A ropeway-only resort on the Yamagata–Fukushima border — high alpine bowls, short groomed sections, genuine off-piste terrain above the treeline.
Runs
12
Vertical
900m
Summit
1820m
Base 920m
Region
Tohoku
Yamagata Prefecture
Hidden gem
Best season Mid-December to early April
Why Tengendai Kogen
A ropeway-only resort on the Yamagata–Fukushima border — high alpine bowls, short groomed sections, genuine off-piste terrain above the treeline.
Deep powder in the Oshiro area
Plan your trip
Tengendai Kogen sits high on the Azuma volcanic range above Yonezawa — accessed by the Tengendai Ropeway, dependable late-season snow, and stark alpine terrain. Tohoku/Yamagata Shinkansen Yonezawa + 30-min bus.
Hand-picked stays across the resort's two zones.
Tengendai Kogen Hotel at the ropeway base; Shirabu Onsen heritage ryokan 15 min away.
Terrain in detail
SeriousPlenty for advanced skiers — proper black runs, real consequence. Difficulty, powder character, and the stats that matter on the mountain itself.
Hardcore index
66
Plenty for advanced skiers — proper black runs, real consequence.
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
5 of 12
Estimated from advanced terrain split.
Vertical drop
900m
Big-mountain vertical.
Steepest pitch
—
Pitch not published.
Backcountry gates
None
In-bounds skiing only.
Tree skiing
Yes
Tagged for proper tree runs.
Moguls
Few
Mostly cord and powder.
Best for
Terrain & features
Photo: Ski Mania / Public domain · Source
Getting there
Nearest airport, train and bus options, and what the drive looks like in winter conditions.
From airport
Approximately 90 minutes from Sendai Airport
Train / bus
Ropeway from JR Yonezawa Station area Approximately 90 minutes from Sendai Airpo
Overview
Ropeway from JR Yonezawa Station area
From airport
Approximately 90 minutes from Sendai Airport
Live conditions
Off-seasonThe mountain is resting.
Next season
Opens late November
Current temp 12°C, wind 4 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
