Skiing in Kansai: Day and Weekend Trips!

Dec 12, 2022

Skiing in Kansai: Day and Weekend Trips!

Skiing might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of tourist attractions in Japan. However, many skiing enthusiasts visit each winter, keen to experience the powder-dry snow. Kansai has many skiing locations — and they tend to draw in fewer tourists than regions like Hokkaido or Nagano, which makes these resorts a great choice if you want to avoid the crowds. If you’re looking to hit the slopes while in Kansai, head to one of these top resorts.

Hachi Kita Kogen and Hachi Kogen

Situated on the northeastern side of Mount Hachibuse, you’ll find Hachi Kita Kogen. At the top, it’s connected to Hachi Kogen in Yabu City — your lift ticket gives you access to both. Together, the two resorts form the largest ski area in the Kansai region and attract hundreds of thousands of visitors during the peak season. Visitors range from advanced skiers, who want to test their skills on the 20 kilometers of slopes to families looking for a day out in a snow park. There are 25 courses and slopes in total with peaks reaching over 1.2 kilometers. Instructors offer lessons to all abilities.

Lift Ticket Price: 5,000 yen for an adult 1-day ticket; 3,000 yen for a child 1-day ticket
Website: https://www.hachi-hachikita.co.jp/

Ojiro

Ojiro is a slightly smaller resort in Kami Town, Hyogo. It has peaks of around 900 meters and over 6 kilometers of slopes. There are family-friendly facilities, including a snow park where kids can try out the lower slopes and pet-friendly gondola cabins that travel up the mountainside. Classes are available for all abilities and there are several other activities on offer, including snowboarding.

Lift Ticket Price: 4,000 yen for adults and 2,000 yen for children on weekdays; 4,600 yen for adults and 2,400 yen for children on weekends and holidays
Website: https://www.ojiro.or.jp/

Sky Valley

Another option in Kami is Sky Valley. Open 24 hours a day, this is a great choice for a long day on the slopes. There are many courses to choose from — one for beginners, one for kids, five intermediate, and two advanced. You’ll also have access to facilities including a napping room, a coffee and snack corner, a lounge, and several rest houses, each of which has its own restaurant. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, there are also snow racers available to rent.

Lift Ticket Price: 3,800 yen for adults; 2,000 yen for children
Website: https://skyvalley.jp/

Biwako Valley

Biwako Valley is a small facility close to Kyoto in Shiga Prefecture. The resort offers some great views of Lake Biwa and the surrounding mountains. There are 10 kilometers of slopes, divided into eight routes tailored to abilities ranging from beginner to advanced. There are also tree-lined forest routes for those who want to try something a bit different. Lessons are offered throughout the winter season.

Lift Ticket Price: 6,000 yen for adults; 4,500 yen for children aged 7 to 12; 2,500 yen for children aged 3 to 6
Website: http://www.biwako-valley.com/en/

Okuibuki

With a summit of 1,250 kilometers, Okuibuki in Maibara beats Hachi Kita Kogen for the highest peak in the Kansai region. The resort also offers some notoriously steep descents — unsurprisingly, it attracts many advanced-level skiers and thrill-seekers. Its New Challenge course has a drop of approximately 46 degrees. However, there are also gentler courses and kids’ activities. In total, there are 14 trails spread across more than 7 kilometers of slopes.

Lift Ticket Price: 4,300 yen on weekdays and 4,900 yen on weekends and holidays for adults; 3,500 yen for children aged 12 to 17; between 1,000 yen and 3,000 yen for children aged 11 and under
Website: https://www.okuibuki.co.jp/

Rokko Snow Park

Rokko Snow Park is the only skiing facility within the Kobe city area. The ski park is part of a wider set of tourist attractions that include an observatory, a botanical garden, a museum, and a golf course. It’s popular with families due to the abundance of novice slopes and kids’ winter sports activities on offer. You can even try out floodlit skiing at one of the late-night sessions when the slopes are open until 10:00 p.m.

Lift Ticket Price: 1,500 yen on weekdays; 3,100 yen on weekends and holidays
Website: https://www.rokkosan.com/ski/en/

Up Kannabe

A ski resort in the north of Hyogo, almost 80% of the slopes at Up Kannabe are wide and gentle, making them ideal for beginner to intermediate skiers. There’s even an absolute beginner course with a maximum incline of 9 degrees. If some people in your group are experienced skiers, though, they can take advantage of the expert course, designed with powder lovers in mind. Finally, there’s a kids’ area, where children can play in the snow and start learning some skiing techniques.

Lift Ticket Price: 4,000 yen on weekdays and 4,800 yen on weekdays and holidays for adults; 3,000 yen for children
Website: https://www.kannabe.co.jp/en

By Meg1977 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons