IWATE: Okunakayama Kogen
Written on February 9th, 2024 by Eliot Cochrane
Okunakayama Kogen
All Things Skiing
Okunakayama is a modestly sized skiing area located in Ichinohe, in the northern part of Iwate Prefecture. Almost one hour directly north of Morioka, this ski area can easily be accessed by car, though less so by train and bus. However, given its proximity to much larger ski areas, it has been able to stay active and continue slowly expanding every year.
Photo: Image from Google Maps showing the location of Okunakayama Kogen in Iwate Prefecture.
Slowly but surely, Okunakayama continues to expand upon what is already available. Whether it be including tree runs, expanding them, purchasing new cross-country maintenance and race equipment, or creating more affordable options for local residents to keep them within the sport we all love.
Borders
Okunakayama is quite northerly within Iwate Prefecture. While this limits customers from southern Iwate who may tend to ski at Geto Kogen Ski Resort, it does open the possibility for skiers and snowboarders from Aomori Prefecture to visit. The local skiers make up a majority of the population on the slopes, but there are also many day passes and season passes sold to those outside the prefecture. It’s not uncommon to see Aomori number plates speckled throughout the parking lot.
Photo: A large sign displaying the numbers, names, and prices of the food available at the food court within Okunakayama Kogen.
Many times, the passes sold to those outside the prefecture are often families from the military base that the United States of America operates in Misawa, Aomori Prefecture. They come to Okunakayama on weekends as though it were just like home. English signage has increased within the ski area, and the staff can also do their jobs in English. On top of that, there is also a military discount, which acts as a great introduction for those looking to step their feet into snow sports for the first time. Tell the staff of any affiliation with the military, and they will ask for identification. Once confirmed, discounts will be applied.
Upper and Lower
The mountain is clearly divided into two parts and very distinctly. The upper portion caters to the intermediate and advanced, and the lower is for the beginner. These two may not entirely mix, and the lower only serves as an additional lift to get up the hill and a flat slope to return.
Photo: Course map of Okunakayama Kogen
The upper is clearly defined by the forward-facing slope. This is Hayabusa, the first slope can be seen from far away, and it feels like two basketballs stacked on top of one another. With only half of the trail packed down, the rest is left up to the powder gods. It can feel extremely tight for piste-only skiers, but the canvas really gets bigger with a step into powder. This also leads into the bowl section midway through with Tsubame, which leads back down to the Fourth Lift.
On the other side, the Bunano no Ki leads into the top of the Sixth Lift, which is the top of the race course, Konayuki. This is fairly intermediate with nice rollers and a few changes that are enough to get jumps with some speed. Bunano no Ki also leads to Yamabito, which starts at the top of the Third Lift. It’s a fairly narrow start, but from the pitch change, it opens up a lot, leading back to the lower section. Midway on the Yamabito section, there are also two separate slopes to choose from. The Yamabato trail is largely ungroomed but has great tree access under the Sixth Lift. The other side is the Shirakaba trail, which is quite narrow but really fun to cut some short turns in front of the lifts as an audience.
Leading down to the lower part, we have the Beginner, Koguma, and Kamoshika. These are all essentially the same slope but divided by lines of trees. Also on the Koguma trail is the snow park. There are two to three kickers and a small half-pipe approaching the lift. The half-pipe doesn’t see much action, but the jumps are always fun regardless of age!
Beginner Tree Runs
Any look into the ski film industry in Japan often features tree runs at the forefront. Some of them are even accessed just off the road! It’s no wonder that even though the altitude might not be as high as in some other countries, the back-country skiing scene keeps expanding every year as people experience tree runs and try to always get the first tracks. Many of them get their first taste of pow-pow at ski areas like Okunakayama.
Photo: Okunakayama Kogen has some of the best entry zones into tree line skiing.
Nearly five years ago, Okunakayama took the tree runs they already had and cut many of the trees within the run, making it much easier to maneuver skis and introducing others to powder skiing as a natural progression from the open slopes to slightly more narrow tree runs. Not only did they expand those runs, but they also made the mountain almost entirely tree-run accessible, except one spot leading to a river that doesn’t have a proper exit. These spots are clearly marked with red tape. It’s possible on the other side of the red tape, but be aware of taking your own rusk. Anywhere on the mountain facing the lodge, there will be tracks leading into the forest and exiting down below at a return trail.
For many ski resorts, this would be unheard of because of the risks and insurance involved. But for Okunakayama, this was one of the major selling points. Powder is not put behind a paywall at Okunakayama Kogen. If you can find it, you can ski it.
Around The Mountain
Dotting around the mountains are some great spots to visit. Even day travelers come just for these places. On each lift ticket, there is also a discount for one of the two places listed below. Let’s take a look around the mountain and the surrounding area and see what there is to do.
Photo: Okunakayama Kogen lift ticket displaying the discounts at the bottom.
Okunakayama Kogen Onsen - 奥中山高原温泉
Photo: Okunakayama Kogen Onsen, a familiar place for locals to relax after skiing.
Right next to the ice cream place is a nice onsen. Like most onsens that have been around a while, it isn’t the prettiest onsen, but it has a great atmosphere. A popular spot that follows a day on the hill and also a popular spot for locals with a view overlooking part of the valley. The winter time is beautiful, but summer and fall are just as beautiful.
Bring the lift ticket and show it to the staff when entering to get a 100円 discount!
Yuki Akari - 雪あかり
Photo: Yuki Akari, a delicious gelato shop just in front of Okunakayama Kogen.
Directly below the main lodge is a gelato shop that is regularly visited in summer because of the beautiful views and the locally sourced ingredients. It is a small place, but customers are regularly going in and out. Of course, the standard flavors of vanilla and chocolate are great, but some of the rotating flavors are just as delicious, if not more! My favorite is the sesame flavor (goma - ごま)!
Be sure to give them a look and get your 50円 discount!
Access
Accessible by train, bus, and car, Okunakayama Kogen is a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle. For a more detailed breakdown, including pictures of how to get there by car and which trains and buses to plan for, please visit their website at Okunakayama Kogen Access.
