Hakkoda Ski Area — Attraction in Aomori

The gondola is very efficient and the view is absolutely gorgeous once you get to the top. They have some rentals near the ski school and the regular chairlifts. The chairlifts are nice and provide good access to the easier shorter routes. There are only 2 routes other than the slalom course they offer. The routes are really nice to help warmup before going up the gondola of you need to. There was plenty of snow and even some fresh snow falling when I went. Definitely a good place if you want to do some backcountry skiing/snowboarding. The direct route is very well marked with orange poles and numbered signs. I'm slightly above the beginner level and enjoyed the direct route. It is doable as a beginner but it is definitely going to be a bit difficult and I'd recommend taking it slow. I will definitely be back to do some more...

Important: the Hakkoda Ski Area is NOT related to the Hakkoda Ropeway. The Ski Area is a small bunny hill with an antiquated two-seat chairlift. The Ropeway is a tourist sight-seeing gondola primarily that happens to allow skis and snowboards onboard in the winter. The terrain it gives access to is NOT a ski resort, it is "at your own risk" unmanaged wild mountain forest (with two hiking trails that provide a somewhat skiable path down in the winter). Do NOT attempt to ski or snowboard here if you are not above intermediate in skill and physically fit, especially on storm days. There are annual fatalities and regular next-day rescues.

There is no "resort" here either. It is just this small ski station and the...

This is a tiny ski area and the snow isn't that good (mid February). In the early morning it's icy and in the afternoon it's heavy and slushy. There's only a very slow, very old two seater. There are also no beginner or advanced slopes, it's all intermediate. The lift and rental price are high considering what you're getting. The gondola is completely separate.

The local slopes offer a much better deal. Alternatively, Ani Ski Resort is cheaper, much bigger, and the full day pass includes the gondola.

Sometimes the JSDF practice here. There were around 50 of them across all three runs. So there's actually a good amount of traffic on the slopes.

To top it off, most of the staff also weren't friendly and treated...