Appi Kogen (安比高原), or just Appi (安比), is a ski resort in Hachimantai, Iwate, Japan.
Understand
[edit]One of Japan's largest ski resorts, Appi brands itself as an upscale "all-season resort" with golf, sports, hot springs and more. Opened in 1981, it's a Bubble-era creation and hasn't been discovered by international tourists in the same way that places like Niseko, at least in part due to its somewhat awkward location 500 km north of Tokyo with no major airports nearby. Skiing is still the main draw, with 16 lifts and 45 km of trails, and there's been a large wave of investment since 2021.
Climate
[edit]The ski season in Appi usually runs from December to the beginning of May.
Tourist information
[edit]There is an official resort website in English, but it does not cover any facilities in the village outside the resort grounds.
Get in
[edit]
The nearest major city is Morioka, 2.5 hours north of Tokyo by Shinkansen. See Morioka#Get in for details.
By train
[edit]From Morioka, Appi is served by 1 Appi Kogen station on the JR Hanawa Line, with 7 services per day (60 min from Morioka, 2.5 hrs from Odate), but you'll need to take a shuttle or taxi to get from the station to the resort area. Also beware that trains from Morioka pass through private Iwate Galaxy Railway tracks, meaning that the Japan Rail and Seishun 18 passes are not valid. (The JR East Pass, however, is.)
By bus
[edit]During the winter season only, Iwate Kenpoku Bus operates buses from Morioka station directly to Appi Kogen, no booking required.
Appi Resort also operates direct shuttle bus services for IHG hotel guests only. The main one runs from Morioka station to Appi Kogen three times per day (70 min, ¥2000/1000 adult/child). In season, there are also airport shuttle buses directly from Hanamaki, Odate and Sendai airports. Advance reservations tied to a confirmed hotel booking are required for all of these.
By car
[edit]Take the Tohoku Expressway to Matsuo-Hachimantai IC (松尾八幡平), then Route 282 to Appi Kogen (35 min).
Get around
[edit]Appi is spread out: it's about 3 km from the station to the ski resort. The only form of public transport is the free Appi Area Shuttle Bus (安比エリアシャトルバス), which shuttles between the station and the hotels, stopping at key points along the way, every 30 min in high season but hourly or less outside it.
Basically all hotels offer a free pickup/dropoff service at the train station. This must be arranged in advance: there are no taxis waiting at the station!
See
[edit]Do
[edit]
The top draw by far at Appi is skiing. There are 45 km of trails spread across two mountains connected by a gondola and a web of chairlifts, all enjoying a ridiculous average of 1,200 cm (that's 12 meters) of snow per year. This is a full-service ski-in/out resort with gear rental, shops and servicing, instructors for adults and kids alike (also in English), none of it cheap but generally high quality.
Ticket pricing is convoluted, ranging from ¥4,500/day for off-season "Blue" passes to a whopping ¥33,500/day for the "Black" pass that gets priority entry to everything including the food court, a dedicated lounge and free use of the the Nishimori Cat tractor. On the upside, kids 12 and below are completely free, and there are also steep discounts for locals with Tohoku ID.
- 1 Shirakaba no Yu (白樺の湯), 605-365 Appikogen. Spa complex featuring the largest outdoor tub (rotenburo) in Tohoku, indoor pool and sauna. Directly connected to the Holiday Inn, also served by the Area Shuttle. ¥1,200/800 adult/child (free for IHG guests).
Buy
[edit]Appi is a large producer of milk and all sorts of tasty dairy products including ice cream and cheese cake are widely available.
- 1 Lawson. Daily 5:30-23:00. This otherwise unremarkable convenience store near the station is notable as the only shop around. Sells the usual range of meals, snacks and liquor.
Eat
[edit]The resort hotels have a captive audience and make the most of it. Like a cruise ship, many guests are on meal plans with lunch and dinner buffets included, and the other restaurants cater to those wanting to splurge ¥15,000+ per head on wagyu steak and the like.
Budget
[edit]- 1 Marudai Shokudo (丸大食堂) (near Lawson). Tu-Su 10:00-15:00. A time warp to the Showa era, this humble eatery in the no man's land between the village and the highway serves up freshly cut soba, with foraged mushrooms (in season) as well as ramen and rice bowls. Cash only, no English menu. Ramen/soba from ¥600.
Mid-range
[edit]- 2 Appi Plaza Food Court (in Appi Plaza). M-F 10:30-16:00, Sa-Su 10:30-20:00. The only semi-reasonably priced option in the ski resort, this food court catering squarely to skiers has half a dozen stalls offering ramen, curry rice, Indian, pizza and more, with plenty of seating. The food is expensive and average for Japan, but at least the portions are generous. Packed at lunch, but most stalls close up shop by 4pm even on weekends, when it's theoretically still open for dinner. From ¥1200.
- 3 Little Rabbit (in Appi Plaza). 8:30-21:00. Australian-style coffee, burgers, curry rice and craft beer. The only cafe in Appi that opens early and stays open late. Meals from ¥1600.
- 4 House Appi. Tu-Su 10:00-21:00. Bakery-cafe selling their own pastries, bread, salads and similar light fare. This is IHG's in-house supplier and you'll find their products at the cafe & restaurants at the resort as well. Mains from ¥1400.
Splurge
[edit]- Aburitei (あぶり亭) (Shirakaba-no-Yu). Daily 17:30-21:30. Izakaya specializing in robatayaki ("primitive grilling", per English menu). The menu is short but well selected, tasty, and not too extortionately priced if you avoid the wagyu. From ¥3000.
Drink
[edit]- 1 19. Brewpub. Daily 17:00-23:00. A Colorado style microbrewery transplanted into Japan, this cozy pub has burgers, chili and ten beers on tap. Beers from ¥1000, burgers from ¥2200.
Sleep
[edit]
Accommodations at Appi are divided into two distinct groups: the three Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) operated megahotels, integrated into the ski resort with ski-in/ski-out convenience and price tags to match, and a ragtag bunch of smaller lodgings at least 1 km away from the resort. (They all offer shuttle bus services though.)
All prices listed here are for the high (ski) season. Rates drop dramatically out of season, and even in season are often cheaper on weekdays than weekends.
Mid-range
[edit]- 1 Life is Beautiful, 605-126 Appikogen (Free shuttle from Appi Kogen stn (reservation required)). Eclectic inn spread across three themed buildings: the original Honkan, the retro-styled "Earth Color", and the colorful "Arts Color" annex (a few blocks away). Both Western and Japanese rooms offered. Shared cooking facilities. From ¥6000/person.
Splurge
[edit]- 2 ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort, 117-46 Appi Kogen, ☏ +81 195-68-7550. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Opened 2022, this is an understated low-rise 5-star resort. Offers refined service and spacious rooms. Features multiple restaurants and bars, onsen, spa, sauna, fitness center, and free Wi-Fi. A premium option for a high-end stay. ¥200,000+.
- 3 ANA Crowne Plaza Resort Appi Kogen (Appi Grand Hotel), 117-17 Appi Kogen, ☏ +81 195-73-5011. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Huge 1980s era resort hotel in two canary yellow buildings including the "iconic" (hideous) 78 m Hotel Tower, with a wide range of dining options, indoor pool, gym, karaoke, amusement facilities, and a large public onsen. The building is showing its age but the rooms were renovated around 2021, with spacious Japanese/Western tatami-and-beds family rooms as well as luxury suites with private tubs available. ¥90,000.
- 4 ANA Holiday Inn Resort Appi Kogen, 605-227 Appi Kogen, ☏ +81 195-73-6011. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. The most affordable of the IHG trio, this enormous 6-building, 677-room resort complex is split into two parts: the canary yellow "onsen building" (former Appi Kogen Onsen Hotel), directly connected to the Shirakaba-no-Yu spa complex (see #Do), and the brown "hills" buildings (formerly Appi Hills Shirakaba no Mori) down the road. Closed for renovations as of 2025.
There is also one luxury hotel outside the IHG group.
- 5 Appi Kogen Mori no Hotel (安比高原 森のホテル), 605-30 Appikogen (Free shuttle from Appi Kogen stn (reservation required)), ☏ +81 195-73-5301. Check-in: 15:00-22:00, check-out: 10:00. Japanese-style ryokan hotel with 28 guest rooms. Indoor and outdoor baths and a sauna. Some rooms come with private tubs.