You can go backcountry skiing in Hakkoda until spring! Let's enjoy backcountry skiing in Hakkoda, enjoy tree ice and Sangayu Hot Springs!

  • Aomori
  • Sightseeing
Hakkoda in winter

We recommend Hakkoda, which is full of charm!

Do you know Mount Hakkoda in Aomori City? Hakkoda, one of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan, is a place where you can enjoy climbing in lush greenery in summer and autumn leaves in fall. From winter to spring, it is also a spot where you can enjoy fluffy powder snow and spectacular views of snow.

In this issue, we will show you the charms of Hakkoda, which can be reached by a single bus from Aomori Station, the base for sightseeing, or Shin-Aomori Station, the arrival station of the Shinkansen bullet train!

Go to snowy Hakkoda with its spectacular scenery

A 1-1.5 hour ride on a JR bus from Aomori or Shin-Aomori Station will bring you to "Hakkoda Ropeway Station" (IC cards such as Suica and PASMO are accepted on JR buses to Hakkoda). Purchase a ticket at the nearby ropeway station building at the foot of the mountain, board the ropeway, and in about 10 minutes, a spectacular view unfolds before your eyes! The all-white world is breathtaking.
A world of white

How to enjoy the tree ice called "Snow Monster"?

Even those who do not have much time or are not good at winter sports can enjoy snow monsters (juhyō) in Hakkōda, as they can be seen within walking distance from the ropeway. Juhyō is a rare phenomenon that can only be seen in a limited number of places around the world. It is beautiful enough to be seen in photographs, but it has quite an impact, so I urge you to see it with your own eyes! However, it is quite cold at the top of the ropeway, so please make sure you are well protected against the cold. The ice usually lasts until February, but depending on the snowfall after that, it may be possible to see the ice even in March.
The otherworldly atmosphere of the juhyo (ice covered trees)
Monster-like ice formations walking in one direction

Backcountry until mid-May is OK!

Hakkoda is one of the snowiest areas in the world, so the popular backcountry skiing can be enjoyed until spring (usually around mid-May). Let's go out with snowshoes and other equipment with an expert mountain guide! You can enjoy the snow to your heart's content, walking along the trails while enjoying the surrounding scenery, and finally sliding down the slopes on skis or snowboards. With a guide, you can take routes that would be difficult to take alone, giving you a special experience.
During a backcountry trip, we came across a snow-monsterized mountain lodge (center)!
Fluffy snowflakes we came across while backcountry skiing
The ocean can be seen in the distance!

When you get cold, go to Sukagayu Onsen

After enjoying Mt. Hakkoda, you can take a 15-minute JR bus ride from the ropeway station to Sukagayu Onsen (hot spring) to warm up your cold body (please note that buses are not frequent).
Sangayu Onsen standing in the snow. It has a great atmosphere.
The Sukayu Onsen is famous for its historic "Hiba Senninburo," a large, mixed bathhouse. There are two bathtubs in the large bathhouse, a "hot water of heat" and a "quarter bath," and in the "quarter bath" there is a "tsukidate" that leads from the women's changing room to the middle of the bath, allowing visitors to bathe without the eyes of the opposite sex. If you are still concerned, you can purchase a bathing suit made of a solid fabric at the Acugayu Onsen store.
Hiba Senjinburo (hiba) bath at Sakagayu Onsen (courtesy of Sakagayu Onsen)
If you are not comfortable with mixed bathing, go to "Tama-no-yu," a separate bathhouse for men and women. Although the bathtubs are smaller than the Senninburo, you can enjoy the same spring water quality. The women's bath also has a shower, so it is a good idea to relax in the Tama-no-yu after enjoying the atmosphere of the Hiba Sennin-buro for a while.

After bathing, relax in the "Goshawk Salon

Once your body has warmed up in the hot spring, go to the "Mitaka Salon. This is a rest area that can be used by day-trip bathers, and you can relax in a space with a wood-burning stove and rocking chairs. Inside the salon is a replica of a work by Munakata Shiko, the printmaker who gave the salon its name.
On the left is the "Goshawk Salon
Window corner. The view peeking out of the window is something to gaze at forever.

Hakkoda is recommended in any season!

What do you think of Hakkouda's charms?
We recommend visiting in summer to feel the freshness of the trees, or to enjoy the spectacular view of the autumn leaves, but there is also the wintertime enjoyment of the ice formed by the trees. No matter what season you visit, Hakkouda has its own charm.
Hakkouda ropeway official HP is here
Sourgayu Onsen official HP is here
For train + accommodation "Aomori Area" reservations, please visit 【 JR East View Dynamic Rail Package 】
The contents and services in this article are subject to change.
All images are for reference only.
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