Skiing : Iwate Prefecture

Amihari Ski Resort Enjoy skiing trails that could only be born from the beauty of Towada-Hachimantai National Park. A favorite with local skiers, Amihari is famous for its excellent powder snow. Season Begins: Dec 13 (Sat) Access: 40 km from Tohoku Expwy Morioka IC through Rte 46 Information: 019-693-2211

Hachimantai Ski Resort Hachimantai's high elevation ensures an incredibly long season from late November until May. Romance more than 1 km up is yours for the taking. Season Begins: Dec 6 (Sat) Access: 20 mins by car from Tohoku Expwy Matsuo-Hachimantai IC Information: 0195-78-2212

Hachimantai Resort and Shimokura Ski Area Hachimantai Resort's colorfully romantic lights light up a 6-km night skiing course, one of the largest in all Tohoku. Enjoy a bit of Scandinavian fantasy right here in Iwate. Shimokura's great snow conditions and little wind have long made this ski area a local favorite. The good ski weather here makes even the end of March feel hardly at all like slushy spring skiing. Now, these two great resorts have teamed up, offering a shared lift ticket giving full access to twice the fun! Season Begins: Dec 13 (Sat) Information: 0195-78-4111

Geto Kogen Ski Resort Puts the powder and the snow back in the tired refrain of "powder snow." Among the biggest ski resorts in Iwate, Geto Kogen is the real thing not only in scale, but also in quality. Season Begins: Dec 6 (Sat) Access: 25 km from Tohoku Expwy Kitakami-Ezuriko IC Information: 0197-65-9000