Shizukuishi is a ski area located in Shizukuishi Town in the western region of Iwate Prefecture.
This ski area opened in 1980, though since the peak 'ski boom' years, it has been downsized, with several lifts (including two gondola lifts) and courses closing.
Even so, Shizukuishi still offers a variety of long courses and is a decent size with a 101-person Ropeway. In 2022, six ski lifts are operating at Shizukuishi - the 930m Ropeway, a 1,357m quad lift and four pair lifts.
Snow CAT tour activities are available on the northern course area. (There used to be a 6-person 3,227m gondola operating in that area; at the time, it was the longest in Japan).
Many national and international ski events have been held on the downhill course in that northern area, including the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 1993.
Mountain
statistics
Top/peak (m)
1145
Vertical (m)
717
Bottom/base (m)
428
Beginner runs (%)
40
Intermediate runs (%)
40
Advanced runs (%)
20
Longest course (m)
2648
Steepest slope (°)
33
Number of courses
20
Ski lifts
6
Ropeway cable car
1
Gondola
0
Quad lift (4-person)
1
Triple lift (3-person)
0
Pair lift (2-person)
4
Single lift (1-person)
0
Surface lift
0
Information
Normal season dates
Shizukuishi usually plans to be open from mid-December until late March. See below for the actual opening and closing dates in recent seasons.
Normal opening times
Shizukuishi is normally open from 8:30am until 4:00pm in the daytime.
CAT tours
An area north of the current main ski area is used for CAT Tours. (That area used to be part of the ski area, complete with its own Ropeway lift).
Families & children
Shizukuishi Snow Land is a large area near base for children and includes various snow related facilities. There is also a 'practice zone' for kids by the top of the Ropeway as well as an area for snow striders.
Lessons
Ski and snowboard lessons are available at Shizukuishi.
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
1 day
Adult: 6,500 yen
Child: 5,400 yen
Senior: 5,400 yen
4 hours
Adult: 5,900 yen
Child: 5,300 yen
Senior: 5,300 yen
1 lift coupon
Adult: 1,000 yen
Child: 1,000 yen
Senior: 1,000 yen
High speed lift (1 ride)
Adult: 1,500 yen
Child: 1,500 yen
Senior: 1,500 yen
Ropeway (one-way)
Adult: 1,500 yen
Child: 1,500 yen
Senior: 1,500 yen
Ropeway (return)
Adult: 2,000 yen
Child: 2,000 yen
Senior: 2,000 yen
Season ticket
Adult: 65,000 yen
Child: 54,000 yen
Senior: 54,000 yen
Children up to elementary school ages can ride the lifts for free.
Some lift tickets are slightly more expensive over the New Year holiday period.
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: 20th December - 22nd March (93 days)
2024-2025 season: 21st December - 23rd March (93 days)
2023-2024 season: 23rd December - 24th March (93 days)
2022-2023 season: 24th December - 26th March (93 days)
2021-2022 season: 25th December - 27th March (93 days)
Deepest recorded snow depth
2025-2026 season: 230cm on 11th-14th February
2024-2025 season: 220cm on 13th-16th and 23rd-27th February
2023-2024 season: 110cm on 5th-8th March
2022-2023 season: 175cm on 25th-26th February
2021-2022 season: 225cm on 7th March
2020-2021 season: 200cm on 30th January - 1st February
2019-2020 season: 160cm on 3rd March
2018-2019 season: 180cm on 29th January - 19th February
2017-2018 season: 260cm on 18th-26th February and 1st-4th March
2016-2017 season: 180cm on 10th-11th March
2015-2016 season: 150cm on 3rd-4th March
2014-2015 season: 225cm on 13th-14th March
Resources
Weather & snowfall (Japan Meteorological Agency) [open in new window]
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.
Shizukuishi is one of 3 ski areas currently operating in Shizukuishi Town.
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.
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