A quiet, scenic slope in the foothills of Mt Chokai — the kind of place locals take their families when Zao feels too busy.
Runs
8
Vertical
220m
Summit
700m
Base 480m
Region
Tohoku
Akita Prefecture
Hidden gem
Best season Late December to early April
Why Chokai Kogen Yashima
A quiet, scenic slope in the foothills of Mt Chokai — the kind of place locals take their families when Zao feels too busy.
Mt. Chokai foothills
Plan your trip
Chokai Kogen Yashima sits on Mt Chokai's eastern flank — heavy maritime snow, quiet local feel, and a small 4-lift operation. Realistic only with a car from Honjo or Akita.
Hand-picked stays across the resort's two zones.
Limited slopeside accommodation; base in Honjo or Akita City for chain hotels.
Terrain in detail
TameFamily-focused. If you're after gnarly black runs, look elsewhere. Difficulty, powder character, and the stats that matter on the mountain itself.
Hardcore index
14
Family-focused. If you're after gnarly black runs, look elsewhere.
From terrain split, run profile, vertical drop, expert features.
Powder profile
Cold Tohoku storms — drier than the Sea of Japan coast.
Drier on cold storms, deeper when the Sea of Japan fires.
—
m
per season
Snowfall data not published — frequency is the regional baseline.
Expert runs
1 of 8
Estimated from advanced terrain split.
Vertical drop
220m
Compact mountain.
Steepest pitch
—
Pitch not published.
Backcountry gates
None
In-bounds skiing only.
Tree skiing
Limited
Mostly groomed terrain.
Moguls
Few
Mostly cord and powder.
Best for
Terrain & features
Getting there
Nearest airport, train and bus options, and what the drive looks like in winter conditions.
From airport
Approximately 90 minutes from Akita Airport
Drive
Rental car recommended; Yashima region Approximately 90 minutes from Akita Airpo
Overview
Rental car recommended; Yashima region
From airport
Approximately 90 minutes from Akita Airport
Live conditions
Off-seasonThe mountain is resting.
Next season
Opens late November
Current temp 11°C, wind 11 km/h. We’ll resume the daily report once snowfall picks up.
Forecast data via Open-Meteo. Refreshes hourly. Always verify with the resort before driving up.
Nearby resorts
More resorts in Tohoku
resort town
A long-season resort overlooking the Sea of Japan, run by the Rockwood Hotel — a short hop from the Shinkansen and rarely crowded.
powder-focused
A single ropeway into Tohoku's most legendary backcountry — snow-monster ridges, tree runs through beech forest, and some of Japan's deepest, driest snow. Experts and guides only on most days.
day trip
A city mountain on the edge of Aomori — short lift lines, floodlit night skiing, and a reliable first day of a Tohoku trip.
resort town
Overlooking Lake Tazawa — Japan's deepest — with long cruising runs and a clean shuttle connection from the Akita Shinkansen.
Trail map
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Stays, lift passes, rentals — everything you need in one place.
Book & plan
At the resort
Book accommodationOfficial resort siteGetting there
Domestic flights to SendaiTohoku airport transfers