1 Night, 2 Days at Appi Kogen: A Car-Free Ski Trip with Hot Springs & Local Food

Perfect for Beginners, Solo Travelers, and Snowboarders Without a Car

Why Choose Appi Kogen?

Looking for a Japanese ski trip without renting a car? Appi Kogen Ski Resort in Iwate Prefecture is a perfect choice!
Easily accessible via shinkansen (bullet train) and bus, Appi offers gentle slopes for beginners, quality powder runs, relaxing hot springs, and delicious local food—all in a 2-day, 1-night trip.

---

Day 1: Getting to Appi Kogen – Easy Access by Train & Bus

🛤 From Tokyo to Appi with Just Train & Bus

• Departed Ueno Station at 6:38 AM
• Arrived at Morioka Station ~8:40 AM (2 hrs via bullet train)
• Took a direct bus from the west exit of Morioka Station to “Appi Kogen Pension Mae”
• The owner of Appi Rocky Inn picked us up from the stop—super smooth and car-free!

🏨 Hotel: Appi Rocky Inn – Great Hospitality & Indoor BBQ

We stayed in a spacious connected room (great for groups).
After checking in, we picked up our snowboard gear (delivered in advance) and changed in the hotel’s fitting room before heading straight to the slopes.

---

🍜 Lunch: Tonkotsu Ramen at the Ski Resort Food Court

The ski resort has a food court with several casual dining options.
We chose “Ramen Umaiya” and had the Tonkotsu Chashu Ramen (¥1,500) — rich broth, generous pork, and super satisfying!
Other choices include udon and pizza—perfect for hungry skiers.

---

♨️ Afternoon: Bad Weather? Head to Shirakaba-no-Yu Onsen

Snow and wind reduced visibility, so we cut the ski session short and headed to the day-use hot spring “Shirakaba no Yu.”
There were three types of open-air baths and a sauna. The indoor bath was under renovation, but the outdoor area was refreshing and relaxing.

🍦 After Bath Treat: Honey Milk Soft Serve

We enjoyed a local soft serve made with milk from Appi Kogen Farm and honey from Takizawa.
Mild and sweet—a must-try regional dessert! (¥430)

---

🍖 Dinner: Indoor BBQ + Craft Beer Tasting

We booked a plan that included dinner and breakfast.
Dinner was a full irori-style indoor BBQ—staff grilled the meat for us, so we just sat and enjoyed.

Drinks included a selection of Japanese craft beers like Wednesday’s Cat, JAZZBERRY, and Hyuganatsu Ale. Perfect for a relaxed tasting night.

---

🎲 Night: Chill Time with Board Games

The inn had various board games available—no need to bring your own.
We played after dinner and went to bed around 11 PM, happy and full.

---

Day 2: Morning Ride & Beginner-Friendly Slopes

🍽 Breakfast: Stylish Western Morning Plate

Our second day began with a delicious Western-style breakfast—French toast, sausage, salad, and more. Beautifully served and satisfying.

🎿 Gondola Opens – Expanded Access to Slopes!

With better weather, the gondola resumed operation, opening more slope options.
Here are our favorite runs from the day:

✅ Recommended for Beginners: Yamabato Course

• Long, gentle slope
• Easy to control speed
• Scenic and smooth

❄️ For Powder First-Timers: Dai-1 Zailer C Course

• Fully ungroomed powder area
• Gentle slope, great for trying powder runs safely

---

🍵 Midday Break: Sweet Zenzai with Toasted Mochi

After hours of riding, we rested at Red House, a slope-side restaurant.
We ordered oshiruko (sweet red bean soup) with grilled mochi—warm, sweet, and perfect for a cold day.

---

♨️ Departure: One More Soak & Bus Back to Morioka

At 1:30 PM, the inn staff picked us up and brought us back from the slopes.
We had time before our bus, so we visited Shirakaba no Yu onsen again for a final soak!

• Departed Appi by bus at 3:00 PM
• Arrived at Morioka Station for shopping

---

🛍 Souvenirs & Bento at Morioka Station

Before boarding the bullet train, we picked up a “Tasting Set” of local sweets:

• Nambu Senbei
• Momo Beppin
• Northern Pumpkin Cake

Perfect omiyage (souvenirs) to bring home! We caught the 4:50 PM train back to Tokyo.

---

Final Thoughts: Appi Kogen is the Ideal Car-Free Ski Trip

✅ Easy access by shinkansen + direct bus
✅ Hotel shuttle & pickup available
✅ Wide slopes for beginners and advanced riders
✅ Relaxing onsen and craft beer for après-ski fun
✅ Perfect for solo travelers, groups, and beginners!

Appi Kogen proves you don’t need a car to enjoy a full snowboarding trip in Japan.
Even in just 2 days and 1 night, we had everything: snow, hot springs, gourmet meals, and good vibes.

Thinking about a ski weekend in Japan? Appi might be your perfect match.