APPI, traditionally known as Appi Kogen, is a ski area located in Hachimantai City, in the northwest region of Iwate Prefecture.
Appi is one of the largest ski resorts in the Tohoku region, with slopes on Maemoriyama and Nishimoriyama in the Hachimantai National Park.
Appi opened in 1981, and by the early 1990s, there were 30 ski lifts, including two gondolas (the 2,820m Appi Gondola and the 3,494m Sailer Gondola). Since then, the number of ski lifts operating at the ski area has decreased.
For the 2023-2024 season, the Appi Gondola remains open, along with three quad lifts and three pair lifts. The Nishimori area is used for CAT tours.
The ski area has four main named sections: Central, Sailer, Nishimori and Second. The main resort base is by the Shirakaba course in Central.
Mountain
statistics
Top/peak (m)
1328
Vertical (m)
708
Bottom/base (m)
620
Beginner runs (%)
30
Intermediate runs (%)
40
Advanced runs (%)
30
Longest course (m)
5500
Steepest slope (°)
34
Number of courses
21
Ski lifts
7
Ropeway cable car
1
Gondola
3
Quad lift (4-person)
0
Triple lift (3-person)
0
Pair lift (2-person)
3
Single lift (1-person)
0
Surface lift
0
Information
Normal season dates
Appi usually plans to be open from early December until early May. See below for the actual opening and closing dates in recent seasons.
Night skiing
Night skiing is planned for the 2025-2026 season on the following dates:
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays between 20th December 2025 and 22nd March 2026
29th December 2025 until 2nd January 2026
16th February 2026
Park, tree runs and CAT
There is a park area called Appi Snow Park. There are five official Tree Run Zones on the mountain - Attack, Bravo, Cruise 1, Cruise 2 and Dragon Tail. Registration is required to use them. There is also a section called Magic Forest (suitable for people making a tree run area debut) Backcountry tours are also available as well as CAT tours in the Nishimori area.
Families & children
The Crayon Shinchan Kids School offers special lessons for young children.
Lessons
Ski and snowboard lessons are available at APPI.
Rental
Ski and snowboard equipment & wear rental is available.
Lift ticket prices
2025-2026 season
Information for the upcoming 2026-2027 season will be added by December 2026
Early season BLUE 1 day
Adult: 4,500 yen
Early season BLUE 2 days
Adult: 8.500 yen
Early season BLUE 3 days
Adult: 12,500 yen
Regular season GOLD
Adult: 14,500 yen
Regular season BLUE 1 day
Adult: 9,500 yen
Regular season BLUE 2 days
Adult: 18,500 yen
Regular season BLUIE 3 days
Adult: 27,500 yen
Regular season BLACK pass
Adult: 33,000 yen
Night skiing
Adult: 4,000 yen
APPI has a unique set of lift ticket options available.
A Blue Pass is valid on all lifts in operation (ski lifts and gondola). Valid during the day and also for night skiing.
A Gold Pass includes the same as Blue Pass and also priority boarding of the gondola and major lifts and use of a special area of the Summit Cafe.
A Black Pass includes the same as Gold Pass, Nishimori Cat, Fast track, food court priority lane and priority seating.
For more information on lift tickets, please refer to the Resort Spotlight page here.
Early Season Friday 5th December until Friday 19th December 2025.
Regular Season Saturday 20th December 2025 until Sunday 22nd March 2026.
Spring Season Monday 25th March until Wednesday 6th May 2026.
(Lift ticket prices during the Spring Season are the same as Early Season).
Historical snow depth data
The following ski season and official snow depth data have been independently compiled by SnowJapan for publication on this website. Where available, the data is updated annually after each ski season.
First and last dates of recent seasons
2025-2026 season: 5th December - 2nd May (149 days)
2024-2025 season: 7th December - 6th May (151 days)
2023-2024 season: 2nd December - 25th April (146 days)
2022-2023 season: 10th December - 2nd April (114 days)
2021-2022 season: 27th November - 8th May (163 days)
Deepest recorded snow depth
2025-2026 season: 335cm on 10th February
2024-2025 season: 360cm on 22nd March
2023-2024 season: 195cm on 5th March
2022-2023 season: 235cm on 15th-18th February and 22nd February - 2nd March
2021-2022 season: 250cm on 6th-27th March
2020-2021 season: 260cm on 10th-14th February
2019-2020 season: 230cm on 10th-14th February and 6th-9th March
2018-2019 season: 260cm on 16th-18th February
2017-2018 season: 325cm on 6th-8th March
2016-2017 season: 215cm on 3rd-4th April
2015-2016 season: 150cm on 3rd-7th March
2014-2015 season: 250cm on 12th-22nd and 24th-28th March
Resources
More information on APPI
Official website [link opens in new window]
Weather & snowfall (Japan Meteorological Agency) [links open in new window]
SnowJapan Directory: accommodation listings in the region
SnowJapan Directory: ski school listing in the region
Introduction to the region
Iwate Prefecture is located in the Tohoku region, on the northeastern side of the main island of Honshu. It is the second-largest prefecture in Japan (after Hokkaido). Iwate Prefecture borders Aomori Prefecture to the north, Akita Prefecture to the west, and Miyagi Prefecture to the south.
Most of the ski areas in Iwate Prefecture are in the western mountainous regions of the prefecture, close to the border with Akita Prefecture.
Appi, Hachimantai Resort Panorama & Shimokura and Shizukuishi are in the northwestern region within the boundaries of Hachimantai City or Shizukuishi Town. In Kitakami City, further to the south, Geto Kogen usually receives some of the heaviest snowfall in Japan and refers to itself as ‘King of Snow’.
In recent years, both Appi and Geto Kogen, in particular, have been working to attract overseas visitors.
Most of the other ski areas in Iwate Prefecture are smaller operations.
Appi is one of 4 ski areas currently operating in Hachimantai City.
About the information on this page
SnowJapan independently researches, checks and updates the information on this page at least once each year, in the lead-up to every ski season. We also update it whenever we become aware of other changes. The information published on SnowJapan is based on independent research using official Japanese-language sources and is not supplied by ski areas. If you are planning to visit a ski area, we recommend checking the official ski area website for the latest operational information. We take great care to keep the information on SnowJapan accurate and up to date. However, SnowJapan accepts no responsibility for decisions made based on information published on this website.
Learn more about how we research, check and update information on SnowJapan.