaurants, shop and at nightlife.