Adatara Resort - a ski resort full of local color, compact but with a diverse array of courses!

08 April, 2021
Adatara Resort is located in the middle area of Mt. Adatara, a famous mountain in the Tohoku area, known for its catchphrase “real sky.” Since it is located at a high elevation, this ski resort is known for the extraordinary quality of its snow. However, due to a business scale-down, the ski resort has closed down one of the gondola lifts that connect the base of the mountain to the summit. Because of this, skiers/snowboarders now can’t access the top half of the slope, and the ski resort has become a lot more compact than before. Even then, many skiers are impressed by the course variation offered by Adatara Resort, and even now, many reviewers say that beginner courses in particular are plentiful and are very fun to ride down. Adatara Resort is a compact ski resort with a smart course layout and a wide variety of courses. In this article, we’ll be detailing things that make this ski resort great.

The Central Area, with its variety of beginner-oriented courses

Main area
The course configuration is compact yet simple. Since almost all of the courses are connected to the Central Area, there’s no need to worry about going down the wrong course and getting lost. Since the scale-down, there aren’t any long-distance courses that allow you to ride straight down from the summit. However, all of the courses are reasonably long at 500 - 800 meters.

Though they may not be quite as refreshing as some of the other courses, the impression we get is that the courses are all very unique, and will entertain you in their own ways. Beginners in particular should have a lot of fun with this assortment of courses, which abound in variety. On the other hand, there are hardly any courses at this ski resort that would be fun for advanced-level skiers. Skiers who want to go down more difficult courses should head to a different slope.

The area around the summit has many courses with relatively good snow quality. There are even courses that are used in ski competitions, as well as a zone that gets a lot of snowfall, with non-compacted snow. These do get quite a bit more difficult, so you should only try them after getting in a lot of practice in the beginner-oriented courses. Overall, this is a ski resort with great course variation that we recommend for beginner- and intermediate-level skiers.

Family-oriented slope that is easy to get to

Wide course
Adatara Resort is also known for being easy to get to by car. It’s about 20 kilometers away from the Nihonmatsu Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway, if you’re trying to get there by car. It’s an easy enough place to get to as long as you have studless snow tires. It takes about 2.5 hours from Tokyo.

To get there by train from the Tokyo metropolitan area, you’ll need to go on the Tohoku Shinkansen, transfer at Koriyama Station onto the Tohoku Main Line, then get off at Nihonmatsu Station. This takes about 2 hours from Tokyo. It’s not particularly close, but it’s close enough that you can make a day trip as well.

Snow escalator
The Kids’ Park is the best area for kids and adults alike to play around in the snow, with more and more activities you can do every year. The slope, located next to the Ski Center, is completely independent of the regular courses, and is a play area just for kids. You can feel safe and secure having your kids play there, since you don’t have to worry about skiers/snowboarders running into the area.

There’s also a snow escalator inside of the area, so you and your kids can move around easily. There’s also a lot of activities like sledding and tubing, which has given this ski resort an increasingly family-friendly reputation in recent years. Come make some fun memories at this play area where the whole family can play in safety.

Adatarayama Okudake-no-Yu - a day-trip onsen near the slopes

Open air bath after heavy snow
On the opposite side of the road near the slopes is Adatarayama Okudake-no-Yu, an onsen perfect for some day-trip bathing. Inside, the facility is very nice, with a fresh, clean feel. It comes equipped with a large bath and an open air bath, so that a lot of people can bathe at once, even during the peak season.

The open air bath in particular is known for its great view, which allows you to look out over the immense forest of Adatara as it stretches out before you. Bathing in the onsen and warming up your body - chilled from your day of skiing - is the ultimate comfort, especially as you look out over the serene forests around you. Another perk is that it’s right across the street, meaning you can just put down your ski gear and head straight to the baths. We recommend you go to this onsen if you’re looking for a traditional-style, authentic onsen you can get to casually.

There’s also a famous onsen district called Dake Onsen on the road leading down from the ski resort. This is a long-standing tourist destination home to many ryokan. Many of these onsen ryokan also allow day-trips to the onsen, so it might be good for you to stop by for some sightseeing and bathing at the end of your trip.

A ski resort full of local color, compact but with a diverse array of courses

Sunset at the ski resort
Were we able to convey what makes Adatara Resort so great? Although the slopes themselves may not cover too much area, the ski resort boasts a number of very different, unique courses, and definitely packs enough of a punch for a day trip. This is also a ski resort that’s great for families, since the Kids’ Park is a lot of fun. This is a compact yet well-balanced ski resort that you’ll definitely want to visit if you’re ever in the Aizu Area.

Pricing information and schedule may not be up to date and are subject to change without notice. Please check before your trip.

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Courses7
Lifts6
Longest run1,150 m
Maximum28 °