Hachimantai Cat Ski Trip
Introducing the Hachimantai Cat, the best and biggest Cat ski operation in the Tohoku region. A favorite among "core" locals, Hachimantai boasts extremely light snow in great quantities, constantly reset by predominant westerly winds and big storms.
The terrain on offer is high elevation and east facing which means its constantly loaded by weather systems which come from the west. The ski zone is very open with trees available for skiing in, as an option--not a requirement. |
Cat Stats
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Our Hachimantai Cat ski trip is an inclusive three-day, two-night experience, with two days on the Cat. Of the ski days, one day is spent lapping the Cat and the other is spent using the Cat as a backcountry access tool. This will involve slapping on skins or snowshoes to do a scenic, flat, one-hour traverse, accessing a different aspect of the mountain to get some long open freshies.
This Cat ski trip is a package that includes an airport or bullet train station pick up, transfers by private vehicle, two nights at a Western or Japanese style hotel, six meals, and an English speaking JST guide. While our hotels do have Onsen (hot springs) available on-site, we also go to a little snow covered Onsen by a river as well. |
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Pickup's from Morioka Station and Hanamaki Airport (HNA) This trip starts with a pickup at Morioka Station which has direct access to Tokyo and Hokkaido on the Shinkansen Bullet Train or a pickup at Hanamaki Airport (HNA) which has good access from Hokkaido or Osaka/Kyoto areas. It meeting at Morioka Station, guests will need to find their own way to the meeting point at Morioka Station South Exit by 3:45pm. To find a train schedule that works for you, use this route finder here. If meeting at Hanamaki Airport (HNA), guests will need to be at the airport by 2:45pm Dropoff's at Morioka Station and Hanamaki Airport (HNA) This trip ends with a drop off at Morioka Station which has direct access to Tokyo and Hokkaido on the Shinkansen Bullet Train or a drop off at Hanamaki Airport (HNA) which has good access to Hokkaido or Osaka/Kyoto areas. If ending at Morioka Station, the drop off is at 4:30pm. If ending at Hanamaki Station, the drop off at the airport is 5:30pm. Note that the airport is tiny and you only need to arrive 45 minutes before the flight departure. What's Included Included:
Not included:
Mailing your luggage
If you're planning on staying in Tokyo before the trip, you can mail your big clunky ski bag directly to the Mountain Hotel or Kyounso Ryokan in Hachimantai for only ¥2,000 (approx US$18). If you're spending an extra day or two in Japan after the trip, you can mail your ski bag directly to NRT or HND airports. It only takes 48 hours from the time to mail your bag until the time it's delivered. For example: Arrive into Tokyo two days before the trip at 6pm and mail your bag to the Mountain hotel in Hachimantai from the airport. Your baggage should arrive at the hotel before 9pm the next day. Before mailing your bag, be sure to confirm with them that it will be delivered by the night of the trip start date. In Japan, if they promise a delivery time, it'll be there when they say. Just like that, if you mail your bag you won't have to lug it around Tokyo. It's a big life-saver, very reliable and incredibly reasonable. For more information on mailing bags, checkout this great article about how it's done here. JR East Tohoku Rail PassIf you're planning on taking the train: Even with just one Tokyo/Morioka round trip, you'll save ¥13,000 (approx US$110) by buying a JR East Rail Pass for the Tohoku area. You can buy this train pass on arrival at NRT or HND airports, as well as major hubs like Tokyo Station. This pass gives you 5 unlimited days of riding anywhere on the JR East Rail Network, which is perfect for where the Hachimantai Cat operates. As a bonus, you'll still have 3 unlimited days left at the end of the tour to use as you want! You can see full details on the pass here. |
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Tohoku Storm Chaser
8-Days, up to 6 ski hills including 1 Cat Ski day
8-Days, up to 6 ski hills including 1 Cat Ski day
Tohoku is the most recent discovery in the Japan ski scene. Reminiscent of now famous resort areas like Niseko 15 years ago, the Tohoku region has lots of pow and no lines.
7 years ago we went out and found the most untracked, uncrowded and unknown ski hills in the Tohoku region and put them on a platter right here, on the 8-day Tohoku Storm Chaser Trip. Staying true to our mission of incorporating cultural experiences, authentic restaurants, and trip-hosting, this is the next level trip for finding that hidden side of Japow you know exists, but can't seem to find. |
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