Tohoku - Appi Kogen and Zao Onsen

I've just come back from a great ski trip to Japan. This was my first time in Japan so I chose one of the more authentic areas, Tohoku, and spent a few days off the slopes being a tourist. The locals are extremely polite and welcoming to foreigners such as myself.

Tohoku is a large area, easily accessible by bullet train from Tokyo and then bus. I split my time mostly between Appi Kogen and Zao Onsen. Appi Kogen is about 3 to 4 hours from Tokyo. 

Appi Kogen provides great skiing. The mountain is accessible by one of the two gondolas and several other high speed detachable quad chairs. You really appreciate the hoods on the quad chairs on colder days.

Zao Onsen is one of the most traditional skiing and snowboarding resorts in Japan. It is located in the Yamagata Prefecture, about half an hour by car from Yamagata City. Despite being a very traditional resort, it provides signs for various non Japanese languages, including English.  Zao Onsen is well known for its amazing "Ice Monsters" or Juhyo as the locals call them. These are found on top of the mountain during the coldest months.  As the name suggests, Zao Onsen also has several great sulfurous hot springs. 

Go discover this area before too long as I'm sure it will change in the next few years.