The 10-Day Tohoku Indy Trip
Ski more, logistics less.
Customized hassle-free ski trips built with Indy Pass holders in mind. Ride five Indy Pass member resorts on this epic road trip through Japan’s last ski frontier.
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View trip Dates
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View pricing
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Prices go up on September 1, book before then to get the best rate on this trip!
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cancellation policy
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Shopping by date? See calendar for all trips here
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The Deets
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The 10-day Tohoku Indy Trip is a seamless, logistics-first itinerary that lets you focus on exploring and skiing across five of Tohoku’s Indy partner resorts. Just make your way to the closest Bullet Train station or regional airport (AOJ Airport) and we’ll take it from there.
A dedicated JST Host travels with the group throughout, ensuring smooth transitions between accommodations and ski areas, while also helping you navigate the nuances of traveling and being a great guest in Japan. We handle the structure, but each day is yours to shape—whether that means chasing turns at the resort, heading out for a mellow touring day, or taking a rest day to explore the local area. Join with a group of like-minded riders as you road-trip through some of northern Japan’s best ski destinations. |
Included:
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Five resorts on this trip are part of the Indy Pass, giving you the option to ski up to seven days using your pass! Don’t have one? No problem. Book as a Standard Guest and all lift tickets are included.
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9 nights of accommodation--5 of which are ski-in/out |
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All of our accommodations include in-hotel hot springs and are the swankiest options around! (see Lodging tab for details) |
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Stay in a Ryokan—a traditional Japanese inn and an essential part of any Japan travel experience. |
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18 authentic and delicious daily breakfasts and dinners are provided by the accommodations which serve Japanese, Western and fusion menu items all with the attention to detail that Japan is so famous for.
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Join two JST-hosted group events: an off-site Japanese barbecue featuring locally sourced meats, including Wagyu, and a traditional music and dance performance at your Ryokan on the final night.
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Door-to-door private vehicle transportation from AOJ Airport or Shin-Aomori Station to Kitakami Station, with seamless access to Tokyo or onward destinations like Hokkaido (see Logistics tab for details).
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All transfers between ski regions are handled by privately chartered bus shared with the group, with dedicated shuttle service to and from the resort for the two non ski-in/ski-out properties.
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You’re in good hands. A JST host will accompany you for the entire trip, ensuring smooth transitions between accommodations and ski resorts, while also guiding you on how to be a respectful guest during your time in Japan.
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Experience a traditional Japanese musical/dance performance at your Ryokan accommodation on the final night!
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Not Included:
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Trip flow map
See the full map on Google Maps here
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Day
1 |
Arrival Logistics. Pickup is either at Shin Aomori Train Station at 2:15pm or Aomori Airport (AOJ) at 3:00pm (more details in Logistics). After pickup, transfer to the Rock Wood hotel, your slope-side accommodation at Aomori Springs ski resort. Trip orientation will be provided by your JST host upon arrival at Rock Wood Hotel.
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Day
2 |
Unlike the high profile Japanese ski resorts that are over-run with westerners where fresh tracks disappear within an hour and any cultural experiences are heavily diluted, Aomori Spring Ski Resort is the real deal. It's also fabulous for those who love to launch in the terrain parks and features and Olympic size 22 foot halfpipe. Book a guide through Aomori Springs resort here.
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Day
3 |
After skiing Aomori Spring, pack up and head to the Hachimantai Mountain Hotel which is the slope-side hotel for both Panorama and Shimokura ski resorts.
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Day
4-5 |
Ski Shimokura and Panorama ski hills. The Mountain Hotel is also close to Appi Kogen, a ski resort which isn't on the Indy Pass but could be a worthwhile option to ski as long as you're in the area.
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Day
6 |
Check out of Mountain Hotel in the morning and transfer to Okunakayama Kogen (OK) for a day of riding before completing the journey to Tazawako by private vehicle. Accommodation in Tazawako is a 15 min private shuttle bus ride from the ski resort.
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Day
7 |
Ski Tazawako Kogen. Site of the Annual FIS Freestyle Ski Worldcup Competition, Tazawako ski resort is located at the base of Mt. Komagatake and offers great vertical and great views of the deepest lake in Japan.
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Day
8 |
After another full day of skiing at Tazawako, head to Geto Kogen, one of the snowiest resorts in Tohoku! For our final two nights, we'll be staying in a Ryokan (Japanese Inn) at the base of Geto Kogen (15 min shuttle to ski resort) .
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Day
9 |
Ride Geto Kogen; Geto gets a massive amount of snow, sometimes outperforming all other resorts in the country. Geto offers marked side-country runs and unmarked backcountry for the adventurous, as well as standard groomers. Book a guide through Geto Kogen ski resort here.
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Day
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After skiing Geto, pack up and transfer to your drop off point of Kitakami Train Station (more details in the Logistics tab).
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All of our accommodations include in-hotel hot springs and Wi-Fi; most have laundry facilities
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The accommodation on this trip is a combination of Western and Japanese stay experiences. We'll stay three nights in 4-star accommodation and six nights in accommodation solidly in the 3-star+ range. Five nights are spent in ski in/ski out accommodation!
The hotel rooms are quite spacious by Japanese standards and are very comfortable, clean and cater to skiers very well. All hotels feature in-hotel hot springs, perfect for recovering after a full day of skiing! Nights 1-2: Aomori Springs Rockwood Hotel & Spa (3-star) Nights 3-5: Hachimantai Mountain Hotel (4-star) Nights 6-7: Tazawako Lake Resort (3-star) Nights 8-9: Semi Onsen Ryokan (3-star)
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For more on logistics including some great money saving tips, check out the button below!
Getting there
There are three options to meet the group:
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Option 1: Meet at Shin-Aomori Bullet Train Station at 2:15pm on day 1. Departures from Tokyo leave every 40-60 minutes--the duration of the ride is just over 3 hours and doesn't usually require an advanced reservation.
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Option 2: Meet at Aomori Airport (AOJ) at 3:00pm. This airport can be accessed from Tokyo (HND), Sapporo (CTS)(convenient if continuing your ski trip from Hokkaido) Osaka (ITM) etc.
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Getting back
Note that the ending point is different from the starting point on this trip!
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Drop off at Kitakami Bullet Train Station at 4:00pm; more on the Logistics page.
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This trip includes daily breakfast and dinner which is served at the accommodation. These hotels pride themselves in the quality and authenticity of their cuisine and it does not disappoint. Most meals include at least a few familiar western cuisine options, but the focus is on an abundant choice of healthy Japanese foods including sushi, rice-based Donburi dishes, hand-picked mountain vegetables, various assortments of Miso Soups and pork Shabu-Shabu, just to name a few.
JST will also host a group dinner at a local Japanese barbecue establishment during our stay in Hachimantai. The barbecue includes an assortment of locally sourced pork, chicken, vegetables and to top it off, Wagyu (famous Japanese beef that melts in your mouth like butter). A vegetarian or seafood course are available as alternative meal options for this night. On the final 2 nights during our Japanese Ryokan stay, locally sourced authentic Japanese cuisine will be provided for both breakfast and dinner. The food options will not only satisfy but also leave you feeling healthy and well taken care of. *Note that dietary constraints such as vegan or gluten free are notoriously difficult to cater to in Japan and culinary options will be quite limited for such dietary constraints, especially on our final two nights at the Ryokan accommodation. |
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JAPAN SKI TOURS IS FEATURED IN
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You May Also Be Interested In
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
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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.
8 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. |
