Areas / Tohoku
Hachimantai 八幡平
A broad volcanic plateau straddling Iwate and Akita — gentle tree touring in winter and wide-open spring skiing once the plateau road opens.
- Prefecture
- Iwate / Akita
- Season
- Dec – May (spring touring from mid-April)
- Level
- Intermediate+
- Nearest airport
- Iwate Hanamaki (HNA), about 1.5 h by car
- By rail
- Morioka station (Tohoku Shinkansen), then bus or car
Plateau touringTree skiingSpring cornSnow monsters
Hachimantai is a wide volcanic plateau on the border of Iwate and Akita prefectures. Its terrain is gentler than many Japanese backcountry areas, with rolling forests and plateaus rather than steep alpine faces. That makes it a great introduction to ski touring.
In midwinter, tours start from the local ski areas and hot-spring lodges. In spring, the scenic road over the plateau reopens, snow walls and all, and you can reach wide-open corn snow slopes.
Why a guide: the plateau looks simple but is notoriously easy to get lost on in fog. A guide handles the navigation so you can enjoy the skiing.
Highlights
- Rolling terrain well suited to a first ski touring experience
- Snow monsters and quiet forests
- Spring touring across the plateau when the scenic road reopens
- Hot-spring lodges throughout the area
Main hazards
- Whiteouts on the flat, featureless plateau — very easy to get lost
- Tree wells in midwinter
- Volcanic gas areas around some hot springs
Conditions change daily. Check the latest avalanche and weather information, carry beacon, probe and shovel, and ski with a qualified guide if you don't know the area. See our safety guide.
Where to stay
Ski Hachimantai with a certified local guide
Tell us your dates, group and ability. We match you with a certified guide who knows the terrain and today's snow, and send you a quote. Requesting is free and there's no obligation to book.
Request a guide